Maxentius
A.D. 306- 312
After the abdication of Diocletian and Maximianus, Maxentius expected to become Caesar, but instead he was given the title of Princeps and semi-retired to Rome. In 306, the inhabitants of Rome rebelled against Galerius, who had issued a recent decree that meant they would lose their tax-free status. The citizens of Rome hailed Maxentius as Augustus. Galerius sent Severus II to reclaim Rome. However, the army of Severus defected over to Maxentius. Severus fled to Ravenna, but eventually surrendered in the hopes of a pardon. Maxentius executed him near Rome on 16 September 307.
Maxentius asked his father, Maximianus, to come out of retirement. Father and son repelled an attack by Galerius. They formed a brief alliance with Constantine. Constantine married Fausta, the daughter of Maximianus. However, Maximianus tried to seize power in Rome in April of 308. His attempted coup failed and he fled to Gaul and the protection of his son in law, Constantine. Maximianus later betrayed Constantine also and had to commit suicide in 310- Maxentius, ironically, deified his father and blustered about avenging his death. Maxentius was all alone and surrounded by enemies.
After the death of Severus and defeat of Galerius, Maximianus and Galerius asked Diocletian to come out of retirement for a brief time. They met at Carnuntum, near Vienna. Licinius became Augustus in place of Severus and Constantine was officially recognized as Caesar. All agreed that Maxentius was a usurper and needed to be dealt with.
In 308, Maxentius also lost the province of Africa when local troops there hailed Alexander of Carthage Augustus. This was a huge blow to Maxentius, because Africa was the breadbasket of Rome. This also made Alexander an ally of Constantine, at least as far as they both had a common enemy- Maxentius. There is a milestone in Africa that only mentions two Augusti- Constantine and Domitius Alexander. The army of Maxentius went to Carthage circa 311 and put Alexander to death. The Imperial mint of Carthage had probably already transferred to Ostia prior to the usurpation of Alexander, this would account for the crudeness of his coins from Carthage- he did not have qualified mint personnel.
On October 28, 312 A.D., Maxentius met Constantine outside of Rome. Maxentius could have stayed in heavily fortified Rome, but the citizens of Rome were restless and Maxentius was worried. He consulted the Sibylline Books, where he learned "on October 28 an enemy of the Romans will perish" unfortunately for Maxentius, he assumed the enemy was Constantine. Ancient accounts vary- a pontoon bridge collapsed or a linchpin was pulled out early causing it to collapse, and Maxentius, along with many of his soldiers, drowned. Constantine’s soldiers recovered his body and paraded his head through Rome on a pike; and later it was sent to Africa.
Ticinum
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Maxentius A.D. 307- 308 24mm 6.4g MAXENTIVS P F AVG, laureate head right. CONSERV VRB SVAE, Roma seated in hexastyle temple holding globe & sceptre, knobs as acroteria, pediment empty. In ex. ST RIC VI Ticinum 91 |
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Maxentius A.D. 308- 309 26mm
6.2g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG CONS;
laureate bust facing left in imperial mantle, left
hand holding eagle-tipped scepter. CONSERV VRB SVAE, Roma seated
facing, head left; in hexastyle temple, right hand
holding globe, left scepter; knobs as acroteria,
pediment empty. In ex. ST RIC VI Ticinum 103 |
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| Maxentius A.D. 308-309 25mm 6.7gm IMP MAXENTIVS P F AVG; Laureate head right. CONSERV-VRB SVAE; Victory advancing right, palm in left, right crowning Roma seated left, in tetrastyle temple, globe in right hand, scepter in left; between seated captive; empty pediment, Victories as acroteria. In ex. PT RIC VI Ticinum 106 |
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Maxentius A.D. 308-309 25x26mm 6.3
gm IMP MAXENTIVS P F AVG; Laureate
head right. CONSERV-VRB SVAE; Victory standing
left, palm in left, right crowning Roma seated
facing, head left, in tetrastyle temple, globe
in right hand, scepter in left, empty pediment,
knobs as acroteria. In ex. TT RIC VI Ticinum 108 |
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Aquileia
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Maxentius A.D. 307 25x27mm 7.1g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. CONSERV VRBSVAE; Roma seated left on shield within tetrastyle temple, holding scepter and handing globe to Maxentius, standing right and holding scepter, with foot on bound captive seated right; Victories as acroteria, she-wolf and twins in pediment. In ex. AQP RIC VI Aquileia 113 |
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A.D. 308- 310 24x25mm
7.0gm IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG, laureate
head right. CONSERV VRB SVAE, Roma seated in
hexastyle temple holding globe & sceptre,
wreath in pediment. In ex. AQS RIC VI
Aquileia 116
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| Maxentius A.D. 307- 310 Æ Follis 25mm 6.2g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma seated left in hexastyle temple, holding scepter and globe, shield by side; knobs as acroteria, X in pediment. In ex. AQΓ RIC VI Aquileia 121a |
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Maxentius 20 April 308 24mm 5.3gm IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG CONS,
laureate bust facing left in imperial mantle,
left hand holding eagle-tipped scepter. CONSERV VRB SVAE, Roma seated
facing, head left, in hexastyle temple, right
hand holding globe, left scepter; shield by
side; knobs as acroteria and crescent in
pediment. In ex. AQS RIC VI Aquileia 124 The obverse legend on
this coin ends with CONS meaning Maxentius was
Consul for the first time; and this happened on
20 April 308. |
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Maxentius Jan 309 24x25mm 7.1gm IMP MAXENTIVS P F AVG CONS II,
laureate bust right in imperial mantle, right
hand holding eagle-tipped scepter. CONSERV VRB SVAE, Roma seated
facing, head left, in hexastyle temple, right
hand holding globe, left scepter; shield by
side; knobs as acroteria and crescent in
pediment. In ex. AQS RIC VI Aquileia 125 The obverse legend on
this coin ends with CONS II meaning Maxentius
was Consul for the second time; and this
happened in Jan 309. |
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Rome
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Maxentius A.D. 307 25x26mm 6.1gm MAXENTIVS P F AVG, laureate head right. CONSERVATO RES VRB SVAE, Roma seated in hexastyle temple holding globe & sceptre; knobs as acroteria; plain pediment. In ex. R✶T RIC VI Rome 195 |
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Maxentius variation with
Victory holding victory on a globe, versus the
normal plain globe |
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| Maxentius A.D. 307- 308 24x25mm 6.7g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG, laureate head right. CONSERV VRB SVAE, Roma seated in hexastyle temple holding globe & sceptre, wreath in pediment, Victories as acroteria; H in left field. In ex. RS RIC VI Rome 202a |
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| Maxentius A.D. 307- 308 25mm 6.1g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma seated in hexastyle temple holding globe & sceptre; Sol holding globe flanked by river gods [?] in pediment; Victories with garlands as acroteria; H in left field. In ex. RP RIC VI Rome 204 Workshop not in RIC |
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| Maxentius A.D. 307- 308 25x28mm 5.3gm IMP MAXENTIVS P F AVG, laureate head right. CONSERV VRB SVAE, Roma seated in hexastyle temple holding globe & sceptre, Jupiter and Hercules flanked by river gods in pediment, Victories as acroteria; H in left field. In ex. RQ RIC VI Rome 204 |
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| Maxentius A.D. 308- 310 24mm 6.0g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma seated in hexastyle temple holding globe & sceptre; Dioscuri between altars in pediment; Victories with garlands as acroteria. In ex. RBQ RIC VI Rome 208 |
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| Maxentius A.D. 308- 310 27mm 6.2g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma seated in hexastyle temple holding globe & sceptre; Dioscuri between altars in pediment; Victories with garlands as acroteria. In ex. RBQ RIC VI Rome 208 |
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| Maxentius A.D. 308- 310 25mm 6.1g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma seated in hexastyle temple holding globe & sceptre; Jupiter and Hercules in pediment; Victories with garlands as acroteria. In ex. RBT RIC VI Rome 208 |
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A.D. 308- 310 IMP C MAXENTIUS P F AVG, laureate
head right. CONSERV VRB SVAE, Roma seated in
hexastyle temple holding globe & sceptre,
wreath in pediment. In ex. RBT RIC VI Rome
210
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| Maxentius A.D. 308- 310 22x23mm 5.6g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma seated in hexastyle temple holding globe & sceptre, wreath in pediment; H in left field. In ex. RBP cf. RIC VI Rome 210 This mint mark is not in RIC with an H in the left field, though the footnote for Rome 210 (#4) mentions this variant with H. |
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| Maxentius A.D. 308- 310 22mm 6.0g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. VICTORIA AETERNA AVG N; Victory advancing left with wreath & palm frond; captive at feet. In ex. RBP RIC VI Rome 223 var. (no captive) Drost 112e/1 (this coin illustrated). Not in RIC plate coin in "Le monnayage de Maxence" by Vincent Drost |
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| Maxentius A.D. 309- 312 Half follis 19x21mm 3.0g MAXENTI-VS P F AVG; laureate head right. VICTORIA AETERNA AVG N; Victory standing right, left foot on base of cippus supporting shield inscribing VOT X, captive seated left. In ex. RP RIC VI Rome 227 |
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| Maxentius A.D. 310 Half follis 21mm 2.8gm MAXENTI-VS P F AVG; helmeted and cuirassed bust left; holding spear forward, shield on left. VICTORIA AETERNA AVG N; Victory standing right, left foot on base of cippus supporting shield inscribing VOT X, captive seated left. In ex. RP RIC VI Rome 230 |
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Maxentius A.D. 310 Half follis 20x22mm 2.3gm MAXENTI-VS P F AVG; helmeted and
cuirassed bust left; spear over right shoulder,
shield on left. VICTORIA AETERNA AVG N; Victory
standing right, left foot on base of cippus
supporting shield inscribing VOT X, captive seated
left. In ex. RT RIC VI Rome 232 |
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| Maxentius A.D. 310- 311 Half follis 20mm 2.9g MAXENTIVS P F AVG; Helmeted and cuirassed bust left, holding spear over right shoulder and shield on left. VICTORIA AETERNA AVG N; Victory seated right, inscribing VOT/ X on shield set on pillar; to left, captive seated left, head right. In ex. RQ RIC VI Rome 232; Drost 122c/17 (this coin) plate coin in "Le monnayage de Maxence" by Vincent Drost Issued for the quinquennalia (5 year anniversary) of Maxentius |
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Maxentius A.D. 310- 312 Æ half-follis 16x17mm 2.2
gm MAXENTI-VS P F AVG; Laureate head
right. VOT/ Q Q / MVL /X in four lines
within laurel wreath. In ex. RS RIC VI Rome 237 |
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| Maxentius A.D. 311 25x26mm 6.6gm IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG, laureate head right. CONSERV VRB SVAE, Roma seated in hexastyle temple holding globe & sceptre, wreath in pediment. In ex. REQ RIC VI Rome 258 |
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Maxentius
A.D. 310- 311 24mm 5.4gm IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust left; r. holding spear over shoulder, l. shield. CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma seated in hexastyle temple holding globe & sceptre, wreath in pediment. In ex. RET RIC VI Rome 260 |
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| Maxentius A.D. 310- 312 Æ half-follis 16x18mm 1.7gm MAXENTIVS P F AVG; Laureate head right. VOT/ Q Q / MVL /X/ FEL in five lines within laurel wreath. RIC VI Rome 281b |
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Ostia
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Maxentius
A.D. 309 Ó” follis 25mm 6.4g IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG; laureate head right. AETERNITAS AVG N; Castor and Pollux,each with star over head, standing facing each other, each leaning on sceptre with outer left arm and holding bridled horse, she-wolf with twins between them. In ex. MOSTA RIC VI Ostia 16 |
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Maxentius
A.D. 309 Ӕ follis 23x26mm 6.5g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. AETERNITAS AVG N; Castor and Pollux, each with star over head, standing facing each other, each leaning on sceptre with outer left arm and holding bridled horse. In ex. MOSTΓ RIC VI Ostia 35 Ex. William C. Boyd (1840-1906) from Reverend Simpson on 16 Dec 1889 with his ticket |
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| Maxentius A.D. 309- 312 20mm 4.3g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. AETERNITAS AVG N; Castor and Pollux standing facing each other, each leaning on sceptre with outer left arm and holding bridled horse. In ex. MOSTS RIC VI Ostia 35 This coin has been elaborately cut, perhaps for use as a token or game piece; but the weight suggests it would have been used as a solidus weight. |
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Maxentius
A.D. 309 Ӕ follis 23x26mm 6.5g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. AETERNITAS AVG N; Castor and Pollux, each with star over head, standing facing each other, each leaning on sceptre with outer left arm and holding bridled horse. In ex. MOSTΓ RIC VI Ostia 35
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Maxentius
A.D. 309- 312 26mm 6.5g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. SAECVLI FELICITAS AVG N; She-wolf standing left, suckling the twins. In ex. MOSTT RIC VI Ostia 52 |
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Maxentius A.D. 309- 312 Ó” follis 23x26mm 7.5g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG, laureate head right. VICTORIA AETERNA AVG N, Victory advancing left with wreath & palm. In ex. MOSTP RIC VI Ostia 54 |
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Maxentius A.D. 309- 312 20x21mm 2.9gm MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head
left. VICTORIA AETERNA AVG N; Victory
standing right, left foot on base of cippus
supporting shield inscribing VOT X, captive seated
left. In ex. MOSTQ RIC VI Ostia 60 |
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Maxentius A.D. 309- 312 20x21mm 3.1gm MAXENTIVS P F AVG; helmeted,
cuirassed, bust left, spear over right shoulder,
shield on left arm. VICTORIA AETERNA AVG N; Victory
standing right, left foot on base of cippus
supporting shield inscribing VOT X, captive
seated left. In ex. MOSTS RIC VI
Ostia 61
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| Maxentius A.D. 309- 312 Half follis 20x21mm 3.3gm MAXENTI-VS P F AVG; laureate head left. VICTORIA AETERNA AVG N; Victory standing right, left foot on base of cippus supporting shield inscribing VOT XX FEL, captive seated left. In ex. MOSTQ RIC VI Ostia 62 |
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Carthage
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Maxentius A.D. 306 28mm 10.1g M AVR MAXENTIVS NOB CAES; Laureate head right. SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART; Carthage standing facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands; H in left field. In ex. Δ RIC VI Carthage 51a This type references the victory of Maximianus over the Quinquegentiani -- a rebellious tribe in North Africa. |
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| Maxentius A.D. 307 28mm 9.6g IMP MAXENTIVS P F AVG; Laureate head right. CONSERVATOR AFRICAE SVAE; Africa standing facing, head left, in long drapery with elephant- skin head-dress, right holding standard, left tusk, at feet to left lion with captured bull, in right field I.; SE in left field, F in right. In ex. Γ RIC VI Carthage 57 |
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Maxentius A.D. 307 25mm
6.6g IMP MAXENTIVS
P F AVG; laureate head right. CONSERVATO-RES
KART
SVAE; Carthage standing facing, head left,
holding up fruits, within hexastyle temple with
unadorned pediment; In ex. PKΓ RIC VI Carthage 60 |
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Romulus
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Romulus A.D. 308- 310 22x23mm 6.0gm DIVO ROMVLO N V BIS CONS; bare
head right. AETERNAE MEMORIAE; Eagle with
wings spread on domed shrine with doors ajar. In ex. RBP RIC VI Rome 207 |
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Romulus A.D. 310 Ó” fraction 16x17mm 1.5gm DIVO ROMVLO N V BIS CONS; bare
head right. AETERNAE MEMORIAE; Eagle with
wings spread on domed shrine with doors ajar. In ex. RT RIC VI Rome 239 |
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A.D. 310- 311 23x25mm 5.1gm DIVO ROMVLO N V BIS CONS; bare
head right. AETERNAE MEMORIAE; Eagle with
wings spread on domed shrine with doors ajar. In ex. REQ RIC VI Rome 257
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Ostia
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Romulus |
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| Romulus A.D. 309- 312 Half follis 17mm 2.1gm DIVO ROMVLO N V BIS CONS; bare head right. AETERNAE MEMORIAE; Eagle with wings spread on domed shrine with doors ajar. In ex. MOSTS RIC VI Ostia 59 |
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modified on 9 June 2026