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Bronze post-reform radiate fraction - Æ 19 mm - 4 grams - Die Axis 06:00 - RIC VI
(Alexandria) 46(a)/(var) - Struck AD 296-297. |
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1. |
IMP C DIOCLETIANS PF AVG (Imperator Caesar Diocletianus Pius Felix (Pious and Blessed) Augustus). Emperor, cuirassed and draped, wearing the radiate crown, facing right. NOTE: His majesty's name is misspelled here : behead that minter ! (Or N & V are in ligature)
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2. |
CONCORDIA MILITVM (Concordia Militum - Harmony with the Soldiers).
Emperor and Jupiter facing each other. Emperor, at left, standing, cuirassed with Paludamentum, holding in left arm (at back) probably the Parazonium. Emperor receives the statue of Victoria from Jupiter standing right, nude with capre, who upholds a staff with his left arm. A Δ in between them at their feet. |
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2.b |
ALE : Alexandria. The Δ in center stands for the 4th Officina. |
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A “post-reform radiate fraction” : some time in the early 290's Diocletian brings in new
coinage, but to be honest we do not know what coins were called or their exact
denominations... The largest bronze coins are often called "follis" (plural folles). This
coin was worth a fraction of one of these, exact fraction unknown and has a radiate
crown : thus radiate fraction!
Alexandria did not issue “Roman” coins until the reform of Diocletian – up until
that time it was still issuing the “Alexandrian” coinage. The last and longest running
Provincial coinage which can, and does, take up many books in its own right. Now for the
first time Egypt was included in the main currency system of the empire with Diocletian’s
reform.
Obv. : Good - Rev. : Good, Legend caked from 09:00-04:00 - Rim cut.
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