Introduction To Roman Coins Of The First Tetrarchy: Diocletian, Etc.

Excellent additions to the site.

I will understand if the ancients gurus (not be confused with ancient gurus ... though probably these two groups overlap) want to send me packing, but I can't resist responding to this:



Diocletian's reign saw the last large wave of Christian persecutions in the empire, creating a number of Christian martyrs whose existence was attested before the end of the empire, and a much greater number who likely are the subject of later legends. As their relics were spread to the more powerful ecclesiastic centers of medieval Europe, they became patron saints of those places, and began to show up on their coins.

So ... since I don't collect ancients, but I do collect saints, I will just show one, but comment on where some others show up.
Saint Sebastian was mentioned before the end of the 4th century by Ambrose, archbishop of Milan, and is believed to have been a real person, martyred (according to Christian tradition) in Rome at Diocletian's orders in 288 A.D. He is portrayed on early 16th century coins of Ottingen Germany, and was a favorite subject of Renaissance painters.
Ottingen 1 Batzen 1521:


Other victims of Diocletian, real and legendary, who show up on coins:
Saints Chrysanthus and Daria who appear on a 1682 Salzburg coin
Saint George of the English sovereign, Mansfeld (Germany) thalers of the 16th/17th centuries, Ferrara Italy and many other places
Saint Vincent of Saragossa who graces some large silver coins of Berne minted around 1500
Saint Lucy who appears on a Renaissance coin of Mantova holding a plate with her eyeballs on it
Saint Quiricus who appears on the medieval coins of Ancona Italy until it came under papal control in 1532

Now back to the main topic!

@augustus1 Thank you very much for sharing this superb resource. I have added the links to my "Attribution Kit" document for further use.

As I have recently acquired my first Maximian and Maximininus II coins, I navigated to the extremely helpful "Distinguishing between Maximian, Galerius, and Maximinus II" page. Hopefully I'll be able to avoid the pitfalls now.

Maximinus II. AE Follis. 312 AD. Alexandria. IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG, laureate head right / GENIO-AVGVSTI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding head of Serapis and cornucopiae. N over palmbranch in left field, gamma in right field.

Maximianus AE Post-Reform Radiate Fraction. 295-299 AD. IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG, radiate draped bust right / CONCORDIA MILITVM, emperor standing right receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter, KB in lower centre.

I conducted an afternoon 'excavation' through my cabinets today
Put together some Second Tetrarchy pieces

Constantius I (successor to Diocletian) as Augustus of the West
Billon Quarter Follis
Obv. CONSTANTIUS AVG
Laureate bust of Constantius I right
Rv. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI
Turreted Genius standing left holding patera and cornucopia
Mintmark SIS (Siscia) in exergue
AD 305-6
18-9mm 1.92 grams
RIC vi p. 475



Severus II (successor to Constantius I) as Caesar of the West
Billon Follis
Obv. SEVERVS NOBILISSIMVS CAES
Laureate bust of Severus II right
Rv. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI
Turreted Genius standing left holding patera and cornucopia
No mintmark in exergue (London)
AD 305-6
28-30mm 10.36 grams
RIC vi p. 128





Galerius as Augustus (successor to Diocletian) as Augustus of the East
Billon Follis
Obv. GAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG
Laureate bust of Galerius right
Rv. VIRTVTI EXERCITVS
Mars naked advancing right ( with a lovely flowing scarf and stylish booties !)
Carrying spear and trophy over shoulder
MKV (Cyzicus) in exergue Officina mark B in field
AD 308
27mm 6.60 grams
RIC vi p. 587




Maximinus II as Caesar (successor to Galerius) as Caesar of the East
Obv. GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB C
Laureate bust of Maximinus II right
Rv. GENIO POP ROM
Turreted Genius standing left holding patera and cornucopia
Mintmark PLN (London) in exergue
AD 307
27-9mm 9.00 grams
RIC vi p. 129




Maximianus Billon Abdication Follis
Obv. D N MAXIMIANO BAEATISSIMO SEN AVG
Laureate bust of Maximianus wearing consular robes holding branch and mappa
Rv PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG
Providentia standing right extending hand to Quies standing left
Mintmark ANT (Antioch) in exergue Officina E in field
AD 305-6
26-7mm 10.61 grams
RIC vi p. 624-5




The Galerius is a bit late at AD 308
By that time the Second Tetrarchy was "kaput" with no less than 7 emperors running amok
But that's for another "dig"