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Sale 108
Lot 285
Maximinus I 'Thrax'. Æ Sestertius (21.72 g), AD 235-238. Rome, AD 236/7. MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus I right. Rev. VICTORIA GERMANICA, S C across field, emperor standing facing, head left, holding scepter, being crowned by Victory standing behind, holding palm branch; to left, bound German captive seated left. RIC 90; BMC 191. Glossy chocolate brown with hints of red patina. Boldly struck and absolutely superb in detail. Superb Extremely Fine or better. Estimate Value $1,500 - UP
Ex Baldwin's inventory, March 1937; L. Vierordt Collection, pt. 1 (Schulman 139, 5 March 1923), 2098.
This handsome sestertius utilizes an realistic portrait of Maximinus, which shows his large chin and and other heavy facial features. According to the ancient author and contemporary, Herodian, Maximinus was "of such frightening appearance and colossal size that there is no obvious comparison to be drawn with any of the best-trained Greek athletes or warrior elite of the barbarians" (Herodian vii.1.2). This has lead some modern researchers to suspect that Maximinus suffered from some form of growth disorder, such as gigantism or acromegaly.
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