Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 120 6-7 Oct 2020
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Majorian, 457 – 461
Solidus, uncertain mint in Gaul and possibly struck by the Visigoths 459-461, AV 4.33 g. D N IVLIVS MAIORI – ANVS P F AVG Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r., holding spear pointing forwards and shield bearing Christogram. Rev. VICTORI – A AVG,G,G, Emperor standing facing, holding long cross in r. hand and Victory on globe in l.; foot on man-headed serpent; in field, R – A and in exergue, COMOB. Lacam –. Reinhart 63. RIC 3743.
Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. Unusually well-struck
and centred on a full flan, good extremely fine
Ex Hess-Divo 317, 2010, 942 and NAC 92, 2016, 878 sales.
By the time he was hailed emperor in 457, the nobleman Majorian had acquired considerable experience in government and military affairs. In fact, he had almost become emperor in 455 after the murder of Valentinian III. By the standards of the time, Majorian was an uncommonly gifted and dutiful emperor, and we may attribute his downfall to a stroke of bad fortune. During the reign of the puppet emperor Avitus (455-456), Majorian began to cultivate an alliance with the Master of Soldiers Ricimer, and together they ousted him in 456. As they awaited approval from Constantinople for Majorian's appointment, the old emperor of the East Marcian died, at which point Ricimer did not hesitate to hail Majorian emperor of the West on April 1, 457, but he was not officially installed until December 28. Majorian soon left Ravenna to campaign in Gaul against the Visigoths and Burgundians in 458 and 459. He then returned to Italy to take on the Vandals, who he first encountered in Campania in the form of a raiding party that he drove back out to sea. By 460 he had assembled a fleet of about 300 warships to sail against the Vandals, but the entire fleet was captured while in port in Spain, and Majorian had to make peace under humiliating terms. He returned to Italy in 461 to a dispirited public and a wary Ricimer, who turned against him. The dejected emperor was captured on August 2, 461, and five days later he was dead, either by execution, suicide or dysentery.
Solidus, uncertain mint in Gaul and possibly struck by the Visigoths 459-461, AV 4.33 g. D N IVLIVS MAIORI – ANVS P F AVG Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r., holding spear pointing forwards and shield bearing Christogram. Rev. VICTORI – A AVG,G,G, Emperor standing facing, holding long cross in r. hand and Victory on globe in l.; foot on man-headed serpent; in field, R – A and in exergue, COMOB. Lacam –. Reinhart 63. RIC 3743.
Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. Unusually well-struck
and centred on a full flan, good extremely fine
Ex Hess-Divo 317, 2010, 942 and NAC 92, 2016, 878 sales.
By the time he was hailed emperor in 457, the nobleman Majorian had acquired considerable experience in government and military affairs. In fact, he had almost become emperor in 455 after the murder of Valentinian III. By the standards of the time, Majorian was an uncommonly gifted and dutiful emperor, and we may attribute his downfall to a stroke of bad fortune. During the reign of the puppet emperor Avitus (455-456), Majorian began to cultivate an alliance with the Master of Soldiers Ricimer, and together they ousted him in 456. As they awaited approval from Constantinople for Majorian's appointment, the old emperor of the East Marcian died, at which point Ricimer did not hesitate to hail Majorian emperor of the West on April 1, 457, but he was not officially installed until December 28. Majorian soon left Ravenna to campaign in Gaul against the Visigoths and Burgundians in 458 and 459. He then returned to Italy to take on the Vandals, who he first encountered in Campania in the form of a raiding party that he drove back out to sea. By 460 he had assembled a fleet of about 300 warships to sail against the Vandals, but the entire fleet was captured while in port in Spain, and Majorian had to make peace under humiliating terms. He returned to Italy in 461 to a dispirited public and a wary Ricimer, who turned against him. The dejected emperor was captured on August 2, 461, and five days later he was dead, either by execution, suicide or dysentery.