By coincidence, these two Maximianus antoniniani I bought from two different sellers landed on my doorstep today. Also by coincidence, both were struck at Ticinum (now Pavia in northern Italy). I wasn't specifically looking for coins from this mint, but these two jumped at me when I saw them. Having had the afternoon to admire them, all I can say is that they sure did some good work there! I really like the portraits on both of these coins. Feel free to share your coins of Maximianus or of the Ticinum mint. MAXIMIANUS AE Antoninianus. 3.74g, 23.2mm. Ticinum mint, circa AD 286-288. RIC V-2 Ticinum 544. O: IMP C M A VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: HERCVLI CONSERVAT, Hercules standing right, holding club with lion's skin, on rock; SXXIT in exergue. MAXIMIANUS AE Antoninianus. 3.54g, 22mm. Ticinum mint, AD 287. RIC V-2 Ticinum 558. O: IMP C M A VAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: IOVI CONSERVAT, Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre; SXXIT in exergue.
Wonderful coins - the busts are very well executed, and the reverses have strong details. I can see why you were attracted to them. These pre-reform ants seem generally tougher to find in better grades than their post-reform cousins. Or is that just my imagination?
Those are very nice and I like your photos. I believe this mint was only in operation for a short time compared to others, something like 50 years. My only Constantine II Mint: Ticinum 316/317 AD AE 3 Obvs: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB CAES, Laureate draped and cuir right. Revs: CLARITAS REIPVBLICAE, SOL advancing holding whip. P to left, TT in exergue. 19mm, 3.90g
WOW, nice! Just, very nice. Good eye Mr. Z! I only have one: RI MAXIMIANUS HERCULIUS 286-305 CE antoninianus Antioch 292-295 CE CONCORDIA MILITVM Jupiter H-officina 8
both of those have great portraits Z! i have a probus from ticinum... PROBUS (276-282). Antoninianus. Ticinum. Obv: IMP C PROBVS P F AVG. Radiate and cuirassed bust right. Rev: FIDES MILIT / VIXXT. Fides standing left, holding standard in each hand. RIC 365. 24 mm, 3.4 g
You're probably right, but I haven't looked much at the post-reform radiates. I just find the ants much more interesting in terms of type and bust variety, even if the standards differ from mint to mint.
Thanks! It was closed in 326, but I don't when they started it up... Probus? 50 years sounds about right.
Thanks, man... I really like that chubby half-length bust of your first one. Let's have a few more Max's then!
Ticinum offers a couple opportunities for confusion worth noting. Both are illustrated on the Probus below. Mintmark TXXT shows the first T standing for the workshow and the last for Ticinum. We know this because there are also coins with PXXT and SXXT for the other officinae. The alloy mark is usually XXI for 20 parts copper to one part silver but Ticinum shortened it to just mention the XX orn20 parts added alloy. Ticinum is also the major mint using the coded coins of Probus. If anyone does not know these, I have a page: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/equiti.html
Here's a composite of some of the favorite coins of Maximian that I've sold over the last year or so. Three ants: Concordia Militum, Salus, Hercules; Concordia militum radiate fraction; Genio populi follis; and a Genio quarter follis - a rare denomination, basically a miniature version of the larger types. That was one of my better cherry-picks, found in a pile of common LRB's.
Nice coins, Z. Surprisingly I have only have two Ticinums. Aurelian (270 - 275 A.D.) Æ Antoninianus O: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust right. R: ORIENS AVG , Sol advancing left, raising right hand, globe in left, flanked by two captives at feet, txxt in ex Ticinum Mint 2nd Emission. 3rd Officina 3.81g RIC 151 Tacitus (275 - 276 A.D.) Æ(S) Antoninianus O: IMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: SECVRIT PERP, Securitas standing left, leaning on column. Ticinum mint 4.42g 22mm RCV #11812, Cohen #131, RIC V (1) 163
Of all mints of Maximianus, the ones I want most are the British (C and L) used by Carausius when he was trying to convince Diocletian and Maximianus that he was their 'brother' Augustus. I only have this one from London. Unfortunately it is off center losing the diagnostic AVGGG on the reverse right.
MAXIMIANUS AR Argenteus OBVERSE: MAXIMIANVS AVG, laureate head right REVERSE: VIRTVS MILITVM, four tetrarchs sacrificing before walls with 6 turrets Struck at Ticinum, 295 AD 2.6g, 18mm RIC VI 18b MAXIMIANUS AE Post reform radiate OBVERSE: IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS PF AVG, radiate bust right REVERSE: / VOT dot XX S in three lines within laurel wreath Struck at Ticinum, 299 AD 2.33 grs. 19.50 mm RIC RIC 36b
Beautiful coins zumbly, and love your four tetrarchs Argenteus Bing. One from Ticinum, Divus Constantius, after 308 AD, Ae Follis, 27mm, 5.92gm, RIC VI Ticinum 96,
