Ancient Roman, Empire Coin pendant Emperor Maxentius 'the Immortality of our Emperor' - Castor and Pollux on reverse
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 350 - € 430
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Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Coins, symbols of power, struck in metal. From Emperors to Kings, rulers struck their image and ideals into coins, turning currency into one of history’s most enduring propaganda tools. These small objects passed daily through the hands of ordinary people, spreading messages of authority with every exchange.
Silver pendant enclosing an authentic Roman coin. If preferred the coin can easily be removed from the silver pendant frame.
Coin: Æ Follis, Maxentius, struck 309-312 AD, Ostia mint.
Obverse: IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG, laureate head right
Reverse: AETERNITAS AVG N, the Dioscuri Castor and Pollux standing facing each other, each holding sceptre and holding a horse by the bridle.
Mintmark: MOSTP
Diameter: ± 27 mm
Reference: RIC 35
Condition: EF, slight doublestrike on reverse. Signs of wear consistent with age and use. See images.
Date: 309-312 AD (coin), set in modern new silver pendant
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
EMPEROR MAXENTIUS: Roman Emperor 306-312 AD, son of Emperor Maximian and son-in-law of Emperor Galerius.
Maxentius's rule was marked by conflicts and rivalries with other Roman emperors, including his father Maximian, his father-in-law Galerius, and Constantine the Great. These conflicts led to a series of civil wars in the Roman Empire.
Maxentius died during the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. According to historical accounts, he either drowned in the Tiber River while attempting to escape or was killed in the battle.
In 2006, Italian archaeologists discovered wooden boxes near the Palatine Hill, including lances, javelins and spheres of glass and chalcedony. The most important find was a sceptre of a flower holding a blue-green globe. This is believed to have belonged to Emperor Maxentius himself and was possibly hidden by Maxentius' supporters after his defeat at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.
AETERNITAS AVG N: Aeternitas Augusti Nostri (the immortality of our Emperor)
CASTOR AND POLLUX, known as the Dioscuri, were twin brothers in Greek and Roman mythology famed for their loyalty and heroism. Born to Queen Leda, Castor was mortal (son of King Tyndareus), while Pollux was immortal (son of Zeus, who seduced Leda as a swan). This unique parentage made their bond legendary.
They were celebrated warriors: Castor excelled in horsemanship, Pollux in boxing. Together, they joined Jason and the Argonauts in the quest for the Golden Fleece and rescued their sister Helen from Theseus.
When Castor died, Pollux begged Zeus to let them share immortality. Zeus agreed, allowing them to alternate between Olympus and the underworld. As a tribute, they were immortalized as the constellation Gemini.
The twins were revered as protectors of sailors, often associated with St. Elmo’s fire during storms. Their story symbolizes brotherly devotion, courage, and the blend of mortal and divine.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note, keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Coins, symbols of power, struck in metal. From Emperors to Kings, rulers struck their image and ideals into coins, turning currency into one of history’s most enduring propaganda tools. These small objects passed daily through the hands of ordinary people, spreading messages of authority with every exchange.
Silver pendant enclosing an authentic Roman coin. If preferred the coin can easily be removed from the silver pendant frame.
Coin: Æ Follis, Maxentius, struck 309-312 AD, Ostia mint.
Obverse: IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG, laureate head right
Reverse: AETERNITAS AVG N, the Dioscuri Castor and Pollux standing facing each other, each holding sceptre and holding a horse by the bridle.
Mintmark: MOSTP
Diameter: ± 27 mm
Reference: RIC 35
Condition: EF, slight doublestrike on reverse. Signs of wear consistent with age and use. See images.
Date: 309-312 AD (coin), set in modern new silver pendant
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
EMPEROR MAXENTIUS: Roman Emperor 306-312 AD, son of Emperor Maximian and son-in-law of Emperor Galerius.
Maxentius's rule was marked by conflicts and rivalries with other Roman emperors, including his father Maximian, his father-in-law Galerius, and Constantine the Great. These conflicts led to a series of civil wars in the Roman Empire.
Maxentius died during the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. According to historical accounts, he either drowned in the Tiber River while attempting to escape or was killed in the battle.
In 2006, Italian archaeologists discovered wooden boxes near the Palatine Hill, including lances, javelins and spheres of glass and chalcedony. The most important find was a sceptre of a flower holding a blue-green globe. This is believed to have belonged to Emperor Maxentius himself and was possibly hidden by Maxentius' supporters after his defeat at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge.
AETERNITAS AVG N: Aeternitas Augusti Nostri (the immortality of our Emperor)
CASTOR AND POLLUX, known as the Dioscuri, were twin brothers in Greek and Roman mythology famed for their loyalty and heroism. Born to Queen Leda, Castor was mortal (son of King Tyndareus), while Pollux was immortal (son of Zeus, who seduced Leda as a swan). This unique parentage made their bond legendary.
They were celebrated warriors: Castor excelled in horsemanship, Pollux in boxing. Together, they joined Jason and the Argonauts in the quest for the Golden Fleece and rescued their sister Helen from Theseus.
When Castor died, Pollux begged Zeus to let them share immortality. Zeus agreed, allowing them to alternate between Olympus and the underworld. As a tribute, they were immortalized as the constellation Gemini.
The twins were revered as protectors of sailors, often associated with St. Elmo’s fire during storms. Their story symbolizes brotherly devotion, courage, and the blend of mortal and divine.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note, keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman, Empire
Century/ Timeframe
309-312 AD (coin)
Name of object
Coin pendant Emperor Maxentius 'the Immortality of our Emperor' - Castor and Pollux on reverse
Acquired from
Antique market
Year acquired
2023
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Previous owner - year acquired
2023
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
