AD 284–311 First Roman Tetrarchy 4-pc Set NGC Slab

Centuries-Old Coins From Ancient Rome

Following the Crisis of the Third Century, a period from AD 235–284 during which the Roman Empire nearly collapsed, a brilliant statesman emerged: Emperor Diocletian. Though he is infamous for aggressively persecuting Christians, his plan to divide the Empire into Eastern and Western Empires each ruled by senior and junior emperors was a stroke of genius. This four-headed tetrarchy put the empire back on solid ground, distancing itself from the chaos that saw at least 26 men, mostly prominent Roman army generals, lay claim to the title of emperor.

The Rise And Fall Of The Roman Tetrarchy

Here you have four coins from the first four tetrarchs of Ancient Rome. Diocletian, who reigned as Roman emperor or Augustus from 284 until his abdication in 305. In 285 he appointed Maximian as Caesar or junior emperor and promoted him to co-Augustus in 286. Diocletian would reign the Eastern Empire while Maximian would rule the West. In 293 he appointed two Caesars, Galerius and Constantius, making four simultaneous rulers. Galerius would serve as Diocletian’s heir apparent and serve as Caesar. Constantius served in the same capacity for Maximian. These four men were seen to be necessary to effectively rule the massive empire. The plan worked for a while—a short while. When Constantine I was elevated to the role of Western Emperor in 306 it started things in motion for another crisis that ultimately ended in 324 when after a series of civil wars, Constantine emerged as sole emperor of the Roman Empire and earned himself the title of Constantine the Great.

Authenticated And Encapsulated By NGC

Each billon coin available in this offer features the portrait of one of the emperors. Roman double denarii have plenty of room for beautiful portraits and designs. The reverses of these coins vary, but often display pagan religious imagery. Each is authenticated by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) and comes in a beautiful display case. Secure yours now!