| Hope and Fate (Elpis or Spes) |  |
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| Geta, 209 - c. 26 December 211 A.D. |   | Spes was the Roman personification of Hope. In art Spes is normally depicted carrying flowers or a cornucopia, but on coins she is almost invariably depicted holding a flower in her extended right hand, while the left is raising a fold of her dress. She was also named "ultima dea" - for Hope is the last resort of men. On this coin, the Caesar, Geta, the designated successor of the emperors, is identified as the future hope of the Roman people. |
| RS48393. Silver denarius, RIC IV 96, RSC III 192a, VF, weight 3.192 g, maximum diameter 18.9 mm, die axis 150o, Laodicea ad Mare mint, 198 - 200 A.D.; obverse L SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES, bare head, draped and cuirassed bust right; reverse SPEI PERPETVAE, Spes walking left, raising flower in right, raising fold of skirt with left; $127.00 (€97.79) |
| Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D. |  | Spes was the Roman personification of Hope. In art Spes is normally depicted carrying flowers or a cornucopia, but on coins she is almost invariably depicted holding a flower in her extended right hand, while the left is raising a fold of her dress. She was also named "ultima dea" - for Hope is the last resort of men. |
| RS50629. Silver denarius, RIC IV 254, RSC III 543, gVF, weight 3.491 g, maximum diameter 19.3 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 231 - 235 A.D.; obverse IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right; reverse SPES PVBLICA, Spes advancing left, flower in right, with left raising skirt; $120.00 (€92.40) |
| Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D. |  | In 232, Severus Alexander launched a counterattack against the Persian forces of King Ardashir I, who had invaded Mesopotamia. Alexander gave the order to march to the capital at Ctesiphon, but was defeated and withdrew to Syria. After heavy losses on both sides, a truce was signed. |
| RB60647. Orichalcum sestertius, RIC IV 648, Cohen 549, VF, chipped, weight 22.254 g, maximum diameter 31.2 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 232 A.D.; obverse IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate bust right with slight drapery on far shoulder; reverse SPES PVBLICA S C, Spes advancing left, flower in right, raising skirt with left; $95.00 (€73.15) |
| Tacitus, 25 September 275 - 12 April 276 A.D. |  | |
| RB33969. Silvered antoninianus, RIC V 61, VF, weight 3.564 g, maximum diameter 23.1 mm, die axis 0o, Lugdunum (Lyon) mint, 276 A.D.; obverse IMP CL TACITVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right; reverse SPES PVBLICA, Spes advancing left, holding flower and lifting fold of dress; nicely centered, some pin prick pitting; $65.00 (€50.05) |
| Claudius II Gothicus, September 268 - August or September 270 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt |  | Elpis the goddess of hope, the Greek equivalent of the Roman Spes, was traditionally defined as "the last goddess" (Spes, ultima dea), meaning that hope is the last resource available to men. In 268, Germanic Alamanni tribes invaded Italy north of the Po River. On this coin Claudius proclaims that he offers hope for the Empire. In November 268, Claudius II defeated the invading Alamanni along the banks of Lake Garda. |
| RX58965. Billon tetradrachm, Curtis 1697; Milne 4197; Geissen 3017; Dattari 5387; BMC Alexandria p. 301, 2317; Kampmann-Ganschow 104.3; Emmett 3881; SNG Cop -, VF, weight 9.940 g, maximum diameter 23.1 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, Sep 268 - 28 Aug 269 A.D; obverse AVT K KLAVDIOC CEB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, from behind; reverse Elpis standing left, flower in extended right, raising fold of skirt with left, L - A (year 1) flanking across field; $60.00 (€46.20) |
| Carinus, First Half 283 - Spring 285 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt |  | Elpis was the Greek personification of Hope. According the Hesiod's famous story, Elpis was the last to escape the Pandora's box. It can be debated whether she was really about "hope" as we understand it, or rather mere "expectation." In art, Elpis is normally depicted carrying flowers or a cornucopia, but on coins she is almost invariably depicted holding a flower in her extended right, while the left is raising a fold of her dress. Elpis's Roman equivalent was Spes. She was also named "ultima dea" - the last resort of men.
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| RX58108. Billon tetradrachm, Milne 4701; Geissen 3177; Curtis 1917; Dattari 5584; SNG Cop 952; BMC Alexandria 2454; Kampmann 115.10; Emmett 4007, VF, weight 7.244 g, maximum diameter 19.9 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 29 Aug 283 - 28 Aug 284 A.D.; obverse A K M A KAPINOC CEB, laureate and cuirassed bust right; reverse Elpis standing left, holding flower and raising fold of dress, date L - B (year 2) across field; $55.00 (€42.35) |
| Faustina Junior, Augusta 146 - Winter 175/176 A.D., Wife of Marcus Aurelius |  | Minted under her father, Antoninus Pius. |
| RS55595. Silver denarius, RIC III Pius 497, RSC II 24, BMCRE IV Pius 1106, SRCV II 4702, VF, weight 3.051 g, maximum diameter 17.6 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 157 - 161 A.D.; obverse FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right; reverse AVGVSTI PII FIL, Spes standing facing, head left, flower in right, gather of skirt in left; $54.00 (€41.58) |
| Philip I the Arab, February 244 - End of September 249 A.D. |  | Spes was the Roman personification of Hope. In art Spes is normally depicted carrying flowers or a cornucopia, but on coins she is almost invariably depicted holding a flower in her extended right hand, while the left is raising a fold of her dress. She was also named "ultima dea" - for Hope is the last resort of men. |
| RS41793. Silver antoninianus, RIC IV 70, RSC IV 221, SRCV III 8967, VF, weight 3.920 g, maximum diameter 23.8 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch mint, 244 - 245 A.D.; obverse IMP C M IVL PHILIPPVS P F AVG P M, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, from behind; reverse SPES FELICITATIS ORBIS (hope for the happiness of the world), Spes standing left, flower in right, raising skirt with left; scarce; $50.00 (€38.50) |
| Tacitus, 25 September 275 - 12 April 276 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt |  | |
| RX51986. Billon tetradrachm, Milne 4493, Curtis 1840, Dattari 5516, Geissen 3118, BMC Alexandria 2404; Emmett 3975, VF, weight 9.531 g, maximum diameter 20.1 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 25 Sep 275 - 12 Apr 276 A.D.; obverse AK KL TAKITOC CEB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right; reverse ETOVC A (year 1), Elpis standing left, flower in right, raising fold of drapery with left; $50.00 (€38.50) |
| Carinus, First Half 283 - Spring 285 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt |  | Elpis was the Greek personification of Hope. According the Hesiod's famous story, Elpis was the last to escape the Pandora's box. It can be debated whether she was really about "hope" as we understand it, or rather mere "expectation." In art, Elpis is normally depicted carrying flowers or a cornucopia, but on coins she is almost invariably depicted holding a flower in her extended right, while the left is raising a fold of her dress. Elpis's Roman equivalent was Spes. She was also named "ultima dea" - the last resort of men.
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| RX57918. Billon tetradrachm, Milne 4701; Geissen 3177; Curtis 1917; Dattari 5584; SNG Cop 952; BMC Alexandria 2454; Kampmann 115.10; Emmett 4007,, aVF, weight 7.631 g, maximum diameter 19.1 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 29 Aug 283 - 28 Aug 284 A.D.; obverse A K M A KAPINOC CEB, laureate and cuirassed bust right; reverse Elpis standing left, flower in right, raising fold of dress with left, date L - B (year 2) flanking across field; $50.00 (€38.50) |
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