The nephew of
Galerius,
Maximinus "Daia" was chosen as his eastern
Caesar under the shaky
Tetrarchy of
Diocletian. He was sent to oversee
Syria and
Egypt where he awaited his turn at being emperor of the east half of the empire. Unfortunately for him, the western
Caesar,
Severus II, was defeated by
Maxentius. This in turn forced
Galerius to name Licinius as his replacement.
Galerius died in 311 and Licinius, not
Maximinus, was elevated to
Augustus totally sidelining
Maximinus who was the
senior Caesar.
Maximinus was upset about this, to say the least, but somehow or other he and Licinius patched up their differences and the status quo was preserved for the time being.
Licinius would then stir up trouble again, however, by aligning himself with Constantine who would then go on to defeat the forces of
Maximian and
Maxentius (a secret ally of
Maximinus).
Maximinus could bear no more and realized that he was probably next on the chopping block. Taking the initiative, he went on the warpath and declared war on Licinius. Licinius had the upper hand militarily though and was able to defeat him in two separate battles.
Maximinus was killed or committed suicide and Licinius had his family executed as well.
Although not quite as common as a
Constantine I or Licinius, his
contemporary rivals,
Maximinus does appear with regularity everywhere ancient Roman coins are sold. A look on eBay on any given day is bound to turn up at least a dozen or two. This, of course, goes for the various sized bronzes that are classified today as Folles and fractions thereof. Silver and gold coins are
just as
rare and expensive for
Maximinus as anyone else during this period.
Busts:
1) Helmeted, laureate,
cuirassed bust left, holding spear over shoulder and
shield 2) Helmeted, laureate,
cuirassed bust right, holding spear and
shield 3) Helmeted, laureate,
cuirassed bust right, holding three spears and
shield 4) Helmeted, laureate,
cuirassed bust right, holding spear over shoulder and
shield 5) Laureate
bust left wearing imperial mantle, holding
Victory on globe and
shield 6) Laureate
bust right wearing imperial mantle, raising hand
7) Laureate
head right
8) Laureate,
cuirassed bust right
9) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust left, holding
Victory on globe and
shield 10) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust right
11) Laureate, draped
bust right
12)
Radiate bust left, wearing imperial mantle, raising hand and holding globe
13)
Radiate, draped and
cuirassed bust right
Obverses:
1) GA VAL
MAXIMINVS NOB C 2) GAL VAL
MAXIMINVS N C
3) GAL VAL
MAXIMINVS NOB C 4) GAL VAL
MAXIMINVS NOB
CAES 5) GAL VAL
MAXIMINVS NOB
CAESAR 6) GAL VAL
MAXIMINVS NOBIL C 7) GAL VAL
MAXIMINVS PF AVG
8)
IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINO PF INV AVG
9)
IMP C GAL VAL
MAXIMINVS PF AVG
10)
IMP C GAL VAL
MAXIMINVS PF INV AVG
11)
IMP C GAL
VALER MAXIMINVS PF AVG
12)
IMP C GALER VAL
MAXIMINVS PF AVG
13) IMP
MAXIMINVS AVG
14) IMP
MAXIMINVS P AVG
15) IMP
MAXIMINVS PF AVG
16)
MAXIMINVS AVG
17)
MAXIMINVS CAES 18)
MAXIMINVS CAESAR 19)
MAXIMINVS FIL AVGG 20)
MAXIMINVS N C
21)
MAXIMINVS NOB C 22)
MAXIMINVS NOB
CAES 23)
MAXIMINVS NOB
CAESAR 24)
MAXIMINVS NOB CS
25)
MAXIMINVS NOBIL C 26)
MAXIMINVS NOBILI
CAES 27)
MAXIMINVS NOBILIS C
28)
MAXIMINVS NOBILIS
CAES 29)
MAXIMINVS NOBILISSIMVS CAES 30)
MAXIMINVS NOBILISSIMVS CAESAR 31)
MAXIMINVS PF AVG
Reverses:
1) BONO GENIO P II IMPERATORIS
2)
COMITI AAVVGG
3) CONCORD
IMPERI 4) CONCORD IMPERII
5)
CONCORDIA CAESS NOSTR
6)
CONCORDIA IMPERII 7)
CONCORDIA MILITVM 8) CONSVL PP
PROCONSVL 9)
FELICITAS CAESS NOSTR
10)
FELICITAS SAECVLI CAESS NN
11)
GENIO AVGG ET CAESARVM NN 12)
GENIO AVGVSTI 13)
GENIO CAESARIS 14)
GENIO IMPERATORIS 15)
GENIO POP ROM 16)
GENIO POPVLI ROMANI 17) HERCVLI
COMITI CAESS NOSTR
18) HERCVLI
CONSER AVGG ET CAESS NN
19)
HERCVLI VICTORI 20) IOVI
CONS CAES 21)
IOVI CONSERVAT 22)
IOVI CONSERVATORI 23)
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVG
24)
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG 25)
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG ET CAESS NN
26)
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG NN
27)
IOVI CONSERVATORI CAESS NN
28) IOVIO PROPAGAT
ORBIS TERRARVM 29)
MARTI CONSERVATORI 30)
MARTI PATRI PROPVGNATORI 31)
MAXIMINVS NOBILISSIMVS CAESAR 32)
ORIENS AVGG 33)
PERPETVITAS AVGG 34) PM
TR P PP PROCOS
35)
PRINCIPI IVVENT B R P NAT
36)
PRINCIPI IVVENTVT 37)
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS 38)
RESTITVTOR ROMAE
39)
ROMA AETERNA 40) SAC
MON VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN
41) SACRA MONET
AVGG ET CAESS NN
42) SALVIS
AVGG ET CAESS
FEL KART 43)
SALVS AVGG ET CAESS NN
44)
SECVRIT PERPET DD NN 45)
SECVRITAS AVGG NN
46) SOLE INVICTO
47)
SOLI INVICTAE
48)
SOLI INVICTO 49)
SOLI INVICTO AVGG 50)
SOLI INVICTO COMITI 51)
SOLI INVICTO CONSERVAT AVGG ET CAESS NN
52)
SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI 53)
TEMPORVM FELICITAS 54)
VBIQVE VICTORES 55)
VICTORIA AVGG 56)
VICTORIA CONSTANTINI AVG 57)
VIRTVS AVGG ET CAESS NN 58)
VIRTVS EXERCITVS 59)
VIRTVS MILITVM 60)
VIRTVTI EXERCITI 61)
VIRTVTI EXERCITVS 62)
VTILITAS PVBLICA 63) No
legend Types:
1)
Carthago standing, facing, holding fruit in each hand
2) City gate, 3 turrets above
3) City gate, 4 turrets above
4)
Concordia seated left, holding
patera and two
cornucopiae.
5)
Concordia standing left, holding
scepter 6)
Felicitas seated left, holding
caduceus and
cornucopia 7)
Felicitas standing left, holding
caduceus and
cornucopia 8)
Genius standing left, holding
head of
Serapis and
cornucopia 9)
Genius standing left, holding
head of Sol and
cornucopia 10)
Genius standing left, holding
patera and
cornucopia 11)
Genius standing left, holding
Victory on globe and
cornucopia 12)
Genius standing left, holding
Victory on globe and
cornucopia;
eagle to left
13)
Genius standing left, pouring out
patera and holding
cornucopia 14)
Genius standing left, pouring out
patera and holding
cornucopia;
eagle to left.
15)
Genius standing left, sacrificing over
altar and holding
cornucopia 16)
Hercules standing right, resting hand on hip and leaning on club with
lion skin
17)
Hercules standing, facing, holding branch and club with
lion skin.
18)
Hercules standing, facing, resting hand on club and holding apples with
lion skin
19)
Hercules standing, facing, resting hand on club and holding bow with
lion skin
20)
Jupiter seated left, holding thunderbolt and
scepter 21)
Jupiter standing left, holding globe and
scepter 22)
Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and
scepter 23)
Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and
scepter;
eagle to left.
24)
Jupiter standing left, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter 25)
Jupiter standing left, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter;
eagle to left
26)
Mars advancing right, dragging captive and holding
trophy with
shield 27)
Mars advancing right, holding spear and
trophy 28)
Mars advancing right, holding spear and
trophy with
shield 29)
Mars standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on
shield 30)
Maximinus II advancing right, dragging captive and holding
trophy; seated captive to right
31)
Maximinus II raising hand and holding
scepter, two standards on either
side.
32)
Maximinus II riding horse left, spearing three enemies
33)
Maximinus II riding horse right, spearing enemy.
34)
Maximinus II riding horse right, spearing enemy; another lying under horse
35)
Maximinus II standing left, holding globe and
scepter 36)
Maximinus II standing left, holding globe and
scepter; two standards on either
side 37)
Maximinus II standing left, holding globe and
scepter; two standards to right
38)
Maximinus II standing left, holding
standard and
scepter 39)
Maximinus II standing left, raising hand and holding
scepter; two standards to right
40)
Maximinus II standing right on left, holding
scepter, receiving
Victory on globe from
Jupiter to right, holding
scepter 41)
Maximinus II standing, facing, holding globe and
scepter 42)
Maximinus II standing, facing, holding globe and wand
43)
Maximinus II standing, facing, holding spear and globe.
44)
Maximinus II standing, facing, holding spear and globe; seated captive on either
side 45)
Maximinus II standing, facing, holding
Victory on globe
46)
Maximinus II standing, facing, holding
Victory on globe and spear
47)
Moneta standing left, holding
scale and
cornucopia.
48)
Roma seated left, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter.
49)
Salus standing right, holding and feeding snake
50)
Securitas standing left, leaning on
column and with legs crossed, touching
head 51) Sol advancing right, stepping on captive, raising hand and holding globe.
52) Sol riding oncoming
quadriga, raising hand
53) Sol riding oncoming
quadriga, raising hand and holding globe
54) Sol riding oncoming
quadriga, raising hand and holding globe with whip
55) Sol riding
quadriga left, raising hand and holding globe
56) Sol standing left, raising hand and holding globe
57) Sol standing left, raising hand and holding globe with whip
58) Sol standing left, raising hand and holding globe; seated captive to left
59) Sol standing left, raising hand and holding
head of
Serapis 60) Sol standing left, raising hand and holding
Victory on globe
61) Sol standing right, raising hand and holding globe
62) Sol standing, facing, raising hand and holding whip and globe
63) Standards (3)
64) Utilitas standing, facing
65) Victories (2) standing, facing each other, together holding
wreath reading VIC /
CAES 66)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath and
palm.
67)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath and
palm; seated captive to left.
68)
Virtus standing, facing, holding
Victory on globe and spear with
shield 69)
Virtus standing, facing, resting hand on
shield and holding spear.
70)
Wreath, VOT / X / CAESS NN within
71)
Wreath, VOT / X / CAESS within
72)
Wreath, VOT / X / MVL / XX within
73)
Wreath,
VOTIS / X / SIC ET / XX within
74)
Wreath, X / MAXI / MINI / AVG within
Mints:
1)
Alexandria 2)
Antioch 3)
Aquileia 4) Cyzicus
5)
Heraclea 6) Karthago
7) Londinium
8)
Lugdunum 9)
Nicomedia 10)
Ostia 11)
Roma 12)
Serdica 13)
Siscia 14)
Thessalonica 15)
Ticinum 16)
Treveri
AU Aureus Reference(s) 1) B07, O15, R48, T59, M01 Exe: ALE RIC 132 (VI,
Alexandria)
2) B07, O17, R10, T65, M03 Exe: SMAQ RIC 52 (VI,
Aquileia)
3) B07, O21, R18, T19, M16 Exe: TR RIC 621 (VI,
Treveri)
4) B07, O21, R25, T22, M16 Exe: TR RIC 625b (VI,
Treveri)
5) B07, O22, R36, T38, M11 Exe: PR
6) B07, O22, R37, T37, M12 Exe: W over `/•SM•SD• RIC 31 (VI,
Serdica)
7) B07, O22, R37, T37, M12 Exe: W/•SM•SD• RIC 9b (VI,
Serdica)
8) B07, O22, R37, T39, M12 Exe: W/•SM•SD• RIC 8b (VI,
Serdica)
9) B07, O31, R08, T35, M02 Exe: `SMA`* RIC 127a (VI,
Antioch)
10) B07, O31, R63, T73, M02 Exe: SMA RIC 130 (VI,
Antioch)
11) B07, O31, R63, T74, M02 Exe: SMA RIC 131 (VI,
Antioch)
AR Argenteus 12) B12, O13, R50, T54, M16 Exe: PTR This issue struck on very
poor silver RIC 826 (VI,
Treveri)
AE Antoninianus (reduced) 13) B13, O04, R07, T40, M01 Exe: `/ALE RIC 60b (VI,
Alexandria)
AE Follis 14) B01, O17, R47, T52, M02 Exe: ANT
15) B01, O22, R57, T34, M03 Exe: AQ` RIC 68b (VI,
Aquileia)
16) B05, O07, R16, T13, M12 Exe: `/•SM•SD• RIC 13b (VI,
Serdica)
17) B07, O03, R13, T13, M04 Exe: `/*/MKV RIC 55 (VI, Cyzicus)
18) B07, O03, R13, T13, M04 Exe: `/MK RIC 43 (VI, Cyzicus)
19) B07, O03, R13, T13, M09 Exe: SMN` "CMH" concatenated as ' at end of
reverse legend RIC 55 (VI,
Nicomedia)
20) B07, O03, R13, T13, M12 Exe: */`/•SM•SD• RIC 37 (VI,
Serdica)
21) B07, O03, R61, T27, M04 Exe: `/MKV RIC 49 (VI, Cyzicus)
22) B07, O03, R61, T28, M04 Exe: `/*/MKV RIC 61 (VI, Cyzicus)
23) B07, O04, R06, T05, M01 Exe: S/B over `/ALE RIC 52 (VI,
Alexandria)
24) B07, O04, R13, T13, M01 Exe: K/` over P/ALE RIC 99a (VI, Cyzicus)
25) B07, O04, R13, T13, M02 Exe: O over `/•ANT
Reverse legends ends in a * RIC 110 (VI,
Antioch)
26) B07, O04, R13, T13, M05 Exe: •HT`• RIC 36 (VI,
Heraclea)
27) B07, O04, R16, T13, M05 Exe: HT` RIC 26b (VI,
Heraclea)
28) B07, O04, R59, T03, M04 Exe: MK` RIC 40 (VI, Cyzicus)
29) B07, O07, R14, T13, M04 Exe: `/;/MKV RIC 70 (VI, Cyzicus)
30) B07, O08, R14, T13, M05 Exe: */HT` RIC 49 (VI,
Heraclea)
31) B07, O09, R12, T08, M01 Exe: * over N over °/`/ALE
Reverse legend ends in a • RIC 155b (VI,
Alexandria)
32) B07, O09, R12, T08, M01 Exe: * over N over °/`/ALE RIC 160b (VI,
Alexandria)
33) B07, O09, R12, T09, M02 Exe: */`/ANT RIC 164b (VI,
Antioch)
34) B07, O09, R12, T11, M02 Exe: */` over Δ/ANT RIC 162b (VI,
Antioch)
35) B07, O09, R12, T13, M09 Exe: SMN` "CMH" concatenated as ' at end of
reverse legend RIC 66c (VI,
Nicomedia)
36) B07, O09, R12, T14, M05 Exe: `/SMHT RIC 76 (VI,
Heraclea)
37) B07, O09, R12, T14, M09 Exe: `/SMN RIC 72b (VI,
Nicomedia)
38) B07, O09, R12, T15, M04 Exe: */SMK RIC 101a (VI, Cyzicus)
39) B07, O09, R12, T15, M09 Exe: * over `/SMN RIC 74b (VI,
Nicomedia)
40) B07, O09, R12, T15, M09 Exe: `/SMN RIC 71b (VI,
Nicomedia)
41) B07, O09, R14, T13, M01 Exe: K/S over `/ALE RIC 107c (VI,
Alexandria)
42) B07, O09, R14, T13, M05 Exe: */HT` RIC 62 (VI,
Heraclea)
43) B07, O09, R19, T16, M05 Exe: `/SMHT RIC 77 (VI,
Heraclea)
44) B07, O09, R19, T16, M09 Exe: * over `/SMN RIC 75 (VI,
Nicomedia)
45) B07, O09, R19, T16, M09 Exe: `/SMN RIC 68 (VI,
Nicomedia)
46) B07, O09, R22, T24, M02 Exe: */`/ANT RIC 166b (VI,
Antioch)
47) B07, O09, R22, T24, M04 Exe: `/MKV RIC 91a (VI, Cyzicus)
48) B07, O09, R22, T24, M09 Exe: `/SMN RIC 69b (VI,
Nicomedia)
49) B07, O09, R46, T53, M02 Exe: `/ANT RIC 142 (VI,
Antioch)
50) B07, O09, R48, T59, M02 Exe: `/*/ANT RIC 167b (VI,
Antioch)
51) B07, O09, R48, T59, M09 Exe: * over `/©/SMN RIC 77b (VI,
Nicomedia)
52) B07, O09, R48, T59, M09 Exe: `/SMN RIC 73a (VI,
Nicomedia)
53) B07, O09, R61, T28, M02 Exe: `/`/ANT RIC 155b (VI,
Antioch)
54) B07, O10, R24, T21, M05 Exe: =/`/SMHT RIC 69a (VI,
Heraclea)
55) B07, O12, R01, T10, M01 Exe: ` over K/` over X/ALE RIC 144b (VI,
Alexandria)
56) B07, O15, R12, T10, M13 Exe: `/`/SIS RIC 207c (VI,
Siscia)
57) B07, O15, R50, T56, M10 Exe: MOST` RIC 90a (VI,
Ostia)
58) B07, O16, R12, T13, M14 Exe: `/SM•TS
59) B07, O19, R13, T13, M14 Exe: */`/•SM•TS• RIC 32a (VI,
Thessalonica)
60) B07, O22, R57, T27, M03 Exe: AQ` RIC 70b (VI,
Aquileia)
61) B07, O23, R57, T27, M15 Exe: •/`T RIC 60b (VI,
Ticinum)
62) B07, O31, R22, T21, M14 Exe: =/`/•SM•TS• RIC 50a (VI,
Thessalonica)
63) B07, O31, R24, T23, M14 Exe: `/•SM•TS• RIC 47a (VI,
Thessalonica)
64) B07, O31, R26, T25, M14 Exe: •TS•`• RIC 61a (VI,
Thessalonica)
65) B08, O03, R16, T10, M16 Exe: S/F/`TR RIC 667b (VI,
Treveri)
66) B08, O14, R45, T50, M07 Exe: */`LN
67) B08, O15, R15, T10, M07 Exe: */`LN RIC 209b (VI, Londinium)
68) B08, O15, R15, T10, M16 Exe: T/F/`TR RIC 845a (VI,
Treveri)
69) B08, O15, R26, T25, M13 Exe: `/SIS RIC 233b (VI,
Siscia)
70) B08, O15, R50, T61, M11 Exe: R` RIC 336b (VI,
Roma)
71) B10, O13, R15, T10, M16 Exe: T/F/`TR
72) B10, O15, R50, T56, M11 Exe: R` RIC 323b (VI,
Roma)
73) B10, O15, R50, T56, M15 Exe: `T RIC 129d (VI,
Ticinum)
74) B10, O15, R52, T63, M11 Exe: R` RIC 350b (VI,
Roma)
75) B10, O31, R26, T25, M14 Exe: •TS•`• RIC 52a (VI,
Thessalonica)