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Triton XXIV

Lot nuber 1132

Diva Paulina. Died before AD 235. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.43 g, 12h). Consecration issue. Rome mint. 2nd emission of Maximinus I, AD 236.


Triton XXIV
Lot: 1132.
 Estimated: $ 1 000

Roman Imperial, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 1 300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Go to Live

Diva Paulina. Died before AD 235. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.43 g, 12h). Consecration issue. Rome mint. 2nd emission of Maximinus I, AD 236. DIVA PAVLINA, veiled and draped bust right / CONSECRATIO, Diva Paulina, raising hand and holding scepter, seated left on peacock flying right. RIC IV 2 (Maximinus I); BMCRE 127-8 (Maximinus I); RSC 2. Boldly struck on a flan of good metal. EF.

As with many other empresses of the later Roman Empire, virtually nothing is known about Caecilia Paulina, wife of the imposing soldier-emperor Maximinus I Thrax (”the Thracian”). Her name recalls the aristocratic Caecilia gens, but at this late remove she could have been descended from freed servants of that family. Maximinus rose through the ranks of the army to the pinnacle of power; she must have married him at least 15-20 years before this as their son, Maximus, was a young man in his mid-teens in AD 235, when he was named Caesar. Maximinus is said to have worn his wife’s bracelet as a ring on his thumb, an anecdote intended to emphasize his enormous size. But it also points to a sincere affection for his wife, as does a later passage by the fourth century historian Ammianus that suggests Paulina, by “feminine gentleness,” on occasion led Maximinus “ back to the paths of truth and mercy.” Paulina died either before her husband’s accession or shortly thereafter, as all her coins are posthumous and name her as Diva, or goddess.

The final winners of all Triton XXIV lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 19-20 January 2021. This lot is in Session Four, which begins 20 January 2021 at 2 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 22.50% for all others.

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