Roman Mint Opens at Alexandria Under Diocletian

Triton XXI, Lot: 248. Estimate $100. Sold for $425. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Diocletian. AD 284-305. Æ Follis (25mm, 10.05 g, 12h). Alexandria mint, 1st officina. Struck circa AD 297. IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG, laureate head right / GENIO POPV I (sic) ROMANI, Genius standing facing, head left, wearing chlamys and kalathos, holding a cornucopia with his left hand and a phiale, from which liquor flows, with his right; to left, eagle standing left, head right; A//ALE. RIC VI 14a; Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 262 (this coin). VF, brown patina with traces of red and green.

From the Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection, purchased from Sarti, Varese, February 1984. Ex Sarti Collection (Varese).

As one of the first Latin-style folles to be struck at Alexandria, Giovanni included this coin in his collection.