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Magnus Maximus. AD 383-388. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.46 g, 12h). Treveri (Trier) mint. Struck AD 385-386. D N MAG MA XIMVS P F AVG, rosette-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VICTOR IA AVGG, Theodosius I and Valentinian II enthroned facing, each with right hand on globe between them; above, Victory facing with wings spread; palm fond between legs; TROB. RIC IX 77b; Depeyrot 52/1; Biaggi 2311. Underlying luster, light scratches, edge marks. EF. Rare.
Ex William H. Williams Collection (Triton VI, 14 January 2003), lot 1124; Frederick S. Knobloch Collection (Stack’s, 5 May 1984), lot 1460; Sir Charles Oman Collection.
A capable general of Spanish birth, Flavius Magnus Clemens Maximus was appointed military commander of Britain (Comes Britanniae) in AD 380. Three years later, Maximus made a bid for the throne of the Western Roman Empire, then ruled by the young Gratian and his brother Valentinian II. After disposing of Gratian, Maximus proposed a three-way division of the Empire, with himself ruling Britain, Gaul, Germany and Spain, Valentinian II ruling Italy and Africa, and Theodosius I, another Spaniard, holding the East. During this period of relative calm, Maximus struck this gold solidus at his capital, the mint city of Trier, with a reverse depicting him ruling in harmony with Theodosius and Valentinian. The uneasy equilibrium lasted about three years but, in AD 387, Maximus launched an invasion of Italy, provoking a final showdown with Theodosius. In a lightning campaign, Theodosius struck westward and defeated Maximus before he could fully marshal his forces. Both Maximus and his son Victor were summarily executed by Theodosius, who restored Valentinian II to the Western throne. Maximus’ grab for power proved ill-advised, igniting a destructive civil war and fatally weakening the Western Empire, particularly in Britain and northern Gaul. It is claimed, however, that a descendent of his ended up marrying Vortigern, king of the Britons, and is it through this union that several Welsh kings claimed Maximus as an ancestor.
The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.
Triton XXVII – Session Three – Lot 648–983 will be held Wednesday morning, 10 January 2024 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.
Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.
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