Triton VI, Lot: 1165. Jan 13, 2003. 

PETRONIUS MAXIMUS. 455 AD. AV Solidus (4.40 gm). 
Rome mint. 
DN PETRONIVS MA-XIMVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
VICTORI-A AVGGG, Petronius standing facing, holding long 
cross and Victory on globe, right foot resting on human-headed serpent.

R-M across fields.
Mintmark COMOB.

RIC X 2201; Depeyrot 48/3; Lacam 5; DOCLR 874. 
Very rare.

The assassination of Valentinian III in AD 455 left no male 
heir to the imperial throne. Petronius Maximus was chosen as 
the new emperor and he immediately married Valentinian's widow, Licinia Eudoxia, who believed that Petronius was 
responsible for her late husband’s death. She appealed to 
the Vandal king Gaiseric, who quickly sailed for Italy. 
Petronius decided to flee, was abandoned by his bodyguard and was stoned and killed. 
His reign lasted for only seventy days.

By permission of CNG, www.cngcoins.com.