TYPE Greek Imperial, Diocletian (284-305 AD), bronze (technically billon) tetradrachm (AE18) of Alexandria, struck 292/3 AD DESCRIPTION . Obv: Laureate bust, Greek legend DIOKLETIANOS SEV Rev: Elpis with flower, raising drapery, star in field, Greek legend: ENATOV L in field (reg. yr. 9 - 292/3 AD) REFERENCE: cf. SGI 4787-8 GRADING: VF+ / VF dark patina, greenish highlights ORDER INFO: R2044, $30 Scarcer version for this reverse type, with dating fully spelled out. These small bronzes of thick fabric were the final survivors of the centuries-old tetradrachm tradition of Alexandria, represented even in earlier Roman times with nice silver and later billon issues. Moreover, they are the last vestige of the once vast Greek imperial (Roman provincial) series - differently denominated Roman local coinage with typically Greek legends - brought to a close by Diocletian's centralizing monetery reform of 294-6 AD, a mere couple of years after the present issue, other mints having already closed decades earlier.