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Ave!

Diocletian, Post abdication Follis, Antioch, Rare!

Æ Follis; 25mm/4.4gm  Struck ca. Spring 307 AD

Con/ The obverse struck slightly off-center, otherwise, Extremely Fine. Very sharp and crisp with superb details and beautiful ox-blood patina.

Obv/ DN DIOCLETIANO FELICISSIMO SEN AVG; laureate bust right, wearing imperial mantle, holding olive-branch and mappa

Ref/ PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVG; Providentia standing right, extending right hand to Quies, standing left, holding branch and scepter; Delta in lower center

Antioch Mint; • ANT in exergue

Ref/ RIV Vol 6, 83b = Rare 3

Seller's Note/ At the ripe age of sixty-five years old, and having ruled for 21 years, Diocletian now burdened by ill-health was ready to retire to his grand palace located in Dalmatia, by the small town of Spalatum on the shores of the Adriatic Sea.

All of the legends on both sides of rare this issue bespeak of his new found peace and tranquility. The obverse legend FELICISSIMO notes Diocletian's "great wisdom and foresight" to abdicate. IE; his portrait shows him holding an olive branch (peace) and his consular mappa napkin.

The reverse legend is even more expressive; "By the Foresight of the Gods He will Rest. The figure see left is Providentia, the personification of "Foresight". To right is Quies, holding an olive branch, the personification of Rest and Retirement.

This is an importent and historical issue for all serious collectors of LRBC issues.

 

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