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Augustus / Livia as PaxOctavian as Augustus, 27 BC – 14 AD. Denarius, Lugdunum mint
O: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE Laureate head r.
R: PONTIF MAXIM Draped female figure seated r., holding sceptre and branch.
- C 223. BMC 545. RIC 220. CBN 1693.Nemonater
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Augustus QuinariusAugustus AR Quinarius, 13mm, 1.69g, Emerita mint, P. Carisius, legatus pro praetor, c. 25-23 BC.
O: AVGVST, Bare head l.
R: P CARISI LEG, Victory standing r., placing wreath on a trophy consisting of helmet and cuirass; dagger and sword at base of trophy. - RIC I 1b; RSC 387.Nemonater
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Augustus RIC 20727 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Lugdunum mint. Struck 2 BC-AD 4.
O: Laureate head right
R: Caius and Lucius Caesars standing facing, holding shields and spears between them; simpulum and lituus above.
- RIC I 207; Lyon 82; RSC 43
Light, bluish toningNemonater
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Augustus RIC 21127 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Lugdunum mint. Struck 2 BC-AD 4.
O: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE Head, laureate, to right
R: AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT; C L CAESARES in ex; Gaius and Lucius Caesar standing facing, each resting a hand on a shield. Crossed spears behind the shields. Simpulum on l. and lituus on r., X below.
RIC 211; BMC 537; RSC 43a.
The brothers, Caius and Lucius, were the sons of Agrippa and Julia, daughter of Augustus. They were due to succeed Augustus but predeceased him in 4 and 2 A.D. respectively. Gaius, the elder of the two brothers, has the more prestigious position on the left and the ladle above him marking him as Pontifex. He should have his shield placed in front of that of his younger brother Lucius, who has lituus above marking him as augur. The shield placement is likely just an engravers error. Nemonater
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Augustus RIC 21227 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Lugdunum mint. Struck 2 BC-AD 4.
O: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE Head, laureate, to right
R: AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT; C L CAESARES in ex; Gaius and Lucius Caesar standing facing, each resting a hand on a shield. Crossed spears behind the shields. Lituus on l. and Simpulum on r., X below.
- RIC 212 (R)
"The brothers, Caius and Lucius, were the sons of Agrippa and Julia, daughter of Augustus. They were due to succeed Augustus but predeceased him in 4 and 2 A.D. respectively. Gaius, the elder of the two brothers has his shield placed in front of that of his younger brother and the ladle above him marking him as Pontifex. Lucius has lituus above marking him as augur. Gaius should have the more prestigious position on the left but this variety has him on the right." - ForumNemonater
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CaracallaCaracalla, Rome mint, 3.153g, 19.4mm, 212 A.D.; O: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head right; R: P M TR P XV COS III P P, Hercules standing half left, nude, branch in right, club and lion-skin in left. RIC IV 192, RSC III 196Nemonater
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CaracallaCaracalla. AD 198-217. AR Denarius 19.5mm, 3.3 g. Rome mint. 201 / 202 AD.
O: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, Laureate and draped beardless young bust right
R: PART MAX PM TR P X, trophy; at base, bound captive seated at either side.
- RIC 322
A rare mule with a reverse meant for Septimius Severus.
The workmen can be excused for mixing up the dies, for in 201-202 exactly the same PART MAX Trophy type was being struck for both emperors, distinguished only by their titles in the continuation of the rev. legend, so easy to confuse:
PART MAX P M TR P VIIII or X or X COS III P P for Septimius,
PART MAX PONT TR P IIII or V or V COS for Caracalla.
Two others from the same rev. die, but different obv. dies: RIC 322 = BMC p. 385, 163, pl. 64.13; and CClay collection from eBay, Jan. 2007.
Another is reported by Cohen 174 (10 francs) from the Turin collection; and there were two more in the Reka Devnia hoard.Nemonater
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Civil Wars of 68-69 Jupiter / VestaCivil Wars. Silver Denarius (3.09 g), AD 68-69 Uncertain mint in Southern Gaul, ca. AD 69.
O: I O M CAPITOLINVS, diademed and heroic bust of Jupiter Capitolinus left, small branch before, with slight mantle showing on near shoulder.
R: VESTA P R QVIRITIVM, Vesta seated left, holding patera and torch.
- RIC 125a (Group IV); AM 96; BMC 72; RSC 432. Ex Dr. Rainer Pudill; Ex Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH Summer 2010 Lot 490
Struck for Vitellius, perhaps by his commander Fabius Valens, in southern Gaul shortly before the First Battle of Bedriacum, which saw the annihilation of Otho's forces in mid-April, AD 69. This type draws on the two most important cults in Rome. The figure of Jupiter Optimus Maximus Capitolinus invokes the invincible might of Rome, while the figure of Vesta, who was the goddess of the Rome's sacred hearth, symbolizes the Empire's permanence.
Nemonater
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Civil Wars RIC 12Civil Wars 68-69 CE. AR Denarius (17.50 mm, 3.39 g). Spanish mint, April-June 68 CE.
O: BONI EVENTVS, Female bust right, wearing fillet; hair rolled and looped above neck
R: VICTORIA P R, Victory standing left on globe, holding wreath in right hand and palm in left
- BMCRE I 292 Note + Taf 50.2; P.-H. Martin, the anonymous coins of the year 68 AD (1974) 82 # 99 PL 9; E. P. Nicolas, De Néron à Vespasien (1979) 1308 No. 31; 1435 f 1456 # 107 Taf 14.107 B; RIC I² Nr. 12 (Spain, 68 n. Chr.) R5 (Group I). Evidently the second known. The above references are all to one example found in Münzkabinett Berlin.
Likely struck by Galba in Spain between April 6 and early June, 68 AD, that is, between the dates of his acceptance of the offer from Vindex and of his receiving news of his recognition by the Senate.
The civil wars at the end of Nero’s reign began with the revolt of the governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, Gaius Julius Vindex, probably around the beginning of March of AD 68. Vindex had claimed that he had a force of 100,000 men, and a substantial coinage was certainly needed to pay them.
Vindex offered the leadership of the revolt to Servius Sulpicius Galba, then governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, who was hailed imperator by the Spanish legions at Carthago Nova in April of the same year. The title was cautiously refused, but Galba did declare himself the legatus of the senate and people of Rome. Just a month later, Galba’s confidence would be shaken by the crushing defeat of Vindex near Besançon by the general Lucius Verginius Rufus, governor of Germania Superior. By 9 June Nero was dead, having taken his own life. Galba began his march to Rome, and his brief reign was underway.
Without an emperor to strike in the name of (save for that in honor of the “model emperor” of Roman history, Augustus) the coinage was struck with messages suiting the political climate. The coinage under Vindex possesses a more aggressive air that underscores the militant nature of his revolt, while Galba’s tends to be more constitutional and optimistic in tone. Originally struck in large numbers, as indicated by the number of types employed, the coins of the civil wars are all rare today, having been recalled after the final victory of Vespasian in 69 AD. Nemonater
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ClaudiusClaudius Denarius. Struck 41/2 AD. Rome mint. (19mm 3.51g) TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P, laureate head right / PACI AVGVSTAE, Nemesis walking right, holding caduceus in left hand, serpent before. RIC 10
What a difficult coin to photograph! Much better in hand.Nemonater
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Clodius Albinus / RomaClodius Albinus (Caesar, 193-195). Denarius. Rome mint, Struck circa AD 193-194
O: D CLOD SEPT ALBIN CAES, Bare head right.
R: ROMAE AE-TERNAE, Roma seated left on shield, holding palladium and scepter.
- RIC 11.Nemonater
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CommodusAD 177-192. AR Denarius (17mm, 1.94 g, 1h). Rome mint. Struck AD 192. Head right, wearing lion skin / HER-CVL/ RO-MAN/ AV-GV divided by club; all within wreath. RIC III 251; RSC 190
Numerous events suggest Commodus was becoming mentally ill. Apparently he thought of himself as the reincarnation of Hercules. It is said that in public spectacles he would dress in the manner of Hercules and bludgeon prisoners to death with a club.
I feel this serene portrait is unusually lifelike for the type.Nemonater
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Decimus Caelius Calvinus BalbinusBalbinus AR Antoninianus. 4.86g, 22mm Rome, AD 238.
O: IMP CAES D CAEL BALBINVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
R: FIDES MVTVA AVGG, (Mutual Fidelity of the Augusti) clasped right hands.
- RIC 11; RSC 6.Nemonater
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DiadumenianDiadumenian, as Caesar. 218 AD. AR Denarius 3.04 g. 2nd emission, July AD 217-March 218
O: M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES, bare-headed and draped bust right
R: PRINC IVVENTVTIS, Diadumenian standing half-left, head right, holding standard and sceptre; two standards behind.
RIC IV 102 (Macrinus); BMCRE 87 (Macrinus); RSC 3.
Marcus Opellius Diadumenianus was born in 208. According to Aelius Lampridius, quoted below, the boy was so named because he was born with a diadem formed by a rolled caul.
“Now let us proceed to the omens predicting his imperial power — which are marvellous enough in the case of others, but in his case beyond the usual wont. 4 On the day of his birth, his father, who then chanced to be steward of the greater treasury, was inspecting the purple robes, and those which he approved as being brighter in hue he ordered to be carried into a certain chamber, in which two hours later Diadumenianus was born. 2 Furthermore, whereas it usually happens that children at birth are provided by nature with a caul, which the midwives seize and sell to credulous lawyers (for it is said that this bring luck to those who plead), 3 this child, instead of a caul, had a narrow band like a diadem, so strong that it could not be broken, for the fibres were entwined in the manner of a bow-string. 4 The child, they say, was accordingly called Diadematus, but when he grew older, he was called Diadumenianus from the name of his mother's father, though the name differed little from his former appellation Diadematus.”
His father Macrinus was hailed as Augustus in 217. Diadumenian, in turn, received the titles of Caesar and Prince of the Youth. He was also given the name Antoninus after the assassinated emperor Caracalla.
These titles are seen on this example as ANT and PRINC IVVENTVTIS.
When the armies of Elagabalus revolted at Emesa on May 16, 218, Macrinus traveled to the praetorian fortress at Apamaea to shore up (buy) support and to raise Diadumenian to the rank of Augustus. Still, Macrinus’ armies were defeated outside Antioch in less than a month.
10 year old Diadumenian was captured while fleeing to Zeugma and executed shortly thereafter. He reigned as Caesar for 13 months and as Augustus for less than one.
Although the Senate never confirmed Diadumenian’s title as Augustus, there is extremely rare silver (one or two pieces?) with Diadumenian as emperor. It is believed that a large issue was struck, only to be immediately recalled and melted down when the news of Macrinus’ defeat reached Rome.Nemonater
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DIADUMENIANDIADUMENIAN (Caesar, 217-218). Denarius. 2.53 g. 20mm, Rome mint.
O: M OPEL DIADVMENIAN CAES, Bareheaded, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: PRINC IVVENTVTIS, Diadumenian standing left, holding baton; two signa to right.
-RIC 107.
1st emission of Macrinus, AD 217, only three examples in the Reka Devnia hoard.
Diadumenian's three main types as Caesar exactly correspond to Macrinus' three issues, which for their part can be approximately dated on the basis of the titles they bear and their volumes of issue as revealed by the Reka Devnia hoard. So Diadumenian's dates derive from those estimated for Macrinus.
Marcus Opellius Diadumenianus was born in 208. According to Aelius Lampridius, quoted below, the boy was so named because he was born with a diadem formed by a rolled caul.
“Now let us proceed to the omens predicting his imperial power — which are marvellous enough in the case of others, but in his case beyond the usual wont. 4 On the day of his birth, his father, who then chanced to be steward of the greater treasury, was inspecting the purple robes, and those which he approved as being brighter in hue he ordered to be carried into a certain chamber, in which two hours later Diadumenianus was born. 2 Furthermore, whereas it usually happens that children at birth are provided by nature with a caul, which the midwives seize and sell to credulous lawyers (for it is said that this bring luck to those who plead), 3 this child, instead of a caul, had a narrow band like a diadem, so strong that it could not be broken, for the fibres were entwined in the manner of a bow-string. 4 The child, they say, was accordingly called Diadematus, but when he grew older, he was called Diadumenianus from the name of his mother's father, though the name differed little from his former appellation Diadematus.”
His father Macrinus was hailed as Augustus on April 8, 217. Dio Cassius tells us that Diadumenian was named Caesar and Prince of the Youth by the Senate in May 217 as soon as news of Macrinus' accession reached Rome. A little later, Dio continues, news arrived that Diadumenian had independently been proclaimed Caesar by the soldiers at Zeugma, as he was on his way from Antioch to join Macrinus in Mesopotamia, and that he had also assumed Caracalla's name Antoninus. Hence this first short issue of coins in Rome is with the titles Caesar and Prince of the Youth, but still without Antoninus.
When the armies of Elagabalus revolted at Emesa on May 16, 218, Macrinus traveled to the praetorian fortress at Apamaea to shore up (buy) support and to raise Diadumenian to the rank of Augustus. Still, Macrinus’ armies were defeated outside Antioch in less than a month.
10 year old Diadumenian was captured while fleeing to Zeugma and executed shortly thereafter. He reigned as Caesar for 13 months and as Augustus for less than one.
Although the Senate never confirmed Diadumenian’s title as Augustus, there is extremely rare silver (one or two pieces?) with Diadumenian as emperor. It is believed that a large issue was struck, only to be immediately recalled and melted down when the news of Macrinus’ defeat reached Rome.
Nemonater
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Diadumenian DenariusDiadumenian, Mid May - 8 June 218 A.D. Silver denarius, Rome mint, weight 2.999g, maximum diameter 20.4mm, die axis 0o, as caesar. 3rd emission, March-end of June AD 218
O: M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES, draped and cuirassed bust right, from behind;
R: SPES PVBLICA, Spes advancing left, flower in right, raising skirt with left;
- SRCV II 7450, RIC IV 117; Nice hoard silver gently cleaned, near full circles strike; ex Forum
"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, Diadumenian, the designated successor of the emperor, is identified as the hope for the future of the Roman people." - ForumNemonater
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Divus Vespasian / QuadrigaDivus Vespasian. Died AD 79. Denarius struck under Titus, 80-81.
O: DIVVS AVGVSTVS VESPASIANVS. Laureate head of Divus Vespasian to right.
R: EX S C Empty quadriga advancing left, ornamented with a miniature quadriga flanked by Victories at the top and two standing figures on the side.
- BMC 119. BN 94. RIC 361 (all under Titus).Nemonater
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Domitian AR Denarius AD 85Domitian. AD 81-96. AR Denarius, 20mm, 3.50g. Rome mint. Struck AD 85
O: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P IIII; Laureate bust Domitian right with aegis
R: IMP VIIII COS XI CENS POT P P; Minerva standing right on capital of rostral column with spear and shield; aegis draped over back with snakes around; owl to right.
- RIC 334
Minerva was clearly the favorite goddess and patroness of Domitian, evidenced here by his wearing of her aegis.
In the Thebaid Minerva is represented as a terrifying battle goddess, entrusted with Jupiter's horrible aegis, that terrifies the Thebans. The popular perception of Domitian as cruel and capricious was entirely consistent with the wanton destructiveness of Minerva in the epic.
What scene is portrayed on the center of the capital?
From Dressel, Berlin Medallions (published 1973), p. 14, note 1: 'Cohen 237 note says, "a standing figure and a seated figure". Gnecchi, Medaglioni I, p. 43, 4 says "two small figures, the one on the left seated and the second one kneeling before the seated figure". As can be seen on many of the more carefully engraved specimens [Dressel continues], the first figure is shown seated right, while the second figure kneels before the first figure, with arms raised in entreaty.'Nemonater
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Domitian as Caesar / PegasusAR Denarius, Rome mint, 76-77 AD
Obv: CAES AVG F DOMITIANVS, laureate head right
Rev: COS IIII, Pegasus pawing ground right
- RIC V922 (R2). BMC - . RSC -
A rare obverse legend variant with CAES rather than Caesar, struck for Domitian Caesar under Vespasian. Nemonater
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Domitian Caesar / Titus Judaea Capta Sestertius MuleDomitian Caesar / Titus Judaea Capta Æ Sestertius Mule, 25.38 g. Rome mint, struck 80/81
O: [CAES DIVI] AVG VESP F DOMITIAN[VS COS VII] - RIC II 288-306 (Titus)
R: IVD CAP across fields; SC in field below; mourning Jewess to left of palm on pile of arms; Jew on right with hands bound, arms on ground. - Titus RIC 153 (Perhaps a die match); Hendin 1593b; Upcoming addenda Titus 287A.
The only known sestertius mule under Titus.
From the patina it was likely found in eastern Europe, perhaps Bulgaria, a rich find spot for a lot of the judaea sestertii.
What evidence points to RIC II 288 / 306?
As noted by Curtis Clay, "Obverse legends beginning CAESAR are rare, and so far only known with portrait laur. left, according to RIC 275-7. Legends beginning CAES are very much more common.
With the N of DOMITIAN placed before Domitian's mouth, too much space seems to remain for just COS VII. We almost need that added VS to fill out the space.
Flavian mules in gold or silver occur with some regularity, though they are all rare individually.
It's not surprising, however, that very few sestertius mules occurred.
1. Vespasian struck c. 90% of the sestertii of his reign in the single year 71. Mules were impossible, because he hadn't yet begun striking sestertii for Titus and Domitian!
2. Later, when sestertii were being struck for Titus and Domitian too, the rev. types were not usually personalized, for example by carrying on the imperial titulature of each emperor, but were general and could be shared among the emperors, for example S C Spes advancing, or PAX AVGVSTI S C. Virtually all of the rev. types were appropriate for all three emperors, so there could be no mules!
Under Titus the possibilities for mules increased, since more types were introduced that were apparently meant for just one of the two imperial brothers, for example:
Titus: the Judaea Capta types, ANNONA AVG without S C, FELICIT PVBLIC, PIETAS AVGVST (Titus and Dom. shaking hands), PROVIDENT AVGVST (Vesp. hands globe to Titus), S C (Roma hands Palladium to Titus on horseback)
Domitian: S C (Minerva fighting right)."Nemonater
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Domitian denarius - Pegasus walking rightDomitianus Caesar, 69-81. Denarius 76-77, Rome. 3.50 g.
O: Laureate head right
R: Pegasus walking right.
- Coh. 47; RIC II 921 (Vepasian). ex -Hess Divo AG 14th eLive auction lot 1073 2016Nemonater
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Domitian on horsebackAD 69-81. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.48 g, 2h). Rome mint. Struck AD 73.
O: CAES AVG F DOMIT COS II; Laureate head right
R: Domitian on horseback left, raising hand and holding eagle-tipped scepter.
RIC II 680 (Vespasian); RSC 664.
The reverse depicts Domitian participating in the Judaea Capta triumph of 71 A.D. He is, as Josephus described him, riding alongside in magnificent apparel and mounted on a horse that was itself a site worth seeing.Nemonater
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Domitian/Minerva 86 ADDomitian AR Denarius, Rome mint, 86 AD
O: Laureate head of Domitian right; IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P V.
R: Minerva right with spear and shield; IMP XI COS XII CENS P P P.
- RIC 425 (R), BMC 88, RSC 194Nemonater
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Domitian/Minerva 92 ADDomitian AR denarius, Rome mint, 92 AD
O: Laureate head of Domitian right, IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XI.
R: Minerva left with thunderbolt, spear and shield, IMP XXII COS XVI CENS P P P
- RIC 737 (R2), BMC (Specimen acquired 1977), RSC -Nemonater
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Elagabalus aka Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus aka Varius Avitus BassianusElagabalus 221-222 AD. (3.23 g 20 mm) Rome mint. O: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped (Hornless) bust right right. R: SACERD DEI SOLIS ELAGAB, Elagabalus sacrificing right over lighted altar, holding palm, star in right field. RIC 131; RSC246a.
At the age of fourteen, Elagabalus became high priest of the sun-god Elagabalus at Emesa in Syria. The cult was represented by a sacred stone, and in AD 219 when he moved from Emesa to Rome, he took the stone, probably a meteorite, with him. During his reign, Elagabalus devoted his efforts to the promotion of his cult god, building a lavish temple to house the stone. The reverse type and legend on the present coin promote his position as high priest of the sun-god Elagabalus.Nemonater
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Elagabalus aka Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus aka Varius Avitus BassianusElagabalus denarius
O: Laureate bust of Elagabalus, draped, horn. "IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG"
R: Elagabalus standing left holding patera over altar. Club in left hand, star in right field."SACRED DEI SOLIS ELAGAB" - RSC 252
ExKunker auction 136, lot 1118; Ex Auktion Auctiones A. G. 23, Basel 1993, Nr. 535.
This is the rare, initial, SACERD DEI SOLIS ELAGABAL type, with the emperor sacrificing left not right, and with the star erroneously behind him rather than before him. The star apparently stood for his sun god, to whom the emperor was depicted sacrificing, and therefore it should have been placed before him, above his patera and the altar.
We know that the star behind the emperor was wrong, because on quite a few dies of all four emperor-sacrificing types the star was eradicated from behind the emperor and re-engraved in front of him. Note that on the obverse Elagabalus is still unbearded, confirming the early date (c. summer 221).
The normal type, emperor sacrificing right, star before him, was represented by 181 specimens in the Reka Devnia hoard, compared to 3 specimens for this early variety. (Thanks to CClay for these details.)
At the age of fourteen, Elagabalus became high priest of the sun-god Elagabalus at Emesa in Syria. The cult was represented by a sacred stone, and in AD 219 when he moved from Emesa to Rome, he took the stone, probably a meteorite, with him. During his reign, Elagabalus devoted his efforts to the promotion of his cult god, building a lavish temple to house the stone. The reverse type and legend promote his position as high priest of the sun-god Elagabalus.Nemonater
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Elagabalus Clashed Die DenariusElagabalus denarius 3.1g. 21mm.
O: Laureate and draped bust right, IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG
R: Elagabalus standing left holding patera and club (within clashed bust left), sacrificing over altar, bull lying behind altar, star in left field, INVICTVS SACERDOS AVG
- RIC 88Nemonater
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Elagabalus Denarius, Stars to Left and Right, Clashed DieElagabalus 218-222 Denarius (3,29 g), Rome mint, struck 221.
O: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right, with “horn” above forehead
R: P M TR P IIII COS III P P, Elagabalus standing left, sacrificing from patera over lighted altar and holding club; eradicated star to right, star to left, framed in clashed die bust outline.Nemonater
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FAKE Titus pulvinar series FAKETitus. AD 79-81. Denarius 19mm 3.58g. Rome mint. Struck January-June AD 80.
O: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M, laureate, bearded. Head right
R: TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P, pulvinar (throne) of Jupiter and Juno: square seat, draped, surmounted by horizontal winged thunderbolt. RIC II 119; RSC 316; BMC 51 Nemonater
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Gaius Caligula COS IIII DenariusGaius (Caligula). AD 37-41. AR Denarius, 3.67 g. Rome mint. Struck January AD 41.
O: C CAESAR • AVG • PON • M • TR • POT IIII COS • IIII, laureate head right
R: S • P• Q • R •/P P/OB • C • S • in three lines within oak wreath.
- RIC I -; RIC I (1st ed.) 7 = BMCRE 32 = RSC 23a.
Extremely rare, final issue denarius of Caligula's fourth consulship, which only lasted from 1 January 41 until his assassination on 24 January. The fourth known.
Although the first of these three rare coins, the British Museum piece, was cataloged in the first edition of RIC I, it was left out of the revised edition. In that edition, Giard notes (p. 110, note *) that the BM piece was a misreading of TR POT III COS III. In fact, the first edition was correct, the piece was not misdescribed. The second known example of this type was sold as lot 56 in the Bourgey sale of 17 December 1913. Ironically, Bourgey misdescribed that coin as TR POT III COS III. A third example sold through CNG, printed auction 78 lot 1723.
"On the ninth day before the Kalends of February at about the seventh hour he hesitated whether or not to get up for luncheon, since his stomach was still disordered from excess of food on the day before, but at length he came out at the persuasion of his friends. In the covered passage through which he had to pass, some boys of good birth, who had been summoned from Asia to appear on the stage, were rehearsing their parts, and he stopped to watch and to encourage them; and had not the leader of the troop complained that he had a chill, he would have returned and had the performance given at once. From this point there are two versions of the story: some say that as he was talking with the boys, Chaerea came up behind, and gave him a deep cut in the neck, having first cried, "Take that," and that then the tribune Cornelius Sabinus, who was the other conspirator and faced Gaius, stabbed him in the breast. Others say that Sabinus, after getting rid of the crowd through centurions who were in the plot, asked for the watchword, as soldiers do, and that when Gaius gave him "Jupiter," he cried "So be it," and as Gaius looked around, he split his jawbone with a blow of his sword. As he lay upon the ground and with writhing limbs called out that he still lived, the others dispatched him with thirty wounds; for the general signal was "Strike again." Some even thrust their swords through his privates. At the beginning of the disturbance his bearers ran to his aid with their poles, and presently the Germans of his body-guard, and they slew several of his assassins, as well as some inoffensive senators. (Suetonius - Life of Caligula 58).Nemonater
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Gaius Julius CaesarFebruary-March 44 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.90 g, 5h). Rome mint. P. Sepullius Macer, moneyer. Laureate and veiled head right / Venus standing left, holding Victory and scepter; shield at base of scepter. Crawford 480/13; CRI 107d; Sydenham 1074; RSC 39. From the Jörg Müller Collection.
Alföldi arranges Crawford 480 series coins in (44 BC) month order as follows:
RRC 480/1, Buca - January
RRC 480/2, DICT QVART - early February
RRC 480/3/4/5, CAESAR IMP - late February
RRC 480/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14, DICT PERPETVO - early to mid March
RRC 480/17/18, CAESAR IMPER - late March
RRC 480/19/20, PARENS PATRIAE - April
RRC 480/15/16, MARIDIANVS - April
RRC 480/21/22, CLEMENTIAE CAESARIS and Mark Antony - April
"Iconography, historical meaning:
The rev. can be understand easily: The Iulians ascribed their gens back to Aeneas who was the son of Venus (Aphrodite) and Anchises.Venus was the tutelary goddess of the gens Iulia and hence of Caesar. 46 BC Caesar has consecrated together with his new built forum also the temple of Venus Genetrix, the ancestress of his gens. On this denarius with Victory, spear and shield it is rather Venus Victrix.
The portrait on obv. is imposing by its realistic depiction. It was for the first time that a living ruler was pictured on a Roman coin. This too raised suspicion that Caesar - even if he wasn't acclaimed king - would behave as such.
Caesar's portrait attracts attention by the wreath he is wearing. It protrudes notable wide beyond his forehead. Furthermore it is padded and very ragged. This characteristic received too little attention until now. There is every indication that it is not a usual wreath but a corona graminea, a Grass or Blockade crown. This crown was dedicated by the army to that commander who has freed them from an encirclement and saved them from certain death. The crown was composed from flowers and tuft of grass which was plucked at the location of their liberation. This crown was regarded as the highest of all crowns! Pliny (nat. 22, 6) has known only of 8 persons with this honour:
1. Lucius Siccius Dentatus, tribunus plebis 454 BC
2. Publius Decius Mus, 343 BC, 1st Samnite War, dedicated even by 2 armies!
3. Marcus Calpurnius Flamma, 258 BC, at Carmina on Sicily
4. Quintus Fabius Maximus, after the departure of the Carthaginians from Italy, 203 BC
(dedicated by the Senate and the people of Rome, possibly posthumous)
5. Scipio Aemilianus Africanus
6. Gnaeus Petreius Atinas, centurio during the war against the Cimbri
7. Lucius Cornelius Sulla, during the Allied War at Nola 89 BC
8. Quintus Sertorius, 97 BC aa military tribune in Spain under Titu Ddius.
To Caesar and Augustus the crown was dedicated by the Senate!
The veil Caesar is wearing as Pontifex Maximus for lifetime.
DICTATOR PERPETVVS
During Republican times a dictator was designated when the state was in an emergency situation. His position was always temporally limited, yes, sometimes designated only for a single task. In the beginning Caesar too was dictator limited to 1 year and had to be designated again for the next year. Already 46 BC Caesar has been nominated dictator for 10 years but the title had to be renewed each year. So we know of coins with DICT, DICT ITER (= again, for the second time), IC TER (for the third time) and DICT QVART.
Since the proclamation as king has failed the title dictator disappeared from the denarii and were replaced by IMP. But soon behind Caesar's head appeares a star, a crescent, or Victory's spear stands on a star. These celestial signs - and that was understod by all - stand for divinity and should raise Caesar high above all Romans. Incompatible with the idea of a republican constituted Rome.
The point of culmination in this series is the legend DICT PERPETVO of this coin. Now the title of dictator was no more temporally limited but was valid like his office as Pontifex Maximus for all his life and it no more was necessary to confirm the title each year. That actually was a spectacular violation of the Roman constitution! The fact that he appeared at the Lupercalia on February 15. 44 BC in the ancient robe of kings strengthened the suspicion that he was looking for the kingship. In fact he has publicly
refused the royal crown that was offered to him by Marcus Antonius, but his authority to exert power was equal a king even without bearing the title of king. That was the most hateful title of the Roman Republic.
Now he has passed a line that his republican enimies couldn't tolerate any more if they still wanted to be taken seriously. So this coin actually led to his murder by the conspirators. So "The coin that kills Caesar" is by no means an exaggeration.
The planned Parthian War:
Caesar has planned a war against the Parthians. In March 44 BC he wanted to start for a campaign to the east. His assassination inhibited this intention. In science disputed are the goals which Caesar has had in mind with his war. They are reaching from a boundary adjustment, as Mommsen suggested, to world domination like Alexander the Great, as Plutarch is writing: According to him Caesar after the submission of the Parthians would go across Hyrcania at the Caspian Sea, then round the Black Sea via the Caucasus, invade the land of the Scyths, attack Germania and would finally return to Italy through the land of the Celts. In this way he would have conquered the world known to the Ancients and his limits were only the shores of the surrounding Okeanos.
Probably Sueton who was sitting directly at the sources was more realistic. And we know of the campaigns of Marcus Antonius and Augustus who surely have known Caesar's plans and have used them for their own purposes. It's clear that Caesar doesn't want to repeat the errors of Crassus who perished at Carrhae, and has tried to avoid he Parthian cavalry units. Therefore a route through Lesser Armenia is most probable. And there was hope that the Mesopotamian cities would raise against the Parthians. Caesar had gathered an army of 16(!) legions, a huge power that alone by its mere bigness would ensure the victory. Caesar was no gambler, rather a cautious and prudential commander.The famous "veni, vidi, vici" doesn't exist longer. What he actually had in mind we don't know. It's speculative. But there is every indication that it was a reorganisation of the east. And that rather by establishing client-kingdoms than creating new Roman provinces.
Probably the conspirators were afraid of Caesar's Parthian War, because a victory, which was possible or even probable, would have strengthen Caesar's position and has made him practically invulnerable." - JochenNemonater
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GalbaDenarius. Rome, A.D. 68. Bare head of Galba right. Rv. S P Q R/OB/C S in three lines within wreath. 3.46 grams. RIC 167. BMC 34 corr. (obv. incorrectly described). RSC 287.Nemonater
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Gordian I Africanus / AthenaGordian I Africanus, Egypt, Alexandria. A.D. 238. BI tetradrachm (22 mm, 12.47 g, 12 h). RY 1.
O: A K M AN ΓOPΔIANOC CЄM AΦ ЄVCЄB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian I right
R: Athena seated left, holding Nike and spear; in left field, date (L A).
- Köln 2600; cf. Dattari (Savio) 4656 (legend); Kampmann & Ganschow 68.6., Ex Coin Galleries (16 July 2003), 264.
Perhaps the most reluctant of Emperors, Gordian I (Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus Africanus Augustus) was Roman Emperor for one month with his son Gordian II in 238, the Year of the Six Emperors. Caught up in a rebellion against the Emperor Maximinus Thrax, he was defeated by forces loyal to Maximinus before committing suicide.
According to Edward Gibbon:
"An iniquitous sentence had been pronounced against some opulent youths of [Africa], the execution of which would have stripped them of far the greater part of their patrimony. (…) A respite of three days, obtained with difficulty from the rapacious treasurer, was employed in collecting from their estates a great number of slaves and peasants blindly devoted to the commands of their lords, and armed with the rustic weapons of clubs and axes. The leaders of the conspiracy, as they were admitted to the audience of the procurator, stabbed him with the daggers concealed under their garments, and, by the assistance of their tumultuary train, seized on the little town of Thysdrus, and erected the standard of rebellion against the sovereign of the Roman empire. (...) Gordianus, their proconsul, and the object of their choice [as emperor], refused, with unfeigned reluctance, the dangerous honour, and begged with tears that they should suffer him to terminate in peace a long and innocent life, without staining his feeble age with civil blood. Their menaces compelled him to accept the Imperial purple, his only refuge indeed against the jealous cruelty of Maximin (...)."
Because of the absence of accurate dating in the literary sources, the precise chronology of these events has been the subject of much study. The present consensus among historians assigns the following dates (all in the year 238 A.D.) to these events: March 22nd Gordian I, II were proclaimed Emperors in Africa; April 1st or 2nd they were recognized at Rome; April 12th they were killed (after reigning twenty days); April 22nd Pupienus and Balbinus were proclaimed Emperors; June 24th Maximinus and his son were assassinated outside of Aquileia; July 29th Pupienus and Balbinus were assassinated and Gordian III proclaimed as sole Augustus.Nemonater
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Gordian I DenariusGordian I, 238. Denarius (Silver, 20 mm, 3.25 g, 7 h), Rome, March-April 238.
O: IMP M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian I to right, seen from behind.
R: ROMAE AETERNAE Roma seated left on shield, holding Victory in her right hand and spear in her left.
- BMC 8. Cohen 8. RIC 4.
- From the collection of Regierungsrat Dr. iur. Hans Krähenbühl, privately acquired from Bank Leu on 29 June 1966
Gordian I and his son Gordian II share the dubious distinction of having the shortest reigns of any "legitimate" Roman emperors. Born in AD 159 during an era of peace and stability, Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus claimed a distant relation to the emperor Trajan on his mother's side and descent from those famous Republican reformers, the brothers Gracchi, on his father's.
Despite these illustrious genes, he had a rather uneventful career as a Senator and did not reach the Consulship until the advanced age of 64. He was approaching his 80s when, in AD 237/8, the Emperor Maximinus I appointed him governor of North Africa, where he was expected to enforce the regime's draconian program of taxation. In March of 238, a group of young African nobles rebelled and murdered the emperor's tax agent.
Realizing they'd passed the point of no return, the rich rebels sent a delegation to Gordian begging him to accept the purple as a rival to the unpopular Maximinus, who was preoccupied campaigning on the Rhine frontier. At first reluctant, Gordian accepted their acclamation on March 19 and appointed his son, Gordian II, as co-emperor.
The Gordians both assumed the title Africanus and dispatched a messenger to Rome proclaiming their program of reform. The Senate, which hated the brutish Maximinus, eagerly approved their elevation and began striking coins in their names. But Maximinus ordered his loyal governor in Numidia, Capellianus, to attack Carthage and crush the revolt. Capellianus duly set out with a veteran force, against which the Gordians could only pull together an ill-trained rabble. Gordian II died in battle on April 12, AD 238 and his father hanged himself upon hearing of its outcome. They had together reigned a mere 22 days.
An enduring mystery is the excellent quality of the Roman coinage of Gordian I and II, whose reign totaled 21 days, during which neither emperor left North Africa. Despite their brief production run, coins of Gordian I and II are notable for their fine portraiture and careful quality control.
Both portraits are distinctive, carefully engraved, and clearly modeled on the actual rulers. There seems to have been no "interim phase" during which the imperial portrait was simply a modified version of the predecessor (as with Trajan and Maximinus I, both of whom were absent from Rome when raised to the purple).
Two possibilities suggest themselves: (1) The "spontaneous" revolt of the Gordians in Africa had actually been carefully planned in advance, with coin dies prepared in secret from busts provided to the mint workers by their backers in the Senate; (2) the production of coins for Gordian I and II extended well beyond their brief reign, perhaps running concurrently with the coinage of Balbinus, Pupienus and Gordian III as Caesar, allowing time for proper effigies of the deceased rulers to be provided to the mint.
Nemonater
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Gordian II Africanus / VictoryGordian II Africanus. Silver Denarius, AD 238. Rome.
O: IMP M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian II right.
R: VICTO-RIA AVGG, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm.
- RIC 2; BMC 28; RSC 12.
Gordian II (Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus Africanus Augustus), was Roman Emperor for one month with his father Gordian I in 238, the Year of the Six Emperors. The double "GG" in "AVGG" (Augustus) on the reverse was to show that power was shared between the two men although Gordian II did not receive the additional title of high priest or Pontifex Maximus. He died in battle outside of Carthage.
Confronted by a local elite that had just killed Maximinus's procurator, Gordian's father (Gordian I) was forced to participate in a full-scale revolt against Maximinus in 238 and became Augustus on March 22.
Due to his advanced age, Gordian I insisted that his son, Marcus Antonius Gordianus (Gordian II), be associated with him. A few days later, Gordian entered the city of Carthage with the overwhelming support of the population and local political leaders. Meanwhile in Rome, Maximinus' praetorian prefect was assassinated and the rebellion seemed to be successful. Gordian in the meantime had sent an embassy to Rome, under the leadership of Publius Licinius Valerianus, to obtain the Senate’s support for his rebellion. The senate confirmed the new emperor on 2 April and many of the provinces gladly sided with Gordian.
Opposition would come from the neighboring province of Numidia. Capelianus, governor of Numidia, loyal supporter of Maximinus Thrax, and who held a grudge against Gordian, renewed his alliance to the former emperor and invaded Africa province with the only legion stationed in the region, III Augusta, and other veteran units. Gordian II, at the head of a militia army of untrained soldiers, lost the Battle of Carthage and was killed, and Gordian I took his own life by hanging himself with his belt. The Gordians had reigned only twenty-two days.Nemonater
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HadrianRome Mint, 118 AD, 3.35g. O: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate bust right with drapery over shoulder; R: VOT PVB in field, PM TR P COS III dot, Pietas standing right, raising both hands in prayer. RIC-141; RSC 1477.Nemonater
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Hadrian Libertas DenariusHADRIAN (117-138). Denarius. Rome.
O: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, Laureate bust right, with slight drapery.
R: COS III, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and sceptre.
- RIC 175.
The pileus liberatis was a soft felt cap worn by liberated slaves of Troy and Asia Minor. In late Republican Rome, the pileus was symbolically given to slaves upon manumission, granting them not only their personal liberty, but also freedom as citizens with the right to vote (if male). Following the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C., Brutus and his co-conspirators used the pileus to signify the end of Caesar's dictatorship and a return to a Republican system of government. The pileus was adopted as a popular symbol of freedom during the French Revolution and was also depicted on some early U.S. coins. - FACNemonater
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Imperator Caesar Decimus Clodius Septimius Albinus AugustusClodius Albinus, Lugdunum mint, 18mm, 3.25 g. Struck 195 - 196 C.E.
O: Bust right, IMP CAES D CLO SEP ALB AVG
R: Aequitas facing left holding scales and cornucopiae, AEQVITAS AVG COS II. RIC 13a, Ex Tom Cederlind
When allied with Septimius Severus, Clodius Albinus’ portraits show him with hair combed forward to cover a receding hairline matched with a short scruffy beard.
When Septimius Severus named his son Caracalla Caesar, Albinus understood this as the end of their alliance and the beginning of a fight for his life. Ablinus took the title of Augustus (Imperator Caesar Decimus Clodius Septimius Albinus Augustus), and his portrait quickly converts to a full head of hair and voluminous beard worthy of an Emperor.
According to Curtis Clay, Albinus broke with Severus c. Nov. 195, but was defeated and killed by Severus near Lugdunum, not on 19 Feb. 197 as traditionally stated, but a year earlier on 19 Feb. 196, after a revolt lasting only about three months!
This explains the scarcity of Albinus' coinage as Emperor compared to Albinus as Caesar under Severus.Nemonater
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Julius CaesarJulius Caesar. 49-48 BC. AR Denarius (19 mm, 3.66 g). Military mint traveling with Caesar.
O: Elephant right, trampling on serpent
R: Simpulum, sprinkler, axe and priest's hat. - Crawford 443/1; CRI 9; Sydenham 1006; RSC 49.
Variant type recognized by B. Woytek, in cruder style and with the elephant's two front legs and two back legs virtually parallel with each other.
Julius Caesar and his armies assembled on the banks of the Rubicon River on 10 January 49 BC, ready to invade Italy. Since large quantities of denarii were necessary to pay Caesar's military expenses, the mint traveled with them. This issue was ordered, not by a moneyer, as was usual, but by Julius Caesar himself. In all likelihood, this type was used by Caesar's military forces at least until the decisive battle of Pharsalus.
"It is the inscription CAESAR in the exergue that has led to the modern identification of the elephant as Caesar. But the exergue is the traditional place for the moneyer’s name and Caesar is separated from the field by the ground line. When Hirtius minted, he put his own name there. Presumably the Caesarian message remained the same with or without CAESAR inscribed on the coin. So whatever that message was, it had to be using symbols easily recognized by the people he was speaking to.
The main problem with a Good over Evil interpretation is that the snake was not a symbol of evil in the pagan Roman mind. As for the elephant, the most frequent use of the elephant on coinage had been by the Metelli. Of all the families of Rome they had done more to connect their name with the elephant image than any other family line. And Metellus Scipio himself even used the elephant again (without snake, of course) after Caesar minted his coin.
As others have pointed out, the other side of the coin with the implements of the pontifex maximus makes an unmistakable reference to Caesar with or without the name Caesar. But that also got me to thinking. Why did he want to advertise that position? Simply put, the main concern of the Roman state religion was the Salus of the state, hence it was Caesar’s chief concern as Pontifex Maximus. If the Metellan elephant was trampling on the Salus of the state, it was his duty as Pontifex Maximus to protect and restore Salus." - mharlan, http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=88757.0Nemonater
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Julius CaesarJulius Caesar. 46-45 BC. AR Denarius, 4 g. Military mint traveling with Caesar in Spain.
O: Diademed head of Venus right, wearing earrings and necklace of pendants; Cupid on shoulder.
R: Trophy of Gallic arms, composed of helmet and cuirass, oval shield and carnyx in each hand; two seated captives at base, the one on left a female in attitude of dejection, the one on right a bearded male with hands bound behind him; CAESAR in exergue.
Crawford 468/1; CRI 58; Sydenham 1014; RSC 13.
As bad a photo as I can take. Nicely muscled male captive, Vercingetorix?Nemonater
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Julius CaesarJulius Caesar. 49-48 BC. AR Denarius (18.07 mm, 3.87 g). Military mint traveling with Caesar.
O: Elephant right, trampling on serpent
R: Emblems of the pontificate - Simpulum, sprinkler, axe and priest's hat.
- Crawford 443/1; Sear (History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators) 9; Sydenham 1006; BMCRR (Gaul) 27; Cohen/RSC 49; Babelon (Voconia) 1; Sear (Roman Coins & Their Values I) 1399.
Julius Caesar and his armies assembled on the banks of the Rubicon River on 10 January 49 BC, ready to invade Italy. Since large quantities of denarii were necessary to pay Caesar's military expenses, the mint traveled with them. This issue was ordered, not by a moneyer, as was usual, but by Julius Caesar himself. In all likelihood, this type was used by Caesar's military forces at least until the decisive battle of Pharsalus.
"It is the inscription CAESAR in the exergue that has led to the modern identification of the elephant as Caesar. But the exergue is the traditional place for the moneyer’s name and Caesar is separated from the field by the ground line. When Hirtius minted, he put his own name there. Presumably the Caesarian message remained the same with or without CAESAR inscribed on the coin. So whatever that message was, it had to be using symbols easily recognized by the people he was speaking to.
The main problem with a Good over Evil interpretation is that the snake was not a symbol of evil in the pagan Roman mind. As for the elephant, the most frequent use of the elephant on coinage had been by the Metelli. Of all the families of Rome they had done more to connect their name with the elephant image than any other family line. And Metellus Scipio himself even used the elephant again (without snake, of course) after Caesar minted his coin.
As others have pointed out, the other side of the coin with the implements of the pontifex maximus makes an unmistakable reference to Caesar with or without the name Caesar. But that also got me to thinking. Why did he want to advertise that position? Simply put, the main concern of the Roman state religion was the Salus of the state, hence it was Caesar’s chief concern as Pontifex Maximus. If the Metellan elephant was trampling on the Salus of the state, it was his duty as Pontifex Maximus to protect and restore Salus." - mharlan, http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=88757.0Nemonater
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Julius Caesar / L BVCA Venus standingJulius Caesar, (c.February - March 44 B.C.), silver denarius, (3.09 g), Rome Mint
O: Wreathed head of Caesar to right, around CAESAR DICT PERPETVO, dotted border
R: L BVCA to right, Venus standing to left, holding Victory and sceptre, dotted border, (S.1411, Cr.480/8, Syd.105, RSC Julius Caesar 23). Ex Dr V.J.A. Flynn Collection.
The weak strike exposes the unexplained, bumpy flan.Nemonater
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Julius Caesar Elephant DenariusJulius Caesar. 49-48 BC. AR Denarius. Military mint traveling with Caesar.
O: Elephant right, trampling on serpent
R: Emblems of the pontificate - Simpulum, sprinkler, axe and priest's hat.
- Crawford 443/1; Sear (History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators) 9; Sydenham 1006; BMCRR (Gaul) 27; Cohen/RSC 49; Babelon (Voconia) 1; Sear (Roman Coins & Their Values I) 1399. Ex HJBerk 90th Buy or Bid Sale, 4/17/96, Lot 232, listed as Mint state.
Julius Caesar and his armies assembled on the banks of the Rubicon River on 10 January 49 BC, ready to invade Italy. Since large quantities of denarii were necessary to pay Caesar's military expenses, the mint traveled with them. This issue was ordered, not by a moneyer, as was usual, but by Julius Caesar himself. In all likelihood, this type was used by Caesar's military forces at least until the decisive battle of Pharsalus.
"It is the inscription CAESAR in the exergue that has led to the modern identification of the elephant as Caesar. But the exergue is the traditional place for the moneyer’s name and Caesar is separated from the field by the ground line. When Hirtius minted, he put his own name there. Presumably the Caesarian message remained the same with or without CAESAR inscribed on the coin. So whatever that message was, it had to be using symbols easily recognized by the people he was speaking to.
The main problem with a Good over Evil interpretation is that the snake was not a symbol of evil in the pagan Roman mind. As for the elephant, the most frequent use of the elephant on coinage had been by the Metelli. Of all the families of Rome they had done more to connect their name with the elephant image than any other family line. And Metellus Scipio himself even used the elephant again (without snake, of course) after Caesar minted his coin.
As others have pointed out, the other side of the coin with the implements of the pontifex maximus makes an unmistakable reference to Caesar with or without the name Caesar. But that also got me to thinking. Why did he want to advertise that position? Simply put, the main concern of the Roman state religion was the Salus of the state, hence it was Caesar’s chief concern as Pontifex Maximus. If the Metellan elephant was trampling on the Salus of the state, it was his duty as Pontifex Maximus to protect and restore Salus." - mharlan, http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=88757.0Nemonater
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Julius Caesar Flip Over Double StrikeJulius Caesar. 49-48 BC. AR Denarius (19 mm, 3.66 g). Military mint traveling with Caesar.
O: Elephant right, trampling on serpent
R: Simpulum, sprinkler, axe and priest's hat; CAESA[R] to right
After being struck, a blank flan was placed in the die and somehow this coin was flipped and re-struck! Nemonater
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Lucius Aelius CaesarAelius. Caesar, AD 136-138. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.15 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Hadrian, AD 137.
O: L AELIVS CAESAR, Bare head left
R: TR POT COS II around, PIE-TAS across, Pietas standing right, dropping incense onto lighted and garlanded altar to right and holding acerrum.
-RIC II 439c (Hadrian) R2; RSC 36a.
"The life of Ceionius Commodus, also called Aelius Verus, adopted by Hadrian after his journey through the world, when he was burdened by old age and weakened by cruel disease, contains nothing worthy of note except that he was the first to receive only the name of Caesar." - Historia Augusta Nemonater
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Lucius VerusLucius Verus. AD 161-169. AR Denarius. Rome mint. Struck AD 166.
O: L VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, Laureate head right.
R: TR P VI IMP IIII COS II, PAX in ex. Pax standing left, holding branch and cornucopia.
- RIC III 561; RSC 126.
In 166 the war with Parthia ended in victory. The Parthians left Armenia and eastern Mesopotamia, which both became Roman protectorates. The resulting triumph was accompanied by a donativum and fourth Imperial acclaim for Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius.
Unfortunately the Antonine plague (perhaps smallpox) came from the East with the returning soldiers. It spread throughout the Empire, lasted for roughly twenty years, and killed about 5 million people, probably including Lucius Verus. Nemonater
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MacrinusMacrinus. AD 217-218. AR Denarius, 20mm, 3.34 g, 7h. Rome mint. Struck AD 218.
O: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
R: Fides standing facing, head right, holding signum in each hand.
- RIC IV 67; RSC 23f.Nemonater
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Marcus AureliusAR Denarius, Rome mint, 166 CE (3.26g) O:M ANTONINVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, laureate head right R: TR P XX IMP IIII COS III, PAX in ex., Pax standing left holding branch and cornucopiae. BMCRE 401; RSC 435; RIC 159.
Virtually mint state.Nemonater
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Marcus Didius Severus Julianus AugustusDIDIUS JULIANUS. 193 AD. AR Denarius 19mm. 3.01 gm.
O: IMP CAES M DID IVLIAN AVG Laureate head right
R: P M TR P COS Fortuna standing facing, head left, holding rudder on globe, and cornucopiae.
- RIC IV 2; BMCRE 6; RSC 10. Ex-CNG Printed Auction 66, May 19, 2004, Lot: 1528; ex Wayne Philips
This type with Fortuna was struck in gold, silver and bronze (dupondius and sestertius).
Following the assassination of Pertinax, the praetorian guard put the emperorship up for auction. There was spirited bidding between Flavius Sulpicianus, the father-in-law of the murdered Pertinax, and the senator Didius Julianus, one of the wealthiest men in Rome. When Julianus pledged an accession bonus of 25,000 sestertii per guard, it was a bid that Sulpicianus could not top. The praetorians led Julianus before the terrified Senate, which had no choice but to ratify the coup díetat. The people of Rome, however, were disgusted by this shameful turn of events and sent messengers to seek help from the commanders of the legions in the provinces. Three generals responded and marched on Rome. Septimius Severus, being the closest to Rome, had the upper hand. The praetorians were no match for the battle hardened soldiers from the frontier, and they quickly decided in favor of Severus. Didius Julianus was not so fortunate, as he was captured at the beginning of June and beheaded in the manner of a common criminal. His rule lasted 28 March - 2 June 193 A.D.Nemonater
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Marcus Salvius OthoAD 69 January 15 to mid-April. 20mm, 3.35 g. Rome mint.
O: IMP M OTHO C[AESA]R AVG TR P, Bare head right
R: PAX ORBIS TERRARVM, Pax standing left, holding olive branch and caduceus.
- RIC I 4; RSC 3.
Otho assumed the title of Pont Max on March 9, 69. This type was therefore likely struck in the first two of his three month reign. Mattingly observed that PAX ORBIS TERRARVM could have been Otho's cry to counter the "Salus Generis" and "Pax P R" of the Galban faction of the civil wars.
Long before there was Metta World Peace, there was Otho. While his earlier denarii took features from Nero's coinage and Plutarch says Otho took Nero's name, signing imperial documents "Nero Otho", this is much less offensive than the fact that Nero took Otho's wife.
For some very interesting reading on the style and composition of Otho denarii, see http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Denarii%20of%20OthoNemonater
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Marcus, Commodus, Albinus, Septimius, Caracalla, Geta, Macrinus, Diadumenian, ElagabalusNemonater
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Maximinus I Thrax / P M TR P IIIIMaximinus I. AD 235-238. AR Denarius 2.55 g. Rome mint, 6th officina. 6th emission, December AD 237-April AD 238.
O: MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
R: P M TR P IIII COS P P Maximinus standing left, raising hand and holding spear; two signa flanking.
- RIC IV 6; BMCRE 219; RSC 70.
Maximinus took his fourth tribunitian on December 10, 237. Although assassinated in April of the following year, he lost control of the Rome mint that January. This rare last issue of his reign was struck between December 237 and January 238.Nemonater
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Maximus / PrincepsMaximus (Caesar, 235/6-238). AR Denarius Rome mint, 236-7.
O: MAXIMVS CAES GERM; Bareheaded and draped bust right
R: PRINC IVVENTVTIS; Maximus standing left, holding baton and spear; two signa to right
- RIC IV 3; RSC 10
Gaius Julius Verus Maximus (Maximvs Caesar) was the son of Maximinus I Thrax. Maximus was most likely given the rank of Caesar at the same time or shortly after his father assumed the rank of Augustus. He was reportedly a very handsome youth. Maximvs Caesar was loyal to his father and remained by his side during his campaign on the Danube. He was also present at the disastrous siege of Aquileia in 238 AD.
After the revolt of Gordian I and Gordian II and ascension of Balbinus and Pupienus, Maximinus and Maximus marched on Rome. They first reached the city of Aquileia, expecting an easy victory as the city's walls had long been in disrepair. However, under the leadership of senators Rutilius Pudens Crispinus and Tullus Menophilus, the walls had been repaired and the city rallied to defend itself in a siege. The Aquileians had plenty of food and good morale.
According to Herodian of Antioch, "The army of Maximinus grew depressed and, cheated in its expectations, fell into despair when the soldiers found that those whom they had not expected to hold out against a single assault were not only offering stout resistance but were even beating them back. The Aquileians, on the other hand, were greatly encouraged and highly enthusiastic, and, as the battle continued, their skill and daring increased. Contemptuous of the soldiers now, they hurled taunts at them. As Maximinus rode about, they shouted insults and indecent blasphemies at him and his son. The emperor became increasingly angry because he was powerless to retaliate. Unable to vent his wrath upon the enemy, he was enraged at most of his troop commanders because they were pressing the siege in cowardly and halfhearted fashion. Consequently, the hatred of his supporters increased, and his enemies grew more contemptuous of him each day."
Condemned by the Senate, Maximus and his father were murdered by their own troops just outside Aquileia on June 24th, 238 AD.Nemonater
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NERONERO. 54-68 AD. Æ As Struck circa 66 AD. Lugdunum mint. IMP NERO CAESAR AVG P MAX TR P P P, Bare head right, globe at point of bust / S-C, Victory flying left, holding shield and palm. RIC I 543; BMCRE 381; WCN 593; Cohen 302Nemonater
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Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus GermanicusNero 54-68, denarius, Rome mint, struck 64-65. 2.9 g., 18mm. O: NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head right R: IVPPITER CVSTOS, Jupiter seated left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre. RIC 53, BMC 74.
This reverse type commemorates the supposed protection of Nero, by Jupiter, from the Pisonian Conspiracy. Nero's excesses after The Great Fire of Rome in 64 resulted in close associates conspiring to assassinate and replace him with Gaius Calpurnius Piso. As the king of the Gods oversaw the security of the Roman state, Nero believed it was Jupiter the Guardian (Custos) who had saved him from harm.
About a year after this coin was minted, in 66 CE, the Jews would rebel against Roman rule and, in 67, Nero would send general Vespasian to crush the rebelion.Nemonater
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NervaAD 96-98. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.47 g, 7h). Rome mint. Struck AD 97.
O: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P, Laureate head right
R: CONCORDIA - EXERCITVVM (Agreement of the Armies) around clasped hands. RIC II 14; RSC 20
The reverses of Roman coins often reveal the issues of the time. Nerva would not need to advertise that he had achieved concord with the army unless the relationship had been a problem. Often coins conveyed hope for progress not yet achieved and sometimes reverse types were completely fictional. In this case, Nerva's adoption of Trajan, a general on the German frontier, as Caesar and heir, successfully established harmony with the army.Nemonater
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Nerva / Palm IVDAICINerva Æ Sestertius. 27.84g, 33mm, 6h. Rome, AD 96.
O: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P, laureate head to right
R: FISCI IVDAICI CALVMNIA SVBLATA, palm-tree, with two clusters of dates; S-C across fields.
- RIC II 58; BMCRE 88. From the Antonio Carmona Collection.
According to the Roman historian Suetonius: "More than any other, the Fiscus Iudaicus was administered very severely; and to it were brought, or reported, those who either had lived the life of a Jew unprofessed, or concealing their origin, had not paid the tax imposed upon by the people. I remember that it was of interest to me during my youth when a ninety-year-old man was brought before the procurator and a very crowded court to see wheather he was circumcised."
Marius Heemstra challenged the earlier interpretation of the reverse inscription. "The embarrassment (CALVMNIA) of the Jewish Tax (FISCI IVDAICI) is removed," ie., that the Jewish tax, which had been introduced by Vespasian after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, was repealed by Nerva, in whole or in part. Heemstra also disagrees with the theory that the CALVMNIA, was "the circumcision test" described by Suetonius (Dom. 12.1-2).
Rather, Heemstra maintains that the tax was not repealed, but, rather, that the legend should be translated: "The removal of the wrongful accusation (CALVMNIA) of the Fiscus Judaicus (the imperial tax collection agency)."
What was the CALVMNIA? Meestra explains that before the "removal" of the "wrongful accusation," by Nerva, it is highly plausible that the charge of 'leading a Jewish life without publicly acknowledging that fact' could have been levied against high-ranking Romans who could then have been victims of the Fiscus Judaicus, which would confiscate their wealth.
Conviction could occur either on political grounds, instigated by the emperor himself (Domitian), or because any affiliation with Judaism, however, small could lead to an accusation of "atheism," which to Romans meant not recognizing their pagan gods.
Meestra points out that an important impact of the new law was that it necessitated a clarification in the definition of who was the taxpayer, and, thus who was considered to be a Jew. Instead of "each one of the Jew"s (Josephus), or, "those belonging to the Jewish gens" (Suetonius), the definition changed to "those Jews who continued to observe their ancestral customs" (Dio). In practice, these were the Jews that had been paying the tax in the first place.
By removing the CALVMNIA "the wrongful accusation," Nerva succeeded in transforming the definition of 'Jew' from an ethnic one into a religious one, which both the Romans and Jews adopted.
The coin represents Nerva's order not to abolish the tax itself but of the insulting method of collecting the Jewish tax. - See discussion in: Marius Heemstra, "The interprretation and Wider Context of Nerva's Fiscus Judaicus Sestertius, Judaea and Rome in Coins 65 BCE - 135 CE, London: Spink and Sons, 2010, 187-201.
David Hendin quotes David Vagi for another theory for the Fiscus Judaicus in his Guide to Biblical Coins, Fifth Edition.
"In all likelihood (this reverse type) celebrates Vespasian's requirement of 71/2 CE that the annual didrachm Temple Tax, the Fiscus Iudaicus, be paid to Rome rather than to the Jewish Temple.
This tax was extended to every Jew, male and female, from the age of three, and even to slaves of Jewish households. The proceeds were earmarked for the rebuilding of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus Captiolinus in Rome, which had been destroyed in the last days of the Roman Civil War of 68-69."
"Thus, FISCI IVDIACI CALVMNIA SVBLATA ('the insult of the Jewish Tax has been removed') would refer to Vespasian's removal of the insult that prior to 71/2 the Jewish Temple Tax had been collected by Jews for their own use. After all, Romans considered themselves the only legitimate taxing authority within the empire, and the only rightful beneficiary of tax revenues."
"In summary, the idea that this coin represents a Roman apology, or a Roman acknowledgment of its own callous behavior, must be abandoned" (p. 458).Nemonater
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Pertinax aka Publius Helvius Pertinax Augustus DenariusPertinax AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193. 3.21g, 17mm, 7h
O: IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG, laureate head right
R: VOT DECEN TR P COS II, Pertinax, togate and veiled, standing left, sacrificing out of patera in right hand over tripod. - BM 24. RIC 13a (R2). Cohen 56 (50 Fr.)
An interesting type in that it is the earliest Roman coin type to commemorate the undertaking of decennalian vows at the beginning of an emperor's reign. His rule lasted about 9 years and 9 months short of celebrating his decennalia.Nemonater
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Pescennius NigerPESCENNIUS NIGER. 193-194. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.2 g). Antioch mint. O: Laureate head right, IMP CAES C PESC NIGER IVSTI AV / BONIE V ENTVS, Fides standing left, holding plate of fruit and two grain ears. Obverse double struck. RIC IV var
When Pescennius was proclaimed emperor by his troops in AD 193, he knew his reign as emperor would not be peaceful. He quickly set out to issue huge sums of denarii in his name to pay his troops and to win the loyalty of others. To do this, like so many before him, Pescennius reduced the fineness of his denarii to a point that they were equivalent to the Caesarean drachm.
Considering his short bid for power, the variety of Niger denarii is amazing.
The scarcity of his coinage belies the fact that it was struck on a monumental scale, and we can only assume that after his defeat at the hands of Septimius Severus in AD 194 his coins were meticulously recalled and melted. Although it has been extensively published, there are such a huge number of minor varieties that no single catalogue is without numerous lacunae. It appears that the all of Niger's coins were struck at Antioch and possibly a subsidiary mint operating at Caesarea in Cappadocia.
This example illustrates the high level of quality control at the mint!
Nemonater
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Publius Septimius Geta as AugustusGeta. AD 209-211. AR Denarius, 19mm, 3.26 g. Rome mint. Struck AD 210.
O: Laureate head right. IMP CAES P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG.
R: Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding cornucopia and caduceus. PONTIF TRP II COS II.
RIC IV 69a; RSC 137.Nemonater
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Pupienus AntoninianusPupienus silver antoninianus, Rome mint, weight 2.927g, maximum diameter 22.0mm, die axis 180o,
O: IMP CAES PVPIEN MAXIMVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: AMOR MVTVVS AVGG (Mutual Love of the Emperors), clasped hands.
- SRCV III 8518; RIC IV, part 2, 9b; RSC III 2; BMCRE VI 82, ex-Forvm.
A.D. 238 was the year of six emperors. Maximinus Thrax was killed (along with his son Maximus Caesar) when his soldiers mutinied. Gordian II was killed in battle. Gordian I hanged himself. Pupienus and Balbinus were beaten and dragged naked through the streets of Rome before being killed by the Praetorians. Gordian III lived to become sole emperor.
The ironic reverse of this coin refers to the mutual affection and friendship of the emperors Balbinus and Pupienus. Because they were quarreling they were unable to put up a joint defense against the praetorians. They were both murdered after a reign of only 99 days. - FACNemonater
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Roman Civil Wars 68-69Nero, Vindex, Galba, Otho, Vitellius x2 and Vespasian x3Nemonater
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Roman Civil Wars, Revolt of Galba, Governor of SpainSilver denarius, Tarraco(?) mint, Apr - Jun 68 A.D.
O: BON EVENT, young female head (Bonus Eventus) right, fillet around forehead.
R: ROM RENASC, Roma standing right in military garb, Victory on globe in right hand, eagle-tipped scepter over left shoulder in left, implying the restoration of the Republic.
- RIC I 9 (R4), RSC II 396, BMCRE I 9, SRCV I 2072.
Galba lived in Tarraco for eight years. This coin was issued by Galba as governor of Spain in revolt against Nero. The obverse is copied from Republican denarii struck in 62 B.C. by the moneyer L. Scribonius Libo.Nemonater
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Septimius SeverusSeptimius Severus Denarius. 197 AD. Rome mint, L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIIII, laureate head right / MVNIFICENTIA AVG, Elephant (possibly wearing cuirass) walking right. RIC 100, RSC 349
In 197, Septimius Severus returned to Rome and executed about 30 of Albinus' supporters in the Senate. After his victory he declared himself the adopted son of the late Marcus Aurelius. This type refers to games held to celebrate the victory over Albinus before departing on his second Parthian campaign. They are mentioned by the vita Severi: "He then set out for the Parthian war, after holding gladiatorial games and distributing a largesse to the people." Nemonater
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Severus AlexanderSeverus Alexander Denarius. 1.79g 227 AD. IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate draped bust right / P M TR P VI COS II P P, Annona standing left holding corn ears over an altar and cornucopiae. RIC 65; RSC 315.
Although it's light weight was a concern to me at 1.79g, according Curtis Clay, it is simply a drastically underweight official denarius.
The frequency table of the weights of the BM denarii of this emperor, BMC p. 17. 1- 1.89-2.05, 7 - 2.06-2.21, 16 - 2.22-2.37, Heaviest: 2 - 4.30-4.45.
Lightest Oxford specimen: 2.04 g, Walker, Roman Silver Coins, no. 4322.Nemonater
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Severus AlexanderSEVERUS ALEXANDER, A.D. 222-235. AR Denarius 3.17 gm., Rome Mint, 16th emission, ca. A.D. 223.
O: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG; Laureate and draped bust of Severus Alexander facing right.
R: P M TR P XII COS III P P; Sol standing left, radiate, nude but for cloak on shoulders billowing behind, raising right commanding the sun to rise, whip vertical behind in left.
- RIC IV 120; BMCRE 930-1; RSC 440.
From the Leo & Paula Gorelkin Collection
Nice luster throughout with beautiful, impossible to photograph, toning.Nemonater
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Severus Alexander TR P VIIISeverus Alexander Silver denarius, Rome mint, 229 A.D.;
O: IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate bust right with drapery on left shoulder;
R: P M TR P VIII COS III P P, Mars advancing left, olive-branch in right hand, spear and shield in left;
SRCV II 7907, RIC IV 92, BMCRE VI 603, RSC III 365,
Nemonater
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Severus Alexander TR P VIIIISeverus Alexander AR Denarius. Rome, AD 230.
O: IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate head right
R: P M TR P VIIII COS III P P, Emperor standing right in military dress, holding transverse spear and globe.
RIC 105
Very attractive, but hard to capture, toning.Nemonater
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Severus Alexander TR P XIIISeverus Alexander Silver denarius, Rome mint, 234 A.D.;
O: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right;
R: P M TR P XIII COS III P P, Sol standing left, radiate, nude but for chlamys over shoulders, raising right hand commanding the sun to rise, whip in left;
RIC IV 123, Cohen IV 448. Multicolored toning that is quite pleasant in hand. Nemonater
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Severus Alexander TR P XIIIISeverus Alexander. AD 222-235. AR Denarius 3.42 g, 6h. Rome mint. 18th emission, January–February/March AD 235. Last issue of reign.
O: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
R: P M TR P XIIII COS III P P, Sol, radiate, standing left, raising hand and holding whip.
RIC IV 125 var. (without cuirass); BMCRE 962; RSC 453a.
This coin was struck in the last months of Alexander's reign, and is the sole dated type among those of his last issue. Alexander was assassinated by his soldiers while campaigning along the Rhine frontier. He is said to have been killed while cowering in the arms of his domineering mother, Julia Mamaea, who was also murdered.
Although he is typically depicted on the coins as a military emperor with an idealized countenance, in reality he detested warfare, which was a major fault in the turbulent third century. Also, he was constantly under the dominance of other, more powerful personalities, particularly his mother. Eventually, Alexander’s weak leadership proved fatal, and he became one of many emperors murdered on campaign by his own soldiers.
Nemonater
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The Adoptive Emperors***Click To Expand***Nemonater
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The Severan Period - Click to EnlargeSeptimius Severus; Caracalla; Geta; Macrinus; Diadumenian; Elagabalus; Severus AlexanderNemonater
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The Year of the Five EmperorsThe Year of the Five Emperors refers to the year 193 AD, in which there were five claimants for the title of Roman Emperor. The five were Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus and Septimius Severus.
The political unrest began with the murder of Commodus on New Year’s Eve 192 AD. Once Commodus was assassinated, Pertinax was named emperor but immediately had opposition coming from the Praetorian Guard. They plotted an assassination of Pertinax and carried it out. Pertinax was killed while trying to resist the troops. He was only emperor for three months. Didius Julianus succeeded Pertinax as emperor but was overrun by Septimius Severus and executed on June 1. Severus was declared Caesar by the Senate but Pescinnius Niger was quickly made his enemy when he declared himself emperor. This started the civil war between Niger and Severus as both gathered troops and fought throughout the vast Roman Empire. Due to this war, Severus allowed Clodius Albinus, who he saw as a threat to his throne, to be co-Caesar so that Severus did not have to preoccupy himself with the duties of the empire so he could go win the civil war he was waging against Niger. Most historians count Severus and Albinus as two emperors even though they ruled simultaneously. The Severan dynasty was created out of the chaos of 193 AD. and Septimius Severus started this dynasty. Overall, most sources denote this year in Roman history as a year of civil war since there were rapidly changing emperors who were fighting against one another to gain a foothold as Caesar. - WikipediaNemonater
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The Year of the Six Emperors (And a Caesar) In order from top left to right: Maximinus Thrax, murdered; Maximus Caesar, murdered; Gordian I suicide; Gordian II killed in battle; Pupienus, murdered; Balbinus, murdered; Gordian III, probably murdered but possibly died in battle. Nemonater
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The Year of the Six Emperors Part IIIn order from top left to right: Maximinus Thrax, murdered; Maximus Caesar, murdered; Gordian I suicide; Gordian II killed in battle; Pupienus, murdered; Balbinus, murdered; Gordian III, probably murdered but possibly died in battle.
It's often better to be a peasant!Nemonater
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Tiberius / Pax Group 2Tiberius Group 2 Denarius, c. 15 - 18 A.D. Lugdunum mint.
O: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS; One of the ribbons of Tiberius' laurel wreath falls over his neck.
R: PONTIF MAXIM; Triple line under throne, two above the exergue line (sometimes represented by a single base), Pax usually holds a reversed spear (as is the case in this example) instead of a scepter, the legs of the throne are ornately decorated, no footstool.
Baptiste Giard divides Tiberius' PONTIF MAXIM coins (aurei and denarii), into six groups, based on what he believes is the evolution of style over time. To some extent the portraits also reflect Tiberius' aging over a period of about 22 years. An excellent writeup can be found at http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=tribute%20penny.Nemonater
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Tiberius / QuadrigaTiberius, 14-37 Denarius Lugdunum struck circa 15-16, 18mm., 3.71g.
O: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS. Laureate head r.
R: IMP VII TR POT XVII, Tiberius in triumphal quadriga right., holding laurel branch and eagle-tipped sceptre.
- RIC 4.Nemonater
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Tiberius Group 6Group 6, c. 36 - 37 A.D. Lugdunum mint.
O: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS; The ribbons of Tiberius' laurel wreath fall more stiffly and usually do not fall over his neck. Tiberius' facial features have become caricatures.
R: PONTIF MAXIM; No base under the throne (just the single exergual line), Pax usually holds scepter (or rarely a reversed spear), her feet rest on a low footstool.
Baptiste Giard divides Tiberius' PONTIF MAXIM coins (aurei and denarii), into six groups, based on what he believes is the evolution of style over time.1 To some extent the portraits also reflect Tiberius' aging over a period of about 22 years. An excellent writeup can be found at http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=tribute%20penny.Nemonater
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Tiberius Pax Group 1Group 1, c. 15 - 18 A.D. Lugdunum mint.
O: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS; One of the ribbons of Tiberius' laurel wreath falls over his neck.
R: PONTIF MAXIM; Legs of the throne are plain, the throne is on a raised base represented by a second line above the exergual line, no footstool.
This coin has become relatively famous, and expensive, due to the fact that Tiberius was Emperor during the entire time of Jesus ministry. Jesus’ only recorded reference to Caesar is when Pharisees, along with party followers of Herod Antipas, try to trap Jesus. Matthew 22:15-22 contains one record of the exchange.
“Teacher,” these men say, “we know you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and you do not care for anybody, for you do not look upon men’s outward appearance. Tell us, therefore, What do you think? Is it lawful to pay head tax to Caesar or not?”
Jesus is not fooled by the flattery. He realizes that if he says, ‘Don’t pay the tax,’ he will be guilty of sedition against Rome. If he says, ‘Yes, you should pay this tax,’ the Jews, who despise their subjugation to Rome, will hate him. So he answers: “Why do you put me to the test, hypocrites? Show me the head tax coin.”
When they bring him a denarius, he asks, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
“Caesar’s,” they reply.
“Pay back, therefore, Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God.”
It was the governments—represented by “Caesar”— that minted these coins and helped establish their value. So in Jesus view, they had the right to ask that it be paid back in the form of taxes. At the same time, he showed that “God’s things”—our life and worship—cannot rightfully be claimed by any human institution.
Baptiste Giard divides Tiberius' PONTIF MAXIM coins (aurei and denarii), into six groups, based on what he believes is the evolution of style over time.1 To some extent the portraits also reflect Tiberius' aging over a period of about 22 years. An excellent writeup can be found at http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=tribute%20penny.Nemonater
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Tiberius Pax Group 2Group 2, c. 15 - 18 A.D. Lugdunum mint.
O: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS; One of the ribbons of Tiberius' laurel wreath falls over his neck.
R: PONTIF MAXIM; Single base under throne (sometimes represented by a triple line, two above the exergue line), Pax usually holds a reversed spear (as is the case in this example) instead of a scepter, the legs of the throne are ornately decorated, no footstool.
Baptiste Giard divides Tiberius' PONTIF MAXIM coins (aurei and denarii), into six groups, based on what he believes is the evolution of style over time.1 To some extent the portraits also reflect Tiberius' aging over a period of about 22 years. An excellent writeup can be found at http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=tribute%20penny.Nemonater
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Tiberius Pax Group 4Group 4, c. 18 - 35 A.D. Lugdunum mint.
O: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS; One of the ribbons of Tiberius' laurel wreath falls over his neck.
R: PONTIF MAXIM; No base under the throne (just the single exergual line), Pax usually holds scepter (or rarely a reversed spear), her feet rest on a low footstool. - 269, Lot: 331
Baptiste Giard divides Tiberius' PONTIF MAXIM coins (aurei and denarii), into six groups, based on what he believes is the evolution of style over time.1 To some extent the portraits also reflect Tiberius' aging over a period of about 22 years. An excellent writeup can be found at http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=tribute%20penny.Nemonater
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Tiberius Pax Group 4Tiberius denarius Group 4, c. 18 - 35 A.D. Lugdunum mint, 17.5mm., 3.79g.
O: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS; One of the ribbons of Tiberius' laurel wreath falls over his neck.
R: PONTIF MAXIM; No base under the throne (just the single exergual line), Pax usually holds scepter (or rarely a reversed spear), her feet rest on a low footstool.
Baptiste Giard divides Tiberius' PONTIF MAXIM coins (aurei and denarii), into six groups, based on what he believes is the evolution of style over time.1 To some extent the portraits also reflect Tiberius' aging over a period of about 22 years. An excellent writeup can be found at http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=tribute%20penny.Nemonater
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Tiberius Pax Group 5Group 5 c. 36 - 37 A.D. Lugdunum mint.
O: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS; The ribbons of Tiberius' laurel wreath fall in small undulations and do not fall over his neck.
R: PONTIF MAXIM; No base under the throne (just the single exergual line), Pax always holds scepter, her feet rest on a low footstool.
Baptiste Giard divides Tiberius' PONTIF MAXIM coins (aurei and denarii), into six groups, based on what he believes is the evolution of style over time.1 To some extent the portraits also reflect Tiberius' aging over a period of about 22 years. An excellent writeup can be found at http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=tribute%20penny.Nemonater
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TitusAD 69-79. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.27 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 79. O: Laureate head right, T CAESAR IMP VESPASIANVS R:Bound captive kneeling right before trophy, TR POT VIII COS VII. RIC II 1076; RSC 334.
This type with these legends were minted in the first several days of Titus reign. Nemonater
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TitusAs Caesar, AE Sestertius Rome mint. Struck AD 72 O:Titus, laureate head right. T CAES VESPASIAN IMP PON TR POT COS II R: IVDAEA CAPTA; S C in exerge, Vespasian standing in military dress, holding spear and parazonium to left of palm-tree, foot on helmet; mourning Jewess seated right. RIC 422, Hendin 1523, Ex Harry N. Sneh Collection Gemini X lot 811.
Not commonly seen on the market.Nemonater
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TitusTitus. AD 79-81. AR Denarius (17mm, 2.91 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 79.
Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: TR P VIIII IMP XV COS VII P P; Slow Quadriga left with corn ears - RIC 43
With a battle scarred face only a mother could love, it's my only example of this type and rare with IMP XV rather than IMP XIIII.Nemonater
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