Congratulations on those nice purchases! While I don't have anything too interesting of Diocletian to show, I have just received these two excellent coins of Aurelian, with one of the most iconic reverse legends of his reign; I really like how the portrait style varies from mint to mint, and I'm planning to build at least a mint set of the ORIENS AVG types, to showcase the different variations in each city for this important reverse type: Aurelian (270-275), Antoninianus, Rome mint. Obverse: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front; Reverse: ORI-ENS AVG, Sol walking right, holding olive branch in right hand and bow in left hand, left foot resting on a captive in oriental dress kneeling on the ground to the right, head turned left, right hand raised. Γ in left field, XXIR in exergue; RIC V 64, RIC V Online 1817 Aurelian (270-275), Antoninianus, Siscia mint. Obverse: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front; Reverse: ORIE-N-S AVG, Sol walking left, raising right hand and holding whip in left hand; at feet, on each side, a bound and seated captive in oriental dress, the one on the right with head turned left. XXIVI in exergue; RIC V 255, RIC V Online 2393
I know this is controversial, but I think any complete attempt to numismatically (is there such a word?) document the restoration of the Empire after the chaos of the 3rd century needs to start with Gallienus: Gallienus Augustus, 253-268 Silver Double Denarius Asia Minor mint, A.D. 255-256 Obv: IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS P F AVG Rev: IOVI CONSERVATORI - Emperor with spear, receiving globe from Jupiter, on right, leaning on scepter Wreath in field RIC 440 21mm, 4.5g.
I have more post-reform coins of Diocletian, but do have this pre-reform one to show. Diocletian, AD 284-304 Roman AE Antoninianus; 19.4 mm; 3.32 gm Cyzicus mint, AD 293-94 Obv: IMPCCVAL DIOCLETIANVS AVG, radiate and draped bust, r. Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Emperor standing r., receiving Victory from Jupiter standing l., Γ in field, below; XII in exergue. RIC 306; Cohen 33; RCV 12635; Hunter iv 60-62.
I suppose many might credit Gallienus as doing more to create crises as to end them but his coins are most certainly necessary as part of a collection from the last half of the Third Century. I would suggest Aurelian and Diocletian as 'enders', or should we say 'those who did less harm'. If I were to pick a third ruler who might need to be shown, it would be Probus. Gallienus Aurelian Probus Diocletian
Nice coins! Here are some of mine... Carausius (barbarous) Probus (gotta love eBay) Elagabalus Gordian III And another Quietus Vabalathus & Aurelian Vabalathus (sole reign)
Aurelian Av Aureus 271-272 AD Milan Obv Bust right laureate draped and cuirassed Rv. Victory advancing left with captive seated before her. Estiot 422 4.28 grms 21 mm Photo by W. Hansen Aurelian certainly managed to reunite the Roman Empire by overcoming the two secessionist states of Palmyra to the east and the Gallic Empire to the west. He however was unable to solve the problem of the essential political instability inherent in the Roman Imperial state. I once read that the Roman Empire was an absolute monarchy with the constitutional right to revolt. To some degree this description is true and this instability was the main incentive behind the foundation of the tetrarchy by Diocletian The reforms of the coinage by Aurelian are the we tend to notice the most. The very light aureus coinage ( roughly 1.6 grams) of Gallienus minted during the last two years of his reign was ended and the aureus was restored to roughly 5. grams part way through the reign of Claudius Gothicus. However Aurelian tackled the much more difficult problem of restoring the Antoninianus coinage (His reformed coins are often referred to as an Aurelianus). He managed to restore the size of the coin however the purity remained at roughly 5%. He di also mint small numbers of denarii as well as an aes coinage usually referred to as an as but probably was a sestertius.
Aurelian RI Aurelian 270-275 CE AE Ant receiving Globe from Jupiter Severina RI Severina Wife of Aurelian 274-275 CE BI22 Antoninianus 3.14g Rome mint Crescent Concordia RIC 317 Vabalathus RI Vabalathus 271-272 CE and Aurelian
Diocletian RI Diocletian Ӕ Quinarius 1.46g 16mm Rome AD 284-305 IOVI CONSERVAT AVGG, Jupiter stndng thunderbolt sceptre RARE RIC 193
several Antoniniani of those emperors who desperately tried to save or prolong the empire... Probus , Aurelian, Diocletian , Gallienus...
Gallienus may have inflamed some of the issues facing the empire in the 250's and 260's but also defeated the Germans five times as he is declared Germanicus Maximus V on this coin. He also created the mobile field army that could act as a rapid response force against sudden barbarian incursions - or indeed the nefarious efforts of a usurper, which was commanded by Aureolus. Date: 257-258 AD, AR antoninianus Obverse: GALLIENVS P F AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust left, holding spear over right shoulder, and shield at left shoulder Reverse: GERMANICVS MAX V, Trophy of armor with two bound captives seated at base Size: 23.31 mm Weight: 2.99 grams Attribution: RIC Vii 18, rare 3
Severina has most probably been the only empress to effectively rule the Empire (the severan ladys had at least puppets to show off) Aurelian and Severina, Double sestertius - Rome mint AD 274-275 IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust of Aurelian right SEVERINA AVG, diademed and draped bust of Severina right, on crescent 11.18 gr Ref : Cohen # 1, RIC # 2, RCV # 11696 Severina, Antoninianus - Ticinium mint, 1st officina, AD 275 SEVERINA AVG, Diademed bust of Severina right CONCORDIA MILITVM, Concordia standing with two standards, PXXT at ex. 3.19 gr Ref : RCV #11705 var, Cohen # 7 Severina, AE Denarius - Rome mint, 5 th officina, AD 274-275. SEVERINA AVG, draped and diademed bust right. VENVS FELIX, Venus standing left, holding seated figure and sceptre. Є at exergue. 2.46 gr, 19-20 mm RIC V 1 # 6, RCV # 11710, C # 14 Q
A denomination missing from above: Aurelian. 270-275 AD. Æ As (23mm, 6.79 gm, 5h). Rome mint, 4th officina. 11th emission, 275 AD. Obv: Laureate and cuirassed bust right. Rev: Severina and Aurelian standing vis-à-vis, clasping hands, Aurelian holding scepter; above, radiate head of Sol right; Δ in exergue. RIC V 80; BN 303-6.
Fun thread! Here is Aurelian as “Restorer of the World”... Roman Empire Aurelian, AD 270-275 BI Antoninianus, Serdica Mint, struck ca. AD 274/5 Wt.: 4.1 g Dia.: 25 mm, 12h Obv.: IMP C AVERLIANVS PF AVG; Radiate, cuirassed bust right. Rev.: RESTITVT ORBIS; Woman standing right presents wreath to Aurelian standing left holding spear, star between, KAA in exergue Ref.: RIC 288 Ex JAZ Numismatics ...and Diocletian reestablishing the frontier defenses. Roman Empire Diocletian (AD 284-305) AR Argenteus, Ticinum mint, struck ca. AD 294 Dia.: 20 mm Wt.: 2.92 g Obv.: DIOCLETI-ANVS AVG; Laureate bust right Rev.: VIRTVS MILITVM; Tetrarchs sacrificing in front of fort with 6 turrents Ref.: RIC VI 14a
Here my list of empire savers: Gallienus - While ruling during the hightime of the crisis he did many of the reforms that will help ending it: Antoninian - Emperor Gallienus - VITA(V)S AVG - Antioch mint Claudius II. Gothicus - Will mainly be famous to conclude the Gothic war Gallienus already fought with great success. It is even possible that the biggest victories already happened during the reign of Gallienus: Antoninian (The pinacle of inflation) - Emperor Claudius II. - IOVI VICTORI Aurelian - The Restitutor Orbis, defeater of everyone who messed with him: Antoninianus - Emperor Aurelian - RESTITVT ORBIS - Serdica mint Probus - Stabilized what Aurelian started and fought a lot of enemies too. Sadly while undefeated in battle he thought the crisis to be over far to soon: Antoninianus - Emperor Probus - CLEMTENTIA TEMP - Antioch Mint Diocletian - He did end the crisis and stabilized the empire by an incredible amount of reforms. By creating the tetrarchy he tried to create a lasting solution to defend all the frontiers but sadly this idea would die with him: Follis - Emperor Diocletian - GENIO POPVLI ROMANI - Treverorum mint
