RIC VII, HERACLEA [before 8], DIOCLETIAN, UNLISTED FOR RULER [IRREGULAR COIN]

OBVERSE	DIOCLETI-ANVSAVG [DIOCLETIANVS AVG]; head r., laur.
REVERSE	Fourfold wreath enclosing SIC X/SIC XX and SMHB; at top of wreath, small eagle in circle.
NOT IN RIC	UNLISTED FOR RULER. RIC VII lists this rev. type only for Constantine I and Licinius I (HERACLEA 8-10; see example of HERACLEA 8). Diocletian is not attested and of course such coin would be strange and anachronistic. Note, however, that there is also a genuine small Æ fraction minted for Diocletian in Treveri with similar rev. (RIC VI TREVERI 565; The New York Sale XIV, lot 402, 1.51 g). Apparently an ancient imitation made from wrong dies. Could be noted before HERACLEA 8.

NOTES

Aureus (subaeratus). Weight 2.56 g. Coin sold on Frühwald auction 141 (lot 665) in April 2021 for EUR 260.