Magnentius - Usurper Amidst The Constantines

One of my last purchases of 2021 arrived today, fresh from @John Anthony 's JAZ Auction last week. I've been wanting an example of Magnentius ever since I first laid eyes on his big goofy head several years ago. Finally, after many attempts, I managed to snag this one and I couldn't be happier.

This coin checks off two boxes for me: A big goofy head of Magnentius and a reverse featuring some beautiful Victories.


Magnentius
Centenionalis
350-353 AD
Rome
Obverse: DN MAGNEN-TIVS PF AVG, bare-headed, draped, cuirassed bust right, Γ behind bust Reverse: VICT DD NN AVG ET CAES, Two Victories, standing facing each other, holding shield inscribed VOT-V-MVLT-X between them. No supporting column. Star in centre
Mintmark RP

Magnentius did pretty well for himself as the commander of the Imperial Guards under Constans, as was proven when Constans' dissatisfied troops proclaimed him Emperor on 18 January 350. He was fairly tolerant to both Pagan and Christians which garnered him support in Britannia, Hispania, and Gaul.


Constans
AE3
347-348 AD
Obverse: CONSTANS-PF AVG, rosette diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right VICTORIAE DD AVGGQ NN, Two Victories facing each other, each holding wreaths and palm branches.
Mintmark: SMTSB. Palm branch upright in centre

Things started to fall apart in 351 when he marched east to confront the forces of Constantius II, Constans' brother. After his army's defeat at The Battle of Mursa Major, one of the bloodiest in Roman history, he was forced to retreat back to Gaul. Shortly after, Italy kicked out his garrisons and joined Constantius II.


Constantius II
AE follis
347-348 AD
Obverse: CONSTANTIVS P F AVG, rosette diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
Reverse: VICTORIAE DD AVGG Q NN, two Victories facing each other holding wreaths. Mintmark: dot ASIS dot


Finally, in August 353, after the The Battle of Mons Seleucus, Magnentius committed suicide by falling on his sword.



Thanks for reading and looking at my coins
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f.f., Your Magnentius bronze is a handsome coin with a lovely patina .

 

Magnentius (350 - 353 A.D.)
Æ Centenionalis
O: IM CAE MAGNENTIVS AVG, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: FELICITAS REIPVBLICE Emperor standing left holding Victory on globe in right hand and labarum, A in right field. In ex. TRP
Trier mint, 351 - 353 AD
23mm
4.9g
RIC VIII Trier 264

 

Wonderful write-up! Here's mine:

Magnentius. AD 350-353. Æ Centenionalis (22mm, 4.52 g, 6h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint, 1st officina. Struck circa summer AD 350. Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right; A to left / Two Victories standing facing one another, holding wreath inscribed VOT/ V/ MVLT/ X in four lines; RPLG. RIC VIII 151; Bastien 192; Lyon 185.​

 

Everybody needs a Magnie. Always thought this guy and his brother had the most oddly shaped heads

 

is that silvered? or just so shiny it looks like it

 

Nice pickup! I like these coins of Mags and his little bro Decentius. They remind me of the Beatles and their haircuts in the early years.

Here are a few of mine.

Magnentius - Lyons - RIC VIII 136

Decentius - Lyons - RIC VIII 137

 

Only partially, the photo makes it look more silvered than it actually is.

 

Now I want one of his melon-headed brother too!

 

That is a great portrait!

 

I only have one Magnentius, from my first lot of ancient coins.

Legends are mostly gone and it was difficult to photograph but with some help I was able to identify it then.

4.24 g 21.3 mm
RIC VIII Treveri 312
Obverse D N MAGNEN-TIVS P F AVG, Bust of Magnentius, bareheaded, draped, cuirassed, right; A behind bust. Reverse VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE. Two Victories, winged, draped, facing each other, holding between them a wreath inscribed VOT/V/MVLT/X
Mintmark TRP
@zadie - I don't think I have ever seen a better 4th century coin, not just conservation, but the style of the coin also. What happened to the upper part of the reverse?

 

...me also ff.....but to get'em all ....nice pickup on that'un...i have him and a Constans l in me box 'o 4th cent.Roman(?) coinage... Magentius(20mm,4.14gms) & Ae3 of Constans l

 

Thanks! I've never been very much of an LRB collector but I did have to make an exception with this coin. I agree, the portrait is wonderful and to my eyes with an almost nero-esque look that I enjoy immensely. As to the reverse, the surfaces has some roughness to it, probably caused by the soil before it was found. The lettering is also somewhat flat because of a clogged die, as seen on the obverse too.

 

here are three unofficial issues for Magnentius--




Magnentius
Circa A.D. 350- 353
19mm 3.2g
DN MAGNEN[TIVS P F AVG]; bare-headed, draped and cuirassed, A behind bust.
GLORIA ROMANORV; Magnentius on horseback spearing barbarian.
In ex. RPLG
Cf. RIC VIII Lyons 115

Ex-Failmezger plate #452MG

Unofficial issue




Magnentius
Circa A.D. 350-3
20x23mm 5.2g
[IMP CAE MAGNENTIVS AVG] bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right; A behind.
[FELICITAS REIPVBLICE] Emperor standing left holding Victory on globe in right hand and labarum, A in right field.
In ex. TRS
cf. RIC VIII Trier 264

unofficial issue




Magnentius
A.D. 350-3
20x21mm 4.0gm
D N MAGNENTIVS P F AV[G]; bare-headed, draped & cuirassed bust right, A behind bust.
SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES; large Chi-Rho flanked by N-W
In ex. TRP
Cf. RIC VIII Trier 320

unofficial issue

 

Magnentius issued coins from several mints and barbarous copies are known copying some of them so there is a lot of variation available. Add to that the various pillars, letters and minor details and it will take many coins to make a full set.
Amiens


Lyons


Rome


Decentius Arles


Decentius Trier


Of course we need to mention that Magnentius issued several other types but the twin Victories is the most commonly seen. That may be another thread for another day.

 

@dougsmit I really like the the Magnentius from Lyons. The clash on the reverse is really cool!

The Decentius from Trier is quite nice too.

 

also relevant--

The Chi-Rho reverse type for Constantius II was only struck at Trier and is,usually attributed to the "Revolt of Poemenius". This event would be completely lost to history except for the brief passage in Ammianus 15.6.4: “...Poemenius was condemned as a malefactor, hailed to execution and perished; he was the man (as we have told above) who was chosen to protect his fellow-citizens when Trier closed its gates against Decentius Caesar”.


Apparently, sometime in A.D. 353, the citizens of Trier revolted against Decentius and declared their support of Constantius II (SALVS AVG NOSTRI = Safety of our Augustus). Unfortunately for Poemenius, he was executed in A.D. 355, probably for his support of Silvanus.





Constantius II
circa A.D. 353
23x25mm 6.3g
D N CONSTANTIVS P F AVG; pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
SALVS AVG NOSTRI; Chi-Rho flanked by A and W
In ex. TRS✶
RIC VIII Trier 332

 

Nice new pickup, FF! I’m sure you love those Victories on the reverse. Here’s mine from Trier:


Magnentius, Treveri(Trier), 352 AD, (AE, 23.3 mm, 4.55g), Bare-headed bust to right, A behind/ Two Victories holding wreath with inscription VOT / V / MVLT / X; TRP in exergue