Diocletian (AD 284-305). AV aureus (20mm, 4.67 gm, 5h). NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5....
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Diocletian (AD 284-305). AV aureus (20mm, 4.67 gm, 5h). NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5. Antioch, ca. AD 284. IMP C G VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG (sic), laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Diocletian right, seen from front / IOVI CONSERV-ATORI AVG, Jupiter standing facing, head left, nude save for chlamys on left shoulder and draped over right arm, thunderbolt lowered in right hand, grounded scepter in left; O in lower left field, SMA in exergue. Calicó 4515/4515b (obverse die/reverse die) corr. (obverse legend). RIC V.II 316 corr. (same). From the Randy & Nancy Best Collection. Otto Seeck and Karl Pink, in "Die Goldprägung des Diocletianus und seiner Mitregenten," NZ 64 (1931), pp. 57-58," correctly hypothesized the marks on this aurei series designate the weight standard of N issues (1/50 to the Roman pound, 6.40 gm standard), O issues (1/70=4.60 gm), and later X, ?, and S issues (1/60=5.30 gm). Variations in weight of these issues, in reality, are relatively commonplace. Note, the obverse legend should be IMP C C... the G being an engraver's error. Although he reached the Roman throne via the path of coup and civil war, Diocletian turned out to be a far-sighted statesman of rare ability. Achieving undisputed power in AD 285, he came in with a detailed blueprint for Roman revival. Recognizing the task of governing the Empire had grown too great for one man, he divided supreme power with three old military colleagues and devised a formula for renewing this "Tetrarchy" every 20 years. The arrangement worked surprisingly well and by AD 300 the ceaseless revolts and civil wars that had nearly destroyed the Roman Empire over the latter third century had stopped, allowing Roman economic life to slowly and painfully recover. This spectacular aureus depicts Diocletian in the robes of a Roman Consul; despite his innovations, it is important to remember his reformist agenda was intended not to create a "new world order," but to restore the old Roman institutions, including the ...
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