Magnus

Latin: great.


DICTIONARY OF ROMAN COINS



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MAGNVS, a surname or title of gods, heroes, kings, and emperors.  The deities were generally called Magni, and the term was particularly applied to Jupiter, Diana, etc.

Magnus and Maximus are titles often found assigned to Roman Emperors. 

The inscription DIVO ANTONINO MAGNO appears on coins of Caracalla struck after his death; for that bad prince, as vain as he was ferocious, loved to be saluted with the distinctive appellation of Magnus, after the example of Alexander the Great, whom he affected to imitate. 

MAGNVS is a cognomen ascribed on certain consular coins to Pompey and to his sons, Cnaeus and Sextus; to the father on account of his victorious exploits, and to his posterity as an hereditary distinction - See Pompeia family. 

The name of Magnus was assumed by the usurper Magnentius and also by his brother Decentius

Maximus another pretender to the imperial throne, during the reign of Theodosius I, too the prenomen of Magnus.

 


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