Coin of Maximian

Obverse: Bust of Maximian, laureate, draped in imperial mantle, bearded, right, holding olive branch in right hand, mappa (cloth used to signal the start of games and races) in left; beaded border. Reverse: Providentia (to left) standing right, extending right hand to Quies (to right), standing left, holding branch downward in right hand and scepter in left; in field to right, • (control mark); beaded border.
The labeling of Maximian as “Senior Augustus” dates this coin to the brief period of the Second Tetrarchy (May 1, 305-July 25, 306). This was the only period when Diocletian’s system of succession actually worked as planned. At the beginning of this period, Diocletian and Maximian retired, assuming the title of Senior Augustus and allowing their former subordinates, Galerius and Constantius to assume their former titles of Augustus. The system broke down when Constantius died in 306, and later that year, Maximian would attempt to come out of retirement and regain his title of (regular) Augustus in concert with his son, Maxentius.

Inscription

Provenance

Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.

Art Trading Co. [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Joseph Brummer, Paris and New York, 1942, by purchase [Brummer inv. no. N5296]; Saidie A. May, Baltimore, 1942, by purchase [said to be from Hungary]; Walters Art Museum, 1942, by gift.