Owner Comments:
Under the circumstances, who wouldn’t want to retire? Diocletian served for two decades as Rome’s Augustus, enacting massive military, economic, and political reforms. He had reached at least 60 years of age, beyond the contemporaneous average life expectancy. Furthermore, Diocletian had become gravely ill. No wonder that the venerated Augustus was ready for a change of pace, and he even commissioned the construction of his own personal fortress, known as Dioclectian’s Palace, located in Spalatum, along the beautiful Dalmatian coast (modern day Split, Croatia).
Diocletian’s reign was remarkable in that he reorganized nearly every aspect of Roman society. Satisfied with his implementations and achievements, and noting his own failing health, Diocletian enacted perhaps his boldest move of all - a voluntarily retirement. Augustus Diocletian planned his own abdication, and in typical, punctilious fashion also compelled his co-Augustus Maximian to do the same. This intentional transfer of the purple to their respective Caesars, namely Constantine and Galerius, was unprecedented in the history of the Roman Empire.
Diocletian’s abdication took place on May 1, 305 AD, in a spacious plain just outside Nicomedia, the site of his imperial court. Addressing his entourage, the Emperor formally stepped down, noting his infirmary and desire to turn over the Empire into stronger hands. After divesting himself of the purple, and without further delay, Diocletian departed via covered chariot to Dalmatia, in the splendor of a Roman triumph. Meanwhile in Milan, Maximian abdicated in a similar fashion.
Of course, the abdication was proclaimed on coins, whose designs are not only interesting, but also important in their historical context. For the next three years, such issues appeared and circulated throughout the Empire. Additional abdication issues were produced around the time of the Carnumtum Conference in 308 AD. This particular bronze follis was struck around 305 to 306 AD at the Serdica mint. Although Diocletian’s abdication coinage is not uncommon, coins in such good state of preservation as this example are relatively more rare.
The obverse bears a dignified portrayal of Diocletian’s laureate bust, donning an imperial mantle, and holding an olive branch and a mappa. The obverse epithet, D N DIOCLETIANO BAEATISSIMO SEN AVG, denotes Dioceltian’s new title of
Seniores Augusti, felicissimi et beatissimi. On the verso, Providentia (Rome’s divine personification of the ability to foresee and make provision) extends her hand towards the branch-and-scepter toting Quies (Rome’s divine personification of tranquility). The scene is encircled within the inscription, PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG, echoing Diocletian's desire of a peaceful transition to his chosen successors.
Until his death around 311-312 AD (some sources cite 316 AD), Diocletian enjoyed his blessed and happy retirement. He periodically engaged in imperial communications, and once was roused into an imperial conference at Carnuntum, at which he supported a continued Tetrarchy dominated by his old colleague, Galerius. The elderly Diocletian famously turned his attention to gardening; his cabbages were particularly prodigious. In a revealing exchange, an ambassador from Maximinus paid a visit to Spalatum, apparently to lure Diocletian back to sharing Rome’s throne. Not surprisingly, Diocletian snubbed the request.
If you could show the cabbage I planted with my own hands to your emperor, he definitely wouldn't dare suggest I replace the peace and happiness of this place with the storms of a never-satisfied greed.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Diocletian, AE Follis (28 mm, 8.34 g), Struck in Serdica, May 1, 305 to July 25, 306, Officina A, NGC Grade: Ch AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 5/5, Obverse: Laureate bust right, wearing imperial mantle, holding branch and mappa, D N DIOCLETIANO BAEATISSIMO SEN AVG, Reverse: Providentia standing right, extending hand to Quies standing left, holding branch and scepter, PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG / S - A - F / SM*SD*, Reference: RIC VI 14 a.