Lot 4207
Diocletian, AD 284-305. Gold Aureus (5.1g) minted at Rome, AD 287. DIOCLETIA - NVS P F AVG. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right of Diocletian. Reverse: IOVI FVL - GE - RAT - ORI. Jupiter standing left, head and torso right, poised to hurl thunderbolt brandished in raised right hand; at his feet to right, anguipede giant; in exergue, P R. Sear 12558; Calicó 4531; Jameson 310 (same dies); cf. RIC 146 (FVLGVRATORI in error). Lustrous. Only four specimens published. Superb Extremely Fine.
When, at the end of the third century, Diocletian devised his new tetrarchic system of government, the two imperial houses of East and West each adopted a different god as their special guardian deity. In the West, Maximian and his Caesar Constantius chose Hercules as their protector, and his image appears frequently on their coins. Similarly, the eastern rulers Diocletian and Galerius came under the special protection of Jupiter, chief deity of the Greco-Roman pantheon, and a wide variety of different representations are shown, especially on the gold coinage.
On this aureus of the Rome mint, Jupiter appears as the Thunderer (Iupiter Fulgerator) hurling his thunderbolt at Porphyrion, king of the twenty-four anguipede giants who made war on Olympus.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 13,000.
The Hunter Collection; Ex Harlan J. Berk Sale 89, February 14, 1996, lot 15.
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| Realized $13,800 |
