A very rare solidus of Magnentius, struck at Trier at the beginning of his brief reign. Gold issues of this usurper rank among the considerably rarer and most sought-after coins of the final period of the Constantinian dynasty.
Magnentius, who rose through the military ranks, was proclaimed emperor in AD 350 following a revolt against Constans. Within a short period, he gained control over much of the Western Roman Empire, although his authority was not recognized by Constantius II. The ensuing conflict ended with Magnentius’ defeat and suicide in AD 353.
The present solidus belongs to a distinctive gold issue of the Trier mint (Augusta Treverorum). The type bearing the reverse legend VICTORIA AVG LIB ROMANOR is classified in The Roman Imperial Coinage as RIC VIII 247.
Of particular interest is the iconography of the reverse. Victoria and Libertas stand facing one another, jointly supporting a military trophy, with Victoria also holding a palm branch and Libertas a sceptre. The composition is accompanied by the legend VICTORIA AVG LIB ROMANOR – “Victory of the Augustus, Liberty of the Romans”. It conveyed a clear element of Magnentius’ political propaganda: following his seizure of power, his victory was presented as the restoration of Roman liberty and as a means of legitimizing his imperial authority. The mint mark TR in the exergue clearly identifies Trier.
The obverse depicts Magnentius bare-headed, wearing a paludamentum and cuirass, facing right, surrounded by the legend IM CAE MAGNENTIVS AVG. Particularly noteworthy is the absence of a diadem, a characteristic feature of Magnentius’ portraiture on this type.
The present example retains an old suspension loop, indicating that the coin was subsequently worn or used as an ornament. Despite this later modification, it retains a very attractive and expressive portrait as well as a clearly defined reverse composition.
A very rare gold solidus of Magnentius from the Trier mint. An impressive and historically significant issue of one of the most important usurpers of the 4th century, featuring the distinctive reverse combining the personifications of Victory and Liberty. Despite the old suspension loop, the coin remains an exceptionally attractive and rarely encountered example of the gold coinage of Magnentius.
Roman Empire
Magnentius (350-353), Solidus 350-353, Trier Mint
Obverse: bust of the emperor in armor and paludamentum, facing right
IM CAE MAGNENTIVS AVG
Reverse: Victoria and Libertas standing opposite each other and holding the trophy, in the TR episode
VICTORIA•AVG•LIB•ROMANOR
Gold, diameter 21 mm, weight 4.95 g
