1 Denarius Roman Empire (27BC-395) Silver Maximinus I Thrax (173-238)

Mint Place: Rome
Mint Periodr: 235-236 AD
Denomination: AR Denarius
References: RIC 12, RSC 31. R!
Ruler (Emperor):  Maximinus I Thrax (235-238 AD)
Diameter: 21mm
Weight: 3.10gm

Material: Silver

Obverse: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.

Legend: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG

Reverse: Pax holding olive-branch in right hand and sceptre left.

Legend: PAX AVGUSTI

Pax (Latin for Peace), more commonly known in English as Peace, was the Roman goddess of peace derived and adopted from the ancient Greek equivalent Eirene. Pax was seen as the daughter of the Roman king god Jupiter and the goddess Justice. Worship of Peace was organized and made popular during the rule of the emperor Augustus who used her imagery to help stabilise the empire after the years of turmoil and civil war of the late republic. Augustus commissioned an altar of peace in her honour on the on the Campus Martius called Ara Pacis., and the emperor Vespasian built a temple for her on called the Templum Pacis. Pax had a festival held for her on January 3. In art she is commonly depicted holding out olive branches as a peace offering, as well as a caduceus, cornucopia, corn and a sceptre. Pax is also often associated with spring.

Gaius Julius Verus Maximinus "Thrax" (“the Thracian”; c. 173 – 238) was Roman emperor from 235 to 238.

His father was an accountant in the governor’s office and sprang from ancestors who were Carpi (a Dacian tribe), a people whom Diocletian would eventually drive from their ancient abode (in Dacia) and transfer to Pannonia. Maximinus was the commander of the Legio IV Italica when Severus Alexander was assassinated by his own troops in 235. The Pannonian army then elected Maximinus emperor.

In 238 (which came to be known as the Year of the Six Emperors), a senatorial revolt broke out, leading to the successive proclamation of Gordian I, Gordian II, Pupienus, Balbinus and Gordian III as emperors in opposition to Maximinus. Maximinus advanced on Rome to put down the revolt, but was halted at Aquileia, where he was assassinated by disaffected elements of the Legio II Parthica.

Maximinus is described by several ancient sources, though none are contemporary except Herodian’s Roman History. He was a so-called barracks emperor of the 3rd century; his rule is often considered to mark the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century. Maximinus was the first emperor who hailed neither from the senatorial class nor from the equestrian class.