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Maximian (c. 250 – 310 AD) was born a shopkeeper’s son in Sirmium, Pannonia. Very little is known about his youth except that he chose a profession of battling, rather than bartering. Aggressive, strong-willed, and unburdened by subtle intellect, Maximian rose rapidly through the ranks. His most profitable alliance, however, was his friendship with a fellow Pannonian officer named Diocletian.
In 284 AD, when Diocletian seized the purple, he knew he needed a brutal enforcer to hold the West while he reorganized the East. He named Maximian first as Caesar, and soon after as co-Augustus. Historians have long noted the synergy: Diocletian was the brain, Maximian was the brawn. This division of labor was codified in their theology: Diocletian became Jovius (son of Jupiter, the ruling sky god), while Maximian became Herculius (son of Hercules, the hero).
Maximian is featured on this mint state aurelianianus struck circa 289 AD at Siscia. Although it features Maximian, it was struck by his co-Augustus Diocletian, who reciprocated the favor (it was important that the co-Augusti advertised the harmony and consistency of the diarchy). The design is pre-reform, featuring the "old style" radiate bust on the obverse. The reverse explicitly links the Emperor to his divine patron: Maximian (holding a scepter) stands face-to-face with Hercules (leaning on his club). They sacrifice together over a tripod altar, accompanied by the legend CONSERVATOR AVGG ("Protector of the Augusti"). It is a message of divine solidarity: the hero-god and the hero-Emperor working in tandem to save the world.
And the world certainly needed saving, or at least the Empire did. While Diocletian managed the East, Maximian was tasked with the chaotic West. He successfully crushed the Bagaudae peasant revolt in Gaul and repelled Burgundian invaders on the Rhine. However, his judgment was not flawless. To combat Frankish piracy in the English Channel, Maximian promoted a naval commander named Carausius. This decision backfired spectacularly when Carausius declared independence and seized Britannia (see the first coins on this Gallery Page for more information). Maximian attempted a naval invasion to dislodge the usurper in 289 AD, but the effort failed—likely due to storms and bad luck.
Forced to temporarily accept an embarrassing truce with the "Pirate King" of Britain, it was evident to Maximian and Diocletian that Empire tending was too big a job for even two men. In 291 AD, the co-Augusti met in Milan for a grand summit. Amidst elaborate festivals and panegyrics, the two "Sons of Gods" laid the groundwork for the Tetrarchy—a new system in which they would double their efforts.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Maximian 286-310 AD, Siscia mint struck 289-290 AD, AE BI Aurelianianus (3.83 g), NGC Grade: MS, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: Radiate and cuirassed bust right, IMP C M AVR L MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, Reverse: Emperor, holding scepter, and Hercules, leaning on club, standing face to face, both holing pateras, sacrificing at altar, CONSERVATOR AVGG, dot XXI dot D ΛI dot in exergue, Reference: RIC V Siscia, 580.
Image: Sony ɑ 7R Ⅴ camera / Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens.