Maximinus I, Thrax, Sestertius

[Al Kowsky]

Maximinus I, Thrax, AD 235-238. AE Sestertius: 19.12 gm, 30.5 mm, 12 h. Rome Mint, 3rd emission, late AD 236-237. Obverse: Maximinus laureate, draped, & cuirassed, facing right. MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM. Reverse: Pax standing left holding olive branch & scepter. PAX AVGVSTI S C. RIC IV 81. Ex Richard McAlee Collection; Ex CNG Group 87, lot 1048, May 18, 2011.

Video: https://cngcoins.com/photos/CNG_Links/video/CNG_123/663.html

I won this coin recently from CNG Feature Auction 123, & it arrived yesterday, needless to say I was very happy with the coin 😊. I couldn't afford a high grade example so I settled for this choice VF example that has 4 planchet splits that really don't impair the design elements. It was important to me to find a late example sestertius that shows a more realistic portrait of him with his "jutting chin", instead of an early portrait that looks like an aging Severus Alexander 😏. Much has been written about Maximinus I, but it's difficult to separate the facts from fiction 🤔. We can be certain he was a man of enormous size & great physical strength. Emperor Septimius Severus recruited him for the Roman army after watching him in a wrestling match in the province of Thrace, & later he was chosen as the personal body guard of the emperor. Maximinus  worked his was up to high status in the military & when Severus Alexander & his mother were murdered by mutinous soldiers in Germany, he was chosen by the military as the next emperor. Maximinus was despised & feared by the Roman senate because of his low birth status & ties to the military. He spent his entire reign fighting barbarians in the western provinces along with his son Maximus, & never once set foot in the city of Rome 😲! The military grew disillusioned with Maximinus because of his constant lust for warfare & harsh discipline, & the senate grew more angry with him because of the high taxes he extracted from them to fund all the warfare 😖. Two failed assassination attempts made Maximinus paranoid & even more unhinged 🤪. He was finally brutally murdered along with his son by the troops who once supported him, & their heads were sent to Rome for display. Pictured below for comparison is a sestertius of his son Maximus, that I won at a Roma auction three years ago.

Maximus as Caesar, AD 236-238. Rome Mint, 3rd emission. AE Sestertius: 26.39 gm, 31 mm, 12 h. Reverse: Maximus as PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, S C in field. RIC IV 13. Ex CNG Group 70, lot 1044, 2005; Ex Munzen & Medallen GmbH, Auction 9, lot 638, 2001.

References: The History of the Roman Empire, Volume One: History, By David Vagi. 1999.; Wikipedia.

Forum members are welcome to post their coins of Maximinus I & Maximus, or interesting tidbits of information 😊.

                         

 

[Qcumbor]

Two excellent examples, congrats on the last acquisition.

My early and not very nice sestertius for Max Thrax :

 

And a rather nice sestertius (same as yours) for Maximus :

Q

[ominus1]

..not too many miles lQQks like on your new Max Thrax or  Max Jr.  either ..well cleaned (one can count the hairs on those heads )...fine coin(s)...:)..my Max Jr. was the last coin bought last year and 1st coins received this year from Leu 🙂..

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

denarius. 

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 for a bit less 

What happened to Maximinus and Maximus?

Actually they besieged Aquileia, the gateway to Italy, which had declared for Pupienus. When the siege did not go well and the winter months were encountered whilst a plague spread, the troops decided to eliminate the source of their suffering and his son. So FIDES MILITVM, while hoped for, did not work out.

 

Edited June 3, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[Roman Collector]

Gorgeous, @Al Kowsky ! What an acquisition for your numophylacium! I have these two:

[Al Kowsky]

2 hours ago, Qcumbor said:

Two excellent examples, congrats on the last acquisition.

My early and not very nice sestertius for Max Thrax :

 

And a rather nice sestertius (same as yours) for Maximus :

Q

The Maximus is a nice sharp strike 😊.

[Al Kowsky]

2 hours ago, ominus1 said:

..not too many miles lQQks like on your new Max Thrax or  Max Jr.  either ..well cleaned (one can count the hairs on those heads )...fine coin(s)...:)..my Max Jr. was the last coin bought last year and 1st coins received this year from Leu 🙂..

Your Maximus is a nice looking coin with a chocolate patina 😊.

[Al Kowsky]

1 hour ago, Ancient Coin Hunter said:

denarius. 

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 for a bit less 

What happened to Maximinus and Maximus?

Actually they besieged Aquileia which had declared for Pupienus. When the siege did not go well and the winter months were encountered, the troops decided to eliminate the source of their suffering and his son. So FIDES MILITVM, while hoped for, did not work out.

 

That's a nice looking denarius with little wear 😉. Wishing for loyalty & earning it are two different things 😏....

[Al Kowsky]

1 hour ago, Roman Collector said:

Gorgeous, @Al Kowsky ! What an acquisition for your numophylacium! I have these two:

R.C., Those are two handsome coins with attractive uniform patinas 😊. Numophylacium 🤨? That's a new word for me 😂.

[kapphnwn]

Maximus Ae sestertius 236 AD  obv Bust right bareheaded draped and cuirassed seen from back. Rv Priestly implements RIC 6 second emission 16.90 grams 28 mm Photo by W. Hansen

This type can be seen on the precious metal coinages as well as other aes denominations struck at that time. 

[Edessa]

Maximinus I, AD 235-238. AR Denarius (20mm, 6h). Rome mint, struck AD 236-238. Obv: MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus I right, seen from behind. Rev: PROVIDE-NTIA AVG; Providentia standing facing, head left, wand in right hand over globe at feet to left, cornucopia cradled on left arm. Ref: RIC IV.II 20.  NGC AU. Ex Heritage 232211 (23 Mar 2022), Lot 63244.

[DonnaML]

That's a great-looking Max Thrax, @Al Kowsky. Congratulations. I assume that what you posted is a black-and-white photo -- some auction companies do that regularly -- so I'm curious about what the color looks like.

My only coins of Maximinus I, both depicting him with a chin you could use to break rocks:

Maximinus I Thrax AR Denarius, 236-238 AD. Obv. Laureate bust right, draped & cuirassed, MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM/ Rev. Fides stdg., facing, head left, holding standard in each hand, FIDES MILITVM. RIC IV-2 18A, RSC III 9, Sear RCV III 8307.  20 mm., 2.77 g.

 

Maximinus I Thrax, AE Sestertius, 236-238 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM / Rev. Salus seated left, holding patera with outstretched right hand and using it to feed a serpent rising from an altar; resting left arm on side of chair, SALVS AVGVSTI; S C in exergue. RIC IV 85, BMCRE 175-176, Cohen 92, Sear RCV III 8338 (ill.). 31 mm., 17.58 g., 12 h.

 

 

[Prieure de Sion]

Gaius Iulius Verus Maximinus I Thrax
Denarius of the Roman Imperial Period 235/236 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 19.6mm; Weight: 2.83g; Mint: Rome; Reference: RIC IV Maximinus Thrax 14; Provenance: Ex Raffaele Negrini Numismatic Milan; Obverse: Bust of Maximinus I Thrax, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right. The inscription reads: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG for Imperator Maximinus Pius Augustus; Reverse: Salus, draped, seated left, feeding out of patera in right hand snake coiled round altar. The inscription reads: SALVS AVGVSTI for Salus Augusti (Health of the Augustus).

 

 

 

Gaius Iulius Verus Maximinus I Thrax

 

Sestertius of the Roman Imperial Period 235/236 AD; Material: AE Bronze; Diameter: 28mm; Weight: 20.16g; Mint: Rome; Reference: RIC IV Maximinus Thrax 43; Obverse: Bust of Maximinus I Thrax, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right. The Inscription reads: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG for Imperator Maximus Pius Augustus; Reverse: Fides, draped, standing front, head left, holding military standard in each hand. The Inscription reads: FIDES MILITVM S C for Fides Militum, Senatus Consultum (Loyalty of the soldiers. Decree of the senate).

 

  

 

[Al Kowsky]

2 hours ago, kapphnwn said:

Maximus Ae sestertius 236 AD  obv Bust right bareheaded draped and cuirassed seen from back. Rv Priestly implements RIC 6 second emission 16.90 grams 28 mm Photo by W. Hansen

This type can be seen on the precious metal coinages as well as other aes denominations struck at that time. 

That's a wonderful strike with a very popular reverse composition 🤩.

2 hours ago, Edessa said:

Maximinus I, AD 235-238. AR Denarius (20mm, 6h). Rome mint, struck AD 236-238. Obv: MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus I right, seen from behind. Rev: PROVIDE-NTIA AVG; Providentia standing facing, head left, wand in right hand over globe at feet to left, cornucopia cradled on left arm. Ref: RIC IV.II 20.  NGC AU. Ex Heritage 232211 (23 Mar 2022), Lot 63244.

That's a wonderful strike with exceptional engraving 🤩.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Those are indeed some handsome sestertii, especially the Maximus.

I think it was the History of Rome podcast which mentioned that Maximinus I doubled Caracalla's (who had also doubled Severus' rate) salary to the army.  Although his foreign campaigns were successful, Maximinus I can be accused of being a big part of the crisis of the third century.

[Al Kowsky]

1 hour ago, Prieure de Sion said:

Gaius Iulius Verus Maximinus I Thrax
Denarius of the Roman Imperial Period 235/236 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 19.6mm; Weight: 2.83g; Mint: Rome; Reference: RIC IV Maximinus Thrax 14; Provenance: Ex Raffaele Negrini Numismatic Milan; Obverse: Bust of Maximinus I Thrax, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right. The inscription reads: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG for Imperator Maximinus Pius Augustus; Reverse: Salus, draped, seated left, feeding out of patera in right hand snake coiled round altar. The inscription reads: SALVS AVGVSTI for Salus Augusti (Health of the Augustus).

 

 

 

Gaius Iulius Verus Maximinus I Thrax

 

Sestertius of the Roman Imperial Period 235/236 AD; Material: AE Bronze; Diameter: 28mm; Weight: 20.16g; Mint: Rome; Reference: RIC IV Maximinus Thrax 43; Obverse: Bust of Maximinus I Thrax, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right. The Inscription reads: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG for Imperator Maximus Pius Augustus; Reverse: Fides, draped, standing front, head left, holding military standard in each hand. The Inscription reads: FIDES MILITVM S C for Fides Militum, Senatus Consultum (Loyalty of the soldiers. Decree of the senate).

 

  

 

P.d. Sion, Those are both exceptional examples 😲! The denarius still resembles Severus Alexander, & the Salus reverse is the finest I've seen for that type 😍. The sestertius has a breathtaking portrait 🤩. The Roman engravers were very kind to Maximinus & his son, maybe fear inspired the quality of their work 🤣.

[Al Kowsky]

2 hours ago, DonnaML said:

That's a great-looking Max Thrax, @Al Kowsky. Congratulations. I assume that what you posted is a black-and-white photo -- some auction companies do that regularly -- so I'm curious about what the color looks like.

My only coins of Maximinus I, both depicting him with a chin you could use to break rocks:

Maximinus I Thrax AR Denarius, 236-238 AD. Obv. Laureate bust right, draped & cuirassed, MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM/ Rev. Fides stdg., facing, head left, holding standard in each hand, FIDES MILITVM. RIC IV-2 18A, RSC III 9, Sear RCV III 8307.  20 mm., 2.77 g.

 

Maximinus I Thrax, AE Sestertius, 236-238 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM / Rev. Salus seated left, holding patera with outstretched right hand and using it to feed a serpent rising from an altar; resting left arm on side of chair, SALVS AVGVSTI; S C in exergue. RIC IV 85, BMCRE 175-176, Cohen 92, Sear RCV III 8338 (ill.). 31 mm., 17.58 g., 12 h.

 

Thanks Donna 😊. The color of the Maximinus sestertius is a very dark mahogany color, & looks more black than brown under normal lighting. The CNG video is fairly accurate. Your denarius has a wonderful late style portrait 🤩, & the sestertius has a very scary portrait 😬. His thick neck & grotesque face would make anyone turn & run 🤣.

 

[Al Kowsky]

32 minutes ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

Those are indeed some handsome sestertii, especially the Maximus.

I think it was the History of Rome podcast which mentioned that Maximinus I doubled Caracalla's (who had also doubled Severus' rate) salary to the army.  Although his foreign campaigns were successful, Maximinus I can be accused of being a big part of the crisis of the third century.

Nero., You're right to some extent, he certainly speedup the down hill spiral & set up the trend of provincial generals becoming emperors 😉.

[ambr0zie]

Always a fan of the giant man's coins. 

Here is my first Maximinus Thrax coin, also a sestertius 

Maximinus I Thrax AD 235-238. Rome. Sestertius Æ. 30 mm, 19,25 g. AD 235 - AD 236
IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, bust of Maximinus I, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right / SALVS AVGVSTI S C, Salus, draped, seated left, feeding out of patera in right hand snake coiled round altar
RIC IV Maximinus Thrax 64

Speaking of giants, here is quite a large coin. My biggest ancient coin in fact 

Cilicia, Tarsus. Maximinus I. 235-238 AD. Ӕ Hexassarion 37 mm 26,1 g. 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

 

And a denarius, bought because I really liked the portrait, the large flan and, of course, the fact that it clearly shows the acromegaly

Maximinus I Thrax AD 235-238. Rome
Denarius AR
21 mm, 2,38 g.
AD 236
MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM, bust of Maximinus I, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right / P M TR P II COS P P, Maximinus Thrax, in military attire, standing left between two standards, raising right hand and leaning to left on spear held in left hand
RIC IV Maximinus Thrax 4; RSC 56

[Ryro]

Talk about a stunning new Sestertius of Maximinus🤩 Septimius Severus favorite soldier was one mean hombre.

Here's my recent upgraded Denarius of the big chined bad guy

[ominus1]

1 hour ago, Ryro said:

Talk about a stunning new Sestertius of Maximinus🤩 Septimius Severus favorite soldier was one mean hombre.

Here's my recent upgraded Denarius of the big chined bad guy

.nice..great upgrade....you're goin' 

[Al Kowsky]

3 hours ago, ambr0zie said:

Always a fan of the giant man's coins. 

Here is my first Maximinus Thrax coin, also a sestertius 

Maximinus I Thrax AD 235-238. Rome. Sestertius Æ. 30 mm, 19,25 g. AD 235 - AD 236
IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, bust of Maximinus I, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right / SALVS AVGVSTI S C, Salus, draped, seated left, feeding out of patera in right hand snake coiled round altar
RIC IV Maximinus Thrax 64

Speaking of giants, here is quite a large coin. My biggest ancient coin in fact 

Cilicia, Tarsus. Maximinus I. 235-238 AD. Ӕ Hexassarion 37 mm 26,1 g. 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

 

And a denarius, bought because I really liked the portrait, the large flan and, of course, the fact that it clearly shows the acromegaly

Maximinus I Thrax AD 235-238. Rome
Denarius AR
21 mm, 2,38 g.
AD 236
MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM, bust of Maximinus I, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right / P M TR P II COS P P, Maximinus Thrax, in military attire, standing left between two standards, raising right hand and leaning to left on spear held in left hand
RIC IV Maximinus Thrax 4; RSC 56

Ozie, Your denarius has an excellent late style portrait & the sestertius has a wonderful Salus reverse 😊! For many years historians didn't know what to make of Maximinus' appearance, but there seems to be no doubt he had acromegaly, a very rare disorder of the pituitary gland that abnormally increases bone growth. See drawing below.

 

 

[ambr0zie]

8 minutes ago, Al Kowsky said:

but there seems to be no doubt he had acromegaly, a very rare disorder of the pituitary gland that abnormally increases bone growth

This is a condition that one of the best basketball players in my country had.

Gheorghe Muresan, aka Big Ghitza, who also played in NBA in the 90s. 

The other guy is 1.84 m tall (or how you would say it, 6.03 feet tall). You can guess Muresan's height. 

Edited June 4, 2023 by ambr0zie

[Limes]

Too bad you had to settle for this mere 'VF' graded coin! Just kidding of couse, it's a magnificent coin with a stunning portrait! I do hope you enjoy it, despite the 'flaws' and grade. If not, you can always give it away to, say for example, me ... 😄 

I have this 'VF' denarius, which I think is actually mighty fine. Great portrait, sweet flow lines, and the detailed victory on the reverse is cherry on the pie. 

[Al Kowsky]

2 hours ago, Ryro said:

Talk about a stunning new Sestertius of Maximinus🤩 Septimius Severus favorite soldier was one mean hombre.

Here's my recent upgraded Denarius of the big chined bad guy

Ryro, Your denarius has an excellent realistic portrait & an unusually fine reverse 😊! I'm sure he was praying to Fides in his final days 🤣. We can credit or blame Septimius Severus for the rise to power of Maximinus I 😏. If Severus didn't spot him in a wrestling match he probably would have stayed a shepherd or joined a circus 😉. There is an amusing historical tidbit I have to share here. When Elagabalus became emperor Maximinus abruptly resigned from the military 😮. Rumors spread around the empire that Elagabalus had made sexual advances to Maximinus 🤣. To strengthen those rumors, when the news of the assassination of Elagabalus were voiced Maximinus joined the army again 🤨.