Nomos 23

Maximinus II, as Caesar, 305-309. Aureus (Gold, 19.5 mm, 5.33 g, 12 h), Antioch, 305-308. MAXIMI-NVS NOB CAES Laureate head of Maximinus II to right. Rev. IOVI CON-S CAES / (crescent)SMAΞ* Jupiter, nude but for cloak over his shoulder, standing facing, his head to left, holding thunderbolt in his right hand and long scepter with his left; to left, at his feet, eagle standing left, head turned back to right. Calicó 5013. Cohen 107. Depeyrot 20/4. RIC 68. Extremely rare and quite exceptional, very well-struck and with remarkable details. Virtually as struck.

Sold on behalf of the Compagnie Bancaire Helvétique, Switzerland, from the Collection of a Perfectionist, Leu Numismatics 93, 10 May 2005, 127, originally acquired in 1962 from E. Bourgey in Paris.

This piece was struck to commemorate the foundation of the Second Tetrarchy on 1 May 305. Maximinus II was the nephew of Galerius and after entering the army he was rapidly promoted, until, in 305, thanks to the influence of Galerius on Diocletian, he was appointed as his uncle’s Caesar in the East, and moved to take up his position in Antioch. Unfortunately, after the unexpected death of Constantius I in York the scheme began to unravel, with the uprisings of Constantine and Maxentius, and then the deposition of Severus II. Maximinus seems to have thought that he would be appointed in Severus II’s place but, his uncle chose another old army comrade, Licinius I, leaving Maximinus, and his troops, quite furious. By 310 his army had proclaimed him Augustus and his uncle, already dying, acceded to the fait accompli by appointing both Maximinus and Constantine Augusti on 1 May.