Diocletian Roman AE Antoninianus (AD 284-305) NGC

Own a certified Roman bronze AE Antoninianus of Diocletian (AD 284–305), authenticated and slabbed by NGC. This coin represents the reign of one of Rome’s most transformative and commanding emperors.

Diocletian assumed power in 284 AD, ending nearly fifty years of near-constant civil war and chaos known as the Crisis of the Third Century. He ruled with an iron hand, determined to restore order, stability, and strength to the battered Roman state. Among his many reforms, he restructured the empire’s administration, creating the Tetrarchy — a system of four rulers meant to ensure smooth succession and reduce internal conflict.

Though often remembered for his political and military reforms, Diocletian is also known for his role in the Great Persecution, one of the last and most severe campaigns against Christians in the Roman Empire.

Architecturally, Diocletian left a lasting legacy through the construction of Diocletian’s Palace in modern-day Split, Croatia. Originally built as his retirement residence, the palace became a model for later fortress-like architectural styles, influencing 19th-century designs known as Adam houses.

Bronze AE Antoniniani of Diocletian typically feature his radiate-crowned, armored bust on the obverse, with reverses celebrating military victories, imperial renewal, and divine favor — central themes of his reign.

Certified by NGC, this Antoninianus offers collectors a tangible link to the emperor who reshaped the Roman world and laid the foundation for the Byzantine era.