The coins shown are representative examples of the grade and type, but not the actual specimens for sale. For details on NGC’s grading standards and definitions, please refer to our NGC Grading page.
Roman Empire – Magnentius (AD 350–353) – Bronze Coin, NGC Certified
This bronze issue was struck under Magnentius, the usurper emperor who briefly controlled much of the Western Roman Empire during the turbulent mid-4th century.
Obverse: Portrait of Magnentius with imperial insignia, projecting strength and legitimacy.
Reverse: Roman imperial symbols and inscriptions, affirming authority amidst civil conflict.
Technical Details: Bronze denomination; authenticated and certified by NGC.
Historical Significance:
A skilled general of Frankish origin, Magnentius seized power in AD 350, overthrowing Emperor Constans. For three years he held sway over Britain, Gaul, and Hispania, presenting himself as a restorer of Roman strength and earning support for his policy of religious tolerance—welcoming both Christians and pagans in an era marked by Arian Christian dominance. Despite his popularity in the West, Magnentius could not withstand the forces of Constantius II, the surviving son of Constantine the Great. Defeated at the Battle of Mons Seleucus in AD 353, he took his own life, bringing an end to his rebellion and ushering in a period of harsh reprisals against his followers.
This coin stands as a powerful reminder of Rome’s civil wars in the post-Constantinian era, reflecting the ambitions of a short-lived emperor who briefly offered an alternative vision of imperial rule.
The coins shown are representative examples of the grade and type, but not the actual specimens for sale. For details on NGC’s grading standards and definitions, please refer to our NGC Grading page.
Roman Empire – Magnentius (AD 350–353) – Bronze Coin, NGC Certified
This bronze issue was struck under Magnentius, the usurper emperor who briefly controlled much of the Western Roman Empire during the turbulent mid-4th century.
Obverse: Portrait of Magnentius with imperial insignia, projecting strength and legitimacy.
Reverse: Roman imperial symbols and inscriptions, affirming authority amidst civil conflict.
Technical Details: Bronze denomination; authenticated and certified by NGC.
Historical Significance:
A skilled general of Frankish origin, Magnentius seized power in AD 350, overthrowing Emperor Constans. For three years he held sway over Britain, Gaul, and Hispania, presenting himself as a restorer of Roman strength and earning support for his policy of religious tolerance—welcoming both Christians and pagans in an era marked by Arian Christian dominance. Despite his popularity in the West, Magnentius could not withstand the forces of Constantius II, the surviving son of Constantine the Great. Defeated at the Battle of Mons Seleucus in AD 353, he took his own life, bringing an end to his rebellion and ushering in a period of harsh reprisals against his followers.
This coin stands as a powerful reminder of Rome’s civil wars in the post-Constantinian era, reflecting the ambitions of a short-lived emperor who briefly offered an alternative vision of imperial rule.
