S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI ("The Senate and Roman People, for the Best Princeps”) is a legend that most will probably associate with the coins of Trajan, who was granted the title optimus princeps by the Senate. You'll occasionally also find it on coins of other rulers such as Antoninus Pius, Septimius Severus, and perhaps a little mystifyingly in the case of the coin below, Maximinus II Daia. MAXIMINUS II DAIA AE Reduced Follis Rome mint, October 312 - May 313 AD RIC 350b O: IMP MAXIMINVS P F AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Legionary eagle facing left, between two military standards, one surmounted by a hand, the other by a wreath. Mintmark RP. Without going into how incongruous Maximinus II wears the title of Best Princeps, it's interesting to note that this rather scarce type was struck in Rome by Constantine (in his own name as well as that of Licinius and Maximinus II) shortly after he defeated Maxentius at Milvian Bridge on 28 October 312 AD and took control of the city. Also interesting is that the reverse revives a type issued at Rome by the original optimus princeps, Trajan almost exactly 200 years before. Below is an example of that issue (not my coin). The legend is exactly the same and the devices largely so. One of the military standards is topped with a manus (an open hand symbolizing the loyalty of the soldiers) and the other a wreath (signifying an award or honor). Please post your OPTIMO PRINCIPI coins or coins with aquila and standards!
Wow TIF, super new addition ... it has great rugged looks (I love the reverse) I'm pretty sure that I only have this one example with "aquila" ... Sextus Pompey, Son of Pompey the Great, AR Denarius (Sicily, Messana) 42-40 BC Diameter: 18 mm Weight: 3.5 grams Obverse: MAG PIVS IMP ITER, galley adorned with aquila, sceptre and trident before the Pharos (Lighthouse) of Messana, decorated with a statue of Neptune Reverse: PRÆF CLAS ET ORÆ MARIT EX S C, the monster Scylla, her torso of dogs and fishes, wielding a rudder as a club
ahaha => ooops sorry, Z-bro (I didn't mean to give your coin-praise to our princess ... force of habit, I guess?)
interesting new coin mr z! i have coins with eagles, and coins with standards, but no coins with eagles and standards. another thing to put on my list.
