Diocletian 284-305 AD, Ticinum, c.295 AD, Argenteus, 2.47g (2).png
Diocletian 284-305 AD, Ticinum, c.295 AD, Argenteus, 2.47g.png
Diocletian 284-305 AD, Ticinum, c.295 AD, Argenteus, 2.47g (2).png
Diocletian 284-305 AD, Ticinum, c.295 AD, Argenteus, 2.47g.png

Roman Empire Silver Argenteus of Diocletian (about 1730 years ago)

$276.25 $325.00
sale

This impressive silver coin was minted during the reign of Emperor Diocletian at the imperial mint in Ticinum (modern Pavia, Italy). The argenteus was part of Diocletian's monetary reforms designed to stabilize the Roman economy after decades of crisis and inflation, representing a return to high-quality silver coinage.

Coin Description:

  • Front side: Laureate (bay-wreath crowned) head of Emperor Diocletian facing right, with the Latin inscription "DIOCLETI-ANVS AVG" (Diocletian Augustus)

  • Back side: Four emperors sacrificing over a tripod altar in front of a gate with six turrets and the inscription "VICTORIA-SARMAT" (Victory over the Sarmatians)

Technical Details:

  • Silver composition (weighing 2.47 grams)

  • Argenteus denomination (high-value silver coin introduced in Diocletian's reforms)

  • References: RIC-16a (R2), RSC-488d (R2 indicates rarity)

  • No certification mentioned

  • Date: Circa 295 CE

  • Condition: Not specified

Historical Significance:

This coin was struck during a pivotal period when Diocletian had restructured the Roman Empire with his Tetrarchy (rule of four). The reverse image depicts the four tetrarchs (Diocletian, Maximian, Constantius I, and Galerius) performing a sacrifice to celebrate their victory over the Sarmatians (nomadic people from modern Hungary/Romania region). The argenteus was part of Diocletian's ambitious economic reforms that attempted to combat inflation and restore stability to the empire after the tumultuous "Crisis of the Third Century."

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This impressive silver coin was minted during the reign of Emperor Diocletian at the imperial mint in Ticinum (modern Pavia, Italy). The argenteus was part of Diocletian's monetary reforms designed to stabilize the Roman economy after decades of crisis and inflation, representing a return to high-quality silver coinage.

Coin Description:

  • Front side: Laureate (bay-wreath crowned) head of Emperor Diocletian facing right, with the Latin inscription "DIOCLETI-ANVS AVG" (Diocletian Augustus)

  • Back side: Four emperors sacrificing over a tripod altar in front of a gate with six turrets and the inscription "VICTORIA-SARMAT" (Victory over the Sarmatians)

Technical Details:

  • Silver composition (weighing 2.47 grams)

  • Argenteus denomination (high-value silver coin introduced in Diocletian's reforms)

  • References: RIC-16a (R2), RSC-488d (R2 indicates rarity)

  • No certification mentioned

  • Date: Circa 295 CE

  • Condition: Not specified

Historical Significance:

This coin was struck during a pivotal period when Diocletian had restructured the Roman Empire with his Tetrarchy (rule of four). The reverse image depicts the four tetrarchs (Diocletian, Maximian, Constantius I, and Galerius) performing a sacrifice to celebrate their victory over the Sarmatians (nomadic people from modern Hungary/Romania region). The argenteus was part of Diocletian's ambitious economic reforms that attempted to combat inflation and restore stability to the empire after the tumultuous "Crisis of the Third Century."

This impressive silver coin was minted during the reign of Emperor Diocletian at the imperial mint in Ticinum (modern Pavia, Italy). The argenteus was part of Diocletian's monetary reforms designed to stabilize the Roman economy after decades of crisis and inflation, representing a return to high-quality silver coinage.

Coin Description:

  • Front side: Laureate (bay-wreath crowned) head of Emperor Diocletian facing right, with the Latin inscription "DIOCLETI-ANVS AVG" (Diocletian Augustus)

  • Back side: Four emperors sacrificing over a tripod altar in front of a gate with six turrets and the inscription "VICTORIA-SARMAT" (Victory over the Sarmatians)

Technical Details:

  • Silver composition (weighing 2.47 grams)

  • Argenteus denomination (high-value silver coin introduced in Diocletian's reforms)

  • References: RIC-16a (R2), RSC-488d (R2 indicates rarity)

  • No certification mentioned

  • Date: Circa 295 CE

  • Condition: Not specified

Historical Significance:

This coin was struck during a pivotal period when Diocletian had restructured the Roman Empire with his Tetrarchy (rule of four). The reverse image depicts the four tetrarchs (Diocletian, Maximian, Constantius I, and Galerius) performing a sacrifice to celebrate their victory over the Sarmatians (nomadic people from modern Hungary/Romania region). The argenteus was part of Diocletian's ambitious economic reforms that attempted to combat inflation and restore stability to the empire after the tumultuous "Crisis of the Third Century."

Diocletian (/ˌdaɪ.əˈkliːʃən/ DYE-ə-KLEE-shən; Latin: Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus; Ancient Greek: Διοκλητιανός, romanized: Diokletianós; 242/245 – 311/312), nicknamed Jovius, was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Diocles to a family of low status in the Roman province of Dalmatia. Diocles rose through the ranks of the military early in his career, eventually becoming a cavalry commander for the army of Emperor Carus. After the deaths of Carus and his son Numerian on a campaign in Persia, Diocles was proclaimed emperor by the troops, taking the name Diocletianus. The title was also claimed by Carus's surviving son, Carinus, but Diocletian defeated him in the Battle of the Margus.

Diocletian's reign stabilized the empire and ended the Crisis of the Third Century. He intimated the process of the Roman Empire split and appointed fellow officer Maximian as Augustus, co-emperor, in 286. Diocletian reigned in the Eastern Empire, and Maximian reigned in the Western Empire. Diocletian delegated further on 1 March 293, appointing Galerius and Constantius as junior colleagues (each with the title Caesar), under himself and Maximian respectively. Under the Tetrarchy, or "rule of four", each tetrarch would rule over a quarter-division of the empire. Diocletian secured the empire's borders and purged it of all threats to his power. He defeated the Sarmatians and Carpi during several campaigns between 285 and 299, the Alamanni in 288, and usurpers in Egypt between 297 and 298. Galerius, aided by Diocletian, campaigned successfully against Persia, the empire's traditional enemy, and in 299, he sacked their capital, Ctesiphon. Diocletian led the subsequent negotiations and achieved a lasting and favorable peace.

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