Nomos 39

Diocletian, 284-305. Aureus (Gold, 22 mm, 5.03 g, 12 h), on the heavy standard, Rome, 287. VIRT-VS DIOCLETIANI AVG Laureate, lightly bearded, draped and cuirassed bust of Diocletian to right, holding a shield and two spears with his left hand and a spear with his upraised right. Rev. IOVI FVL-GERATORI/PR Jupiter, nude but for a chlamys over his shoulders and around his left arm, striding to right, preparing to hurl a thunderbolt, held in his upraised right hand, at an anguipedal giant, on the ground before him, raising his right hand in defense. Calicó -. Depeyrot - (but for this obverse, see 4A/2). Lukanc -. Cf. RIC v/2, p. 234, 140 (same obverse) and 144 (same reverse). For two aurei struck from the same obverse die but with a standing Jupiter on the reverse, see 1) the Bruxelles coin, Du Chastel 790 = Depeyrot 4A/2 = Lukanc p. 187, 1, and 2), Bertolami 67, 2019, 491. Extremely rare. A very attractive and well-centered coin, struck from unusually finely engraved dies. About extremely fine.

From The Dr. Ivo Lukanc Collection of the Gold Coinage of Diocletian, ex Münzen und Medaillen 81, 18 September 1995, 317.

This extraordinary aureus, which bears an exceptional portrait of Diocletian as a powerful military leader, cuirassed and holding three spears and a shield, must have been produced to herald the expected defeat of Carausius, the Roman fleet commander who had revolted against Maximianus in Britain and northern Gaul in 286. In fact, he turned out to be a redoubtable enemy, not a push-over at all, and he managed to remain in power until his assassination by Allectus in 293. The reverse shows a scene from the battle of the gods and giants, with Jupiter about to hurl his thunderbolt at a giant with a human body and legs ending in snakes. Since Diocletian identified himself with Jupiter, the reverse must have been meant to symbolize the emperor destroying the rebellious admiral. This same reverse type also appeared on aurei with the usual laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Diocletian (below, lot 30); but the type - perhaps from a die by the same engraver - also appears with the 'new style' obverse with the bare bust.