The Coin Which Caused The Crisis - Maximinus Thrax Liberalitas Denarius

Forgot to share this one a few months ago when I got it!

Maximinus I Thrax
AR Denarius
IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, Laureate, draped bust right
LIBERALITAS AVG, Liberalitas standing left, holding coin-counter and cornucopia
RIC 10
Rare



Some excellent commentary on the type on thus page:
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Maximin...ximinus.html

Liberalitas referred to any donative made by the emperor to the people - usually to the free citizens of Rome using the proceeds from a successful conquest. Maximinus only issued a single Liberalitas, and these coins tell us the occasion:
- They are found with both the early and middle portrait styles, so they must have been issued early in his reign.
- None of them feature GERM in the title, so the issue could not have celebrated his successful German campaign of 236.

Therefore, it can be assumed that these coins were issued to the soldiers as part of his customary accession donative to the troops. This set a dangerous precedent - the Army was now running the show, and not only would regicide go unpunished... they could expect a substantial bounty for doing so. Thus, in the 50 years between 235 and 285, there were 25 "official" emperors, and possibly even an equal number of usurpers - the Crisis of the Third Century that saw many emperors murdered for nothing more than dissatisfying their troops.