56, Lot: 174. Estimate $1000. Sold for $600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MAXIMUS of Spain. 410-411 AD. AR Siliqua (0.74 gm). Barcelona mint. Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and reversed spear; SMBA. RIC X 1601; RSC 1b; for additional information, see C.E. King, "Fifth Century Silver Coinage in the Western Roman Empire: The Usurpations in Spain and Gaul" in Mélanges de numismatique offerts à Pierre Bastien, pp. 291-292. Toned Fine/Fair, clipped. Extremely Rare. ($1000)

Maximus was the domesticus (household manager) and probably a relative of the general Gerontius who revolted against Constantine III in 409. Basically a non-entity and Gerontius' puppet, when his master committed suicide in 411, Maximus was allowed to retire into private life. However, if he is the same as the Maximus tyrannus who unsuccessfully attempted to seize power in Spain around 420, his good fortune did not last. That Maximus was captured and publicly executed at the games celebrating Honorius' tricennalia at Ravenna in 422 as an example for any other would-be traitors. According to Philip Grierson (DOCLR, pg. 219), there are only about twenty known examples.