Diocletian AR Argenteus. Siscia, AD 293-4. DIOCLETIANVS AVG, laureate head right / VIRTVS MILITVM, the four Tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod before eight-turreted enclosure. RIC 43a; Jeločnik 3b, pl. 1, 7; RSC 516m. 3.08g, 19mm, 5h.

Mint State; vivid iridescent tone.

From the Brian Henry Grover (1924-2015) Collection.

The old complicated Roman coinage of the later part of the 3rd century was finally suspended with the great monetary reform of 294 in favour of a logical system where aurei were struck at a standard weight of 1/60th of a Roman pound, argentei at 1/96th of a pound, and a new argentiferous bronze unit at about 1/32nd of a pound. At inception the new silver washed bronze denomination weighed about 10 grams and may have been called a nummus, although RIC and some modern numismatist still erroneously use the term 'follis'.