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<p>[QUOTE="ancient coin hunter, post: 2994762, member: 87200"]For some reason, I had never picked up a coin of Maximinus until last week, so here it is. Maximinus' story is quite interesting. According to one account, he, a shepherd, one day came across a marching roman army during the reign of Septimius Severus. Somehow, he attracted the attention of Severus who offered to enroll the young man in the army if he could defeat the strongest soldier in a wrestling match.</p><p><br /></p><p>He was victorious and was inducted into the army. He spent twenty years rising through the ranks until he was promoted by Severus Alexander to the command of a legion. This proved to be an unfortunate choice for the young emperor as Maximinus' troops revolted over a plan of Alexander's to pay off barbarians instead of confronting them on the field of battle. </p><p><br /></p><p>During the revolt, both Alexander and his mother Julia Mamea were killed. Maximinus was hailed as emperor by his legion and the Praetorian guard. The Senate was forced to accept him as emperor, even though he was of very low birth. </p><p><br /></p><p>After only three years, he himself was overthrown in revolts led by the Gordians in Africa and the Senate, who appointed Balbinus and Pupienus, two aged senators, as emperors in Rome. While besieging Aquilea, which was controlled by the Senatorial emperors, his troops became disaffected and decided to kill him, which they did in 238. </p><p><br /></p><p>Recent archaeological work beginning in 2008 has shown that Maximinus had campaigned in the far north of Germany beyond the Rhine, winning an important victory over the Germans at the Battle of Harzhorn, either during his reign or in the reign of Severus Alexander.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_at_the_Harzhorn" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_at_the_Harzhorn" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_at_the_Harzhorn</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Maximinus was supposedly of great size and strength, with one account stating that he stood 8' 6". Modern medicine has suggested that he suffered from acromegaly.</p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway, here is the coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>Maximinus I Thrax, 235-238 A.D.</p><p><br /></p><p>AR Denarius. 19mm, 3.7 grams</p><p><br /></p><p>Obverse: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG</p><p>Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right</p><p><br /></p><p>Reverse: FIDES MILITVM</p><p>Fides standing between two standards</p><p><br /></p><p>Reference: RIC 18A; Sear 8307</p><p><br /></p><p>Condition: VF+, originally priced at $225, but purchased at a significant discount</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]739739[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]739740[/ATTACH] </p><p>Feel free to post any Maximinus' coins here[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="ancient coin hunter, post: 2994762, member: 87200"]For some reason, I had never picked up a coin of Maximinus until last week, so here it is. Maximinus' story is quite interesting. According to one account, he, a shepherd, one day came across a marching roman army during the reign of Septimius Severus. Somehow, he attracted the attention of Severus who offered to enroll the young man in the army if he could defeat the strongest soldier in a wrestling match. He was victorious and was inducted into the army. He spent twenty years rising through the ranks until he was promoted by Severus Alexander to the command of a legion. This proved to be an unfortunate choice for the young emperor as Maximinus' troops revolted over a plan of Alexander's to pay off barbarians instead of confronting them on the field of battle. During the revolt, both Alexander and his mother Julia Mamea were killed. Maximinus was hailed as emperor by his legion and the Praetorian guard. The Senate was forced to accept him as emperor, even though he was of very low birth. After only three years, he himself was overthrown in revolts led by the Gordians in Africa and the Senate, who appointed Balbinus and Pupienus, two aged senators, as emperors in Rome. While besieging Aquilea, which was controlled by the Senatorial emperors, his troops became disaffected and decided to kill him, which they did in 238. Recent archaeological work beginning in 2008 has shown that Maximinus had campaigned in the far north of Germany beyond the Rhine, winning an important victory over the Germans at the Battle of Harzhorn, either during his reign or in the reign of Severus Alexander. [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_at_the_Harzhorn[/url] Maximinus was supposedly of great size and strength, with one account stating that he stood 8' 6". Modern medicine has suggested that he suffered from acromegaly. Anyway, here is the coin. Maximinus I Thrax, 235-238 A.D. AR Denarius. 19mm, 3.7 grams Obverse: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right Reverse: FIDES MILITVM Fides standing between two standards Reference: RIC 18A; Sear 8307 Condition: VF+, originally priced at $225, but purchased at a significant discount [ATTACH=full]739739[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]739740[/ATTACH] Feel free to post any Maximinus' coins here[/QUOTE]
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