Maximianus

M. Aurelius Valerius Maximianus

Dynasty: Tetrachy

Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus was a friend and compatriot of the emperor Diocletian. Diocletian raised him to be Augustus in AD 286 when he formed the Tetrarchy. Maximianus stayed loyal to Diocletian throughout his reign, but was reluctant to let go of power when Diocletian wanted them both to resign. Diocletian, however, persuaded him and both Emperors retired on the 1st May AD 305. When Maxentius, the son of the Maximianus, revolted in 306, he called his father out of the retirement. Maximianus was eager to reassume the purple, and became an Augustus for the second time. However Maximianus fell out with his son, and fled to Constantine. The Tetrachic system had got way out of control when the surviving rulers met with the retired Diocletian at Carnuntum in 308. Again Maximianus was persuaded to retire by his friend. But not for long. Under the care of his Constantine, now his son-in-law, Maximianus revolted and assumed the purple for the third time in 310. Constantine acted swiftly however, and Maximianus was killed, either by his own hand or that of another, in the same year. Though loyal to his friend, Maximianus proved loyal to no others, even his own son and son-in-law. He was Emperor an unprecedented three times throughout his patchy career

Obverse Legends on coins depicting Maximianus

For explanations of many of the abbreviations used in Roman imperial obverse legends, click here.

• AVR VAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
• DIVO MAXIMIANO OPT IMP
• DIVO MAXIMIANO OPTIMO IMP
• DIVO MAXIMIANO PATRI MAXENTIVS AVG
• DIVO MAXIMIANO SEN
• DIVO MAXIMIANO SEN AVG
• DIVO MAXIMIANO SEN FORT IMP
• DIVO MAXIMIANO SEN IMP
• DN MAXIMIANO BAEATISS
• DN MAXIMIANO BAEATISS SEN AVG
• DN MAXIMIANO BAEATISSIMO SEN AVG
• DN MAXIMIANO FELICISS AVG
• DN MAXIMIANO FELICISS SEN AVG
• DN MAXIMIANO FELICISSIMO SEN AVG
• DN MAXIMIANO PF S AVG
• DN MAXIMIANO SENINV AVG
• DN MAXIMIANVS PF S AVG
• IMP C C VAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
• IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS AVG
• IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
• IMP C M A VAL MAXIMIANVS AVG
• IMP C M A VAL MAXIMIANVS P AVG
• IMP C M A VAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
• IMP C M AV MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
• IMP C M AVR VAL MAXIMIANVS AVG
• IMP C M AVR VAL MAXIMIANVS P AVG
• IMP C M AVR VAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
• IMP C M VAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
• IMP C MAXIMIANVS AVG
• IMP C MAXIMIANVS P AVG
• IMP C MAXIMIANVS P FEL AVG
• IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
• IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF IN AVG
• IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF SEN AVG
• IMP C MAXIMIANVS PIVS FEL AVG
• IMP C VAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
• IMP M AVR VAL MAXIMIANVS AVG
• IMP MAXENTIVS DIVO MAXIMIANO PATRI
• IMP MAXIMIANVS AVG
• IMP MAXIMIANVS AVG COS VII
• IMP MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
• IMP MAXIMIANVS PF AVG COS VII
• IMP MAXIMIANVS SEN AVG
• M AVR MAXIMIANVS SEN AVG
• MAXIMIANO SEN AVG
• MAXIMIANVS AVG
• MAXIMIANVS AVGVSTVS
• MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
• MAXIMIANVS PIVS F AVG COS VII
• MAXIMIANVS SEN PF AVG
• VIRTVS MAXIMIANI AVG

Coins of Maximianus currently available

	Maximianus Bronze follis issued AD 298/299 Obv: IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS PF AVG, Laureate head facing right Rev: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, (TSA in ex.), Genius standing left holding patera and cornucopiae Fine-Very Fine   |   AUD $80.00
	Maximianus Bronze follis issued AD 307 Obv: DN MAXIMIANO PF S AVG, Laureate, cuirassed bust facing right Rev: GENIO POP ROM, (PLN in ex.), Genius standing left holding patera and cornucopiae Very Fine-Extremely Fine   |   AUD $200.00
	Maximianus Bronze follis issued AD 307 Obv: DN MAXIMIANO PF S AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust facing right Rev: GENIO POP ROM, (PLN in ex.), Genius standing left holding patera and cornucopiae About Extremely Fine   |   AUD $300.00
	Maximianus Bronze follis issued AD 307 Obv: DN MAXIMIANO PF S AVG, Bare head facing right Rev: GENIO POP ROM, (PLN in ex.), Genius standing left holding patera and cornucopiae Very Fine   |   AUD $200.00
	Maximianus, Alexandria Bronze tetradrachm issued AD 286/287 Obv: A K M A OVA MAΞIMIANOC CEB, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust facing right Rev: L B, Eagle standing with wreath in beak Good Very Fine   |   AUD $75.00