Potin Tetradrachm - Diocletian - Alexandria - Serapis Reverse

This sharply struck tetradrachm of Diocletian was one of the last ever minted just before the coinage reforms of the Diocletian standardized Roman coinage into what we call Late Roman Bronze Coins. The obverse shows the bust of the emperor and the Greek legend proclaims his titles in Greek.

The reverse depicts Serapis, the Greco-Egyptian god who combined aspects of Osiris, Apis, Zeus, and Hades, emphasizing divine authority, fertility, healing, and the afterlife. On this type, Serapis is shown holding a human head, which is generally interpreted as a symbol of his dominion over death and the underworld, or as a trophy representing his power over mortality and chaos. In Roman Egypt under Diocletian, the image reinforced both the enduring importance of Serapis as Alexandria's chief deity and the emperor's connection to divine protection and stability.

19.5 mm

7.24 g