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AR18 - Diocletian L ΕΝΑΤΟΥ, Β
| Issuer | Alexandria (Egypt) |
|---|---|
| Year | 293-294 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | ΜΑΞΙΜΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ |
| Reverse description | The personification of Alexandria stands facing left in a military posture, dressed in helmet and long robes, raising her right arm in a gesture of acclamation or greeting and holding a long sceptre in her left hand. The figure is rendered in the simplified, schematic style typical of late Tetrarchic Alexandrian tetradrachms. The regnal date legend L ΕΝΑΤΟΥ (year nine) appears to the left of the figure, with the workshop or control letter Β (beta) to the right. The overall composition is bold and centred, filling the flan effectively despite the irregular striking surface. |
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| Additional information |
Year nine of Diocletian's reign coincided almost exactly with his proclamation of the Tetrarchy — the administrative division of the empire into four co-rulers formalized in 293 AD. Alexandria's mint had been producing these billon tetradrachms continuously since the Ptolemaic monetary system was absorbed into Rome, and by Diocletian's time the silver content had fallen so low that "billon" is a generous description. The L ΕΝΑΤΟΥ regnal date formula is the last year before the Diocletianic coinage reform of 294 effectively terminated the Alexandrian tetradrachm series after roughly five centuries of unbroken production.