Magnus Maximus Silver Siliqua

Monetary Context and Weight Standards

During the late fourth century, the Roman silver currency system operated primarily through the siliqua, a reduced silver denomination struck to complement gold solidi and heavily debased copper-alloy nummi. Under Magnus Maximus (AD 383-388), the siliqua served as an essential medium for military disbursements, administrative donations, and official state transactions across the western dioceses. Following the weight standards established earlier in the Valentinianic period, Maximus struck siliquae at an approximate theoretical target of 1/216 of a Roman pound (libra), which equates to around 1.50 grams, though surviving unclipped specimens frequently cluster between 1.20 and 1.45 grams due to production tolerances and slight weight reduction. The fineness of this silver remained high, generally exceeding 90 to 95 percent silver purity. Maximus's sudden capture of the western administrative centers and treasury reserves gave him immediate control over existing bullion stocks and established mint infrastructures, allowing his regime to mount a swift and substantial silver emission that rivaled the contemporary output of the eastern Augustus, Theodosius I, and the youthful western co-emperor, Valentinian II.

Mints and Administrative Organization

The vast majority of silver siliquae issued in the name of Magnus Maximus emanated from the imperial capital at Augusta Treverorum (Trier), using the distinctive mint mark TRPS in the reverse exergue. The letters 'PS' represent an abbreviation for 'pusulatum' or 'postulatum', denoting refined or assayed pure silver, a standard bureaucratic indicator on late Roman precious-metal coinage. Trier operated multiple workshops (officinae) dedicated to striking gold and silver to support Maximus's mobile court and northern military commands. Secondary silver production took place in Gaul at Lugdunum (Lyon), marked LVGPS, and Arelate (Arles), signed PCON or SCON under the renewed civic name Constantina. Following his invasion of Italy in AD 387, Maximus briefly captured and operated the mints of Mediolanum (Milan), marked MDPS, and Aquileia, marked AQPS. While Italian production was comparatively brief and concentrated on solidi and limited siliqua runs, the western Gallic facilities produced siliquae continuously throughout his reign, demonstrating remarkable uniformity in metallurgical control and die-engraving styles.

Obverse Iconography and Imperial Portraiture

The obverse of the Magnus Maximus siliqua presents an imperial portrait that strictly adheres to the standard conventions of late Roman fourth-century imperial representation. The emperor is shown bust right, wearing the pearl diadem, the traditional headband of late Roman imperial power composed of double rows of pearls punctuated by a central gem above the brow. He is draped in a paludamentum and wears military cuirass underneath, symbolizing both civilian magistracy and supreme military command. Stylistically, portraits from Trier are executed in sharp, compact relief with stylized facial features, an aquiline nose, prominent jawline, and neatly combed hair depicted as tight parallel ridges beneath the diadem. The portrait iconography of Maximus was deliberately designed to harmonize with existing fourth-century dynastic portrait traditions, asserting visual parity with the recognized legitimate emperors Theodosius I, Gratian, and Valentinian II, rather than projecting the visage of a regional military usurper.

Reverse Typology and Visual Ideology

The overwhelmingly predominant reverse type on the silver siliqua of Magnus Maximus is VIRTVS ROMANORVM ('The Courage of the Romans'). The image features the personification of Roma seated upon a high-backed throne or curule stool. She is typically depicted helmeted, either facing front with her head turned to the left or seated entirely in profile to the left. In her right hand, Roma holds a globe symbolizing universal Roman dominion, while her left hand supports an upright spear or long sceptre. This reverse motif had a long tradition on late fourth-century silver, emphasizing military valour, imperial unity, and civil stability. By adopting an arch-traditional metropolitan type, Maximus's propaganda addressed both the frontier legions and the senatorial aristocracy of Rome and Italy, asserting that his usurpation had restored order, upheld Roman arms, and guarded the frontiers against barbarian threats.

Inscriptions and Epigraphic Variations

The obverse inscription on the siliqua regularly reads D N MAGN MAXS P F AVG, or the more expansive variant D N MAGNV MAXIMVS P F AVG, resolving as 'Dominus Noster Magnus Maximus Pius Felix Augustus' ('Our Lord Magnus Maximus, Pious and Fortunate Augustus'). Epigraphic variations occur primarily in the abbreviation of the imperial names, where die-cutters adjusted the spacing of 'MAGNVS' or 'MAXIMVS' to fit the coin module. The reverse inscription is consistently rendered as VIRTVS ROMANORVM, broken symmetrically around the seated figure of Roma. In the exergue, workshop formulas indicate the mint and assay status: Treveri (TRPS), Lugdunum (LVGPS), Mediolanum (MDPS), or Aquileia (AQPS). Epigraphic execution on Gallic issues is generally neat and well-spaced, though dies carved late in Maximus's reign or during times of intensified pressure exhibit tighter lettering and occasional ligatures.

Chronological Development and Associated Issues

The production of Maximus's silver coinage is divided into distinct chronological phases aligned with his political fortunes between AD 383 and AD 388. The initial phase (AD 383-384) commenced immediately upon his acclamation in Britain and subsequent triumph over Gratian near Paris, when the Trier mint initiated massive issues bearing his portrait alongside limited commemorative issues. Between AD 384 and 387, following a temporary diplomatic compromise with Theodosius I that recognized Maximus in Gaul, Britain, and Hispania, siliqua output remained vast and stable. During this period, Maximus elevated his young son, Flavius Victor, to the rank of Augustus (AD 387), producing parallel siliquae with the identical VIRTVS ROMANORVM reverse for Victor at Trier, Lyon, and Milan. The final phase (AD 387-388) followed Maximus's advance into Italy, which activated the Italian mints of Milan and Aquileia for his silver before Theodosius I intervened militarily, defeating and executing Maximus in August AD 388.

Hoarding Patterns and Sub-Roman Circulation

Maximus's siliquae achieved an extraordinarily wide circulation throughout the western provinces, leaving a profound numismatic footprint in northern Gaul, the Rhineland, and particularly Britain. Because Britain was Maximus's original power base, vast quantities of his silver were transferred across the English Channel. Decades after his death, when official Roman coin imports to Britain ceased around AD 407-410, siliquae of Magnus Maximus, along with those of Julian, Valens, Gratian, and Honorius, remained in active circulation as bullion. This prolonged circulation led to widespread clipping, a phenomenon heavily documented in major British deposits such as the Hoxne Hoard, the Patching Hoard, and the Dorchester Hoard. Inhabitants clipped the outer rims of siliquae to create new silver bullion or smaller tokens, often removing the legends while leaving the central imperial bust and seated Roma visible. The abundance of Maximus's siliquae in these fifth-century hoards highlights the enduring volume of his original emissions.

References

1. The Late Roman Gold and Silver Coins from the Hoxne Treasure. British Museum Press, pp. 39-47, 85-92
2. The Alloy of the Late Fourth Century Roman Siliqua, in Imperial Revenue, Expenditure and Monetary Policy in the Fourth Century A.D.. BAR International Series 109, pp. 181-204
3. The Roman Coinage from A.D. 364 to 423. Royal Numismatic Society, Special Publication
4. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Vol. IX: Valentinian I to Theodosius I. pp. 1-32, 28-33 (Treveri), 44-46 (Lugdunum), 78-80 (Mediolanum), 95-100 (Aquileia)
5. An Inventory of Romano-British Coin Hoards. Royal Numismatic Society Special Publication 20