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ANA Signature Sale 3094 19-20 Aug 2021
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Ancients
Diocletian (AD 284-305). AV aureus (20mm, 5.23 gm, 7h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5, scratches. Cyzicus, 1/60 of the Roman pound standard, AD 287-290. DI-OCLETIANVS-AVGVSTVS, laureate head of Diocletian right / COS-III, Diocletian, laureate, in military dress, right hand raised in salute, on horseback pacing right. RIC VI 287. Calicó 4445. Solidly struck on bright, highly lustrous flan.
From the Monaco Collection. Ex Paramount Collection (Heritage Auctions, Auction 3096 Dallas, 25 March 2021), lot 30064; Roman Gold Coins from the Collection of a Perfectionist (Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 87, 6 May 2003), lot 98; purchased privately in 1971
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. His many reforms included a complete revamp of the Roman coinage system. In AD 293, Diocletian decreased the weight of the aureus from 1/50th of a pound (6.40gm) to 1/60th of a pound (about 5.4 grams), and at the same time introduced an entirely new coin of good silver, the argenteus.
This issue was struck for Diocletian's third consulship, which he celebrated in Nicomedia.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-diocletian-ad-284-305-av-aureus-20mm-523-gm-7h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-4-5-scratches/a/3094-32077.s?type=CoinArchives3094
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 10000-15000 USD
Diocletian (AD 284-305). AV aureus (20mm, 5.23 gm, 7h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 4/5, scratches. Cyzicus, 1/60 of the Roman pound standard, AD 287-290. DI-OCLETIANVS-AVGVSTVS, laureate head of Diocletian right / COS-III, Diocletian, laureate, in military dress, right hand raised in salute, on horseback pacing right. RIC VI 287. Calicó 4445. Solidly struck on bright, highly lustrous flan.
From the Monaco Collection. Ex Paramount Collection (Heritage Auctions, Auction 3096 Dallas, 25 March 2021), lot 30064; Roman Gold Coins from the Collection of a Perfectionist (Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 87, 6 May 2003), lot 98; purchased privately in 1971
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. His many reforms included a complete revamp of the Roman coinage system. In AD 293, Diocletian decreased the weight of the aureus from 1/50th of a pound (6.40gm) to 1/60th of a pound (about 5.4 grams), and at the same time introduced an entirely new coin of good silver, the argenteus.
This issue was struck for Diocletian's third consulship, which he celebrated in Nicomedia.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-diocletian-ad-284-305-av-aureus-20mm-523-gm-7h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-4-5-scratches/a/3094-32077.s?type=CoinArchives3094
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 10000-15000 USD