Roman Empire

Maximianus, Co-Emperor AD 286-305

RIC 3; Depeyrot 2/1; cf. Calicó 4668 (no apples), Extremely Fine

Nicomedia, ca. AD 294. MAXIMIANVS P F AVG, laureate head of Maximianus right. Reverse: HERCVLI VICTORI, Hercules standing facing, head right, holding club and apples, lion’s skin draped over arm; SMN.

Ex Ambrose Collection (Roma X, 27 September 2015), 867; Roma IV (30 September 2012), 663; Roma II (2 October 2011), 755; NAC 59 (4 April 2011), 1154

At the same time that Diocletian took up the title Jovius, thereby associating him with the supreme god Jupiter, his junior partner, Maximian, became Herculius, heroic son of Jupiter. In short, Diocletian was to be the brains and Maximian was to be the brawn of imperial rule. Maximian’s role as Herculius is clearly advertised in the types used for this and the preceding solidus. Long gone were the days when the Emperor was primus inter pares.