c 284-305 AD - DIOCLETIAN - London Mint, Silvered Bronze Follis

$250.00

Silvered Bronze Coin - AE Follis, Ancient Rome, c. 284-305 AD

Ruler: Diocletian (as Augustus)

Obv:"IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG"  Laureate bust of Diocletian, right

Rev: "GENIO POPVLI ROMANI" Genius of the Roman People, standing left with cornucopiae and paterae

Mint: London, struck 300-303 AD

Sear-R12760, 28 mm, 11.09 gm    An Exceptional Coin, well struck on a large flan with a glossy dark patina.

Diocletian was a Roman emperor from 284 to 305. Born to a family of low status in the Roman province of Dalmatia, Diocletian rose through the ranks of the military to become cavalry commander to the Emperor Carus. After the deaths of Carus and his son Numerian on campaign in Persia, Diocletian was proclaimed emperor. The title was also claimed by Carus' other surviving son, Carinus, but Diocletian defeated him in the Battle of the Margus. Diocletian's reign stabilized the empire and marks the end of the Crisis of the Third Century.

He appointed fellow officer Maximian as Augustus, co-emperor, in 286.   In 305, remarkably both Diocletian and Maximian abdicated  in favor of their respective Caesars  and Constantius and Galerius became co-emperors. Diocletian retired to his palace in Dalmatia and died c. 316 A.D.

  • Inventory# PA-3379