Maxentius

Coinage
Biography...

104-968

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Maxentius caesar

—struck by Maxentius

Carthage, 306

obv.- M AVR MAXENTIVS NOB CAES; laur bust right

rev.- SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing left holding ears of grain and dates, ? in ex., H in left field

RIC VI Car 51a; Failmezger 151

28mm; 9.2g; nummus

plate coin for Failmezgar "Roman Bronze Coins" (Plate 8). ex Tory Failmezgar collection; ex Speck / Huston 1996

104-751

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Rome, 307

obv.- MAXENTIVS PF AVG;

rev.- CONSERVATORES VRB SVAE; Roma seated facing, in hexastyle temple, globe in right hand, scepter in left, shield at side, plain pediment, knobs as acroteria; R*T in ex

RIC VI Rom 195; Fail 127d

26mm; 6.1g; nummus

listed S in RIC

204-171

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Aquileia, 307

obv.- IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; Laureate head right

rev.- CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma seated left on shield in tetrastyle temple, presenting globe with right hand to Maxentius in military dress, scepter in left hand, seated captive between, Victories with wreaths as acroteria, wolf and twins in pediment AQP in exergue

RIC VI Aq 113

25mm; 6.1g; nummus

This coin isn't especially scarce, but it's tough to find with a complete, well-struck reverse; perhaps because the scene is so detailed, the dies tended to be fragile. However, the reverse of this coin is exceptional. The portrait is also very fresh and well-struck.

204-006

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Ticinum, 307-308

obv.- IMP MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head of Maxentius right

rev.- CONSERV VRB SVAE; Victory adv r, holding palm, crowning Roma std l in tetra-style temple, holding globe; seated captive between; Victories as acroteria; plain pedimentr; ST in ex

RIC VI Tic 106

24mm; 5.5g; nummus

listed S in RIC

104-978

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Ticinum, 307-308

obv.- MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head of Maxentius right

rev.- CONSERV VRB SVAE; helmeted Roma seated facing, head left, in hexastyle temple, holding globe and scepter; ST in ex

RIC VI Tic 91

25mm; 9.1g; nummus

overweight by 2 grams from expected range

204-061

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Aquileia, 307-309

obv.- IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG; Consular bust right

rev.- CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma in hexastyle temple; knobs as acroteria; crescent in pediment; AQS in ex

RIC VI Aq 121a;

25mm; 7.0g; nummus

204-072

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Carthage, 307

obv.- IMP MAXENTIVS PF AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- CONSERVATORES AFRICAE SVAE; Africa standing facing, head left, wearing elephant headdress, holding signum and tusk; at feet to left, a lion with a captured bull; SE-F//Γ

RIC VI Car 57; Fail 123

28mm; 9.5g; nummus

Listed as S in RIC; RR in Failmezgar; CNG notes "Rare"

104-943

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Carthage, 307

obv.- IMP MAXENTIVS PF AVG; laur bust r

rev.- CONSERVATORES KART SVAE; Carthago, wearing long dress and cloak, standing facing within hexastyle temple, head turned l., holding fruits in both her extended hands; PK-Δ in ex

RIC VI Car 60; Fail 124

26mm; 7.64g; nummus

last issue of Carthage (before Domitius Alexander revolt)

104-759

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Aquileia, 309

obv.- IMP MAXENTIVS PF AVG CONS II; Consular bust right

rev.- CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma in hexastyle temple; knobs as acroteria; crescent in pediment; AQS in ex

RIC VI Aq 125; Fail 127p

25mm; 5.7g; nummus

All of the tetrarchs at one time or another served as consul, an office that at this point in the Empire's history was largely ceremonial, but still carried weight because of its historical importance and connotations of legitimate power. Maxentius, however, was the only tetrarch who actually mentioned the office on his bronze coins, as on this obverse legend, "CONS II", commemorating his second consulship (except for a few rare coins by Maximinus II—who was also quite aggressive in promotional coinage). As a rebel, the question of legitimacy was vital to him. Since he had military control of Rome, he had little difficulty getting the Senate to vote him this traditional office. The portrait shows him wearing consular robes and holding the eagle-tipped scepter that was a symbol of the office. He also struck coins as CONS I and CONS III, to commemorate each of his three consulships.

104-549

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Ostia, 309

obv.- IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- AETERNITAS AVG N; Dioscuri facing each other, each holding horse by bridle with wolf and twins between them

RIC VI Ost 16; Fail 120

25mm; 6.3g; nummus

104-667

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Ostia, 309-310

obv.- IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- AETERNITAS AVG N; Castor and Pollux facing each other, leaning on scepters and holding bridled horses; MOSTS in exergue

RIC VI Ost 35; Fail 119

26mm; 6.0g; nummus

204-182

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Rome, 307-308

obv.- IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG; Laureate bust right

rev.- CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma seated facing, head left, in hexastyle temple, holding globe and sceptre, wreath in pediment; Victories as acroteria; H in left field; RS in ex

RIC VI Rom 202a

25mm; 6.3g; nummus

104-843

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Rome, 308-310

obv.- IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laur bust right

rev.- CONSERV VRBS SVAE; Roma seated facing, head l., in hexastyle temple, holding globe and sceptre; Victories as acroteria; Dioscuri in pediment between two circular altars; In ex RBT

RIC VI Rom 208; Fail 127j

26mm; 7.9g; nummus

Ex. Harlan J Berk

104-969

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Rome, 308-310

obv.- IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- MARTI COMITI AVG N; Mars advancing right carrying spear and shield, captive at feet, RBT in ex

RIC VI Rom 220; Fail 137

24mm; 5.7g; nummus

Rare. Plate coin for Failmezgar "Roman Bronze Coins" (Plate 7). ex Tory Failmezgar collection; ex Tom Cederland, 2001

104-117

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Maxentius nummus. $45—

—struck by Maxentius

Rome, 308-310

obv.- IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma seated within hexastyle temple

RIC VI Rom 258

24mm; 6.2g; nummus

Compact and solid flan with thick, glossy green-black patina. Sharp reverse detail with some toned silvering in the fields.

104-539

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Ticinum, 308-310

obv.- IMP MAXENTIVS AVG;

rev.- CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma seated l on shield in tetrasyle temple, holding globe and sceptre, opposite Victory offering wreath and holding palm; pediment empty; PT in ex

RIC VI Tic 108; Fail 126b

25mm; 8.7g; nummus

104-997

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Ostia, 308-310

obv.- IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- VICTOR OMNIVM GENT AVG N; Emperor in military dress standing right receiving Victory and suppliant Aftrica from Mars, MOSTT in ex

RIC VI Ost 55 (var); Fail 152

25mm; 3.9g; nummus

Unlisted in RIC for reverse legend variation; RIC 55 spells out "GENTIVM." In addition, RIC 55 is not recorded for officina T. Plate coin for Failmezgar "Roman Bronze Coins" (Plate 8). ex Tory Failmezgar collection; ex Harlan J Berk, 2000 (Philadelphia ANA show, Aug 2000). Note: This reverse type and legend duplicate gold aureus RIC 6.

204-075

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Ostia, 309-312

obv.- IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG; Laur. bust l., holding eagle-tipped sceptre and wearing consular robes

rev.- AETERNITAS AVG N; The Dioscuri stg. holding sceptre and horse on bridle; MOSTS in ex

RIC VI Ost 36

25mm; 6.5g; nummus

Note: RIC lists officinae P, T and Q for this issue. This coin fills the gap of missing officinal S. Listed as R2 in RIC.

104-580

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Ostia, 309-312

obv.- IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- FIDES MILITUM AUG N; Fides, or Faithfulness, standing left holding a military standard in each hand; MOSTT in ex

RIC VI Ost 45; Fail 133

25mm; 7.7g; nummus

rated C in RIC, S in Failmezger

204-329

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Ostia, 309-312

obv.- IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- SACVLI FELICITAS AVG N; She-wolf standing left, suckling twins; MOSTT in exergue

RIC VI Ost 52; Fail 150

24mm; 6.4g; nummus

204-058

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Ostia, 309-312

obv.- IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG; laur bust right

rev.- VICTORIA AETERNA AVG N; Victory adv left, holding wreath and palm; MOSTT in ex

RIC VI Ost 54

25mm; 7.2g; nummus

104-716

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Ostia, 309-312

obv.- MAXENTIVS PF AVG; helmeted, cuirassed bust l, holding spear and helmet

rev.- VICTORIA AETERNA AVG N; Victory standing right, foot on base of cippus with shield, inscribing VOT/X; captive std right

RIC VI Ost 61; Fail 172

21mm; 2.9g; half-nummus

204-059

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Rome, 310-311

obv.- IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG; laur bust r

rev.- VICTORIA AVG N; Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm; REP in ex

RIC VI Rom 272; Fail 155

25mm; 6.5g; nummus

ex. Tory Failmezger collection. plate coin for Failmezger's "Roman Bronze Coins" (plate 8)

104-829

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Maxentius augustus

—struck by Maxentius

Rome, 310-311

obv.- IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG; laur bust r

rev.- VICT[ORIA] AVG N; Victory standing right, handing globe to seated Maxentius; REQ in ex

RIC VI Rom 274 (var); Fail 157var

25mm; 5.1g; nummus

Completely unknown reverse type, but would be part of the Victory series, RIC 272-274 (page 384); this would presumably follow 274.

[biographical note goes here...]

son of Maximianus and Eutropia. Technically, son-in-law to Galerius, since married to Galerius' daughter, Maximilla.

Revolts on Oct 28, 306—three months after Constantine is acclaimed augustus, then recognized as caesar, in Britain/Gaul. Factors:

Jealousy/emulation of Constaintine

Support of praetorian guards in Rome, who had technically beed abolished by Galerius

Unpopular tax policies of Severus, etc.

Like Constantine, does not call himself augustus at first (princeps) but graduates to augustus shortly.

Maxentius (Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius)

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