Roman Empire Diocletian (284-305) Follis

The word "Follis" is used for large Roman bronze coins. These coins were introduced during Diocletian's coinage reform, around 294. The original name of the coin is unknown. It weighed about 10 grams and contained about 4% silver, mainly in the form of a thin layer of silver on its surface. Later research has shown that the name "follis" is incorrect and that the coin was probably known more as "nummus" in the ancient world. The word "follis" is Latin for "bag", usually made of leather, and the term is a sealed bag, used to name it, which contained a certain amount of money. It has also been suggested that the coin was named "Follis" because of the ancient Greek word "φολίς", which means a thin layer of metal (compared to the Latin "folium", meaning "leaf"), which can cover the surface of various objects, as the coins were originally thinly silvered. Diocletian's "Follis" decreased in value and size over time.