Watch List notes:

The Roman Empire

Diocletian, 284 – 305. Medallion circa 284-286, Æ 29.72 g. IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. MONETA AVGG The three Monetae standing facing, heads l., holding scales and cornucopiae; at their feet, heaps of coins. C 326. Gnecchi II, 15 and pl. 125, 1. Toynbee –. Mazzini 326 (this coin).
Very rare. An excellent portrait of magnificent style struck in high relief and
a lovely brown tone, extremely fine / good extremely fine
Ex M&M sale 76, 1991, 911. From the Mazzini and the Pierre Bastien collections.
The most familiar reverse type of later Roman medallions is devoted to the Tres Monetae. It perhaps first appeared on a brass medallion of Commodus, after which it becomes a staple throughout most of the 3rd Century. Initially it featured inscriptions such as AEQVITAS PVBLICA(E) or AEQVITAS AVGVSTI, but by the reign of Trajan Decius (A.D. 249-251) it had assumed its most familiar inscription MONETA AVG(G). Each of the three figures holds a cornucopia and set of scales, and stands beside a heap of coins. Invariably the two outer figures hold scales hung at the end of rods or cords of more or less equal length, whereas the central figure suspends her scale from a much longer rod or cord. Since the figures represent the three principal coining metals – gold, silver and copper – we may presume the central figure represents gold, and that her distinctive presentation indicates the more careful standard to which gold was weighed.