Bronze Large Follis Emperor Diocletian (284-305 AD | Reformer of the Empire)

Bronze Large Follis of Emperor Diocletian – an original from the birth of the Tetrarchy

Hardly any coin from the Roman imperial era tells so much history on so little surface area as the large follis of Emperor Diocletian. It sits heavy and solid in the hand: around 10 grams raw weight, approximately 27 mm diameter, a substantial flan made of copper-rich bronze. Whoever holds this piece holds a means of payment that changed hands roughly 1,700 years ago in the markets of Trier, Rome, Siscia, or Alexandria. No reprint. No modern re-strike. A genuine original from the Roman Empire.

Diocletian (284–305 AD): The reformer who reordered Rome

Diocletian took over an empire on the brink of collapse. Civil wars, usurpations, pressure on the Rhine, Danube, and Euphrat frontiers – and a currency that had lost trust through continued debasement. His response was radical: in the year 293 he appointed two Caesares, Constantius Chlorus and Galerius, thereby creating the Tetrarchy, the four-emperor system consisting of two Augusti and two Caesares. In 301 followed the famous Edict on Maximum Prices against galloping inflation. On 1 May 305, Diocletian voluntarily abdicated – a unique event in the history of Roman emperors.

The follis: Diocletian's new leading coin against currency devaluation

Around 294, the follis was introduced as part of the coinage reform. It was cut to 1/32 of a Roman pound – roughly 10 grams – struck in bronze and coated with a thin layer of silver, the so-called silver wash. Its diameter ranged between 27 and 30 mm, and the weight of surviving folles between approximately 9 and 13 g. Upon introduction, the coin was valued at 12.5 nummi, and with the reform of 1 September 301 it was revalued to 25. The follis thus became the most important new copper/bronze coin of late antiquity – the everyday money of an entire era.

Design: Imperial portrait and the Genius of the Roman People

• Obverse: Bust or head of Diocletian with laurel wreath facing right, surrounding legend in the style of IMP DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG.
• Reverse: The classic main type GENIO POPVLI ROMANI – the Genius of the Roman People, draped in a cloak, holding a sacrificial dish (patera) and cornucopia (Cornucopiae).
• Mint mark: depending on the piece, roughly TR (Trier), ALE (Alexandria), SIS (Siscia), or ANT (Antioch), along with officina and value marks in the field.
• Face value: Follis · Country: Roman Empire · Raw weight: 10 g · Diameter: 27 mm.

Condition: circulated money with authentic traces

These pieces are circulated means of payment and bear corresponding traces: darker patina, individual centering, nicks, wear, and sometimes weaker areas of the legend. This is exactly what makes them appealing. Since the year of minting, mint, and reverse variant can vary, the delivered specimen will differ from the image shown – you receive an original, not a mass-produced item. Please understand that the image in the shop represents an example and may individually differ from the delivered item in terms of appearance and condition due to historical circumstances.

Who this follis is suited for

• Newcomers to ancient numismatics: a large-format, easily legible type with a clear attribution to one of the most significant emperors in world history.
• Thematic collectors: ideal as a starting point for a collection organized by mints, officinae, or tetrarchs.
• History enthusiasts and gift-givers: a tangible piece of late antiquity that immediately brings any narrative about Rome to life.
• Those interested in tangible assets: as a historical tangible asset, a collector's addition alongside classic investment products.

Gold is humanity's oldest currency and has outlasted all others. The follis tells the other half of this story: what happens when a state continually dilutes its money – and why real value in hand has always created trust.

In comparison: Follis, Antoninianus, and Argenteus

The Antoninianus of the preceding decades is smaller, lighter, and in its late phase low in silver content – historically fascinating, but often visually unremarkable. The Argenteus, Diocletian's high-quality silver coin, is significantly rarer and correspondingly more challenging to acquire. The large follis sits precisely in between: substantial size, strong relief, and wide availability in various conditions. Anyone collecting ancient coins will find here the best compromise of presence, design quality, and historical significance. As a pure metal investment, however, a bronze follis is not intended – its appeal lies in collector's value and history. For inflation hedging and crisis protection in the narrower sense, investors turn to bullion coins and bars made of gold and silver; the follis complements such a portfolio with the historical dimension.

An ancient original, struck under an emperor who reinvented the Roman Empire – and a coin that literally cast the transition from the Principate to late antiquity in bronze. Secure your personal specimen while supplies last.