Rare Diocletian issue with small bust of Sol on his imperial mantle
RIC VI (Alexandria) 128
DN DIOCLETIANO BEAT SEN AVG - Laureate, R. in imperial mantle, bust of Sol on breast
PROVIDENTIA DEORVM - Providentia standing right, extending hand to Quies standing left, holding branch and leaning on sceptre
Crescent over B over KP//ALE
7.72g, 24mm, 310-311 AD
This beauty arrived today, and I couldn't be more pleased with it. Instead of the standard bust type used for the 'abdication coinage' for Diocletian and Maximian, featuring a mantled bust holding and olive branch and mappa, this rare and very late type at Alexandria features a small bust of either Sol or Jupiter on the breast instead.
It has remarkably little wear, smooth surfaces and areas of golden toned silvering.
I was concerned about the green encrustations, but thankfully they are rock solid and inert, and the picture makes it appear far lighter than it is in hand. There is a groove worn into the edge of the coin at the top right of the reverse which makes me think it was buried while in contact with another metal object and the contact caused the wear and the formation of encrustations.