BRITANNIC COINAGE OF CONSTANTIUS

THE FIRST AND SECOND TETRARCHIES

An overview of the First and Second Tetrarchies and a chronology of events relating to the coinage produced in Britain during that period. Footnote links are identified by numbers enclosed in [square brackets] in the body of the text. I frequently post notes and addenda on this integral Message Board. Visitor posts, including questions, are most welcome.

The First Tetrarchy: Diocletian/Galerius & Maximian/Constantius

In 293 Diocletian [1] (Caius Aurelius Verus Diocletianus) Augustus of the East, in conjunction with Maximian Herculius [2] (Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus) Augustus of the West, finalized the Institution of a Tetrarchy -- government of the Empire by four interacting rulers -- two Augusti assisted by two subordinate Caesars, which each Augustus would personally select. Diocletian emphasized his status as Senior Augustus by adopting Jovius as his Protector-God and assigning Herculius to Maximian. The two Caesars, chosen because of their proven leadership abilities, assisted the Augusti with civil administration and command of the armies. Caius Galerius Valerius Maximianus: Galerius Maximian [3] was chosen by Diocletian to be his Caesar of the East and Flavius Valerius Constantius: Constantius [4] was chosen by Maximian to be his Caesar of the West. Inasmuch as Constantius was instituted as Caesar at an earlier date than Galerius, he was designated senior in the Imperial hierarchy. The Empire was divided into four geographical areas of governance: Diocletian and Galerius maintained their eastern headquarters at Nicomedia and Thessalonica respectively, while Maximian and Constantius maintained their western headquarters at Milan and Trier respectively.

RIC VI, Londinium, Diocletian, No. 6a - Augustus of the East

[Diocletian coin photo] [Diocletian coin photo]
IMP C DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG .......................... GENIO POPVLI ROMANI


actual size of coin

RIC VI, Londinium, Maximian Herculius, No. 6b (tentative attribution) - Augustus of the West

[Maximianus coin photo] [Maximianus coin photo]
IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG ......................... GENIO POPVLI ROMANI


actual size of coin

RIC VI, Londinium, Constantius, No. 22 (tentative attribution) - Caesar of the West

[Constantius coin photo] [Constantius coin photo]
CONSTANTIVS NOB C ............................ GENIO POPVLI ROMANI


actual size of coin

RIC VI, Londinium, Galerius Maximian, No. 33 (tentative attribution) - Caesar of the East

[Galerius coin photo] [Galerius coin photo]
MAXIMIANVS NOBIL C .............................. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI


actual size of coin

In 303 the two Augusti announced their intention to simultaneously abdicate and retire (Maximian somewhat reluctently), their titles and authority to be assumed by the Caesars, who in turn would appoint new Caesars thus perpetuating the system. Diocletian and Maximian did in fact abdicate and retire together in 305.

Abdication coinage - Seniore Augustus (Senior=retired):

RIC VI, Londinium, Diocletian, No. 77a

[Abdication coin photo] [Abdication coin photo]
DN DIOCLETIANO FELICISSIMO SEN AVG
PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVGG


actual size of coin

Chronology of Events:

293 AD
* Diocletian institutes Tetrarchy -- two Augusti assisted by two Caesars selected by them.
* Diocletian adopts Jovius (senior) as his Protector-God.
* Maximian adopts Herculius as his Protector-God.
* Galerius Maximian is selected by Diocletian to be his Caesar of the East.
* Constantius is selected by Maximian to be his Caesar of the West.

296 AD
* Constantius, Caesar of the West, invades Britain (April)
* Constantius defeats the Usurper Augustus, Allectus and restores Britain to the Empire.
* Establishment of the official London Mint [5]
* Obverse legend titulature for Tetrarchic coins [6]

297 AD
* Initial follis weight range is 11 to 9 grams which prevails until mid 307 [7]
* Silver content is approx. 4% to 3% [8]
* Mint mark is LON in the exergue of the coin reverse [9]

300 AD
* (no Mint mark in exergue of coin reverse)

303 AD
* Diocletian and Maximian announce their intention to abdicate and retire.

305 AD
* Joint abdication and retirement of Diocletian and Maximian (1 May).
* First issue of "Abdication" coinage.
* Obverse legend reflects retired status of Diocletian & Maximian as Seniores Augusti [10]

The Second Tetrarchy: Constantius/Severus & Galerius/Maximinus

In May of 305 Constantius succeeded Maximian as Augustus of the West and Galerius succeeded Diocletian as Augustus of the East, as planned. Flavius Valerius Severus: Severus [11] was appointed Caesar of the West and Galerius Valerius Maximinus Daia: Maximinus [12] was appointed Caesar of the East. The second Tetrarchy was thus created.

Constantius died at York in Britain during a campaign against the warlike tribes of the North in 306. Before he died, Constantius conferred Imperium on his son, Flavius Valerius Constantinus (the future Constantine the Great) who was campaigning with his father.

RIC VI, Londinium, Severus, No. 59a

[Severus coin photo] [Severus coin photo]
SEVERVS NOBILISSIMVS NOB CAES ................. GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI


actual size of coin

RIC VI, Londinium, Maximinus, No. 59b

[Maximinus coin photo] [Maximinus coin photo]
MAXIMINVS NOBILISSIMVS NOB CAES ............ GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI


actual size of coin

Chronology of Events:

305 AD
* Elevation of Constantius and Galerius to Augustus in early May.
* Severus is selected by Constantius to be his Caesar in the West.
* Maximinus is selected by Galerius to be his Caesar in the East.
* The second Tetrarchy is thus created.

306 AD
* Constantius becomes gravely ill during campaign against war-like tribes in northern Britain.
* Constantius confers Imperium on his son, Constantine.
* Constantius dies of natural causes at York, northern Britain, 25 July.

Footnotes (with return links to location in text)

[1] Diocletian was born in Dalmatia c. 245 AD as Diocles. He was proclaimed Augustus by the army in 284 after the death of Carus and his son, Numerian, during a campaign against the Persians. The second son of Carus, Carinus, was killed by a faction of the army leaving Diocletian the undisputed Augustus. After their abdication, both Diocletian and Maximian were accorded the titles of Seniores Augusti -- to serve as elder statesmen when called upon. While that titulature afforded them reverence and stature, the serving Augusti wielded supreme power. RIC (Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume VI), Rees and Nixon/Rodgers use the appellation Diocletian. He was sixty-eight when he died in 313 AD. (DATT 5; IPOLRE 45-46, 204; RICVI 7-11, 24-27) Location in page [1]

[2] Maximian did not pursue a quiet retirement in the manner of Diocletian after their abdication in 305. As recorded in the text and chronology of events sections of this page, he could not relinquish power easily. He finally died by his own hand after a failed plot (which was exposed by his own daughter, Fausta) to depose Constantine. RIC uses the appellation Maximian Herculius while Rees and Nixon/Rodgers use Maximian. Often listed in coin catalogs and commercial sale lists as Maximianus. (DATT 6-7; IPOLRE 42, 203-204; RICVI 7-8, 15-16) Location in page [2]

[3] Galerius was the son-in-law of Diocletian having married his daughter, Valeria, prior to his own appontment to Caesar. Although these Tetrarchic familial alliances prevailed, Rees points out that family bonds were not a prerequisite for elevation to the Tetrarchic college (although such alliances certainly helped). Like all successor Tetrarchs, Galerius was an army field General of notable skill and ability. RIC uses the appellation Galerius Maximian while Rees and Nixon/Rodgers use Galerius. Caution should be exercised when attributing the coins of Galerius & Maximian due to the similarity of the name forms in the obverse legend. (DATT 77; RICVI 9, 14) Location in page [3]

[4] Also known as Constantius Chlorus ("the pale"). Constantius married Theodora, the step-daughter of Maximian, after divorcing his first wife, Helena who had borne him a son - Constantinus (the future "Constantine the Great") - in order to strengthen Tetrarchic bonds. In the complex hierarchal system of the time, Constantius was senior to Galerius having been invested as Caesar at an earlier date. RIC, Rees and Nixon/Rodgers use the appellation Constantius. Often listed in coin catalogs and commercial sale lists as Constantius I to distinguish him from his grandson. (DATT 77; IPOLRE 50-51; RICVI 12-13, 27-28) Location in page [4]

[5] The unofficial London Mint of the Usurper Augusti was re-opened by the Tetrarchs after the restoration of Britain to the Empire in 296 as an official mint with one officina (workshop). (RICVI 113) Location in page [5]

[6] Example coin obverse titulature for Augusti:
IMP C DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG

IMP = Imperator (army supreme commander)
{name form of Diocletian}
PF = Pius Felix (dutiful and wise leader)
AVG = Augustus (unique title of Emperors)

Example coin obverse titulature for Caesars:
FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C

{name form of Constantius}
NOB C = Nobilissimus Caesar (noble prince) -- sometimes NOB CAES, NOBIL C, NC, etc. (RICVI 27, 29-40) Location in page [6]

[7] Only aes (bronze) coins -- named Follis -- composed of an alloy of copper (by far the largest constituent), tin, lead, silver (and with a silver surface wash?) were produced by the London Mint. The size and weight of these coins steadily diminished throughout this period. Coins were initially approx. 28 mm in diameter (11 grams) gradually declining to approx. 20 mm in diameter (3.5 grams and less). (RICVI 101, 115-122) Location in page [7]

[8] The silver content declined from an initial value of approx. 4% to 3% by the end of this time period. (RICVI 94-99) Location in page [8]

[9] This mint mark was used for the first series of coins produced at London (?) after its re-opening in 297. This may have been an experiment as subsequent issues were unmarked until the introduction of the PLN mint mark in the summer of 307. Location in page [9]

[10] Coin obverse titulature for retired (Seniors) Augusti: Diocletian & Maximian:
DN DIOCLETIANO FELICISSIMO SEN AVG

DN = Dominus Noster (Our Lord)
{name form of Diocletian}
FELICISSIMO = felicity/happiness (for)
SEN = Senior (retired)
AVG = Augustus (unique title of Emperors)

(RICVI 27, 29-40) Location in page [10]

[11] The name form Severus is used by Rees, Nixon/Rodgers and Sutherland (and me). It is often listed in coin catalogs and commercial sale lists as Severus II to distinguish him from the previous Emperor Septimus Severus. (IPOLRE 180-181; RICVI 26-29) Location in page [11]

[12] Lactentius asserts that Maximinus was the nephew of Galerius. RIC uses the appellation Maximinus while Rees and Nixon/Rodgers use Maximinus Daia. Often listed in coin catalogs and commercial sale lists as Maximinus II to distinguish him from the previous Emperor Maximinus. (DATT 78, RIC 26-27) Location in page [12]

References and Resources

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