51-79 Conservator Avgg Margetic
51-79 Conservator Avgg Margetic
51-79 Conservator Avgg Margetic
The comprehensive list of the issues of antoniniani CONSERVATOR AVGG for Emperors
Diocletian and Maximian in Siscia mint is presented. Many rare and unpublished varieties
are illustrated. Analysis of mint production for this issue indicates well organized activity
of all workshops.
Introduction
In the continuation of our interest in the tetrarchic issues of antoniniani from Siscia
mint1,2 we noticed that although the commonest reverse type in Siscia, antoniniani with
the obverse CONSERVATOR AVGG for Diocletian and Maximian are not presented in
numismatic literature in sufficient detail. The specialized numismatic literature of the
period of the tetrarchy, RIC3, Šipuš4 and Gricourt5 inadequately cover this material, and
recent attempt to organize material and variants is also rather short.6 The most detailed
corpus is published by Voetter7 almost one hundred years ago. Voetter had produced a
remarkable reference, which is based on a study of the holdings of the Kunsthistorische
Museum in Vienna, as well as important private collections. However, this reference
lacks illustrations (which is a standard in modern numismatics) and many new variants
discovered since which are presented in this paper.
All specimens with photos available to authors (737 in total) are analyzed and
numismatic material systematically organized. Some photos of coins which we have
on files were not taken into account due to the poor state of preservation and inability
to fully determine all legends. This is particularly important for determination of the
position of dots (•) in exergual mintmarks. Several coins, although partially hidden by
1
Davor Margetić, Unpublished antoniniani of Diocletian and Maximian VIRTVS AVGVSTORVM
from the mint of Siscia / Neobjavljeni antoninijani Dioklecijana i Maksimijana VIRTVS
AVGVSTORVM iz kovnice Siscija, Num. Vijesti 2015, 68, 5-20.
2
Davor Margetić, PRAESIDIA REIPBVLIC and the last emission of antoniniani in mint of Siscia,
Vjesnik arheološkog muzeja u Zagrebu 2012, 45, 359-368.
3
Percy H. Webb, The Roman imperial coinage, Volume 5, Part II, Probus-Amandus 276-286, Spink,
London, 1933.
4
Nikola Šipuš, Antoninijani cara Dioklecijana i njegovih suvladara iskovani u kovnici Sisciji /
Antoniniani of emperor Diocletian and his co-regents struck in Siscia mint, Num.Vijesti 1974, 32, 31-
36.
5
Daniel Gricourt, Ripostiglio della Venèra, Nuovo Catalogo Illustrato, Volume IV Caro-Diocleziano,
„L’Erma’’ di Bretschneider, Rome, 2000.
6
Rista Miletić, EGO IOVI TV HERCVLES, Dinar, 2005, 24, 15-16.
7
Otto Voetter, Paul Gerin, Die Münzen der Römischen Kaiser, Kaiserinnen und Caesaren von
Diocletianus bis Romulus 284-476. Katalog der hinterlassenen Sammlung und Aufzeichnung des
Herrn Paul Gerin, Wien, 1921.
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D. Margetić, D. Margetić: Siscian issues of CONSERVATOR AVGG antoniniani ... Num. vijesti, no. 70, Zagreb, 2017
other coins (which were sold on auctions in group lots) are still illustrated, but only
these for which legends could be determined without any doubts. Coinage covered in
this article (192 variants) are given only briefly in RIC V/II in thirteen entries (7 for
Diocletian, RIC 259-265 and 6 for Maximian RIC 575-582). Due to the volume of exa-
mined material, only specimens known to authors in one or two pieces are illustrated,
whereas photos of more common pieces are not given in tables. In the process of study,
new variants not listed by Voetter were found, and also some of the variants listed by
Voetter could not be confirmed due to lack of photograps. It may be that some of these
unconfirmed coins are actually errors in his publication, but these Voetter’s entries are
still kept in the listing.
Interesting detail on these coins is the incorporation of words IOVI and HERCVLI
into the mintmarks, nicknames of Diocletian (Emperor Iovius) and Maximian (Emperor
Herculius). These words are split into I/O/BI and HP/KOY/LI and added to officinae
marks, and in such way creating codewords. Famous Vienesse numismatics Joseph van
Kolb, was the first to notice this secret meaning in 1872.8,9,10 The introduction of these
codewords, coupled with dots enormously enlarges the number of possible mintmark
variants.
Gricourt has attributed all CONSERVATOR AVGG coins to S-IIe emission, which is
dated in January-February 287 period. This issue is further divideded into three groups,
and Siscia mint struck them in three officinae (workshop letters A, B or G). Group 1 has
the exergual mark value followed by usual workshop letters (XXIA-B-G), Group 2 has
workshop letters separated by points (XXI•A-B-G•) and Group 3 has workshop letters
juxtaposed with the letters I or HP, O or KOY, BI or LI, in turn separated or not by po-
ints (XXIA•I•, XXIAHP, XXIA•HP•, XXIB•O•, XXIBKOY, XXIB•KOY•, XXI•BI•,
XXIG•LI•). Date of the burial of the Venera hoard in 287 and small number of coins of
this type (only 9) affects this classification, as suggested by Estiot, who recognizes at
least two phases. The early phase is with XXIA-G mintmarks.11 Besides regular coins,
there are some interesting irregular pieces, hybrids and die-engravers errors12,13,14 which
are characteristic for the earlier phase of the emission.
When material is divided into Gricourt’s extended number of groups and given in
tabulated form (Tables 1 and 2) some information on mint production and practices
could be obtained. Firstly, there is an even output among three workshops and number
of coins for Maximian (388 pieces) is larger than for Diocletian (349).
8
Joseph von Kolb, Enträthselte Siglen auf Münzen Diocletians and Maximians, Num. Zeitsch. 1872,
24-30.
9
Joseph von Kolb, Enträthselte Siglen auf Münzen Diocletians and Maximians, Num. Zeitschr. 1873,
116-121.
10
Gert Boersema, The translation of the codewords AEQVITI, IOBI and HPKOYΛI http://www.
oudgeld.com/webbib/translation_codewords.htm
11
Interesting Maximianus-Herculeus Antoninianus, August 24, 2012. http://www.forumancientcoins.
com/board/index.php?topic=82334.0
12
Chip Scoppa, East meets West in the Siscia Mule, RNA News November 2006, 4-5.
13
Chip Scoppa, East meets West in the Siscia Mule and keeping all in check, http://www.
forumancientcoins.com/Articles/east_meets_west.htm
14
Gert Boersema, A very special coded coin, http://www.oudgeld.com/webbib/sisciafouteng.htm
61
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Table 1.
A B G
G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 Sum
Diocletian Jupiter 3 3 14 16 25 54 15 36 5 59 2 11 25 16 41 23 349
Diocletian Hercules hybrids 1
Maximian Hercules 10 26 13 16 56 7 42 20 54 5 8 31 11 34 24 388
Maximian Hercules lion skin 5 10 3 18
Maximian Jupiter hybrids 1 8 3 12
4 13 40 29 33 116 22 78 25 123 10 27 59 27 75 47
Sum 244 258 235 737
Table 2.
Emperor
G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G6 Sum % Dio+Max
%
A 4 3 14 16 25 54 116 33.2 15.7
D. Margetić, D. Margetić: Siscian issues of CONSERVATOR AVGG antoniniani ...
Group 1: XXIA-G
Group 2: XXI•A-G•
Group 3: XXIA-G IOBI or HRKOYLI + dots •
Group 4: A-GXXI IOBI or HRKOYLI + dots •
Group 5: -/A-G//XXI IOBI or HRKOYLI + dots •
Group 6: A-G/-//XXI IOBI or HRKOYLI + dots •
Figure 1 depicts distribution of material according to the groups. Early part of emi-
ssion represents groups G1+G2, whereas the following phase is divided into groups
G3+G4 and G5+G6. It could be seen that smaller volume of coins was produced in the
early phase (9.0%), whereas IOBI/HRKOLI series bearing workshop marks in the field
(groups G5+G6) are the largest (56%). There is no significant difference in numbers
for two emperors, with the exception of groups G1+G2 where coins of Diocletian are
more abundant, which is probably associated with the initial larger mint production for
the senior emperor.
Diocletian Maximian
Figure 1.
The largest number of coins has emperors depicted with bust right, radiate and
cuirassed (bust type B1), whereas the most common obverse inscriptions are those
with the longest legends IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG and IMP C C VAL
MAXIMIANVS P F AVG. Bust types with naked portraits (bust types A) are produced
only for Maximian, and the busts facing to the left are much less common or exceptions
for both emperors. The variety of combinations of obverse inscription / bust types is
larger for Maximian, and his coinage includes many hybrids and mint errors, whereas
only one hybrid specimen (no. 64) was found for Diocletian.
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Catalogue
Reverse types
Diocletian
Type D1. Emperor on left standing right holding scepter in left, Jupiter on right
standing left, each holding patera, both sacrificing at altar between them. (RIC 259-265)
Maximian
Type M1. Emperor on left standing right holding scepter in left, Hercules on right
standing left leaning on a club in left, both sacrificing at altar between them. (RIC
575-581)
Type M2. Emperor on left standing right holding scepter in left, Hercules on right
standing left holding club and lion skin in left, both sacrificing at altar between them.
(RIC 582)
Hybrids
Type D1h. Emperor on left standing right holding scepter in left, Hercules on right
standing left leaning on a club in left, both sacrificing at altar between them. (RIC -)
Type M1h. Emperor on left standing right holding scepter in left, Jupiter on right
standing left, each holding patera, both sacrificing at altar between them. (RIC -)
Diocletian
1 IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG
2 IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P AVG
3 IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS AVG
8 IMP C DIOCLETIANVS AVG
Maximian
2 IMP C M A VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG
3 IMP C M A VAL MAXIMIANVS P AVG
4 IMP C M A VAL MAXIMIANVS AVG
IMP C MAXIMIANVS P AVG
IMP C MAXIMIANVS AVG
Bust codes - according to the revision of RIC V.1/215, with added distinction to
wide wreath ties (w)16 and graphic codes given in Gerin catalogue.
Sylviane Estiot, Jérôme Mairat, Monnaies de l’Empire Romain / Roman Imperial Coinage AD 268-
15
276, http://www.ric.mom.fr
Alföldi, András, Siscia V, Probus sisciai antoninianusai, Numizmatikai Közlöny, XXXVI-XXXVII,
16
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D. Margetić, D. Margetić: Siscian issues of CONSERVATOR AVGG antoniniani ... Num. vijesti, no. 70, Zagreb, 2017
Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield seen from inside.
57 XXIG
- K4 -
58 XXIB
67
D. Margetić, D. Margetić: Siscian issues of CONSERVATOR AVGG antoniniani ... Num. vijesti, no. 70, Zagreb, 2017
- K4l -
59 XXIA, 60 XXIB, 61 XXIG
62 XXIA•
Radiate bust right in imperial mantle, holding sceptre surmounted by eagle in right
Hybrids
- K4l -
64 XXIA
Maximian
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70
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71
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- K4l -
163 XXIG
72
D. Margetić, D. Margetić: Siscian issues of CONSERVATOR AVGG antoniniani ... Num. vijesti, no. 70, Zagreb, 2017
- K4 -
169 XXIB
- K4l -
170 XXI•A, 171 XXI•A•
172 XXIB, 173 XXIG
73
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Hybrids
- K4l -
190 XXIG
74
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- K4 -
191 XXIG
- K4l -
192 XXIG
Provenance
(number of specimens), provenance of one specimen for each type and for
No. Gerin
illustrated coins
Diocletian
1 41 (-)
2 (2) Peuss 348 1996 544
3 47 (8) eb 2011/6/6 270758870020
4 47 (5) Moneta Romana 2013 5 27 67dd-550
5 47 (1) Obolos 7 2017 641-12
6 (10) Aufhäuser 8 1991 652
7 (1) CGB XXV 2010 216133
8 (8) eb 2011/3/1 230590116236
9 47 (15) eb 2016/7/2 36162332228
10 48 (14) Rauch summer 2013 964
11 48 (5) Rauch 45 1990 468
12 48 (24) eb 2011/5/16 200607758680
13 (6) eb 2012/7/23 50863820671
14 (15) Inasta 41 2011 887 = Inasta 36 2010 1019
15 49 (13) Hirsch 267 2010 781
16 49 (4) Lanz 82 1997 714
17 49 (28) Dorotheum 2010 1283
18 (7) internet 2009 celator 1
19 (47) CNG 73 2006 996
20 (2) eb 2014/11/1 371174557671
21 50 (33) Berk 84 1995 769
22 50 (-)
23 50 (19) Elsen 77 2003 551
24 (2) CNG 243 2010 442
25 (1) vcoins 2010/4/27 18386
26 (1) CNG 2008 773425 R265
27 51 (-)
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Maximian
65 26 (1) eb 2010/10/25 370449336014 Lanz
66 (1) eb 2009/5/24 170333533257
67 33 (2) CGB 21 1999 3427
68 33 (-) coll. Gerin
69 33 (-) coll. Gerin
70 (3) Münzen Medaillen 6 2000 369
71 (20) CNG 335 2014 615
72 (6) Hirsch 247 2006 2579
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