Greetings everyone, As my username suggests, I am a fan of the late Roman period, specifically from the reigns of Valentinian I to Theodosius I. One character from this period that has always stood out to me has been Magnus Maximus. I have always found him a fascinating character from Roman history; to my knowledge, he is the only usurper who had ever gained recognition from a legitimate Emperor. The man having a badass name doesn't hurt, either! Unfortunately, we don't know much about Maximus's life; most sources state that he was from modern-day Galicia, Spain. Maximus claimed to be related to Theodosius the Elder, father of Emperor Theodosius I. However, it is more likely that he was a client of Theodosius I rather than a relative. Magnus Maximus was likely a junior officer attached to his family's patron, Theodosius the Elder, and was sent to Britain in the wake of the Great Conspiracy of 367. After that, he appeared as a trusted lieutenant to Valentinian I in Africa, where he worked with the Romanized moor, Gildo. Here is where things get a bit messy! From Ammianus, we hear of a Maximus who worked with a greedy official named Lupicinus to extort the Goths for money and valuables. Ammianus writes: "At their head were two rivals in recklessness: one was Lupicinus, commanding general in Thrace, the other Maximus, a pernicious leader (dux exitiosus). Their treacherous greed was the source of all our evils." These two Romans never heeded Emperor Tiberius's advice that "the shepherd must fleece his flock, not skin it," as Maximus and Lupicinus sold spoiled dog meat to the starving gothic migrants in exchange for them selling their children into slavery. The heavy-handed treatment by the Roman magistrates began the Gothic war of 378 that would lead to the death of Emperor Valens and the destruction of the field army of Thrace at the battle of Adrianople. After this supposed incident, Maximus was sent to Britain, where he remained semi-relevant until he defeated a large band of raiding Scotts. His troops, growing dissatisfied with Emperor Gratian, then raised him to the rank of Emperor. Maximus overthrew Gratian in a relatively bloodless coup and ruled the provinces of Hispania, Gaul, and Britiania until he invaded Italy in 387. After his decisive victory over the forces of Valentinian II in 387, he fought a pitched battle against Theodosius I at the battle of the Save in 388. Maximus retreated from the battle and was encircled at Aquliae, where he was turned over to the forces of Theodosius I and executed. I never fully believed that Magnus Maximus was the Maximus that Ammianus mentions, solely because it would odd be for a high-ranking Roman to move from an Eastern Court to a Western Court as Maximus supposedly did. Much to my delight, author Jeron Wijendaele shared my skepticism on the topic and wrote an excellent paper on it. Wijendaele points out that transferring a disgraced Maximus from Thrace to Britain in 380 would not have been possible as the courts of Gratian and Theodosius I were on cool terms and kept their subordinates on a tight leash. In addition, Maximus was a common name at the time, with Wijendaele noting that "The first volume of the Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire alone records 11 namesakes who were late Roman officials and (near) contemporaries of Ammianus." Lastly, Ammianus neutrally mentions Magnus Maximus when he talks about his ventures in Britain and Africa. However, the Maximus stationed in Thrace receives no such treatment and is scorned by the author in his texts. Wijendaele finally puts to rest the error of earlier historians that the Maximus of Thrace and Magnus Maximus are the same people. To celebrate Magnus Maximus's exoneration for human rights violations against the Goths, the indirect killing of Emperor Valens, and the destruction of the field army of Thrace, please post your coins of his! Magnus Maximus Siliqua Trier mint weight 1.96 grams Magnus Maximus, 383-388 Siliqua Treveri circa 383-388, AR 18.5mm., 1.84g. D NMAG MAXIMVS P F AVG Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VIRTVS ROMANORVM Roma enthroned facing, head l., holding globe and spear; in exergue, TRPS. RIC 84b. C20. This coin was struck in the 18 month period of time that Magnus Maximus occupied Milan and the entire Western Roman Empire. Magnus Maximus AR Siliqua 387-388 CE 1.84 Grams Mediolanum mint Magnus Maximus AR Siliqua 383-388 CE Tier mint 18mm, 2.17 grams Source: BRI_51_1_Shorter-Contributions 307..387 (cambridge.org) Ammianus, Magnus Maximus and the Gothic Uprising | Britannia | Cambridge Core
My only (poor) example, I am afraid. (Nice article, by the way.) RIC IX.32 4.97gm., AE22mm. Lyons View attachment 1476345
Nice coins. I got my first siliqua of him in a recent Roma auction (it’s a Trier-mint scarce variant with the legend break “MA-XIMVS”) and I wanted to make a thread about it but the coin keeps defying my attempts at taking good photos of it. It and recent arrivals have motivated me to try to make big changes to my photography setup.
How cool, and we kind of share a story. I was fascinated by Magnus Maximus (probably the name) from very early on in my collecting. I have a halfway decent MM siliqua, but I'm still working on my coin photography skills.
Mag Max is one of my favourites too, though I don't actually have that many coins of his. Sounds pretty conclusive that he is not Ammianus's Maximus! Your siliquae are all lovely, though I like the Milan best. And here's the proof! Minted in Constantinople: (by far my favourite coin of Mag Max) I also have AE4's of both father and son. I like the Victor portrait.
I have only ever owned one which was a Trier Siliqua..... This coin had a somewhat poor end. I decided to sell it and sent it to a dealer for consignment. It was well packed but arrived having not completely survived the trip with two significant edge chips.
Great to see that the poor old Maximus gets relieved from some heinous historical accusations Anyway here my only coinage example I have from his reign: Emperor Magnus Maximus - Nummus - REPARATIO REIPVB - Constantia/Arles mint
Wow, that’s a rare coin! I know Magnus Maximus struck a limited amount of coins(mostly solidii) of Theodosius. However, I don’t think he ever struck any coins of Valentinian II.
MAGNVS MAXIMVS, Siliqua TRPS, Treveri S 4201 - C 20 - RIC IX, 84b DN MAG MAXIMVS PF AVG, Diademed bust right VIRTVS ROMANORVM, Roma seated facing, head left, holding globe and sceptre FLAVIUS VICTOR, Siliqua MDPS, Milan S 4210 - C 6- RIC IX, 19b DN FL VICTOR PF AVG, Diademed bust right VIRTVS ROMANORVM, Roma seated facing, head left, holding globe and sceptre
Some really enjoyable coins of Magnus Maximus. @Alwin's Flavius Victor is just incredible My only Magnus Maximus, with a legend error Magnus Maximus, siliqua - Trier mint, 2nd officina D N MAG MAX IMVS P F AVG, draped, cuirassed and diademed bust right VIRTVS RO MASORVM (sic !!) Roma seated facing, holding globe and spear. TRPS at exergue 1.91 gr Ref : Cohen # 20 var, Roman coins # 4201 Q
Bronze Coin (AE2) minted at Arelate, France during the reign of MAGNUS MAXIMUS between 383 – 387 A.D. Obv. D.N.MAG.MAXI-MVS.P.F.AVG. Rosette-diademed, dr. & cuir. bust r. Rev. REPARATIO.REIPVB. MAXIMUS stg. facing l. head l., with r. hand raising kneeling turreted female and holding Victory on globe on l. RCS #4203 pg.354. RICIX #26b pg.68. DVM #13. AVF/AF, brown, decent surfaces, a little off-center & crude as usual with partial legends, but portrait unusually well detailed.
Holy Nonsense with that Virt. Ex.! Just wow. I did not know there was such a coin, & I love Late Roman AE. Grumble, now I gotta find one.
That'll be a challenge! There's mine, CNG sold one in 2008 (same obverse die), there are two on Wildwinds (another one listed there is a fake), and two on Nummus Bible, one of which is in the Kunst Historisches Museum in Vienna. I haven't seen any others. Glad you appreciate the coin though, thanks!
Yeah...I doubt I'll succeed. But it's nice to have goals. I've stumbled on rarer, giving me a likely unjustified glimmer of hope. My "White Whales" are an Arcadius VOT/V/MVLT/X & a SPES ROM. to round out an AE set for him, but that beautiful coin is climbing up next to them in my mind. Phrasing prob shoulda been "....TRY to find..." Thanks for sharing, that really is a beautiful coin.
