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 Replies: 10 / Views: 553 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
900 Posts |
The Roman Emperors Diocletian and Maximianus claimed lineage with the gods. In the East, Diocletian was in the family of Jupiter and in the West, Maximianus was in the family of Hercules. These coins below reference the relationship of Maximianus with Hercules. You frequently see him referred to as Maximianus Herculius. I collect coins of Maximianus that either portray him as Hercules or merely have a Hercules reference. My latest addition depicts Maximianus as Hercules. Interestingly, someone in antiquitiy scratched a baldric onto the chest of Hercules on the reverse.  Maximianus A.D. 287- 289 AE Antoninianus 22mm 3.9g IMP C MAXIMIANVS P AVG; Radiate, bare bust left wearing baldric, lion's skin across shoulder and carrying club. HERCVLI INVICTO AVGG; Hercules stg. l., holding Victory on globe, club and lion's skin; in left field S. RIC Vii Lugdunum 369; Bastien 186 https://constantinethegreatcoins.com/Hercules/Edited by Victor
11/06/2025 09:43 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1120 Posts |
Very nice example Victor - Congratulations! These types must be rare, I haven't come across any.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
900 Posts |
Yes, they are rare; though I do have two other coins with the same bust type.  Maximianus A.D. 288 silvered AE Antoninianus 21x22mm 3.6g IMP MAXIMIANVS P AVG; Radiate, bare bust wearing baldric, lion's skin across shoulder and carrying club. HERCVLI PACIFERO; Hercules stg. l., holding branch, club and lion's skin; in left field B. In ex. SML RIC Vii Lugdunum 375; Bastien 130 (2 ex.) Spelling error on reverse— I instead of L in HERCVLI  Maximianus A.D. 287-289 AE Antoninianus 22mm 2.7g IMP C MAXIMIANVS AVG; Radiate, bare bust left wearing baldric, lion's skin across shoulder and carrying club. HERCVLI INVICTO AVGG; Hercules stg. l., holding Victory on globe, club and lion's skin; in left field S. RIC Vii Lugdunum -- ;Bastien 190 Edited by Victor
11/06/2025 10:27 am
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Nice examples!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1120 Posts |
The first example resembles Postumus - a carry over from the Gallic usurper?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
900 Posts |
Postumus has a fuller face, longer beard and different nose...plus he had been dead for almost 20 years by the reign of Maximianus...and Maximianus certainly would not have allowed Imperial mint workers to strike coins in his image that looked like a usurper. Here is my favorite Postumus for comparison--  Postumus A.D. 269 AE Antoninianus 20mm 3.6g IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG; Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right. PACATOR ORBIS, radiate and draped bust of Sol right. RIC V.4 Cologne 421; Cunetio 2465 However, Maximianus looks a lot like Diocletian...though the noses are a bit different. The coin below is from the sole reign of Diocletian, before Maximianus was elevated as co-ruler.  Diocletian A.D. 285 AE Antoninianus 21mm 3.6gm IMP C C VAL DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear. VICTORIA AVG; Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm frond; in left field A RIC Vii Lugdunum 91 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2213 Posts |
Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
900 Posts |
Here are two examples from the Rome mint that reference Hercules. the first is pretty self-explanatory  Maximianus A.D. 291 AE Antoninianus 23mm 3.9g IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. VIRTVS AVGG; Hercules stg. l., head left, holding club,trophy and lion's skin. In ex. XXIA RIC Vii Rome 515 This next coin has a club in the exergue; which represents the club of Hercules. This series also has a thunder bolt mintmark for Jupiter. This coin is from the Rauceby Hoard and the bust type with slight drapery over left shoulder is unrecorded during this period...though several are known-- you just have to pay attention to notice them. It is in "Recent Discoveries of Tetrarchic Hoards from Roman Britain and their Wider Context" British Museum Research Publication 236 as coin #843; though it is misdescribed as RIC VI Rome 96b; as no mention of the slight drapery is made. It is a plate coin; though it was in uncleaned condition then.  Maximianus A.D. 299- 301 AE follis 27mm 9.0g IMP C MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right; slight drapery on left shoulder. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, right holding patera. In ex. S club RIC VI Rome --; BM Rauceby hoard # 843 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
900 Posts |
some recent additions to my Maximianus as Hercules collection This coin from Trier is not listed in RIC and is only the second known example of this heroic bust  Maximianus A.D. 296- 297 AE follis 27mm 9.7g IMP MAXIMIANVS P AVG; Laureate, bare-chested, heroic bust right. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, right holding patera, left cornucopiae; A in left, Γ in right. In ex. TR RIC VI Trier -  Maximianus A.D. 291 AE Antoninianus 24mm 2.9g IMP MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. HERCVLI PACIFERO; Hercules standing front, head to left, holding branch in his right hand and club in his left, lion skin draped over his left arm. In ex. XXIA RIC Vii Rome 502 and a posthumous coin issued by Constantine I  Divus Maximianus A.D. 317-318 AE Half Follis 15mm 2.2g DIVO MAXIMIANO SEN FORT IMP; Laureate and veiled head of Maximianus right. MEMORIAE AETERNAE; Lion advancing right; club above. In ex. RT RIC VII Rome 120 |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1563 Posts |
Some very nice examples. Especially like the Maximianus not listed in RIC.
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Nice additions! |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 553 |
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Posted 11/06/2025 10:25 am
