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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Jochen1, post: 3382341, member: 103829&quot;]A Follis of Maxentius</p><p><br /></p><p>Usually folles are regarded as boring. But sometimes they show a wide variety of details as you can see on this coin. It is a follis of Maxentius (306-312), son of Maximian, with the most complex pediment I have seen on his coins:</p><p><br /></p><p>Maxentius, AD 306-312</p><p>AE - follis, 24.52mm, 6.1g</p><p>Rome. 4th officina, AD 308-310</p><p>obv. IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG</p><p>Laureate headc, r.</p><p>rev. CONSERV - VRB SVAE</p><p>Roma, draped and helmeted, in hexastyle temple with three-step base enthroned l., resting with raised left hand on long sceptre and holding in extended r. hand Victoriola with wreath, neside her shield; <i>geison</i> decorated with waved lines and dots; pediment decorated with 4 figures: on left side Jupiter with eagle sceptre, on r. side Hercules resting on his club, both with outer hands extended; in left angle upper body of a river-god, in right angle Sol, radiate, holding in extended l. hand globe(?); as acroteria l. a wreath, r. a male figure with long torch</p><p>in ex. RBQ</p><p>ref. RIC VI, Rome 208 var. (?); Victor Failmezger, Roman Bronze Coins 294-364 AD, no. 1271M3, notes 179, 183; Cohen cf. 34; Drost, Monayage de Maxence, p. 310, No. 93, 5. Emission (1 ex., Milano, 5572), fig. 89d/3 (this coin))</p><p>Very rare, about VF, partially weekly struck</p><p>pedigree:</p><p>ex coll. Failmezger (plate coin)</p><p>ex Ebay 2000</p><p>[ATTACH=full]898237[/ATTACH]</p><p>Note:</p><p>Curtis Clay: The river god could be a captive begging for mercy</p><p>Drost writes: Jupiter rt Hercules flanques de geants (flanked by giants)!</p><p>[ATTACH=full]898238[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Details of the Pediment</p><p><br /></p><p>Maxentius is known as adversary of Constantine I and was defeated 312 in the famoius Battle at the Milvian Bridge and drowned when the bridge collapsed. In contrast to Constantine he was no worshipper of Christianism but follower of the old Roman religion as can be seen on this coin. However he was religiously very tolerant</p><p><br /></p><p>Maxentius started once again a huge building activity. Preserved until today is the temple for his deceased son Romulus on the Forum, today the entrance of the church SS. Cosma e Damiano and then the relicts of the gigantic <i>Basilica nova</i>, known as Basilica of Maxentius or of Constantine. It was the biggest building in Rome and became the model of the great Christian basilicas. Initially Maxentius was loved by the plebs and his Praetorian Guard. But that was changing when by the usurpation of Domitius Alexander in Africa the supply with grain began to suffer.</p><p><br /></p><p>Best regards[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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