Maxentius Roman AE (AD 306-312) NGC

Own a certified Roman bronze AE of Maxentius (AD 306–312), authenticated and slabbed by NGC. This coin represents the final chapters of the Tetrarchic system and the dramatic rise of Constantine the Great.

Maxentius was the son of former Emperor Maximian and the son-in-law of Emperor Galerius, deeply connected to the ruling elite of his time. He seized power in 306 AD, taking advantage of the instability following the abdications of Diocletian and Maximian. Though initially outside the formal Tetrarchic system, Maxentius was later drawn into its struggles, ruling Italy and North Africa.

The latter part of his reign was dominated by civil war. Maxentius allied with Maximinus II against Licinius and Constantine, as the once carefully balanced Tetrarchy collapsed into open conflict. His rivalry with Constantine culminated in the famous Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. During the battle, Maxentius' forces were routed, and he himself drowned while attempting to flee across the Tiber River — a dramatic and symbolic end to his reign.

Bronze AE coins of Maxentius typically feature his laureate, draped, or armored bust on the obverse, with reverses often celebrating Rome’s grandeur, military strength, or religious imagery — key themes during his effort to legitimize his rule amid a divided empire.

Certified by NGC, this AE coin offers collectors a piece of the turbulent final years before Constantine’s consolidation of power and the Christianization of the Roman Empire.