Diocletian, 284-305. Follis (Silvered bronze, 29 mm, 9.25 g, 11 h), Rome, circa 303-May 305. IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG Laureate head of Diocletian to right. Rev. SAC MON VRB [AVGG ET CAESS NN] / R(crescent)P Moneta standing front, head to left, holding scales in her right hand and cornucopiae in her left. E. Ghey: Rauceby Hoard Catalogue, in: ibid. (ed.): Recent Discoveries of Tetrarchic Hoards from Roman Britain and their Wider Context. British Museum Research Publication 236. London 2024, p. 279, 854.5 (this coin). 111a. A highly interesting overstrike (see note below). Thin flan crack and with some flatness and traces of overstriking on the reverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.



Traces of the undertype on the reverse indicate that this piece was overstruck at a 180° angle on a follis of the same type, though not from the same die. This suggests that two reverse dies of identical type were used in alternation to expedite the minting process. It is likely that at least four workers were involved: two alternating with different reverse dies of the same type, one placing the flans into the obverse die, and one striking with the hammer. The rapid succession of strikes resulted in this coin being struck twice - by both reverse dies - at an exact 180° rotation. For a similar overstrike from the First Tetrarcy, see lot 906 above.

The Rauceby Hoard was discovered by a detectorist near Ancaster (Lincolnshire) in July 2017, close to Ermine Street, originally a Roman road leading from Londinium (London) to Lindum Colonia (Lincoln) and Eboracum (York). The hoard of over 3000 coins – all tetrarchic folles – was contained in a large ceramic vessel, itself buried at the center of an oval pit lined with quarried limestone. This betrays a deliberate act rather than haphazard burial in the face of danger and, quite possibly, the hoard was a votive offering to the gods. The youngest coin in the hoard was a reduced follis of Maximian, perhaps minted under Constantine I, but no coins of the latter as Augustus were found. This means the hoard was likely buried circa 307, amidst the events of Constantine I's acclamation as Caesar in Eboracum in 306 and his subsequent elevation to the rank of Augustus in December 307. The importance of the hoard further lies in its well-recorded find context and the fact that it is the largest recorded hoard from this period found in Britain to date.