© The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
© The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Antoninianus - Diocletianus VICTORIA AVG; Tripolis
| Silver | 3.5 g | - |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Diocletian (Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus) (284-305) Maximian Herculius (Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus) (286-305) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 284-290 |
| Value | Antoninianus (1) |
| Currency | Antoninianus, Reform of Caracalla (AD 215 – 301) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 3.5 g |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#306182 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Victory, winged, draped, walking right, holding palm in right hand and presenting wreath to Diocletian, standing left, holding globe and sceptre.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
VICTORIA AVG
TR//XXI
Translation:
Victoria Augusti.
Victory of the emperor (Augustus).
Comment
Example of this type:The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Source:
Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it was issued during the reign of Diocletian, who was the last emperor to attempt to reform the Roman Empire's currency system before its eventual decline. The Antoninianus, which was introduced by Diocletian in 293 AD, was a new denomination that was intended to replace the debased denarius as the standard currency of the empire. The coin's design, which features the emperor's image and the inscription "VICTORIA AVG," reflects the imperial propaganda of the time, which emphasized the emperor's role as a victorious military leader and a bringer of stability to the empire. Despite these efforts, the Roman Empire continued to decline, and the Antoninianus ultimately became another example of the empire's financial instability and eventual collapse.
