The Roman Empire
Domitian


Obverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description:
Grade: NGC MS Strike: 4/5 Surface: 4/5
Grade Comment: silvering
Owner: Kohaku
 
Set Category: Ancients
Set Name: The Roman Empire
Slot Name: Domitian
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

Maximian (c. 250 – 310 AD) was born a shopkeeper’s son in Sirmium, located in the Pannonia province. Very little else is known about his youth except that he chose a profession of battling, rather than bartering. Maximian was aggressive and strong-willed, traits leading to his rapid promotion within the Roman army (a military career was definitely the right decision). He became good friends with another rising military tactician, Diocletian, and the relationship turned out profitable: in 284 AD, Diocletian was proclaimed Augustus, and over the next year consolidated his power and named his comrade as Caesar. The arrangement progressed so well that another year later Maximian was elevated to co-Augustus. As noted by historians, Maximian’s military brawn complemented Diocletian’s political brain. The duo even choose celestial patrons to suit their personalities: Maximian declared himself the son of Hercules, the divine hero famous for his bravery and strength, whereas Diocletian associated himself with Jupiter, the supreme sky God and divine personification of Rome's highest offices, internal organization, and external relations. This aurelianianus, struck in 289-290 AD advertises the divine connection. The coin was actually struck for Maximiam by Diocletian, based on the latter’s control over Siscia, the mint city of its striking. The obverse bust of Maximian, radiate and cuirassed, displays characteristics typically found on imperial coinage prior to reforms instituted by the co-Augusti around 293/4 AD. Depicted thereupon are the Emperor and his divine counterpart, Hercules. Both carry symbols of their power: Maximian holds a scepter, and Hercules leans on his club. Both are also holding pateras (a kind of bowl used in religious offerings) over a tripod altar, presumably in a show of divine accord. The inscription reads CONSERVATOR AVGG, reflecting that the co-Augusti will preserve and defend the Empire. In terms of the Empire’s preservation, Maximian and Docletian divided up the responsibility between Roman Empire’s western and eastern halves, respectively. Early on, Maximian was tasked with quelling a rebellion in Gaul led by the usurpers Amandus and Aelianus. Maximian successfully crushed the revolt, with the help of his naval commander, Carausius. With the situation in Gaul under control, Maximian next turned his attention to the Alemanni and the Burgundians, who were invading along the Rhine. Meanwhile, piracy was rampant in the channel between Gaul and Britannia. The culprits, mainly Frankish and Saxon pirates, were disrupting the Empire’s trading routes. Since Maximian was busy with wars elsewhere in his realm, he turned to Carausius to deal with the situation, turning over control of basically his entire western Roman naval fleet. This time, Maximian’s decision backfired. Carausius eliminated the pirates, however, he found their business too lucrative to pass up, and decided to take their place. After realizing he would be slated for execution, Carausius parleyed his triumphs further - he conveniently controlled an entire warship fleet –by declaring himself Augustus of his own Imperium Britanniarum. Maximian was busy with battles elsewhere within his Western Empire; he briefly attempted attempt to oust Carausius in 289 AD, but the attempt failed. Maximian was forced to accept the situation for the moment, since he needed to focus on stabilizing the borders along the Rhine. Maximian was not the only one with enemies along multiple borders: his imperial colleague was dealing with a similar situation. Preserving the Empire was becoming increasingly problematic. In 291 AD, the co-Augusti met in Milan after a celebratory tour through northern Italy (for more details on the festivities, see the comments under the pre-reform coinage of Diocletian in this NGC Ancients Custom Set). During the meeting, the co-Augusti brainstormed ideas that eventually led to administrative changes that profoundly affect the Roman Empire’s future. Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Maximian 286-310 AD, Siscia mint struck 289-290 AD, AE BI Aurelianianus (3.83 g), NGC Grade: MS, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: Radiate and cuirassed bust right, IMP C M AVR L MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, Reverse: Emperor, holding scepter, and Hercules, leaning on club, standing face to face, both holing pateras, sacrificing at altar, CONSERVATOR AVGG, dot XXI dot D ΛI dot in exergue, Reference: RIC V Siscia, 580.

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