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Born of a common family and provincially reared, Maximinus I (c. 173-238 AD) achieved notoriety as a Roman military commander during the rule of the Severan dynasty. During the reign of Septimus Severus, Maximinus joined the Roman army in a Thracian unit, earning the nickname, Thrax, even though he probably was Moesian. He was a physically imposing man, extremely tall and immensely strong. One historical account describes him as eight and a half feet tall, and able to pull an ox cart, i.e., as strong as an ox. He may have had acromegaly, a pituitary disorder resulting in excess growth hormone during puberty. He was big, brave, and brash - useful traits for a Roman military commander in crisis-laden 3rd century AD. By the time of Severus Alexander's ascension, Maximinus led his own Legion.
In 235 AD, Maximinus and his soldiers joined Alexander campaigning against the Germanic tribes at the Danubian front. The young Emperor planned to bribe the barbarians into subservience, and then focus Rome’s military efforts elsewhere. This military strategy did not sit well with the humiliated legions, mostly local recruits unwilling to redeploy. The disgruntled troops murdered Alexander and his mother, Empress Julia Mamaea. Looking for a new leader, it was hard to miss the giant Maximinus, whose personal role in the regime change remains highly suspicious.
The Senate confirmed the ascension, even though they considered oafish Maximinus nearly a barbarian himself, and not truly Roman (despite Caracalla’s previous grant of citizenship to all freely-born subjects). For his part, Maximinus focused on what he knew best, i.e., leading his troops. He ruthlessly put down several military revolts against him, and afterwards removed all senators from the army, promoting loyal soldiers in their stead. He scored military successes against hostile Germanic tribes, although with very high casualties. To provide hope for Rome’s future, if not to further bolster his imperial cause, he declared his son, Maximus, as his Caesar.
On his earliest Roman denarii, Maximinus’ visage strongly resembles his predecessor. Since the new Augusts never set foot in Rome, perhaps the local engravers figured it safe to mimic Alexander’s physiognomy. This denarius, minted sometime in 237 AD, shows the evolution when more information was available. Maximinus' barbarically strong chin, protruding nose, and furrowed forehead contrast the relatively soft features typically depicted on Alexander’s coinage. On the coin’s reverse, the Emperor appears again, proudly standing between two standards, one hand holding a scepter and the other hand raised in an imperial salute. The skillfully executed numismatic imagery (earning NGC’s prestigious Fine Style designation) promulgates the message that, despite any concerns over his barbarian bearing, Maximinus firmly controlled Rome's formidable military forces.
Maximinus' extensive military efforts took their toll on the Roman economy. In particular, his policies imposed a severe burden on the Empire’s wealthiest citizens. The situation led to revolts as Rome’s aristocrats sought one of their own on the throne. Gathering his Legions - hurriedly and without proper provisioning - Maximinus marched off to confront a pesky Roman Senate that kept making imperial appointments without his input. When Maximinus reached northern Italy, he found it intentionally deserted and burned; there was no food to be found. This represented a serious problem for an Emperor whose prodigious dietary consumption was the stuff of legend (an unbelievable forty pounds of meat and six gallons of wine per day). The combination of strict discipline, fatigue, and starvation was too much for the disaffected troops. They assassinated their commander and continued on to Rome, presumably in search of food.
Additional Reading: “Transitional Portraits on Roman Coins in the Third Century A.D.,” J. Illingworth, NGC Ancients on 9/11/2012.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Maximinus I, AD 235-238, AR Denarius (2.57 g), Struck in Rome 237 AD, NGC Grade: MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Fine Style, Obverse: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM, Reverse: Emperor standing left between two standards, raising right hand and holding scepter in left, PM TR P III COS P P, References: RIC 5; RSC 64; BMCRE 161.