Diocletian Coins
Diocletian rose from a humble family to prominence through the provincial Roman army. When chosen emperor, he confronted the disastrous effects of fifty years of rule by over thirty emperors (six of them in the year 238 AD alone). No longer chosen by the Senate, rulers sought and lost their status through military conflict.
Diocletian's aim of reorganizing the empire involved providing more rulers for this huge territory. He and his caesar, Galerius, ruled from the East; he chose Maximianus and Constantinius to rule the West. He further attempted to revive an economy so badly damaged that he was forced to collect taxes and pay soldiers in goods, not coinage.
Coins of this period reflect these unifying aims. Diocletian identified strongly with Jupiter/Jove, the leader of the traditional gods. Many reverses of coins contain the words IOVI CONSERVAT AUGG (roughly, "God Preserve the Emperor"). Reverses also show the emperor and his colleagues at worship.
US $9.00
