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<p>[QUOTE="seth77, post: 2899850, member: 56653"]In 2015 I studied the coin in the original post and considered that it might be one of the obscure AE2s minted during Maximus's reign in Barcino, but also that the possibility of it being either a pre-Maximus or post-Maximus continuation of the local base-metal coinage that must have started maybe even before 400 must still be taken into account. </p><p>Mr. Pina from Tesorillo doubts that it's an actual issue of Maximus but considers it to be a peculiar case of "local Spanish immitation" - see <a href="http://www.tesorillo.com/articulos/imit/imit.htm" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.tesorillo.com/articulos/imit/imit.htm" rel="nofollow">here</a> for his take on it. He also shows on his page the best version of Maximus Maiorina I have ever seen, almost full legends and exergue.</p><p><br /></p><p>Without excluding or contesting Mr. Pina's thoughts, I surmised my reasons for considering this piece a Maximus Maiorina in a 2016 article I wrote, and which can be read <a href="https://www.academia.edu/28090093/A_New_Maiorina_of_Maximus_de_Barcino" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.academia.edu/28090093/A_New_Maiorina_of_Maximus_de_Barcino" rel="nofollow">here</a> as:</p><p><br /></p><p>1. The specific diameter and weight characteristics (23mm, 5,01g) are consistent with those recorded by both Kent and Balaguer.</p><p><br /></p><p>2. The bust appears to be both bearded and adorned by a relatively large and well-distinguished fibula (a feature one can often notice also on Maximus's siliquae).</p><p><br /></p><p>3. The mintmark, on which - although worn out and partially off-flan - the upper hyphen of the S and the shadowy upper parts of the M from SMBA are still visible.</p><p><br /></p><p>4. The fact that that although it has a negligent spelling, the obverse legend still presents features that are also evident in the carving of siliqua dies, like for instance the P that looks like a D, as seen on the siliqua presented as example in the original post.</p><p><br /></p><p>On the other hand, it is very true that this semi-official issue is extremely rare (maybe with a maximum of 5-6 known examples at best), while the local issues, although very scarce, very similar and also specific to that same area, are not of the same extreme rarity and as such, of the same obscurity.</p><p><br /></p><p>All we know for now is that this segment of Spanish numismatic history is still a puzzle and without new material to study, we are left with a lot of questions, like for instance, have these also circulated during the visigothic expansion into the Iberian peninsula? Some (the one presented in the original post included) show signs of wear specific to longtime use. </p><p>Where these AE2s minted even after the ousting of Maximus, as regular official Roman AEs were not enough to satisfy the local economy, such it had been the case after the official demonetization of Magnus Maximus AE2s starting with 395?</p><p><br /></p><p>And to add another piece to this puzzle, here is another "local Spanish Maiorina" from an European collection:</p><p><br /></p><p>AE18/19mm 2.72g irregular flan</p><p>OBV: [...] MAX[...]; draped, pearl-diademed bust r.</p><p>REV: [...] A AV[CC]; Emperor holding victory on globe crowning him, raising woman with his right arm.</p><p>EXE: ?</p><p><br /></p><p>An interesting fact to be noted here is that between the back of the bust at 6 o'clock and the MAX lettering at 9 o'clock there is no room for the regular Magnus Maximus legend DN MAG. Also note the low weight and the irregular flan. What does this mean? Does it even mean anything?</p><p><br /></p><p>Who knows?</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]698268[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="seth77, post: 2899850, member: 56653"]In 2015 I studied the coin in the original post and considered that it might be one of the obscure AE2s minted during Maximus's reign in Barcino, but also that the possibility of it being either a pre-Maximus or post-Maximus continuation of the local base-metal coinage that must have started maybe even before 400 must still be taken into account. Mr. Pina from Tesorillo doubts that it's an actual issue of Maximus but considers it to be a peculiar case of "local Spanish immitation" - see [URL='http://www.tesorillo.com/articulos/imit/imit.htm']here[/URL] for his take on it. He also shows on his page the best version of Maximus Maiorina I have ever seen, almost full legends and exergue. Without excluding or contesting Mr. Pina's thoughts, I surmised my reasons for considering this piece a Maximus Maiorina in a 2016 article I wrote, and which can be read [URL='https://www.academia.edu/28090093/A_New_Maiorina_of_Maximus_de_Barcino']here[/URL] as: 1. The specific diameter and weight characteristics (23mm, 5,01g) are consistent with those recorded by both Kent and Balaguer. 2. The bust appears to be both bearded and adorned by a relatively large and well-distinguished fibula (a feature one can often notice also on Maximus's siliquae). 3. The mintmark, on which - although worn out and partially off-flan - the upper hyphen of the S and the shadowy upper parts of the M from SMBA are still visible. 4. The fact that that although it has a negligent spelling, the obverse legend still presents features that are also evident in the carving of siliqua dies, like for instance the P that looks like a D, as seen on the siliqua presented as example in the original post. On the other hand, it is very true that this semi-official issue is extremely rare (maybe with a maximum of 5-6 known examples at best), while the local issues, although very scarce, very similar and also specific to that same area, are not of the same extreme rarity and as such, of the same obscurity. All we know for now is that this segment of Spanish numismatic history is still a puzzle and without new material to study, we are left with a lot of questions, like for instance, have these also circulated during the visigothic expansion into the Iberian peninsula? Some (the one presented in the original post included) show signs of wear specific to longtime use. Where these AE2s minted even after the ousting of Maximus, as regular official Roman AEs were not enough to satisfy the local economy, such it had been the case after the official demonetization of Magnus Maximus AE2s starting with 395? And to add another piece to this puzzle, here is another "local Spanish Maiorina" from an European collection: AE18/19mm 2.72g irregular flan OBV: [...] MAX[...]; draped, pearl-diademed bust r. REV: [...] A AV[CC]; Emperor holding victory on globe crowning him, raising woman with his right arm. EXE: ? An interesting fact to be noted here is that between the back of the bust at 6 o'clock and the MAX lettering at 9 o'clock there is no room for the regular Magnus Maximus legend DN MAG. Also note the low weight and the irregular flan. What does this mean? Does it even mean anything? Who knows? [ATTACH=full]698268[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]
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