Addictive Steve's "30-Day" Therapy (Please Play Along)

The Emperor Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus (A.D. 284-305) put an end to the disastrous phase of Roman history known as the "Military Anarchy" or the "Imperial Crisis" (235-284). He established an obvious military despotism and was responsible for laying the groundwork for the second phase of the Roman Empire, which is known variously as the "Dominate," the "Tetrarchy," the "Later Roman Empire," or the "Byzantine Empire." His reforms ensured the continuity of the Roman Empire in the east for more than a thousand years.

Diocletian sought his fortune in the army. He showed himself to be a shrewd, able, and ambitious individual. He is first attested as "Duke of Moesia" (an area on the banks of the lower Danube River), with responsibility for border defense. He was a prudent and methodical officer, a seeker of victory rather than glory.

In this case it means the third workshop at that mint produced the coin. Later it became more regular to indicate the mint city name but in the 3rd century we see many that only show the shop. I do have a page:
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/do...fficina.html

It is important to recognize that the rules were not always the same from one mint to another or from one time period to another at the same mint. Don't say this is strange until you explain why the US went so long not marking the P mintmark on coins but later decided they should or why denominations are marked Five Cents, One Dime and Quarter Dollar. Consistency is not a big thing at mints then or now.

dougsmit => absolutely fascinating ... thanks for the link to your page .... wow, apparently I asked the correct guy the correct question! => outstanding work!


Oh and yes => I love this coin of mine (the guy that I bought it from mentioned that the reverse was "rare", but at the time I merely figured that he was trying to make his coin sound even better than it was, so I was thrilled when you also verified that the reverse is quite rare!)



... and super-cool comments regarding their personal birds ... hey, but were birds the only "mascots" that were used, or were there other mascots/symbols used (example => mammals, snakes, etc?) ... or maybe I should stop getting excited and stop asking too many questions? (it's only day "4" outta "30"!)

=> thanks again

wow, this is absolutely amazing ...

=> apparently, all I have do is randomly ask for something and then the next thing I know one of you dudes has the answer right at your finger-tips!

... man, it's kinda like finding the Genie in the lamp!

hmmmmm, what should I ask for next? (geeesh, I hope I haven't already used-up all of my wishes!?)

Ummm, well I guess answering you with "Gee, I'm not too sure?" makes me look even less knowledgeable than I currently look, eh?



but here goes => "Gee, I'm not too sure?"

I guess I'll have to go do some research on Biblicals ...

More like a raccoon discovering beer for the first time.

I do believe biblical coins would refer to coins of the Empire when it had influence over Judea and coins of Judea. The last Jewish revolt was crushed by the Romans around 135 AD. So I would presume biblical coins would mean coins from this era of Roman and Jewish history.

... good one




oxos => thanks for your clarification (ummm, I think I'll give myself 3-outta-10 for part marks)

M. Aurelius Probus was most likely born in Sirmium in 232 A.D. It is difficult to reconstruct Probus' career before he became emperor because of the unreliable nature of the account in the Historia Augusta, but it is certainly possible that he was a tribune under Valerian. All that can be said with any reliability is that he served in the military and was on Aurelian's staff during his Eastern campaigns. There is a certain amount of confusion in the sources about him because of the fact that he has often been confused with a certain Tenagino Probus, who served as prefect in Egypt under Claudius II Gothicus.

After the murder of Aurelian, the Senate chose Tacitus, who took up the burdens of state and headed with the army to the East. The Eruli had overrun Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia and finally Cilicia, where Tacitus, with help from his half-brother Florianus, defeated them. Tacitus, however, either died of an illness or was killed by his own troops; he was succeeded by Florianus. In the meantime, Probus, who had been declared Emperor by his own troops in mid-276, prepared to meet Florianus, who was marching from the Bosporus, having broken off his victorious engagement against the Eruli. Florianus was acknowledged in Rome and was supported by Gaul, Spain, Britain, and Italy; Probus was supported by Syria, Phoenicia, Palestine and Egypt. The two fought a desultory campaign near Tarsus. With a much smaller force, Probus decided his best strategy would be to avoid a pitched battle and let the heat overcome the troops of Florianus. The latter, having reigned barely two months, was murdered by his own troops. Probus became sole Emperor, possibly by August 276.