Featured Coin
The history of the Roman Empire in the late third and early fourth century AD was quite complex with a number of military leaders contending for power. The period of confusion began with the formation of the Tetrarchy under Diocletian (285 AD) and stabilized with the beginning of the sole reign of Constantine the Great (324 AD). An excellent, concise summary of the period can be found in David Sear's Roman Coins and their Values.
One extraordinary part of this situation is recorded on scarce bronze folles issued in 308 AD in the names of Constantine I and Maximinus II. The senior emperor, Galerius, held a conference at Carnuntum which reduced Constantine from the rank of Augustus to Caesar and failed to elevate Maximinus from Caesar to Augustus. Making things even worse, Galerius named Licinius I Augustus even though he had never held to lower rank of Caesar. To placate the two angry Caesars, Galerius bestowed a newly invented title FILII AUGUSTORUM (Sons of the Augusti) upon them. This meaningless gesture did nothing to improve relations between the Imperial parties and was soon dropped from the coinage.
The title Caesar had long been awarded to junior members of the Imperial family. Augustus had been the title unique to the emperor since the foundation of the Empire. Only on this one occasion was there an attempt to insert an imtermediate station. Coins of Constantine and Maximinus showing it are rather scarce but provide an interesting reminder of this turbulent period of Roman history.
© 1997 Doug Smith