ROMAN.Diocletian AD 284-305 BI Nummus Rev. Providentia NGC (025)

ROMAN EMPIRE

AD 284-305

BI NUMMUS



CERTIFIED BY NGC



Obverse: radiate bust R, IMP C C VAL

DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG,



Reverse: Providentia standing right, receiving olive
branch from Quies standing left, holding scepter.

Diocletian Latin: Gaius Aurelius

Valerius Diocletianus; born Diocles; 22 December c. 244 – 3 December 311) was

Roman emperor from 284 to 305. Born to a family of low status in Dalmatia,

Diocletian rose through the ranks of the military to become a cavalry commander

of the Emperor Carus's army. After the deaths of Carus and his son Numerian on

campaign in Persia, Diocletian was proclaimed emperor. The title was also

claimed by Carus's surviving son, Carinus, but Diocletian defeated him in the

Battle of the Margus.



Diocletian's reign stabilized the empire and ended the Crisis of the Third

Century. He appointed fellow officer Maximian as Augustus, co-emperor, in 286.

Diocletian reigned in the Eastern Empire, and Maximian reigned in the Western

Empire. Diocletian delegated further on 1 March 293, appointing Galerius and

Constantius as junior co-emperors (each with the title Caesar), under himself

and Maximian respectively. Under the Tetrarchy, or "rule of four", each emperor

would rule over a quarter-division of the empire. Diocletian secured the

empire's borders and purged it of all threats to his power. He defeated the

Sarmatians and Carpi during several campaigns between 285 and 299, the Alamanni

in 288, and usurpers in Egypt between 297 and 298. Galerius, aided by

Diocletian, campaigned successfully against Sassanid Persia, the empire's

traditional enemy. In 299 he sacked their capital, Ctesiphon. Diocletian led the

subsequent negotiations and achieved a lasting and favourable peace.



Diocletian was one of the major figures of

Roman history. After defeating Carinus he proceeded to change the administrative

structure of the Empire, setting up a system of divided regional commanders that

set the stage for the subsequent division into eastern and western parts. He

also transformed the coinage in several ways, including a range of billon

denominations. Also a notable persecutor of Christians.