Heritage World Coin Auctions
Monthly Auction 271933 18 Aug 2019
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Ancients
Diocletian (AD 284-305). AR argenteus (18mm, 3.08 gm, 12h). VF. Carthage, AD 300. DIOCLETI-ANVS AVG, laureate head of Diocletian right / X·C/VI, legend in two lines within wreath. RIC VI 15a.
The numeral XCVI (96) on the reverse indicates the theoretical weight of the argenteus, 1/96th of a Roman pound. With the Roman pound (or libra, hence the abbreviation "LB" for pound) weighing 329.9 grams, this works out to 3.426 grams of silver, which is pretty close to the average weight for a late Roman argenteus. The argenteus was Diocletian's attempt to reintroduce a circulating currency in good silver after decades of runaway debasement and inflation had reduced Roman coins essentially to base metal tokens.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/diocletian-ad-284-305-ar-argenteus-18mm-308-gm-12h-vf/p/271933-11502.s?type=CoinArchives271933
HID02906262019
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 200-300 USD
Diocletian (AD 284-305). AR argenteus (18mm, 3.08 gm, 12h). VF. Carthage, AD 300. DIOCLETI-ANVS AVG, laureate head of Diocletian right / X·C/VI, legend in two lines within wreath. RIC VI 15a.
The numeral XCVI (96) on the reverse indicates the theoretical weight of the argenteus, 1/96th of a Roman pound. With the Roman pound (or libra, hence the abbreviation "LB" for pound) weighing 329.9 grams, this works out to 3.426 grams of silver, which is pretty close to the average weight for a late Roman argenteus. The argenteus was Diocletian's attempt to reintroduce a circulating currency in good silver after decades of runaway debasement and inflation had reduced Roman coins essentially to base metal tokens.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/diocletian-ad-284-305-ar-argenteus-18mm-308-gm-12h-vf/p/271933-11502.s?type=CoinArchives271933
HID02906262019
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 200-300 USD