Sale: CNG 67, Lot: 1757. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 22 September 2004.  Sold For $1000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

DIOCLETIAN. 284-305 AD. AR Argenteus (3.03 gm). Alexandria mint. Struck circa 298 AD. Laureate head of Diocletian right, with features of Domitius Domitianus / Four tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod before camp gate with four turrets; ALE. RIC VI 7a var. (no D in right field; circa 295 AD); Karl Pink, " Die Silberprägung der Diocletianischen Tetrarchie," NZ 63 1930, pg. 33 and pl. 1, 16; cf. J. Lallemand, "Le Monnayage de Domitius Domitianus," RBN 87 (1951), pl. VI, 11; cf. A. Geissen, "Numismatische Bemerkung zu dem Aufstand des L. Domitius Domitianus," ZPE 22 (1976), pl. XVI, 10; cf. Depeyrot 3/2; RSC 427b var. (same). VF, scrape on obverse, scratch on reverse, porous. Very rare with features of the usurper Domitius Domitianus. ($500)

The revolt of Domitius Domitianus in Egypt destabilized a vitally strategic region by creating a cessation of the grain supply to Rome and opening the possibility of Persian invasion. For almost a year, Domitius Domitianus controlled Alexandria, striking coins both in the pre-reform type (see lot 1184 above), as well as aurei and folles containing an eagle on the reverse. After a siege of eight months, Diocletian retook the city and the revolt ended. To smooth-over local dissatisfaction, he continued to strike folles containing an eagle on the reverse and began to strike argenti such as our coin, apparently employing aureus obverse dies of the defeated usurper.