I took Friday off work to take advantage of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday - a 4 day weekend, Yeah!! As I had no plans and nothing at all to do I putzed around town a bit and wound up at an antique store where I happened across this: Somewhat unsure, I believe the correct attribution would be: Maximinus I, 235 - 238 AD. Denarius. Obverse: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus right. Reverse: SALVS AVGVSTI, Salus seated left feeding serpent rising from altar. I do, of course, already have a Max Thrax in the collection which I love, but I just couldn't pass on this purchase. ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ and the spoiler here is that this one is 178mm & 989g !! Hope everyone is having a great weekend - post whatever! -d
Never seen a Maximinus quite like that one. If I had come across it I would have thought it was a modern fantasy piece...just doesn't look genuine at all. Sorry! Also, it's just too big and heavy to be a denarius. Just seems wrong to me. Here is what a genuine denarius of that type looks like. So whatever it is, I don't think the portrait, art style, and writing style is authentic Roman imperial style from the mid- 3rd Century, and the weight and size is definitely not a denarius. Are you sure it's authentic? Here is my one and only Thrax...and he doesn't even look like himself as the die was probably a converted S. Alexander from right when the news of his death and Maximinus' rise to power reached the mint, so the portrait was hurriedly changed to reflect the new emperor. I still need a proper Thrax with the huge chin and elongated face.
Wow, that's an interesting... piece! Seems to be some sort of display made by someone with a coin where they couldn't quite make out the legends. Modern... but why was it made? In any case, it's a cool desk decoration! Here's a more conventional Maximinus denarius with a Salus reverse.
Yep, yours is the real deal. I hope @dadams didn't buy his thinking it was real. That's just a horrendous fake. I'm sorry, I'm trying to be nice, but man that's a terrible one. It's not even trying. Maybe that's the point, whomever made it wasn't trying to fool anyone...probably. It must just have been some pet project or some club medal that was never supposed to pass as the real thing.
Haha no... I'm sure he's posting this with a wink and knows this is a modern display. But when you find something like this at a antique store as an ancient coin collector... next thing you know, you've bought it and it's riding shotgun in your car. I would have bought it too!
Yeah, now that I read your post I think I get it. It would probably make a nice paperweight or a cool piece to just carry around just for fun. I was looking at it from the point of being a forgery, but it's so obvious that I think the correct way to look at it is as contemporary pop art. I get it now. It's cool!
What a bizarre item! I wonder what its purpose originally was. Almost a kilogram in weight, too! But with a thread titled such as this, I'm not letting the opportunity to post this one go by:
I got real worried at first that you thought it was legit Then I noticed the books behind it and saw the size and weight....phew
It's neat...and a funny post @dadams . I cannot let a chance go by to not post my Maximinus Thrax! Maximinus Thrax, Rome, AD 235-238 AE, sestertius, 31mm, 20g; 12h; AD 235-236 Obv.: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG; laureate, draped bust right Rev.: PROVIDENTIA AVG; Providence standing left with cornucopiae and wand over globe at feet, S-C across field Not a denarius, no Salus, and not as big and heavy as yours but it does have a nice heft in hand.
This is my only Maximinus I, unfortunately it is a forgery. From what you all have said here on the forum, it is likely a forgery from around the time of Maximinus, which makes it pretty cool in my book. Maximinius I, Thrax Denarius - Forgery Fouree Obverse: Maximinus I, IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped bust right Reverse: Severus Alexander, P M TR P VI COS II P P, Aequitas standing left with scales and cornucopiae
I couldn't have resisted that purchase either! Here's my as of this type with a spelling error on the reverse: VERY cool!! I love it.
Great coins all! I had originally intended to post just the coin img but then figured I did need to include the spoiler so a lot of effort wouldn't be expended to educate me on my poor purchase. I don't see much roman shelf fodder that goes well on the bookcase so for 23 bucks thought it was a good buy. I appreciate @Sallent taking the time to compose his reply, but yes even if this was coin sized I'd have pegged it being bad. Hope everyone is having a great day. Here is my legit MT: MAXIMINUS I THRAX, 235-238 AD. AR Denarius (3.24 gm), 235-6. Laureate draped bust / Providentia standing holding baton and cornucopiae, globe at feet. RIC.13
Well, at first I was like..... But after Orange Julius commented I was like.... Now I want a paper weight like that for my office.
