DI-6364 | RIC IV Maximinus Thrax 12 (denarius)
Maximinus Thrax
Maximinus Thrax

Dynasty: Crisis of the Third Century
Emperor: Maximinus Thrax
Authority: Maximinus Thrax
Date and mint: AD 235/AD 236 - Rome


Obverse: Bust of Maximino I, laureate, draped and cuirassed, right
Legend: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG

Reverse: Pax, draped, standing left, holding a branch in extended right hand and a scepter transversal in left hand.
Legend: PAX AVGVSTI

Comment: The reign of Maximinus Thrax, begun in AD 235, marked the start of the Crisis of the Third Century, an era of instability in Rome. From humble origins, his rise reflected the growing influence of the army in Roman politics. The period was characterized by the constant struggle to maintain control of the Empire against external threats and internal tensions. Maximinus, of peasant background and without senatorial ancestry, was a strictly military emperor who ruled from AD 235 to 238. His reign was marked by defensive campaigns on the Rhine and Danube frontiers. Despite victories, his severity and fiscal burdens made him unpopular and led to his fall after a revolt in AD 238. This denarius was struck in AD 235-236, early in his reign, when he sought to consolidate power through military action. The obverse, with his laureate bust, symbolizes military authority. The reverse shows Pax holding branch and scepter, projecting an ideal of imperial peace and control despite the violent and unstable character of his rule.

Provenance: Gorny & Mosch (2012)
Price: 180 €