Magnentius, Lugdunum mint, 350-353 AD.,
Æ Maiorina (20-21 mm / 5.23 g),
Obv.: D N MAGNEN - TIVS P F AVG , bust bare-headed, draped, and cuirassed right, seen from front, A behind portrait.
Rev.: VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE / S V / RPLG , two Victories standing facing one another, holding between them wreath inscibed VOT / V / MVLT / X, star and SV in field below wreath, RPLG in exergue.
RIC VIII, 186, 133 ; Bastien 186 ; LRBC 225 .
Constans, the youngest son of Constantine I, rendered himself unpopular in his part of the Empire, the West, by a policy of being all too much in favour of the Church. His credit was severely damaged by his clumsy attitude against the army and by his obvious homosexual disposition; the German officer Flavius Magnentius could therefore count on a large amount of support when he proclaimed himself emperor on January 18, AD 350. He was pagan, but flattered the Christians with his bronze coins representing a large christogram. But Constantius II, emperor in the East, reacted immediately. With 80'000 men he marched against Magnentius who had only an army of 36'000 at his disposition. In the battle of Mursa, on September 28, AD 351 Constantius defeated his opponent. Magnentius had two more years before Constantius pursued him into Gaul. There, the cities opted for Constantius and Magnentius had no choice but then to commit suicide with his cousin (or brother?) Decentius.
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