Maximinus II Roman AE (AD 311-313) NGC

Own a certified Roman bronze AE of Maximinus II (AD 311–313), authenticated and slabbed by NGC. This coin captures the final violent struggles of the Tetrarchic system as the Roman Empire edged toward reunification under Constantine the Great.

The Tetrarchy was established by Diocletian to create a smooth transfer of power through a system of multiple emperors. In practice, it unleashed a new era of civil wars. Maximinus II, a nephew of Galerius, rose through this system, becoming Caesar in 305 AD and later Augustus six years afterward.

After Galerius' death, Maximinus sought to expand his influence, clashing with other claimants like Licinius and Constantine. A committed pagan, Maximinus launched one of the last systematic persecutions of Christians, even as the tide of imperial favor was turning toward Christianity.

His ambitions ended in 313 AD when he was defeated by Licinius I during the civil wars that followed the collapse of the Tetrarchy. Facing inevitable capture, Maximinus committed suicide, and his death marked the near-complete triumph of Constantine’s faction.

Bronze AE coins of Maximinus II typically feature his laureate or helmeted bust on the obverse, while reverses emphasize military strength, divine favor, and imperial legitimacy — messages of stability from a ruler whose fate was anything but secure.

Certified by NGC, this AE coin offers collectors a glimpse into the final power struggles of the Tetrarchy and the dawn of a new Roman religious and political order.