silver denarius of supposed giant Emperor Maximinus Thrax

NiceCurrency

Roman Empire
Maximinus Thrax
(Reign as 27th Emperor of the Roman Empire 235-238 AD)
(b. ca. 173 AD, d. 238 AD)


Obverse: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus facing right

Reverse: PM TR P II COS PP, Maximinus standing facing left, raising hand and holding spear, legionary standards on both sides




Silver Denarius
Minted in Rome 236AD



Translations:

IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG= Imperator(Commander-in-Chief) Maximinus Pious Emperor
PM TR P II COS PP=Greatest Priest, Tribune of the Plebs for the Second Time, Consul, Father of the Country





Reference:
RIC IVii 3


"Ancient sources, ranging from the notoriously unreliable Historia Augusta to Herodian, speak of Maximinus as a man of significantly greater size than his contemporaries.[34][35] He is, moreover, depicted in ancient imagery as a man with a prominent brow, nose, and jaw; symptoms of one form of overgrowth. His thumb was said to be so large that he wore his wife's bracelet as a ring for it. While the exact size of Maximinus will probably never be known, he was nonetheless likely a man of great size."

read about him on wikipedia here

SmEagle1795

Great coin! Are you going to collect the rest of the "Year of the Six Emperors"? That would be a fun set to work on.

NiceCurrency

I'm insane so I want a portrait coin of every augustus

SmEagle1795

<< <i>I'm insane so I want a portrait coin of every augustus >>



Not insane Have you seen this poster: The Roman Imperials

It includes the emperor's wives - if you're looking for just the emperors themselves, you may want to get this one: The Roman Emperors

Both are great additions for any collector

NiceCurrency

that's really cool!
we're moving out of this 1 br apt into a 2 br house next month and that is definitely going into my office

Swampboy

Evenly struck and centered denarius of the Thracian emperor; I like it.

nicholasz219

That is a really nice denarius, Nice.

I am like you and want one of every emperor and also pick up wives and others as they come my way. I think I didn't like ancient collecting when I was a kid because it was too much to absorb all at once but also because there was no definite endpoint. In an interesting development, now I prefer to not have to worry about possibly collecting every piece of everything.

That is a really well struck and attractive coin. Was this purchase a live auction, ebay or dealer to you private sale? Don't answer that if you do not want to, I understand.

NiceCurrency

it was sold on the forum here

WillieBoyd2

Nice coin!

I also have a few items from the Big Man:


Maximinus Thrax Denarius Salus
Obverse: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG
Reverse: Salus seated left, feeding from patera a serpent arising from altar, SALVS AVGVSTI
Size: 22mm Weight: 2.59gm Catalog: RIC 14


Maximinus Thrax Denarius Victory
Obverse: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, from behind, IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG
Reverse: Victory advancing right, raising wreath in right, palm frond over shoulder in left, VICTORIA AVG
Size: 20mm Weight: 2.98gm Catalog: RIC 16

Big Max has been my coin board avatar for years.

nicholasz219

Nice, I was just curious that's all. He is one I need to add as well.

NiceCurrency

I like that salus feeding serpent design, good stuff

Zohar

This is a very nice design. Looks to be well struck!

Aethelred

Neat coin and it looks like you are gaining a feel for the new camera very quickly. Getting a handle on the white balance setting is key and it appears you have done that now, good work!

bronzemat

Nice one, always liked that reverse.

Mine:

NiceCurrency

<< <i>Nice one, always liked that reverse.

Mine:

>>



wow, I'd nickname this one the jay leno coin

lordmarcovan

The coin in the OP looks brighter and nicer in your picture over on your FORVM gallery, N.C. Looks nice either way, of course.

Here is the one I had in my first Roman collection. Nothing special, I guess, but I always liked it, and Max Thrax was always rather interesting.