Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XII 29 September 2016
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Maximianus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 293-294. MAXIMIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / HERCVLI VICTORI, Hercules seated facing on rock, head to right, lion's skin on lap, holding club with left hand; bow and quiver resting to right; PR in exergue. RIC -; Depeyrot 5B/5 (these dies); Calicó 4682 (this obverse die). 6.02g, 20mm, 7h.
Near Mint State. Insignificant trace of double striking on obverse; exceptionally bold reverse.
Ex Jean P. Lambros Collection, J. Hirsch XXIX, 9 November 1910, lot 1347.
Given the title 'Herculius' by Diocletian, Maximianus' role was always that of the military might to Diocletian's stategic planning. Whilst the title reflected the adoption of Hercules as the heavenly father of Maximianus and thus, his familial ties to divinity, it was also representative of his role as junior emperor. Taking the cognomen of 'Jovius', Diocletian assumed familial ties to the more authoritative deity of Jupiter, as the father of Hercules, and so indicated his superiority over Maximianus as the director of imperial policy.
The reverse depiction of Hercules on this gold aureus displays this imperial theology with the inscription HERCVLI VICTORI ("Hercules the Victor"). Whilst this issue suggests military success, Maximianus was beginning to falter in his role as a military instrument of the empire. His failed invasion of Britain in 289, against the ever-increasing threat of Carausius, led Diocletian to conclude that their divinely sanctioned diarchy was insufficient to manage the Empire. Constantius was appointed to the office of Caesar in the West and Galerius was granted the same position in the East, establishing a Tetrarchy that would relieve Maximianus of his military responsibilities. This coin was most probably produced in response to the increase in bureaucracy that the appointment of two new Caesars in 293 will have occasioned, as well as the ever present needs of the army protecting the eastern frontier of the Empire.
Near Mint State. Insignificant trace of double striking on obverse; exceptionally bold reverse.
Ex Jean P. Lambros Collection, J. Hirsch XXIX, 9 November 1910, lot 1347.
Given the title 'Herculius' by Diocletian, Maximianus' role was always that of the military might to Diocletian's stategic planning. Whilst the title reflected the adoption of Hercules as the heavenly father of Maximianus and thus, his familial ties to divinity, it was also representative of his role as junior emperor. Taking the cognomen of 'Jovius', Diocletian assumed familial ties to the more authoritative deity of Jupiter, as the father of Hercules, and so indicated his superiority over Maximianus as the director of imperial policy.
The reverse depiction of Hercules on this gold aureus displays this imperial theology with the inscription HERCVLI VICTORI ("Hercules the Victor"). Whilst this issue suggests military success, Maximianus was beginning to falter in his role as a military instrument of the empire. His failed invasion of Britain in 289, against the ever-increasing threat of Carausius, led Diocletian to conclude that their divinely sanctioned diarchy was insufficient to manage the Empire. Constantius was appointed to the office of Caesar in the West and Galerius was granted the same position in the East, establishing a Tetrarchy that would relieve Maximianus of his military responsibilities. This coin was most probably produced in response to the increase in bureaucracy that the appointment of two new Caesars in 293 will have occasioned, as well as the ever present needs of the army protecting the eastern frontier of the Empire.