Nummus - Diocletian Bust left with spear and shield, IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG; GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Londinium
| Bronze | 10.46 g | - |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Maximian Herculius (Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus) (286-305) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 303-305 |
| Value | Nummus / Follis (¼) |
| Currency | Argenteus, Reform of Diocletian (AD 293/301 – 310/324) |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 10.46 g |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#373197 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Genius, wearing modius, nude, chlamys draped over left shoulder, standing left, holding patera in right hand and cornucopiae in left hand.
No mintmark
Script: Latin
Lettering: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI
Translation:
To Genius, guardian spirit of the Roman people.
London.
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 Nummus coin was introduced by Diocletian as a replacement for the denarius, which had become devalued due to excessive minting. The Nummus was made of bronze and had a higher value than the denarius, but it still depicted the emperor's image and was used widely throughout the empire. This coin is a rare surviving example of the currency used during this time period.