Petronius Maximus, 16th March – 31st May 455
Solidus 16th March – 31st May 455, AV 21 mm, 4.46 g. D N PETRONIVS MA – XIMVS P F AVG Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. VICTORI – A AVGGG Emperor standing facing, holding long cross and Victory on globe, foot on man-headed serpent; across field, R – M. In exergue, COMOB. C 1. RIC 2201. LRC 874. Lacam 4 and pl. 18, 3 (these dies). Depeyrot 48/3. Very rare. A pleasant specimen of this difficult issue struck on a large flan and complete. Good very fine

The 76-day reign of Petronius Maximus was anything but a success. Much to his credit, though, Petronius Maximus was one of the wealthiest senators in Rome, who after having twice served as consul, prefect of Italy, and prefect of Rome, rose to the grand position of chamberlain to the emperor Valentinian III. More powerful still was the Master of Soldiers Aetius, who controlled the army. Tensions increased, and in a surprisingly courageous move the emperor himself murdered Aetius. This solved one of the Valentinian’s problems, but had he lived long enough he no doubt would have realised his mistake, for Aetius was the best commander in the Western empire. But Valentinian’s end came soon, as his chamberlain Petronius Maximus encouraged two of Aetius’ former bodyguards to seek revenge by murdering the emperor. Now that the palace was cleared of both general and emperor, Petronius Maximus seized the throne himself, and with it demanded the hand of Valentinian’s beautiful 33-year-old widow, Licinia Eudoxia. Desperate for help, she sent a plea to the Vandal king Gaiseric, who quickly landed an army outside of Rome. Petronius Maximus tried to flee on horseback, but instead was pelted with stones by an angry mob that dragged him off his horse, beat him to death and tossed his mutilated body into the Tiber. The Vandals breached the walls of Rome on June 1, 455 and sacked the Eternal City for fifteen days before they departed with untold treasures and three Imperial hostages, Licinia Eudoxia and her two daughters, for whom they eventually received a king’s ransom.