Author Topic: STORY COIN: MAGNENTIUS CHI-RHO  (Read 4655 times)

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Offline Gavin

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STORY COIN: MAGNENTIUS CHI-RHO
« on: December 15, 2016, 09:24:18 AM »
Every ancient coin tells a story.  On Facebook every once in a while I like to post a “story coin”–a coin from my collection with a little vignette about its context. The challenge is to keep these vignettes brief and engaging for a nonspecialist audience. I posted this one today about my Magnentius Chi-Rho reverse. I thought I’d also post it here. Feel free to add to the story if there are any cool details I’ve omitted, or if there’s a different “reading” of this coin from the one I’ve offered.

So the year is 350 A.D.  There are two Roman emperors: Constantius II in the East and Constans in the West, both sons of Constantine the Great. Magnentius, a former imperial guard commander, arose in the West and usurped the rule of Constans, who was soon trapped and killed near the Pyrenees. Magnentius had to act fast to solidify his base of power because rivals in the West (such as Vetranio) were gathering troops, and soon Constantius would arrive from the East to avenge his brother. Perhaps as a genuine gesture of piety, or perhaps as a crass means of rallying the support of the Christian faction, Magnentius had this coin struck featuring a large Chi-Rho monogram. (It also features a portrait that makes Magnentius look like Conway Twitty.) While the Chi-Rho had been featured in small details of Constantinian coinage, never had it held such prominence. The iconographical message is startling: Magnentius, not the sons of Constantine, was the true heir to Christian Empire. After all, his Chi-Rho was bigger than their Chi-Rho. Sadly for Magnentius, his Chi-Rho couldn’t save him, at least not physically. He was soundly defeated by Constantius at the Battle of Mursa Major in Croatia in 351. (Magnentius personally led his troops into battle; Constantius left the battle to pray.) Magnentius’s forces suffered a final defeat in southern France at the Battle of Mons Seleucus, after which Magnentius died the “Roman death” by falling on his sword in 353.


Offline Gavin

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Re: STORY COIN: MAGNENTIUS CHI-RHO
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2016, 09:25:40 AM »
Magnentius 350-353 A.D. AE Centenionalis

Obverse Legend: D N MAGNENTIVS P F AVG; bare-headed draped bust right.

Reverse Legend: SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES; large Chi-Rho/Christogram.

Ex. Wayne von Hardenberg, Ancient Byways VCoins store, a division of the Copper Penny; Code LXXXVIII on 9/24/06.

Notes: Lyons, 21mm 4.94 gm. RIC (VIII)-174; Lugdunum

Offline Victor

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Re: STORY COIN: MAGNENTIUS CHI-RHO
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2016, 10:08:41 AM »
the A (alpha) and the W (omega) on the reverse may also have been a shot at Constantius II, who was an Arian. A and W is a reference to Revelations 22:13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Constantius II as an Arian believed that Christ had a creation point, so did not always exist, versus the orthodox belief that he always existed- Alpha and Omega. So Magnentius may have been pointing out that Constantius II was a heretic.


Offline Gavin

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Re: STORY COIN: MAGNENTIUS CHI-RHO
« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2016, 10:51:36 AM »
Fascinating. I wonder what the conventional wisdom is about the depth of Magnentius's faith. (The same question can be asked about Constantine and his house. I think Julian II had some strong opinions.) I understand that Magnentius was Christian but was also fairly tolerant of paganism--perhaps too tolerant, according to his detractors, who may have had their own pro-Constantinian agenda. Was Christianity merely a political tool for Magnentius, or a real expression of his deeply held beliefs? Is it anachronistic to pose those concepts as a dichotomy?