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Diocletian: Big Ego With Tiny Hands!

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circusmax120's Avatar
United States
319 Posts
 Posted 06/26/2023  11:54 am Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add circusmax120 to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
I recently began searching the follis struck for the emperor Diocletian. Searching, of course, for that singular portrait with unusually pronounced elements of realism. A stand-out among the many, many varieties bearing the standard caricature-style of that period. While I did not (as yet) find such a coin...my eye did detect something...unexpected: tiny...hands. *smile* Sssso glad I was not drinking (say, milk) when I recognized the emperor was depicted with these flailing little limbs! This element is, of course, not news to the many out there who are knowledgeable regarding these late-period issues, but this is outside my chosen focus. So it is something I had never picked up on.

Now I fully understand these coins are a propaganda tool, with a need to send a message. There is therefore a penchant to jam as much information onto these little discs as possible...but...geeeeez. Just the idea that the most powerful individual of this vast empire would allow himself to be depicted in such a comical way...is a tad mystifying. I know, I know. So many mints, producing so many varieties. The demands of running an empire...yadda-yadda. I get that...but surely someone was tasked with approving this die type. Who knows...*smile*...perhaps Diocletian had a sense of humor and gave the design a (tiny) thumbs-up (or a clenched thumb, as it were).

Diocletian:-Big-Ego-With-Tiny-Hands!

Diocletian:-Big-Ego-With-Tiny-Hands!

Diocletian:-Big-Ego-With-Tiny-Hands!

In this variety, the Emperor is most often depicted holding olive branches and/or a mappa (white cloth dropped to start a chariot race)...but another design shows him holding a scepter. Still another, a raised hand. The examples above are in no way exhaustive. I invite all to add to this thread any variations on this theme. Are there any Community members who have Diocletian of this type in their collection?

Seems to me the long arm of the Emperor is somewhat overstated...but then...he was teamed-up with that pit bull Maximian.
Edited by circusmax120
06/26/2023 11:56 am
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Kamnaskires's Avatar
United States
7066 Posts
 Posted 06/26/2023  1:32 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Kamnaskires to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Yeah, these are pretty comical. Perhaps his hands are correctly proportioned and everything else is off?
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circusmax120's Avatar
United States
319 Posts
 Posted 06/26/2023  1:40 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add circusmax120 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Ha! *smile* Excellent point, Bob. I imagine, as emperor...it must be quite difficult to avoid getting a big head. There is, if I recall correctly, a version where the Emperor is depicted smaller. Which makes things much more proportional.

And far less humorous!
Edited by circusmax120
06/26/2023 1:40 pm
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Sap's Avatar
Australia
16805 Posts
 Posted 06/26/2023  9:03 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Sap to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Now that it's been pointed out to me, I can't help but think "Tyrannosaurus Rex" on seeing these coins. Particularly the top left and bottom left pics, where the emperor's hands are clearly too short to reach his face...
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Victor's Avatar
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900 Posts
 Posted 06/26/2023  10:29 pm  Show Profile   Check Victor's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add Victor to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
the hand upraised is an ad locutio which means the emperor is addressing the troops. Diocletian's salute seems very casual and reminds me of the bit by Jerry Seinfeld about the casual heil of the German army.


https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/b7c27a...e35aeeb0fc1b

I tried to embed it...just follow the link for the Seinfeld bit.
Edited by Victor
06/26/2023 10:34 pm
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circusmax120's Avatar
United States
319 Posts
 Posted 06/26/2023  10:54 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add circusmax120 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Tyrannosaurus Rex...casual-Heil...*shaking head* You guys crack me up! I knew you would grab the ball and run with it. The emperor would've joined in...but he couldn't reach the ball!

This coin-type definitely lends itself to "once you see it, it's impossible to unsee". Let the hilariosity continue!
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circusmax120's Avatar
United States
319 Posts
 Posted 06/29/2023  12:23 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add circusmax120 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Here are a couple more examples of this issue of Diocletian follis: big head, little limbs. The usual wide variety of portrait styles.
Diocletian:-Big-Ego-With-Tiny-Hands!
Diocletian:-Big-Ego-With-Tiny-Hands!
I have to wonder if people of that period found this as amusing as we do. I mean...funny is funny!
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