Magnentius AD 350-353. Lugdunum (Lyon)
Maiorina Æ

23 mm, 4,68 g

D N MAGNENTIVS P F AVG, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right, A behind / GLORIA ROMANORVM, Emperor galloping right, spearing barbarian kneeling left, shield and broken spear below horse, RSLG in exergue.

Very Fine

RIC 115.

Flavius Magnus Magnentius, a Roman usurper emperor from AD 350 to 353, rose to power amidst discontent within the Roman military ranks. Born around AD 303, his mixed heritage possibly included Romanized British and Frankish ancestry. Magnentius gained prominence within the military under Emperor Constantine I, eventually seizing power after rebelling against Emperor Constans in AD 350. Despite initial support from key provinces like Britain, Gaul, Italy, and Africa, his reign faced challenges from rivals like Vetranio and Nepotianus. Magnentius's rule was marked by religious tolerance, as evidenced by his outreach to various Christian factions. However, his fate was sealed after suffering decisive defeats against Constantius II, culminating in his suicide following the Battle of Mons Seleucus in AD 353. Despite his brief reign, Magnentius's legacy underscores the political and military upheavals that characterized the declining years of the Roman Empire in the 4th century AD.