Watch List notes:

JDL Collection Part II: Roman Coins
THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

MAXIMUS CAESAR, January 7/May 16, 236–mid April 238.

Sestertius, Rome, Æ 22.41 g.
Obv. MAXIMVS CAES GERM Draped bust of Maximus right; border of dots.
Rev. PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS / S - C Maximus, in military dress, standing left, holding baton (vindicta) in right hand and transverse spear in left; behind him, two standards; border of dots.
Literature
Cohen 14
BMC RE VI, 240, 213, pl. 40, 213
RIC IV/2, 156, 13
Banti 6
Kent-Hirmer pl. 122, 437 = Sutherland 429–430
M.-M. Bendenoun, Coins of the Ancient World, A portrait of the JDL Collection, Tradart, Genève, 2009, 81 (this coin)
Condition
A bold portrait and a pleasant brown-green patina, about extremely fine.

Provenance
Maison Platt, Paris, March 1982, lot 638.
Maximus enjoyed a most extraordinary childhood in Rome considering he was descended of mixed Gothic and Alan blood. His father, Maximinus I, was a towering and powerful man who for decades had caught the eye of emperors. The first was Septimius Severus, who saw him compete in a wrestling match in Thrace. Severus did much to promote Maximinus,
as did Caracalla, Elagabalus and Severus Alexander. When the latter was murdered by mutinous soldiers on the German front in 235, Maximinus was hailed emperor by the troops, marking the first time a man had risen from the ranks to become a Roman emperor. Though a novelty at the time, such events were to become commonplace in this era of 'military anarchy.' His father's success in the army had brought Maximus into lofty social circles in Rome. Indeed, the young man had to delay his forthcoming marriage to Junia Fadilla, a decendant of Antoninus Pius, in order to join his father on the German front after his acclamation. Maximus, then about 20 years old, was raised
to the rank of Caesar in 235 or 236. After serving at least two years at his father's side in army encampments, he was murde- red near Aquileia, after which his severed head was delivered to Rome.