I picked up a man today!

Finally bought this one after a month or so. What really sold me was that reverse! This coin easily has the best looking reverse for a Siliqua I have ever seen.

As you might have guessed, MM is my favorite Emperor/General/Usurper of the later Roman Empire. Over the past few weeks I have tried to research him and his rule. This was a bit of a challenge considering that sources from this time are a bit sparse or outright contradict each other.
So here are the big facts about the man on the money

1. The sources are divided on when he was born; some say 335 CE others 337 CE. They are further divided on his origins; A few say he was born into a rich family with close connections to Count Theodosius while others say that they were simple farmers living on the Count's property. All sources agree though that he was from Gallaecia (or Callaecia), Hispania.

2. He was a junior officer in the Roman army under the Emperor Valentinian I during the 370's. We know he was with Count Theodosius when the Count was ordered to retake and restore order to Britain. The operation was a success and preserved Roman rule on the island for another 40 years.
For more on the Great conspiracy see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Conspiracy

3. He continued to serve under Theodosius in Africa in the Early 370's during the Revolt of Firmus. He investigated criminal activities of Romanus ( the General in Africa who had indirectly caused the revolt). From my sources :"Maximus was assigned to work with Gildo, a brother of Firmus who was still loyal to the Romans. Their job was to arrest Vincentius, the vicarius of Africa who was suspected of being an accomplice of Romanus. This duty suggests that Maximus was a Deputatus. These were officers hand-picked by the emperor to assist the various Roman generals in tasks such as arresting subversives." ~Roberts E. 1997

3. Maximus goes dark for a time but then reappears on the Danube frontier. He was promoted to the rank of Dux Moesiae Secundae (literally, the Commander of the Second Moesian province) It is likely that he participated in the Battle of Adrianople in 378 CE.

4. After surviving Adrianople we find that Maximus was promoted to Comes Britanniae (Count of Britain) in 380 CE. The Count of Britain was the highest of the three military offices on the island and was in charge of the provinces mobile field army. In 381 CE the sources say that he defeated a massive army of Picts and Caledonians.

I will save the remaining facts for another time; I am sure you guys are itching to see this Siliqua!
Weight- 2.0 grams.
Struck- Trier mint.
Dated- Later in his reign do to the weight reductions. Most likely 386-387.



Dat reverse!

So lets see all your coins of Magnus Maximus, Valentinian I, and Theodosius I ( son of Count Theodosius)

 

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That is a wonderful coin MM with great detail. I have noting of this quality but here is a nice Theo I:


THEODOSIUS
AE2
OBVERSE: D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: REPARATIO REIPVB, emperor standing front, head left, offering right hand to female on left to help her rise from kneeling position, & holding Victory on a globe. Mintmark SMAQS
Aquileia, 379-383 AD
5.2g, 22mm
RIC 30d

 

Love the Patina on that one!
I wonder how many AE-2's would take to make a Siliqua or Solidus?

 

Great siliqua!

Good question. You know more about this than I do - are there any sources that suggest an answer?

 

Fantastic new Mag-Max addition, Mag-Max!! (congrats)

=> well, all I have is a single Valentinian I ...

... also known as "my first ancient coin purchase"




... $25 (delivered)

 

Unknown; I am still searching though. Interestingly enough, the AE-2 denomination was demonetized by Theodosius in 395.

 

While this map shows the division of the Empire between the sons of Constantine, it is nearly identical to the division in 383 CE between Maximus, Valentinian II, and Theodosius.
Magnus Maximus in the West
Valentinian II in Italy and most of Africa
Theodosius in the east

 

Careful! Wouldn't want you to start poking your eyes out!

Nice siliqua!

Here is my favorite of my three siliquae. And its Honorius (but struck by the Vandals at Carthage) so I'm breaking your rule quoted above

 

Great coin. Thanks for the extensive writeup.

 

Nice, would love to have that in my collection. I own no silvers from this period.


Theodosius I (379 - 395 A.D.)
Bronze AE2
O: D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: GLORIA ROMANORVM, Theodosius standing left, head right, standard in right, globe in left, ANTA in ex.
Antioch
4.67g
20.6mm
RIC IX 68b

 

Too late!

 

another sweet coin from the resident siliqua master!

man, that reverse looks like it was minted last night, i think one is you best looking of the type.

i don't have one of these, still on the list. this is also a weak area in my collection, i have a few humble LRB.

 

You are too kind Chris!

 

Absolutely!!! It's a gorgeous coin in all ways...

This is one of my weakest collecting areas as well.....but two of my best are of Magnus Maximus (AE-2 minted at Arles) and a Siliqua of Honorius (minted at Milan):


EDIT: ...And a great presentation too!!! I loved the history and the context it places the events into...

 

Love it Mike!
That is a sweet AE-2 of MM!

 

This is not a promising sign, JA
From: The Catalogue of Late Roman Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection.

Bronze coins- Each denomination is lighter, only about half the figures of the Principate, and their value relationship to gold and silver coins are uncertain and certainly varied a good deal.
AE-2= Maiorina (took 66 to make up a Roman pound)
AE-3= Centenionalis
AE-4 Half Centenionalis or quarter Maiorina.

 

I think it's a consantine

 

I think it's a Constantine

 

Hey Havieman! You are correct! Your coin is a Follis of Emperor Constantine I. Struck at Sisca mint between 318 and 320 CE. Reverse shows two Victories holding a shield inscribed VOT/PR on a column or altar.
Cool coin!

 

Thanks I wasn't sure I have another coin that I'm not sure what it is I will post some pictures maybe you can help. You wouldn't happen to know the value of that Constantine coin would you? Thanks again I appreciate it.