COIN

Unique ID: IOW-B65786

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Published

Notes:

Coins for this issuer were issued from 284 until 305.

Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus was born ca. 245 in Dalmatia. He came from humble origins and rose through the military to serve as commander at Moesia. Diocletian may have played some part in the deaths of Carus and Numerian; his troops proclaimed him emperor and he marched against Carinus in Rome. Carinus met him in battle and was ultimately killed, and Diocletian gained the support of his troops.

In 285, Diocletian appointed his colleague Maximian as Caesar and gave him control of the Western provinces; the emperor had no sons on whom to rely. In 286 Maximian was raised to Augustus, and propaganda tended to identify Diocletian with Jove and Maximian with Hercules.

Diocletian spent five years campaigning against the Danube tribes and unsuccessfully dealing with the upstart Carausius. Although the dual emperor system worked well, he began to worry about the succession. As a solution, Diocletian and Maximian each appointed a junior Caesar to succeed when either of the Augusti died (Constantius and Galerius.)

Diocletians reorganization of the imperial system proved his greatest contribution to the Roman empire. The Senates influence was on the decline, and the empire was divided into more orderly provinces, with stricter rules about their governance. He is also remembered for reinstating worship of the traditional Roman pantheon and persecuting Christians.

Diocletian and Maximian gave up power in 205, and Diocletian retired to Split (in modern Croatia) where he died in 311.

Evidence of reuse: Pierced with a hole, 1.4mm in diameter, at 7 o' clock on the obverse

Subsequent actions

Current location of find: Finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Chronology

Broad period: ROMAN
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: ROMAN
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 300
Date to: Circa AD 305
Period of reuse: ROMAN

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Weight: 8.91 g
Diameter: 25.9 mm

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Monday 19th August 2013

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Other reference: IOW2013-1-369

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Complete

Coin data (numismatics)