Maximinus: When big isn't big enough/ Hail to the chin baby

[Ryro]

Maximinus I

Much like getting a truly mean looking Caracalla, which I finally purchased last year, I wanted a really beastly looking MAD Max Thrax. Yesterday, I scored one (despite the grin from the large man, you can see his exaggerated features that struck terror into so many):

Maximinus I. Denarius. 236-238 AD. Rome. (Ric-IV 18A). (Bmcre-137). (Rsc-9). Anv.: MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right. Rev.: FIDES MILITVM, Fides standing to left, holding two standards. Ag. 3,60 g. Almost XF/Choice VF.

Maximinus Thrax (The Thracian) was Septimius Severus favorite soldier turned general. Brave, unflinching, uncaring (a trait that would later, as emperor, get him killed by his own troops), and was, as written by the histotia Augusta, 8 feet 6 inches tall!!!

Clearly Ole Maxy suffered from what we today call hypertrophy of his pituitary gland. Same as everybody's favorite giant, Andre, whom stood a mere  7 foot 4 by the time of his death:

(On the set of Conan, it appears Andre would have had little issue with shrimpy Schwarzenegger)

Robert Wadlow was the tallest man in recorded history. Standing an astounding 8 feet 11.1 inches tall:

Learn more about Maximinus Thrax here:

Here's the coin that I have upgraded from. The chin and nose just aren't GIANT enough. He looks like a regular sized 7 footer!

And here is a coin of his son, that I've since sold:

Maximus (AD 235/6-238). AE sestertius (28mm, 19.73 gm, 12h). NGC Fine 5/5 - 3/5, scratches. Rome, early AD 236-238. MAXIMVS CAES GERM, bare headed, draped bust of Maximus right, seen from behind / PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Maximus standing left, baton downward in right hand, transverse spear in left; two signa to right, S-C across fields. RIC IV.II 13. From the Werner Collection

You've got coins of this giant man and maybe his son too. Please share them, anything related or whatever is larger than life.

[Kali]

Maximinus I (235 - 238 A.D)

AR Denarius
O: MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
R: PAX AVGVSTI, Pax standing facing, head left, holding olive branch and transverse scepter.
20mm
3.1g
Rome
RIC 019 RSC 037

Maximinus I (235 - 238 A.D.)
Billon Tetradrachm
O: AVTO MAΞIMINOC EVC CEB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right .
R: Nike walking left, wearing long chiton, carrying wreath and palm; LΓ in left field. Y 3 = AD 236-237.
13.38g
23mm
Dattari 4583; Emmett 3288.3

Ex. Roma Numismatics E-Sale 36, Lot 242, May 5, 2017

Maximinus I (235 - 238 A.D.)

Egypt, Alexandria
Potin Tetradrachm
O: AYTO MAΞIMINOC EVC CEB Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
R: Athena standing facing, head left, holding shield and spear; L Δ (date) across field. Dated RY 4 (237/8 AD)
9.4g
24mm
Köln 2580 var. (obv. legend); Dattari 4567; K&G 65.57; Emmett 3274.4

Maximus (235 - 238 A.D.)

Egypt, Alexandria
Billon Tetradrachm
O: Γ IOVΛ OYHR MAZIMOC KAI, Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
R: Draped bust of Selene right; crescent moon before; L Γ (date) behind. Dated RY 3 of Maximinus I (AD 236/237).
13.29g
24mm
Milne 3226; Berlin 18208491, Athens 3931; Mathies 60. Emmett 3333.3 (R3).

Ex. Pegasi Numismatics - Auction 42, lot 378, May 19, 2020

 

 

 

Edited March 2, 2023 by Kali

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Nice coins! Yes, hail to the chin!  I've always liked his coins.

I only collect the lantern jaw style, not the early Severus-Maximinus one.

Maximinus I (235-238). Æ Sestertius (31mm, 23.72g, 12h). Rome, 236-7. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. R/ Fides standing l., holding signum in each hand. RIC IV 78. Olive green patina.  Ex LAC.

 

I've been ill and I just got home; I don't want to tax myself too much, so I picked the easy one.  I don't have more than 2 or 3, however.

[JayAg47]

My favourite coin of him, of course not mine, but love to own something like this! 

The person who did this must've really hated him, it's one thing to just slash across the face or wiping out the bust off the coin, but to put in some artistic effort to show how you feel is whole other thing! 

Edited March 3, 2023 by JayAg47

[ominus1]

Max Thrax...1st in the year of the 6...and an emperor who never was in Rome City proper... and his son who's coin is my 1st (and only so far) coin of the year..and that i would never part with  (>o<)

[Furryfrog02]

My 2 Max (The Chin) Thrax coins:
 

A contemporary forgery denarius:

 

A sestertius:

[Roman Collector]

My Favorite big-chin style:

[Furryfrog02]

4 minutes ago, Roman Collector said:

My Favorite big-chin style:

Not only big chin, but he has a big ole' forehead too! Very nice!

[Edessa]

Cilicia. Ninica-Claudiopolis. Maximinus I, with Maximus, as Caesar. 235-238 AD. Æ 32mm (16.14g). Obv: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Maximinus right. Rev: Bare-headed and draped bust of Maximus right. Ref: SNG Levante 629. Good Very Fine, nice patina, obverse old scratch. Ex CNG 38 (6 June 1996), Lot 680. Ex Berk BBS 222 (26 Jan 2023), Lot 319.

[ambr0zie]

My first Maximinus I coin was a sestertius 

Quite pleased with it (especially the reverse) but the portrait did not show the expected physical features for the emperor. 

The denarius I acquired a few months after surely does. 

Extrenely pleased with the generous flan and artistic portrait. 

But I would say my favorite Maximinus coin is this gigantic (like him) provincial from Tarsus, with a Three Graces reverse. The portrait, unfortunately, is kind of generic. Still, I think it's a great coin. 

 

(26.1 g 37mm Bronze) CILICIA, Tarsus. Maximinus I. 235-238 AD. AE Hexassarion
Obv: ΑΥΤ Κ Γ ΙΟΥ ΟΥΗ ΜΑΞΙΜƐΙΝΟϹ Π Π, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear / Rev: ΤΑΡϹΟΥ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟ Α Μ Κ Γ Β,  the three Graces standing facing with arms around each other, one head l., the others head r., each holding flower.
RPC VI, 7113 (temporary); SNG Levante 1096, BMC 233–4

 

[Spaniard]

@Ryro...Lovely addition!..Great detail on the portrait but also the reverse looks as if Fides is staring at the big man in shock!..Cool coin!

I have the same FIDES MILIVM reverse type but minted ayer or so before your example..It does show how his nose and chin grew!

Maximinus I Denarius. AD 235-238...3.18gr
Obverse..IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped bust right.
Reverse..FIDES MILITVM, Fides standing left, a standard in each hand.
RIC 7A Minted AD 235-236

[AncientOne]

 

Maximinus II. AE Follis. 308-310 AD.

Obv: GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB C, laureate head right.
Rev: GENIO CA-ESARIS, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera from which liquid flows and cornucopiae. K in left field, S over P in right field. Mintmark ALE.
RIC VI Alexandria 99a.