Potin Tetradrachm - Diocletian - Alexandria - Tyche Reverse

This billon tetradrachm was struck at Alexandria under Diocletian, who reigned from 284 to 305 AD. The obverse legend reads Α Κ Γ ΟΥΑ ΔΙΟΚΛΗΤΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ, giving the emperor's titles in Greek, and shows the laureate, cuirassed bust of Diocletian facing right, in keeping with Alexandria's long tradition of striking its own Greek-legended coinage separate from the rest of the empire. The regnal date Γ in the field marks it as a third-year issue, dating it to 286/287 AD.

The reverse carries the legend ΕΤΟΥC ("of the year") and depicts Tyche, goddess of fortune and personification of the city, standing left and holding a rudder in her right hand and a cornucopia in her left, with a star above the regnal numeral to the right. The cornucopia signifies abundance and prosperity, while the rudder, an attribute of Tyche in her guise as Fortuna, symbolizes the steering of fate or fortune. The accompanying star is generally read as a mark of divine favor.

19mm

6.23g