The Roman Empire
Domitian


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description:
Grade: NGC MS Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5
Grade Comment: silvering
Owner: Kohaku
 
Set Category: Ancients
Set Name: The Roman Empire
Slot Name: Domitian
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

Constantius I (c. 250 – 306 AD) was born of humble Danubian roots and, like many Roman young men, decided to seek his fortunes as a Roman soldier. Ambitious and talented, Constantius earned the honorary title of Protectores Augusti Nostri under Emperor Aurelian, and by the time of Augustus Carus, earned the governorship of Dalmatia. During this time, his travels took him through the crossroads town of Naissus, wherein he became fond of a particular tavern, or rather, the tavern’s barmaid, named Helena. Historians’ uncertainty over their legal status notwithstanding, the couple had a son, who they named Constantine. By the late 280’s AD, Constantius had become protégé of co-Augustus Maximian, and, in the name of ambition, agreed to dissolve ties with Helena in order to marry Maximian’s stepdaughter, Theodora. This arrangement paved the way for Maximian to name Constantius as his Caesar in 293 AD, part of an imperial expansion known as the Tetrarchy. Specifically, the western and eastern portions of the Empire each had both an Augustus and a Caesar (co-Augusti Diocletian had also chosen a Caesar, namely Galerius). Under the new imperial structure, Maximian ruled Italy, the Iberian peninsula, and African provinces, while he delegated to Constantius the more difficult areas of Britannia and the coast of Gaul opposite, which had recently seceded to form a new state under leadership of Carausius. Constantius spent several years dealing with the Franks (Carausius’ allies in Gaul), and after consolidating his position and building up his fleet, reclaimed Britannia from Carausius’ successor, Allectus. Afterwards, Constantius also scored military victories along the Rhine against several enemies, including the Alamanni. This nummus was minted during this period (between 297–299 AD), while Constantius reigned as Tetrarchal Western Caesar. The obverse and reverse designs are very similar to the coin in this set representing his eastern counterpart, Tetrarchal Eastern Caesar Galerius (see comments therein for more details about the coin’s design). Between the two Caesars there was rivalry, a prelude to asserting imperial dominance post-ascension. At every opportunity, Galerius undermined Constantius’ designs. For instance, Galerius avidly implemented Diocletian’s mandate for persecuting Christians, and made known Constantius’ relative leniency in that regard. In 305 AD, Maximian and Diocletian announced their abdication from power, which meant that Constantius and Galerius were promoted to co-Augusti. It was also declared that the new western and eastern Caesars were Severus II and Maximinus Daia, who were Galerius’ allies. Shockingly, the sons of the two western members of the Tetrarchy (Constantine and Maxentius’ son Maximian) were overlooked, in no small part due to Galerius’ machinations. Constantius had finally achieved the ultimate goal of becoming an Augusti, however, this new reign began amid a controversy that did not bode well for the Tetrarchy’s long-term future. Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Constantius I, AD 305-306, as Caesar 293-305, Billion nummus (8.43 g), Cyzicus min, 2nd officina, struck c. 297-299 AD, NGC Grade: MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: laureate head right, FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, Reverse: Genius standing left, holding paterna and cornucopiae, GENIO AVGG ET CAESARVM N N, KA in exergue, Reference: RIC VI 11a.

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