★ Ex CNG ★

Diocletian as Senior Augustus (“abdication issue”), AE follis issued 305 - 306. Serdica (3rd off.), 9.89g, 28.5mm.
Obv: D N DIOCLETIANO FELICISSIMO SEN AVG; Laureate bust r., wearing imperial mantle, holding olive branch in right hand and mappa in left hand.
Rev: PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG; Providentia, draped, standing right, extending right hand to Quies; Quies, draped, standing left, holding branch in right hand and leaning on sceptre with left hand; in left field, S; in right field, F, officina letter (Γ) between, •SM•SD• in ex.
RIC VI Serdica 15a
From the Caesar_Augustus collection, Ex. CNG E-Auction 422, Lot 601 (realized 110 USD).
A beautiful coin with much of its silvering remaining.
Estimate: 150

The imperial system instituted by Augustus was marred by periodic struggles for the succession, which descended into total chaos in the third century. Part of Diocletian's plan for the tetrarchy was to provide for smooth transitions of power from the Augusti to the Caesars, but his hopes were to be dashed. This coin was issued to celebrate the retirement of Diocletian from active political involvement to a sort of “emperor emeritus” status. Diocletian was happy to focus his efforts on raising prize cabbages, but his colleague, Maximian, was not… which was about to cause a lot of trouble!