I just got this Maxentius delivered earlier today. I didn't have one of his coins and this one looked nice, was a good price, and was misattributed as Galerius. I find the details of the temple incredibly fascinating, and almost "cute", with the 2 victory figures on left and right of the roof, and the zig-zaggy embellishments. I picked this one up from our dear CT member, Mr. Esty (edited... Oops!) back in the end of May... A pretty cool Constantine II. And this one was in the same group purchased from Warren. This is an Alexis I Comnenus aspron trachy.
Great pick ups, those Maxentius temple types are full of interest with their slight variations to the temple.
Great Temple coin. I rather like contemporary engravings and reliefs of ancient temples. Contrary to the Greek temples with heavily statued pediments, many Roman temples went with either large bronze letters, or a variety of garlands, swags, and vegetation in the pediments. What I see in your coin reverse is a pediment with potentially a central vegetal wreath with swags on either side. The Victory acroteria are probably reasonably accurate, if somewhat smaller in real life. I do however doubt the cult statue was that large. We have some massive Roman cult statues (Constantine and Domitian, Madama Lucrezia(?) ), but I sort of doubt that there would have been a Olympian Zeus-scale deity in that temple.
Fun Maxentius with a disco dance party going on the pediment, like on mine: Maxentius as Augustus, AD 307-312. Roman billon follis, 6.53 g, 24.6 mm, 10 h. Rome, AD 307-308. Obv: IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG, radiate head right. Rev: CONSERV VRB SVAE, Roma seated facing in hexastyle temple, head left, globe in right hand, scepter in left, shield at side behind, Victories as acroteria, wreath on pediment, H left, R S in exergue. Refs: RIC 202a; Cohen 21; RCV 14986.
Never buy coins from Etsy the online seller of anything. Feel confident in coins from Warren Esty aka Valentinian on Coin Talk and a knowledgeable dealer.
Thank you for catching that! Agreed, Etsy is not the venue for purchasing ancient coins. Warren certainly is (and for lots of other resources!).
Great resemblance! They've certainly got the fever!! "Stayin' Alive, stayin' alive, ah ah ah ah... Stayin' aliiiiiii-iiiiii-iiiii-iiiiiive!"
..hehe..as soon as i saw that temple you came to mind AA.....yeah! dandy coins.. i need one of both Max & a cup coin for my lil bunch!
