Pedigreed to 1931 Diocletian, 284-305. Aureus (Gold, 19 mm, 4.51 g, 12 h), on the light standard, Cyzicus, 284. IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG Laureate, lightly bearded, draped and cuirassed bust of Diocletian to right. Rev. VICTORIA A-V-G Victory, standing to left in a biga rushing to left, holding a wreath in her upraised right hand and a palm branch with her left. Biaggi 1740 (this coin). Calicó 4567b R4, but the reverse inscription incorrectly rendered and Calicó 4574 (R4, this coin). Cohen 464 var. Depeyrot 1/3 (this coin cited). Lukanc Cyzicus 18 var. and p.111 (this coin cited). Mazzini 464v (this coin). RIC V, 2, 303 var. (undated). Very rare. Clear and attractive. Traces of mounting above Diocletian's head and some pin scratches. About extremely fine. From The Dr. Ivo Lukanc Collection of the Gold Coinage of Diocletian, ex Weil 26 March 1981, 123, and from the collections of Leo Biaggi de Blasys (1906 - 1979), G. Mazzini and J. Martini of New York, Baranowsky, Milan, 25 February 1931, 3070. This coin was probably struck at the beginning of December, a short time after Diocletian, then still called by his birth name, Diocles, was acclaimed emperor by the army in nearby Nicomedia. The new emperor would have needed to pay donatives both to the army and to his other supporters. The reverse type of Victory in a biga presumably refers to the late Persian campaign, as well as the forthcoming struggle with Carinus. Do compare the portrait on this coin, which gives the impression of being taken from life, with those more generic ones produced in Antioch - over 1250 km away from Cyzicus as the crow flies - which were probably taken from sketches made by artists travelling with the army in Bithynia. https://cdn.nomosag.com/auctions/95/video00001.mp4?sv=2023-01-03&ss=b&srt=co&st=2025-03-10T16%3A25%3A27Z&se=2099-03-11T16%3A25%3A00Z&sp=rl&sig=i7RzFAqwYGMJUp3u71BbRyL3HhIAtR%2F8cUnRnTVQfyU%3D&rsct=video%2Fmp4