Kinzer Coins

Magnentius Ancient Roman Bronze Coin — Usurper Against Constantius II (AD 350–353) — NGC Certified

Name: Magnentius Ancient Roman Bronze Coin — Usurper Against Constantius II (AD 350–353) — NGC Certified
Brand: Kinzer Coins
Price: 78.5 USD
Availability: InStock

Magnentius Ancient Roman Bronze Coin — Usurper Against Constantius II (AD 350–353) — NGC Certified

$78.50 USD

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Magnentius AE Bronze — The Usurper Who Nearly Took the Roman Empire

Own a Bronze Coin from the Usurper Who Nearly Took the Entire Roman Empire from Constantius II

A real bronze coin of Magnentius—the military commander who overthrew Emperor Constans in AD 350, ruled the entire western Roman Empire for three years, and fought Constantius II in one of the bloodiest civil wars in Roman history before taking his own life in AD 353. NGC certified.

✓ NGC Certified
✓ Guaranteed Authentic
✓ 30-Day Returns

📷 Coin shown is a representative example. You will receive one authentic NGC-certified bronze coin of Magnentius. Each coin is unique and will vary in strike, centering, patina, preservation, and overall appearance.

⚔️ From the usurper who ruled Gaul, Britain, Hispania, Italy, and North Africa—challenging Constantius II for control of the Roman world

🏛 Reverse depicts Victory, military themes, or imperial symbolism—proclaiming legitimacy during one of the fiercest civil wars of the fourth century

🤲 Struck AD 350–353 during the conflict that culminated in the devastating Battle of Mursa Major, one of the bloodiest battles in Roman history

Own This Piece of History

Why This Coin Matters

Magnentius rose to power with astonishing speed.

In January AD 350, while Emperor Constans was away hunting, a banquet was held for senior officers in the city of Autun. During the celebration, Magnentius suddenly appeared wearing the imperial purple. The assembled officers proclaimed him emperor, and support for Constans collapsed almost overnight. Fleeing across the Pyrenees, Constans was captured and killed before he could organize meaningful resistance.

Within weeks, Magnentius controlled virtually the entire Western Roman Empire. Gaul, Britain, Hispania, Italy, and North Africa acknowledged his authority, while Constantius II remained occupied governing the eastern provinces. For several years, two rival emperors ruled separate halves of the Roman world.

Magnentius proved to be far more than a temporary usurper. An experienced soldier and capable administrator, he governed effectively while preparing for the inevitable confrontation with Constantius II. His coinage projected confidence and legitimacy, and his religious policies appear to have been more tolerant than those of his rival, attracting support from a broad range of subjects.

The decisive struggle came in AD 351 at the Battle of Mursa Major, one of the largest and bloodiest civil wars Rome ever fought. Ancient sources describe enormous casualties—perhaps more than 50,000 soldiers killed. Although Constantius II emerged victorious, the losses were so severe that many historians believe the battle permanently weakened Rome's military strength along its frontiers.

Magnentius escaped the battlefield but never recovered strategically. After a series of defeats across Gaul, his remaining supporters abandoned hope. In AD 353, facing inevitable capture near Lugdunum (modern Lyon), Magnentius chose suicide rather than humiliation at the hands of his rival.

His bronze coinage survives as the tangible record of one of Rome's greatest "what if" moments—a period when a successful western soldier came remarkably close to replacing the Constantinian dynasty and changing the future of the empire.

Perfect For

Collectors of the Constantinian dynasty and Roman civil wars
History lovers fascinated by Magnentius and Constantius II
Collectors of Roman usurpers and late Roman bronze coinage
Enthusiasts of the Battle of Mursa Major and fourth-century Roman history
Anyone seeking a coin from one of the Roman Empire's greatest political turning points

What You'll Receive

One authentic bronze coin of Magnentius
Denomination: AE Bronze
NGC certified for authenticity and preservation
Struck AD 350–353
Presented in an NGC holder
Representative example of the type (each coin is unique)

Continue the Story

Magnentius's defeat preserved the Constantinian dynasty, but at an enormous cost. The casualties suffered during his civil war left the empire weaker just as new threats gathered along the Rhine, Danube, and eastern frontier, shaping the final century of Roman history.

Explore our other Roman, Byzantine, Biblical, Greek, medieval, and world coin collections to continue your journey through the rulers, battles, and turning points that shaped history.