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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Heliodromus, post: 7709450, member: 120820&quot;]I think you meant 10-306 for Maxentius&#039;s usurpation, rapidly following Constantine&#039;s rise to power in 7-306. Maxentius&#039;s usurpation was likely inspired by Constantine, and he may have been hoping/expecting a similar outcome of acceptance by Galerius, his father-in-law (who despised him!), but no such luck.</p><p><br /></p><p>Galerius/Severus II seem to have taken a surprisingly long time to respond to Maxentius (wanting to avoid a winter campaign, perhaps), but by Spring 307 Severus marched on Rome only to be defeated by Maximianus who had gladly come out of retirement to assist his son.</p><p><br /></p><p>It seems to be at this point, in Spring of 307, having just defeated Severus, that Maximianus departed for Gaul in order to make an alliance with Constantine to strengthen their position against Galerius. The terms of the alliance involved an immediate recognition of Maximianus by Constantine, and an agreement for Constantine to marry Maximianus&#039;s daughter Fausta later in the year, and then be elevated to augustus on (the rather dubious) authority of the now-usurper Maximianus.</p><p><br /></p><p>Per the coinage, it appears that sometime in Spring-Summer of 307 Constantine, and perhaps Maximianus, may have visited Britain, as attested by this rare Adventvs Avgg (plural) type for Constantine as caesar issued from London. There are also a number of other rare types unique to London, both for Constantine as caesar, and his new colleague Maximianus, which give the impression of the London mint taking the lead here, maybe due to an imperial presence.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1322573[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Among the London only types are Mars reverses of Marti Pacif and Mars Victor, which then give way to Marti Patri Conservatori and Marti Patri Propvgnatori, as part of a standard reverse type set then also issued from Trier and Lyons.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1322574[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1322575[/ATTACH]</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In the meantime, back in Italy, apparently while Maximianus was absent, Galerius made a rapid 2nd failed attempt to oust Maxentius. Perhaps this occured while Constantine and Maximianus were in Britain (if indeed they were), but it&#039;d seem surprising if they had antipipated it and still chosen to go.</p><p><br /></p><p>After the death of Severus, Maxentius now also controlled northern Italy, including the Ticinum mint, although Aquileia seems to have been isolated until the retreat of Galerius. Ticinum and Aquileia would then, in later 307, issue coins stroking the ego of Constantine, such as this Hercvli Conservat Caes type depicting Hercules defeating the Nemean lion, perhaps chosen due to a story of western/Herculean Constantine having defeated a lion &quot;as a training exercise&quot; while being held hostage at the court of Galerius.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1322576[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The coins of Constantine as caesar continue until his marriage to Fausta and elevation to augustus on the auspicious date of 12-25-307, Natalis Invictus, after which they all live happily ever after.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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