Maximinus I, 235-238. Denarius (Silver, 19 mm, 2.36 g, 9 h), an imitative issue, uncertain mint, perhaps in Germania, after c. 235. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG A somewhat tall and elongated laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus I to right. Rev. FIDES Λ Λ-ILITVΛΛ Fides standing facing, her head turned to left, holding a military standard in each hand. Cf. BMC 1, Cohen 7 and RIC 7A ( all referring to the prototype, minted in Rome in 235 ). Very rare and probably unpublished. Well-struck and clear with peculiar portrait of the emperor. About extremely fine.

From a European collection, found in a junk box in Munich.

A very curious,, contemporary imitation or irregular issue. This coin was certainly not meant to be an out-and-out forgery, it was struck in what seems to be relatively good silver, and must have had at least a quasi-official function. It is based on Maximinus's first issue from Rome, which bore a curious composite portrait based on late heads of Severus Alexander combined with descriptions of the new emperor (no one in Rome knew what Maximinus looked like!). Yet it has to be from an irregular mint because the dies were certainly not cut by an official engraver: not only is the portrait slightly odd, but the legend, while not misspelled, does have curious letters (the Ms are made with what seem to be two inverted Vs - ΛΛ).