Maximinus Thrax Denarius Ancient Roman Empire Silver Coin 236AD RIC 4

Obverse: MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM, Bust of Maximinus I, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right
Reverse: P M TR P II COS P P, Maximinus Thrax, in military attire, standing left between two standard, raising right hand and leaning to left on spear held in left hand
Date: 236 A.D.
ID: RIC IV Maximinus Thrax 4
Size: 20mm diameter, 2.98g weight
Composition: Silver

Maximinus was a commoner who rose through the ranks of the Roman military to command a legion during the reign of his predecessor, Emperor Severus Alexander. The military became unhappy with Severus due to his payment of bribes/tributes to Rome's Germanic enemies in an effort to avoid war. His army mutinied and assassinated him and his mother, then proclaimed Maximinus emperor. 

Maximinus spent most of his short reign fighting various barbarian tribes on the frontiers of the empire. He was the first Roman emperor to not come from noble birth, and was hated by the Roman elites and Senate for it. So hated, in fact, that they elected multiple emperors from among their own membership to lead rebellions against Maximinus. It was during an extended siege to put down one of these rebellions that the Roman army mutinied again, killing Maximinus and his son and sending their heads to Rome. Maximinus was described by contemporary sources as an extremely tall and intimidating man - based on surviving sculptures as well as his coin portraits, which feature a prominent brow, nose and jaw, some historians believe he may have had acromegaly (a growth disorder).