The Alleged Tetrarchic Mint at Iantinum

A small group of tetrarchic aurei bear the legend IAN where one would normally expect the mintmark to appear, and it has been assumed that they were struck at Iantinum (mod. Meaux) in Gallia Lugdunensis. It is argued here that this is not a mintmark, but an abbreviated statement assisting in the description of a key theme across the various reverse types with which it is associated, perhaps best expanded as Invictus Augustus Noster.