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Last additions - *Alex
HENRY_I.JPG
1100 - 1135, HENRY I, AR Penny, Struck 1125 - 1135 at York, EnglandObverse: HENRICUS : R - . Crowned bust of Henry I, facing three-quarters to left, holding short sceptre topped with fleur-de-lys over his right shoulder.
Reverse: -- ULF : ON : EVERW surrounding quadrilateral figure with concave sides, each angle terminating in a fleur-de-lys, over a cross fleury with pellet in each angle, all within beaded circle.
Possibilities for the moneyer “ULF” include, amongst others, HEAWULF, HARTHULF and HEARDWULF.
BMC Type 15 "Quadrilateral on Cross Fleury" issue
Diameter: 20mm | Weight: 1.4gms | Die Axis: 2h
Flan chipped and cracked, legends largely illegible.
Found near Womersley, West Yorkshire, England. Recorded by UKDFD, February 2012, # 36152
SPINK: 1276
Rare

Henry I's coinage is remarkable for its deterioration in quality, and the public, losing faith in its silver content, often cut or mutilated them. In 1124, alongside his purge of the moneyers, Henry ordered that his coins be cut at the time of their issue so as to force the public to accept all his circulating coinage. This is why his later coins often contain a 'snick' or cut, it was to prove to people that the coins were silver all the way through.
In 1984 David Walker pointed out that only 11 of the 106 moneyers of type 14 recorded in Brooke's BMC were also known at the same mint in type 15, and that the number of mints declined from 46 to 19. J D Gomm suggested that this apparent upheaval was the result of Henry I's assize of moneyers in 1124-25. Brooke disputed that on the basis that he did not believe that type 15 could have remained in production for around ten years until the end of Henry I's reign in 1135. However, Gomm's suggestion has now received strong support from Blackburn's analysis of the activity of moneyers in the reign of Henry the first. This analysis has shown that the turnover of moneyers between types 14 and 15 was substantially greater than that between any of Henry I's other types. Blackburn also estimated that the loss of moneyers caused by the assize is likely to have been about 80-85 against the 94 victims of the purge recorded by the Margam annals which he thinks might have included mint officials whose names did not appear on the coins as moneyers.


After the death of William II in an alleged hunting accident in the New Forest, the fourth son of William the Conqueror, Henry I, was crowned King of England. Henry was well educated (hence his given epithet of 'Beauclerc') and he was the first Norman king able to speak fluent English. He appears to have been an energetic and decisive ruler, he increased the royal revenues and he made peace with Scotland by marrying Matilda of Scotland. Henry I died in 1135, reportedly from a 'surfeit of lampreys', leaving his only heir, his daughter also called Matilda, in line for the throne. However, within a month, Stephen of Blois, Matilda's cousin, had himself crowned king starting what was to become a bitter struggle for power during a period which became known as “The Anarchy”. Stability only returned when Henry II, son of Matilda, was crowned king on the death of Steven in 1154.
1 comments*AlexMar 24, 2024
DOBUNNI__AR_UNIT.JPG
1st Century BC - 1st Century CE, IRON AGE BRITAIN, Tribe: Dobunni, AR Unit, uninscribed seriesObverse: Degraded Celtic “Moon Head” facing right, pellets/symbols in front.
Reverse: Celticised triple tailed horse galloping left; cross above, pellets around.
Diameter: 13.0mm | Weight: 0.67gms | Axis: 3h
SPINK: 377 | ABC 2024
RARE

THE DOBUNNI
The Dobunni were one of the few Iron Age tribes which issued coins before the arrival of the Romans. Their territory covered an area that today broadly coincides with the English counties of Bristol, Gloucestershire and the north of Somerset, although at times their territory may have extended into parts of what are now Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire.
Remnants of several hillforts thought to have been occupied by the Dobunni can be seen in the Bristol area at Maes Knoll, Clifton Down, Burwalls and Stokeleigh, all overlooking the Avon Gorge, as well as at Kingsweston Down and Blaise Castle.
Unlike their neighbours, such as the Silures in what later became south-east Wales, the Dobunni were not a warlike people, being primarily a large group of farmers and craftspeople living in small villages. They submitted to the Romans even before they reached their territory, and after the Roman conquest they readily adopted a Romano-British lifestyle. The Romans gave the Dobunni capital the name of Corinium Dobunnorum, which is known as Cirencester today.


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*AlexMar 06, 2024
DOBUNNI.JPG
*AlexMar 05, 2024
Caracalla_AR_Denarius_Victoriae_Brit.JPG
198 - 217, CARACALLA, AR Denarius, Struck 210 – 213 at Rome, alluding to BritanniaObverse: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, Laureate head of Caracalla facing right.
Reverse: VICTORIAE BRIT. Victory advancing right, carrying trophy in both hands.
Diameter: 18.85mm | Weight: 2.76gms | Die Axis: 12h
RIC IV: 231A | RSC: 629 | SRCV: 6900 | SPINK: 658A
SCARCE

This coin commemorates the victories achieved by the Romans in Scotland during the campaigns led jointly by Septimius Severus and his eldest son Caracalla in 209, and by Caracalla alone the following year during his father's illness.

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3 comments*AlexFeb 27, 2024
BLACK_PRINCE_AR_HARDI.JPG
1355 - 1375, Edward the Black Prince, AR Hardi d'Argent, Struck 1362 -1372 at Limoges, Aquitaine, FranceObverse: ED PO GNS REGI AGEL. Facing ermine robed half-length figure of Edward wearing a coronet of a simple band around his head, as opposed to the crown of a king, under Gothic canopy, holding sword in right hand, left hand raised with finger pointing in benedictory position. Rosette either side of crown.
Reverse: ✤ PRI-CPS ✤ AQIT-ANE Long cross collarino, pattée at the ends, extending through legend. Fleur de lis in first and second quarters; lion passant, guardant in second and third quarters. Rosettes (marked in text by ✤) in legend.
Diameter: 19.1mm | Weight: 1.033gms | Axis 6h
SPINK: 8134 | Elias: 204
Ex. FORVM Ancient Coins
Scarce

This coin was struck for use in the English territory held in France, it had the value of an English silver penny.

THE BLACK PRINCE
Edward the Black Prince (1330-1376) was the eldest son of Edward III and Philippa of Hainaut. He was an excellent military leader and his victory over the French at the battle of Crécy in 1346 made him very popular at home in England. He was strongly impressed by the chivalrous attitude of John the Blind, King of Bohemia, who preferred to die rather than bear the dishonour of defeat and Edward took as his heraldic arms the ostrich feathers which the King of Bohemia had already worn. In 1356 Edward crushed the French at Poitiers, taking King Jean le Bon prisoner. The Treaty of Brétigny in May 1360, confirmed the independence of Aquitaine and Edward was its first prince (from 1362 to 1372). In 1369, war resumed with France but, after the first English defeats in Aquitaine, in 1371 the Black Prince returned to England and renounced his principality the following year. He died in 1376, his father Edward III died the next year, 1377, and Richard II, who was the son of the Black Prince, ascended the throne. The Black Prince, was the first English Prince of Wales not to become King of England.
*AlexFeb 17, 2024
BOTLAUREL_2024.JPG
2024THIS YEAR'S WINNER
CLICK ON THE COIN FOR ITS DETAILS

*AlexFeb 03, 2024
1660_-_1685_CHARLES_II_Fourpence.JPG
1660 - 1685, CHARLES II, AR Fourpence, Struck 1660 - 1662 at London, EnglandObverse: • CAROLVS • II • D • G • MAG • BR • FR • ET • HIB • REX • crown (mintmark). Legend within two pearl circles around crowned bust of Charles II facing left, IIII (mark of value) behind bust.
Reverse: • CHRISTO • AVSPICE • REGNO • crown (mintmark). Legend within two pearl circles around shield bearing Royal coat of arms. The reverse legend translates as 'Christ take care of the kingdom'.
Third issue from London
Diameter: 22mm | Weight: 1.95gms | Die Axis: 12h
SPINK: 3324

Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 and King of Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Ireland) from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685.
Charles II was the eldest surviving child of Charles I and Henrietta Maria of France. After Charles I's execution at Whitehall on the 30th of January 1649 at the climax of the English Civil War, the Parliament of Scotland, six days later, on the 5th of February, proclaimed Charles II king. England, however, did not recognise Charles II as king and entered the period known as the English Commonwealth, with a government led by Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell defeated Charles II at the Battle of Worcester on the 3rd of September 1651, and Charles fled to mainland Europe. Cromwell became Lord Protector of England and Charles spent the next nine years in exile, residing in various European countries.
The political crisis in England that followed the death of Cromwell in 1658 resulted in the restoration of the monarchy whereby Charles II was invited to return to the throne of England and, on the 29th of May 1660, he was received in London to public acclaim. Although Charles II was not recognised as king in England until 1660, all his legal documents in Britain were dated from 1649, the year when he had succeeded his father as king in Scotland.
1 comments*AlexJan 06, 2024
HENRY_V_Halfpenny.JPG
1413 - 1422, Henry V, AR Half-penny struck at London, EnglandObverse: + HENRIC ‡ REX ‡ ANGL. Crowned facing bust of Henry V, broken anulets at each side of crown, all within circle of pellets. Cross pattée in legend.
Reverse: CIVITAS LONDON. Long cross pattée dividing legend around inner circle of pellets into quarters, trefoil in each quarter of circle.
London, Class C, ordinary bust
Diameter: 14mm | Weight: 0.4gms | Die Axis: 12h
SPINK: 1794

Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his sudden death on 31st August 1422. He is thought to have died from dysentery contracted during the siege of Meaux in France. He was 36 years old and had reigned for nine years. He was the second English monarch of the House of Lancaster.

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*AlexDec 29, 2023
Henry_V_Penny.JPG
1413 - 1422, Henry V, AR Penny struck at York, EnglandObverse: + HENRICVS REX ANGLIE. Crowned facing bust of Henry V, mullet (left) and trefoil (right) at each side of crown, all within circle of pellets. Pierced cross in legend.
Reverse: CIVITAS ‡ EBORACI. Long cross pattée dividing legend around inner circle of pellets into quarters, trefoil in each quarter of circle, incuse quatrefoil in centre of cross.
York, Class F (Local dies)
Diameter: 18mm | Weight: 0.8gms | Die Axis: 10h
SPINK: 1788

HENRY V
Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his sudden death on 31st August 1422. He is thought to have died from dysentery contracted during the siege of Meaux in France. He was 36 years old and had reigned for nine years. He was the second English monarch of the House of Lancaster.
During the reign of his father, King Henry IV, Henry had acquired an increasing share in England's government due to his father's declining health. After his father's death in 1413, Henry assumed control of the country and asserted the pending English claim to the French throne.
In 1415, Henry embarked on war with France in the ongoing Hundred Years' War between the two countries. Despite his relatively short reign, Henry's outstanding military successes, most notably in his famous victory at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, made England one of the strongest military powers in Europe.
In 1420, after months of negotiation with Charles VI of France, the Treaty of Troyes was signed recognising Henry V as regent and heir apparent to the French throne. To seal the pact Henry married Charles' daughter, Catherine of Valois. Henry's sudden death however, prevented the prospect of the English King taking the French throne from ever taking place.
Immortalised in the plays of Shakespeare, Henry V is known and celebrated as one of the great warrior kings of medieval England.


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1 comments*AlexDec 29, 2023
1430_-_1434_Henry_VI_AR_Halfpenny.JPG
1422 - 1461, HENRY VI (First Reign), AR Halfpenny, Struck 1430 - 1434 at Calais, FranceObverse: HENRICVS (pinecone) REX (mascle) ANGL. Crowned facing bust of Henry VI within circle of pellets. Mintmark: Cross patonce in legend.
Reverse: VIL(mascle)LA CALISIE (pinecone). Long cross pattée dividing legend around inner circle of pellets into quarters, trefoil in each quarter of circle.
Diameter: 15mm | Weight: 0.45gms | Axis: 6h
SPINK: 1885

This issue of coins is known as the pinecone-mascle issue because these symbols are incorporated in the obverse and reverse legends. This issue was struck between 1430 and 1434 at the mints of London and Calais.

CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW FOR INFO ON HENRY VI
1 comments*AlexDec 28, 2023
527_-_565_JUSTINIAN_I_Tremissis.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AU Tremissis, struck 527 - 565 at ConstantinopleObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG, Pearl diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian facing right.
Reverse: VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory walking right, head facing left, holding laurel wreath in her right hand and globus cruciger in her left; star in right field; CONOB in exergue.
Diameter: 15mm | Weight: 1.34gms | Die Axis: 6
Slightly clipped
SBCV: 145 | DOC: 19
1 comments*AlexDec 21, 2023
527_-_562_JUSTINIAN_I_Tetranummium.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Tetranummium (4 Nummi), struck 527 – 562 at ThessalonicaObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS AVG Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: Large Δ, between smaller A – P.
Diameter: 13.37mm | Weight: 1.66gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 194 | Not in DOC | MIB: 175
Extremely Rare (R3)

Small denominations like this coin are excessively rare and are usually heavily worn. Hahn (MIB) considered this issue to have been struck between 538 – 540.
*AlexDec 19, 2023
JUSTINIAN_I_Quarter_Siliqua_28120_Nummi29.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AR 120 Nummi, struck 552 - 565 at Rome or RavennaObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG Diademed bust of Justinian I facing right, wearing robe ornamented with a row of pellets.
Reverse: Large P•K enclosed within wreath.
Diameter: 11mm | Weight: 0.67gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 317 (Rome) | DOC: 336.3 (Ravenna) | MIB: 76 (Rome) | Ranieri: 355 (Ravenna)
Very Rare

In 552 the Byzantine general Narses crossed the Apennines with an army of around 25,000 men and marched on Rome only to find himself blocked by a Gothic force, under their king Totila, near Taginae in central Italy. However, Narses deployed his army in the form of a crescent in a narrow mountain valley with his dismounted cavalry mercenaries placed as a phalanx in the centre and his flanks protected by a mixed force of archers he had sent to seize the dominant heights. The Goths opened the battle with a determined cavalry charge but were halted by the enfilading fire from both sides and fell back in disarray on to the Byzantine infantry which had curved round behind them. The Byzantine cataphracts then swept into the confused Gothic mass and more than 6,000 Goths, including their leader Totila, were killed. The remnants of the Gothic army fled and Narses proceeded to Rome, capturing the city after a brief siege. The following year Narses ambushed a combined Gothic force under King Teia and his brother Aligern. The Gothic force was crushed in a hopeless last stand south of Naples, Teia was killed in the fighting and, though Aligern escaped the battle, he surrendered a few months later, so ending the Ostrogothic Kingdom in Italy after 60 years of rule.
3 comments*AlexDec 15, 2023
1305_-_1306_Edward_I_AR_Penny_London.JPG
1272 - 1307, EDWARD I, AR Penny, Struck 1305 - 1306 at London, EnglandObverse: + EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB. Crowned bust of Edward I facing within circle of pellets. Cross pattée in legend.
Reverse: CIVITAS LONDON. Long cross dividing legend into quarters, trefoil in each quarter of inner circle.
Undated Penny, type 10cf1
Diameter: 18.5mm | Weight: 1.2gms | Die Axis: 9h
SPINK: 1410

Edward I began a major recoinage in 1279 which consisted not only of pennies and new round half-pennies and farthings, but also introduced a new denomination, a fourpenny piece called the "Groat".

Edward I was King of England from 1272 - 1307. He was the eldest surviving son of Henry III and Eleanor of Provence. The contests between his father and the barons led by Simon de Montfort called Edward early into active life when he restored the royal authority within months by defeating and killing de Montfort at the battle of Evesham in 1265. He then proceeded to Palestine, where no conquest of any importance was achieved. After further campaigns in Italy and France he returned to England on his father's death and was crowned at Westminster Abbey in 1274.
Edward was popular because he identified himself with the growing tide of nationalism sweeping the country, displayed later in his persecution and banishment of the Jews which was the culmination of many years of anti-semitism in England.
Edward now turned his attention to the west and so, following a revolt in the Principality of Wales against English influence, Edward commenced a war which ended in the annexation of the Principality to the English Crown in 1283. He secured his conquest by building nine castles to watch over it and created his eldest son, Edward the Prince of Wales in 1301.
Edward's great ambition, however, was to gain possession of Scotland, but the death of Margaret, the Maid of Norway, who was to have been married to Edward's son, for a time frustrated the king's designs. However the sudden death of the King of Scotland, Alexander III, and the contested succession soon gave him the opportunity to intervene. He was invited by the Scots to arbitrate and choose between the thirteen competitors for the Scottish throne. Edward's choice, John Balliol, who he conceived as his puppet, was persuaded to do homage for his crown to Edward at Newcastle but was then forced to throw off Edward's overlordship by the indignation of the Scottish people. An alliance between the French and the Scots now followed, and Edward, then at war with the French king over possession of Gascony, was compelled to march his army north. Edward invaded Scotland in 1296 and devastated the country, which earned him the sobriquet 'Hammer of the Scots'. It was at this time that the symbolic Stone of Destiny was removed from Scone. Edward's influence had tainted Balliol's reign and the Scottish nobility deposed him and appointed a council of twelve to rule instead. Balliol abdicated and was eventually sent to France where he retired into obscurity, taking no more part in politics. Scotland was then left without a monarch until the accession of Robert the Bruce in 1306.
Meanwhile Edward assumed the administration of the country. However the following summer a new opposition to Edward took place under William Wallace whose successes, notably at Stirling Bridge, forced Edward to return to Scotland with an army of 100,000 men. Although he defeated Wallace's army at Falkirk, and Wallace himself was betrayed, Edward's unjust and barbaric execution of him as a traitor in London made Wallace a national hero in Scotland, and resistance to England became paramount among the people. All Edward's efforts to reduce the country to obedience were unravelling, and after the crowning of Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, as Robert I of Scotland in 1306 an enraged Edward assembled another army and marched yet again against the Scots. However, Edward only reached Burgh-on-Sands, a village near Carlisle, when he died. His body was taken back to London and he was buried at Westminster Abbey.
Edward I was married twice: to Eleanor of Castile, by whom he had sixteen children, and Margaret of France by whom he had three. Twelve memorials to his first wife stood between Nottingham and London to mark the journey taken by her funeral cortege. Three of those memorials, known as "Eleanor Crosses", can still be seen today.
*AlexNov 30, 2023
Anonymous_third_siliqua.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AR Anonymous Third-Siliqua, struck after 530 at ConstantinopleObverse: No legend. Helmeted and draped bust of Roma, seen from front, facing right.
Reverse: Large P (Rho) within pelleted circle.
Diameter: 10mm | Weight: 0.63gms | Die Axis: 2
Cf. Bendall, Anonymous, 7,15.
Not in SBCV or DOC
Very Rare

Bendall observed that the issue which he designated as Type 7 could hardly be an issue of 330 as it is stylistically quite unlike his Type 2 issue, but it is far superior to Type 9 (and with a different reverse). Thus he thought it might possibly have been a rare commemorative issue which, along with Type 8a, was struck for the centennial of the foundation of Constantinople in c.430. However, the style and lower weight of this particular coin suggests it was probably struck at a later date than 430. This could be in accordance with the similar example of Bendall's type 8, which he breaks into two subtypes, 8a and 8b, struck circa 430 and 530, respectively. It is possible that this coin may represent a hitherto unrecorded reissue of Bendall's type 7, struck around the same time as the revival of his type 8, arguably to celebrate Justinian’s re-conquest of Rome from Ostrogothic occupation in December 536. The rarity of this enigmatic coin would seem to suggest that this issue was likely struck on only one occasion, possibly in late 536 to 537.
*AlexNov 23, 2023
539_-_565_JUSTINIAN_I_pentanummium.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Pentanummium (5 Nummi), struck 539 – 565 at an uncertain mintObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: Large V within wreath.
Diameter: 13mm | Weight: 1.88gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 337 | DOC: 369.1 | MIB: 246
Scarce

This coin issue is the same as the issue recorded as being struck at Rome by both Sear and Dumbarton Oaks (SBCV:309, DOC: 327) except that it is of a smaller module. This has caused some debate on the possibility of it being a derivative or imitative issue which was struck at some other Italian or Sicilian mint, so both SBCV and DOC have given it a different reference number from the one they have given to the larger module coins.
*AlexOct 09, 2023
527_JUSTIN_I___JUSTINIAN_I_Five_nummi.JPG
JUSTIN I and JUSTINIAN I as joint Emperors, AE Pentanummium (5 Nummi), struck 4th April - 1st August 527 at AntiochObverse: +D N D N IVSTINVS ЄT IVSTINIANVS P P A; Diademed, draped, and cuirassed facing busts of Justin I and Justinian I side by side.
Reverse: Tyche of Antioch seated facing left, head facing; below right, river-god Orontes swimming towards the left; large Э to left; all within distyle shrine.
Diameter: 13mm | Weight: 2.2gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 133 | DOC:17 *(different die axis)
RARE

Justin I's health slowly declined in his old age and, on the first of April 527, he formally named his nephew Justinian as co-emperor and his successor. Justin only lived for a few more months and, when he died at the age of 77 on the first of August, Justinian succeeded him.
*AlexOct 06, 2023
Justinian_I_AE_10_Nummi~0.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Decanummium (10 Nummi), struck 548/549 at CarthageObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AG. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: VICTORIA AG. Victory advancing facing holding wreath in right hand and globus cruciger in left, in exergue X with star either side. (The X indicates the mark of value, i.e. 10 Nummi).
Diameter: 20.7mm | Weight: 4.24gms | Die Axis: 9
SBCV: 271 | DOC: 304
SCARCE

548: On June 28th of this year, at the age of 48, the Empress Theodora died. Her body is buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.
Also in this year Justinian I relieved Belisarius from military command in favour of the elderly Byzantine general Narses.
549: This year, after Belisarius had returned to Constantinople, the Ostrogoths under Totila besieged Rome for a third time. The Ostrogoths then conquered the city of Perugia in central Italy and stationed a Gothic garrison there.
549 was the year that the last ever chariot races were held in the Circus Maximus in Rome.

*AlexOct 06, 2023
JUSTINIAN_I_Decanummium.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Decanummium (10 Nummi), struck 539 – 565 at an uncertain mintObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: Large X within wreath.
Diameter: 15mm | Weight: 2.01gms | Die Axis: 9
SBCV: 308A (Rome) | MIB: 244 (Sicily) | Not in DOC
Rare

The place of mintage for this coin is still uncertain, Sear considered it to have been struck at Rome whilst Hahn (MIB) proposed that it had been struck at an uncertain mint in Sicily.
*AlexOct 05, 2023
Constantine_I.JPG
Roman, Constantine IConstantine I, before the generic portraiture of the Tetrarchy had fully taken hold. From an AE Follis of Carthage struck in A.D.307 depicting Constantine I as Caesar.
Further details can be found here: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=142037
1 comments*AlexSep 11, 2023
Septimius_Severus~0.JPG
Roman, Septimius SeverusSEPTIMIUS SEVERUS (195 - 211), from a denarius struck in 210 at Rome alluding to Britannia.
Further details can be found here: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=181046
*AlexSep 11, 2023
529_-_533_JUSTINIAN_I_Half-Follis.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Half-Follis (20 Nummi), struck 529 – 533 at Antioch (Theoupolis)Obverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Justinian I enthroned facing, holding long sceptre in his right hand and globus cruciger in his left.
Reverse: Large K, Large latin cross to left dividing letters T–H/Є–U/O/P; officina letter to right of K (Δ = fourth officina).
Diameter: 28mm | Weight: 8.4gms | Die Axis: 11
SBCV: 225 | DOC: 208.6
Rare

Much of Antioch was destroyed by a great earthquake on 29th November 528 and, following this disaster, the city was renamed Theoupolis.

530: In the spring of this year Belisarius and Hermogenes (magister officiorum) defeated a combined Persian-Arab army of 50,000 men at the Battle of Dara in modern Turkey, and in the summer a Byzantine cavalry force under the command of Sittas defeated a major Persian invasion into Roman Armenia at the Battle of Satala.
531: On April 19th, at the Battle of Callinicum, a Byzantine army commanded by Belisarius, was defeated by the Persians at Raqqa in northern Syria. Nevertheless, Justinian negotiated an end to the hostilities and Belisarius was hailed as a hero.
532: On January 11th this year anger among the supporters of the most important chariot teams in Constantinople, the Blues and the Greens, escalated into violence towards the emperor. For the next five days the city was in chaos and the fires that started during the rioting resulted in the destruction of much of the city. This insurrection, known as the Nika riots, was put down a week later by Belisarius and Mundus resulting in 30,000 people being killed in the Hippodrome.
On February 23rd Justinian ordered the building of a new Christian basilica in Constantinople, the Hagia Sophia. More than 10,000 people were employed in the construction using material brought from all over the empire.

1 comments*AlexAug 03, 2023
550_-_551_JUSTINIAN_I__Decannumium.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Decanummium (10 Nummi), struck 550/551 at AntiochObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Helmeted and cuirassed facing bust of Justinian I, holding globus cruciger in his right hand and shield in his left; cross in right field.
Reverse: Large I surmounted by cross, A/N/N/O in field to left and regnal year X/X/IIII in field to right; in exergue, THU followed by • over Π with a slash through the last letter's right side.
Diameter: 24mm | Weight: 4.79gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 237 | DOC: 255 Class D | MIB: 158

Regarding the mintmark in the exergue, the letter Π with a slash through its right side and tiny o or • above is an abbreviation for "polis". The slash is like the English apostrophe denoting omission of letters, as in the word "can't". Therefore, together with the letters T (Tau) and H (Eta), the mint-mark reads as an abbreviation of "Theoupolis"

550
In January of this year the Ostrogoths under king Totila recaptured Rome after a long siege by bribing the Isaurian garrison. Then, in the summer, the Goths, under Totila, plundered Sicily after they had subdued Corsica and Sardinia, whilst the Gothic fleet also raided the coasts of Greece.
551
In this year Justinian I appointed Narses new supreme commander, who then returned to Italy. In Salona on the Adriatic coast, Narses assembled a Byzantine expeditionary force of around 20,000 to 30,000 men and a contingent of foreign allies which included Lombards, Herulii and Bulgars
When Narses arrived in Venetia he discovered that a powerful Gothic-Frank army of around 50,000 men, under the joint command of the kings Totila and Theudebald, had blocked the principal route to the Po Valley. Not wishing to engage such a formidable force and confident that the Franks would avoid a direct confrontation, Narses skirted the lagoons along the Adriatic shore, using vessels to convey his army from point to point along the coast and thereby arrived at the capital, Ravenna, without encountering any opposition. He then attacked and crushed a small Gothic force at Ariminum, modern Rimini.
In the Autumn of this year the Byzantine fleet of 50 warships destroyed the Gothic naval force under Indulf near Sena Gallica, some 17 miles (27 km) north of Ancona. The Battle of Sena Gallica marked the end of Gothic supremacy in the Mediterranean Sea.
*AlexJul 26, 2023
1713_ANNE_Pattern_Farthing.JPG
1713 Anne AE Pattern FarthingObverse: ANNA DEI GRATIA. Draped bust of Anne facing left.
Reverse: BRITANNIA • 1713 •. Britannia seated facing left, left arm holding spear and resting on shield, raised right hand holding olive-branch; exergue blank.
Diameter: 22mm on thick flan. | Weight: 5.1gms. | Die axis: 6h
Peck 732
VERY RARE

All of Anne's farthings are patterns, no farthings were issued for general circulation during her reign. The portrait of Anne on this example was designed by John Coker (1670 - 1741). Coker joined the Royal Mint in 1697 and became chief engraver there in 1705.

Although Anne farthings are generally very rare, there are at least six distinct pattern varieties known to exist and there is one variety, dated 1714, of which, according to Peck, between 300 and 500 coins may have been produced. The fact that such a large number of these farthings were released in the last year of Anne's reign may be because the type was about to be produced for general circulation at the time of Anne's death on the 1st of August. Sir Isaac Newton was Master of the Mint, and he had high ideals about the quality of the coinage, and the Anne farthing is certainly vastly superior in striking and design to the pieces of William III. The old figure of Britannia used since Charles II's time was discarded in favour of a sharper high relief design in which the bare leg on the former figure of Britannia is covered up, reportedly on the orders of the Queen.
Recent research has indicated that this coin was possibly minted in Derbyshire under licence from the Royal Mint with the intention of alleviating a shortfall of low denomination currency locally. Unfortunately no mintage numbers have survived but it appears that very few good examples still exist. All the other known farthing varieties are certainly patterns, and were never struck as currency for general circulation.
*AlexJul 25, 2023
1771_GEORGE_III_Halfpenny.JPG
1771 GEORGE III AE HalfpennyObverse: GEORGIVS.III.REX. Laureate and cuirassed bust of George III facing right.
Reverse: BRITANNIA. Britannia facing left, seated on globe, shield at her side, and holding spear and olive-branch. In exergue, 1771.
Diameter: 29mm | Weight: 9.6gms | Die Axis: 6h
SPINK: 3774

This portrait of George III was designed by John Sigismund Tanner (1705 - 1775).
*AlexJul 25, 2023
545_-_565_JUSTINIAN_I_AU_SOLIDUS.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AU Solidus, struck 545 - 565 at ConstantinopleObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Cuirassed facing bust of Justinian I wearing plumed helmet and diadem from which two pearls depend on either side. Holding globus cruciger in his right hand and shield, adorned with rider galloping right, in his left.
Reverse: VICTORIA AVGGG A. Victory in the guise of an Angel standing facing holding long staff topped with staurogram in right hand and globus cruciger in left, eight pointed star in right field; in exergue CONOB. (The letter after AVGGG in the legend indicates the number of the officina, the A indicating the first officina on this coin).
Slightly clipped
Diameter: 20mm | Weight: 4.08gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 140 | DOC: 9a
1 comments*AlexJul 25, 2023
WILLIAM_I_THE_LION.JPG
1169 - 1214, William I "the lion", AR Penny, Struck 1205 - 1230 at Perth or Edinburgh, ScotlandObverse: + LE REI WILAM•: Head of William I facing left, wearing crown of pellets, sceptre to left, within inner circle of pellets. All surrounded by outer circle of pellets. Cross potent in legend.
Reverse: + hVE WALTER: Voided short cross, six pointed star in each angle, within inner circle of pellets. All surrounded by outer circle of pellets. Cross potent in legend. (No mint name on coin. Moneyers: Hue (cognate with the modern English name of Hugh) and Walter, the Edinburgh and Perth moneyers working jointly)
Short cross, phase B. Late William I and posthumous issue struck c.1205 to c.1230.
Diameter: 21mm | Weight: 1.3gm | Die Axis: 6h
SPINK: 5029

William I was crowned on 24th December 1165, he came to the throne when his elder brother Malcolm IV died at the age of 24 on 9th December 1165.
Early in his reign William attempted to regain control of Northumbria which had been lost, in 1157 during the reign of Malcolm IV, to the Anglo-Normans under Henry II. He thereby lent support to the English barons who rebelled against Henry II in 1173. In 1174 however, while actively assisting the rebels at the Battle of Alnwick, William was captured by Henry's forces and taken to Falaise in Normandy. He was forced, under the terms of the Treaty of Falaise which he signed in December, to do homage for the whole of Scotland and also to hand over the castles of Roxburgh, Berwick and Edinburgh. Edinburgh, however, was later returned to him as part of the dowry of Ermengarde, a cousin of Henry II, whom William married in 1186.
The Treaty of Falaise remained in force for the next fifteen years until the new English King Richard the Lionheart, needing money for the Third Crusade, agreed to terminate it in return for 10,000 marks. William also attempted to purchase Northumbria from Richard, however his offer of 15,000 marks was rejected due to him wanting all the castles within the lands, something Richard was not willing to concede.
Relations between Scotland and England remained tense during the first decade of the 13th century and in August 1209 King John decided to exploit the weakening leadership of the ageing Scottish monarch by marching a large army to Norham on the south side of the River Tweed. William bought John off with the promise of a large sum of money, and later, in 1212, he agreed to his only surviving son Alexander, marrying John's eldest daughter, Joan.
William I died in Stirling in 1214 and lies buried in Arbroath Abbey, which he is credited with founding in 1178. He was succeeded by his son, who reigned as Alexander II.
William I was not known as "the Lion" during his own lifetime, the title was attached to him because of his flag or standard, a red lion rampant on a yellow background which went on to become the Royal Banner of Scotland which is still used today.
William I died in 1214 but although Alexander II was 16 years old when he came to the throne, it would appear that he continued his father's issues for some 15 years and struck no coins in his own name until around 1230.

*AlexJul 24, 2023
PROBUS_IOVI.JPG
Struck A.D.276 - 282. PROBUS. Silvered AE Antoninianus of Rome. Obverse: IMP PROBVS P F AVG. Radiate and cuirassed bust of Probus facing right.
Reverse: IOVI CONS PROB AVG. Jupiter standing facing left, holding thunderbolt in right hand and sceptre in left. In exergue, R thunderbolt B.
Diameter: 22mm | Weight: 4.3gms | Die Axis: 12
RIC Vii : 173
SCARCE
1 comments*AlexJul 24, 2023
Julian_II_Siliqua_PCONST~0.JPG
Struck A.D.360 - 363. JULIAN II as Augustus. AR Siliqua of ArelateObverse: D N FL CL IVLIANVS P F AVG. Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of bearded Julian facing right.
Reverse: VOT X MVLT XX in four lines within laurel-wreath surmounted by medallion containing eagle; in exergue, PCONST.
Diameter: 18mm | Weight: 1.78gms | Axis: 6
RIC VIII : 309
*AlexJul 24, 2023
20AD_Tasciovanos_Catuvellauni.JPG
1st Century BC - 1st Century CE, IRON AGE BRITAIN, Tribe: Catuvellauni, AE Unit, Struck c.25BC – 10CE at Verlamion (St. Albans) under TasciovanusObverse: Bearded head facing right; VER anti-clockwise in front.
Reverse: Horse with sea horse tail facing left; pellet in ring, and trefoil motif above; VER below.
Diameter: 15.2mm | Weight: 1.97gms | Axis: 3h
SPINK: 243 | BMC 1714-21 | ABC 2658
RARE

CATUVELLAUNI
The Catuvellauni were an Iron Age Celtic tribe in Britain before the Roman conquest, attested by inscriptions into the 4th century. They are mentioned by Cassius Dio, who implies that they led the resistance against the conquest in 43CE. They appear as one of the “Civitates” of Roman Britain in Ptolemy's “Geography” in the 2nd century, occupying the town of Verlamion (Roman Verulamium, modern St.Albans) and the surrounding areas of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and southern Cambridgeshire. Their territory was bordered to the north by the Iceni and Corieltauvi, to the east by the Trinovantes, to the west by the Dobunni and to the south by the Atrebates, Regni and Cantii.


TASCIOVANUS

Tasciovanus appears to have become king of the Catuvellauni around 20 BC, before the Roman conquest of Britain. Ruling from Verlamion (St.Albans), for a brief period around 15–10 BC, he issued coins from Camulodunum (Colchester), apparently supplanting Addedomarus of the Trinovantes, but it appears that following the arrival of Augustus in Gaul he withdrew and again issued his coins from Verlamion.
Tasciovanus was the first Catuvellaunian king to issue inscribed coins, bearing “VER”, mint marks for Verlamion. He was also the first to renew hostilities towards the Trinovantes, flouting the long-standing agreement between Caesar and his own grandfather Cassivellaunus.
Tasciovanus died around AD 9 and was succeeded by his son Cunobelinus, who ruled primarily from Camulodunum.

CLICK ON MAP BELOW TO ENLARGE IT

*AlexJul 23, 2023
25_-_35_ATREBATES_EPATTICUS_AR_Unit.JPG
1st Century CE, IRON AGE BRITAIN, Tribe: Atrebates, AR Unit, Struck c.25 -35 under EpaticcusObverse: EPATI. Head of Hercules, wearing lionskin headdress with paws tied before neck, facing right; pellet in ring behind.
Reverse: No legend. Eagle standing facing, head left, on serpent; dot in circle at upper right.
Diameter: 12mm | Weight: 1.1gms | Axis: 10 |
Spink: 356
Coin found in Hampshire, England. Old repair

EPATICCUS
Epaticcus was a son of Tasciovanus, and probably the younger brother of Cunobelin, he was also apparently a favoured uncle of Caratacus. It is from his coinage issues that we know his name and his family relationship.
The distribution of his coinage would indicate that Epaticcus expanded the territory of his tribe at the expense of the Atrebatean king Verica, and installed himself at the latter's capital, Calleva around 25 CE.
It is likely that Epaticcus was permitted to govern the area by his brother as part of the Catuvellaunian hegemony that was expanding across south eastern Britain at the time. Epaticcus continued to take Verica’s lands to west and south until his death, probably on campaign, around 35 CE. After this his expansionist policies were continued by his nephews, Caratacus and Togodumnus, into the late 30’s CE.


ATREBATES

The Atrebates were a Belgic Iron Age tribe originally dwelling in the Artois region of Northern France.
After the tribes of Gallia Belgic were defeated by Caesar in 57 BC, 4,000 Atrebates participated in the Battle of Alesia in 53, led by their chief Commius.
Before 54 BC, an offshoot of the Gallic tribe probably settled in Britain where it was successively ruled by kings Commius, Tincommius, Eppillus and Verica. Their territory comprised modern Hampshire, West Sussex and Berkshire, centred on the capital Calleva Atrebatum (modern Silchester). They were bordered to the north by the Dobunni and Catuvellauni; to the east by the Regni; and to the south by the Belgae.
The settlement of the Atrebates in Britain does not seem to have been a mass population movement and it is possible that the name "Atrebates", as with many "tribal" names in this period, referred only to the ruling house or dynasty and not to an ethnic group.
After the Roman conquest the Atrebates' lands were organized into the civitates of the Atrebates, Regni and possibly, the Belgae.

CLICK ON MAP BELOW TO ENLARGE IT

1 comments*AlexJul 23, 2023
VALENS_Siliqua.JPG
Struck A.D.367 - 375. VALENS. AR Siliqua of AntiochObverse: D N VALENS P F AVG. Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Valens facing right.
Reverse: VOT X MVLT XX in laurel-wreath; in exergue, ANT.
Diameter: 18mm | Weight:1.9gms | Axis: 2h
RIC IX : 33c.
SCARCE
*AlexJul 23, 2023
Justinian_I_AE_10_Nummi.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Decanummium (10 Nummi), struck 558/559 at NicomediaObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: Large I surmounted by cross, A/N/N/O in field to left and regnal year X/X/X/II in field to right; in exergue, NIK.
Diameter: 17mm | Weight: 3.8gms | Die Axis: 12
SBCV: 205 | DOC: 138a.3

Justinian I introduced the system of dating on the Byzantine bronze coinage in the 12th year of his reign (Regnal year 538/39).

558: In this year the dome of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople collapsed due to an earthquake and Justinian I ordered it to be rebuilt.
559: A combined force of Kutrigurs and Huns crossed the frozen Danube River and invaded the Balkans in this year. But, after they had raided Thracia and Macedonia, the Byzantine general Belisarius, with a force consisting of a few thousand hastily raised levies and his veteran cavalry, defeated them at the Battle of Melantias, near Constantinople.

*AlexJul 20, 2023
539_-_540_JUSTINIAN_I_Nummus_of_Carthage.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Nummus, struck 539 - 540 at CarthageObverse: Legend illegible. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: VOT XIII (regnal year 13) in two lines within circle, all within wreath.
Diameter: 10mm | Weight: 0.9gms | Die Axis: 9
SBCV: 278 | DOC: 302
RARE

The use of VOTA inscriptions as yearly dates on these coins would seem to indicate that the original significance of the inscription had been completely forgotten during the period that Carthage was under Vandal rule. Now classed as Imperial issues by DOC and SBCV, these coins were, at the beginning of the 20th century, originally assigned to the Vandals by Warwick William Wroth FSA. Wroth was Senior Assistant Keeper of Coins and Medals in the British Museum as well as a numismatist and a biographer. His chief contributions to the literature of his particular department of the British Museum included a "Catalogue of the Greek Coins," which appeared in 1903, and the "Catalogue of the Imperial Byzantine Coins in the British Museum" which appeared in 1906. Wroth died on the 26th of September, 1911 at the age of 53.

In March, 534, the Vandal king Gelimer surrendered to the Byzantine general Belisarius ending the Vandal kingdom and returning the African provinces to the empire.
Large numbers of captured Vandals were transported to Constantinple and in April Belisarius returned to Constantinople and left a small force in Africa under general Solomon to complete the subjugation of the African provinces.
During the Summer, Belisarius was permitted by Justinian I to celebrate a triumph, the first non-imperial triumph for over 500 years.

2 comments*AlexJul 10, 2023
JUSTINIAN_I_530AD_Half-Siliqua.JPG
BYZANTINE, JUSTINIAN I, AR Anonymous Half-Siliqua, struck c.530 at ConstantinopleObverse: No legend. Helmeted and draped bust of Constantinopolis facing right.
Reverse: Large K within pelleted circle.
Diameter: 15mm | Weight: 0.7gms | Die Axis: 12
Bendall, Anonymous, 8c. | Vagi 3051
Not in SBCV or DOC
2 comments*AlexMay 31, 2023
Justinian_I_Five-Nummi_Cherson.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Pentanummium (5 Nummi), struck 527 – 565 at ChersonObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AG. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: Monogram of Cherson within wreath or foliated circle. (SBCV Monogram 1)

Diameter: 16mm | Weight: 1.8gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 197 | DOC: 108.2

Cherson (in Greek it was spelt with a Chi) was a Byzantine military trading site located in the southern Crimea, centred at Chersonesus Taurica. Ancient Cherson was located near where Sevastopol is now, on the peninsula projecting into the north side of the Black Sea, but parts of the ruins of the city are now under water. Ancient Cherson was destroyed by the Mongols/Tartars in the 13th century and should not be confused with the modern city of Cherson which was not founded until 1779.
1 comments*AlexApr 22, 2023
307_-_337_Constantine_I_Campgate_PLON_28London29.JPG
307 - 337, CONSTANTINE I, AE3 struck 324 - 325 at Londinium (London), EnglandObverse: CONSTANTINVS AVG. Laureate head of Constantine I facing right.
Reverse: PROVIDENTIAE AVGG. Camp-gate with two turrets, star above; in exergue, PLON.
Diameter: 21mm | Weight: 2.85gms | Die Axis: 6h
RIC VII : 293 | SPINK: 728

*AlexApr 18, 2023
JUSTINIAN_I_HALF-SIILIQUA.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AR Siliqua or Half-Siliqua, struck 537 - 552 at CarthageObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AV. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: Monogram, cross above, S below, within circle, all encircled by wreath. (SBCV Monogram 3)

Diameter: 13mm | Weight: 1.17gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 254 (Siliqua) | Sommer 4.119
Scratched obverse. Not in DOC.
RARE

The monogram on the reverse of this coin was originally interpreted as being that of the Ostrogothic queen Mathasunta (cf. BMC 80, 1). However, a later re-interpretation by Wolfgang Hahn (MIB) attributed this issue as being a regular African Imperial issue of Justinian, and this is the attribution that was adopted by SBCV.

On September the 15th 533 Justinian's army, led by Belisarius, entered the city of Carthage and brought it back into the Roman Empire after 98 years of Vandal rule. In March 534 the Vandal king Gelimer surrendered to Belisarius ending the Vandal kingdom and returning the African provinces to the empire. Large numbers of captured Vandals were transported to Constantinople and in April Belisarius returned there too and was permitted by Justinian I to celebrate a triumph, the first non-imperial triumph for over 500 years.
*AlexMar 28, 2023
PHILIP_II.JPG
Philip II, 359 - 336 BC. AE18. Struck after 356 BC at an uncertain mint in MacedoniaObverse: No legend. Young male head, usually identified as Apollo, with hair bound in a taenia, facing left.
Reverse: ΦIΛIΠΠOY, Naked rider on horse prancing right, forepart of bull butting right control mark (helmet?) beneath the horse.
Diameter: 19mm | Weight: 6.95gms | Die Axis: 9
GCV: 6699 | Forrer/Weber: 2068

The bronze series of this type is extensive and differentiated principally by the different control marks. These control marks are symbols and letters which generally appear on the reverse, very occasionally the obverse, of the coin, and they were used to identify the officials responsible for a particular issue of coinage.
Philip II won the horseback race at the 106th Olympics in 356 BC, and it is thought that the horseman on the reverse of this coin commemorates this event.


Philip II of Macedon was King of Macedon from 359 until his death in 336 BC. He was the father of Alexander the Great and Philip III Arrhidaeus. In 357 BC, Philip married Olympias, who was the daughter of the king of the Molossians. Alexander was born in 356 BC, the same year as Philip's horse won at the Olympic Games.
The conquest and political consolidation of most of Greece during Philip's reign was achieved in part by the creation of the Macedonian phalanx which gave him an enormous advantage on the battlefield. After defeating Athens and Thebes at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC Philip II established the League of Corinth, a federation of Greek states, with him at it's head, with the intention of invading the Persian empire. In 336 BC, Philip II sent an army of 10,000 men into Asia Minor to make preparations for the invasion by freeing the Greeks living on the western coast and islands from Persian rule. All went well until the news arrived that Philip had been assassinated. The Macedonians were demoralized by Philip's death and were subsequently defeated by Persian forces near Magnesia.
Philip II was murdered in October 336 BC, at Aegae, the ancient capital of the Macedonian kingdom, while he was entering into the town's theatre. He was assassinated by Pausanius, one of his own bodyguards, who was himself slain by three of Philip's other bodyguards. The reasons for Philip's assassination are not now fully known, with many modern historians saying that, on the face of it, none of the ancient accounts which have come down to us appear to be credible.
*AlexMar 27, 2023
NERVA~0.JPG
Struck A.D. 98 - 99 under Trajan. DIVUS NERVA. Commemorative AE 25 of Berytus, PhoeniciaObv: DIVOS NERVA AVGVSTVS. Laureate head of Nerva facing right.
Rev: COL IVL AVG FEL BER. Nerva, as priest-founder, ploughing with yoke of oxen right.
Diameter: 25mm | Weight: 13.6gms | Die Axis: 12
BMC : 81 (Phoenicia) | GICV : 950.
RARE

This coin was struck by Trajan shortly after the death of Nerva.

At the beginning of January A.D.98 Nerva suffered a stroke during a private audience and a few weeks later died of a fever at his villa in the Gardens of Sallust. He was succeeded by Trajan, whom he had adopted as his son and heir.
1 comments*AlexMar 27, 2023
PHILIP_II_Tetradrachm.JPG
ROMAN EMPIRE PROVINCIAL, PHILIP II as Caesar. Billon Tetradrachm of Alexandria. Struck A.D.245 - 246Obverse: M IOV ΦIΛI&PiΠOC K CEB. Bare headed and draped bust of Philip II facing right.
Reverse: No legend. Asklepios standing facing left, sacrificing over flaming and garlanded altar out of patera held in his right hand and holding staff, around which a serpent coils, in his left; in left field, LΓ (= regnal year 3 0f Philip I = A.D.245 - 246).
Diameter: 23mm | Weight: 11.9gms | Die Axis: 12
Not in GICV.
VERY RARE
1 comments*AlexMar 09, 2023
PHILIP_II_Tetradrachm~0.JPG
PHILIP II as Caesar. AE Tetradrachm struck AD 246 at AlexandriaObverse: M IOV ΦIΛIΠΠOC K CEB. Bare headed and draped bust of Philip II facing right.
Reverse: No legend. Asklepios standing facing left, sacrificing over flaming and garlanded altar out of patera held in his right hand and holding staff, around which a serpent coils, in his left; in left field, LΓ (= regnal year 3 0f Philip I = A.D.245 - 246).
Diameter: 23mm | Weight: 11.9gms | Die Axis: 12
Not in GICV
VERY RARE
1 comments*AlexMar 09, 2023
1199_-_1216_John_AR_Penny_Dublin.JPG
Medieval, Ireland, John, AR Penny, Struck 1207 - 1211 at DublinObverse: IOHANNES REX around triangle enclosing a crowned and draped facing bust of King John holding, in his right hand, a sceptre tipped with a cross pommée which extends through the side of the triangle into the legend. Quatrefoil to right of bust.
Reverse: ROBERD ON DIVE around triangle containing sun over crescent moon and a star in each angle. Cross pattée at apex of each point of the triangle and above legend on each of the three sides. Moneyer: Roberd, cognate with the modern English name of Robin.
Diameter: 18mm | Weight: 1.2gms | Die Axis: 4h
SPINK: 6228
Rare

John was King of England from 1199 until his death in 1216. The baronial revolt at the end of John's reign led to the sealing of the first Magna Carta, a document sometimes considered an early step in the evolution of the constitution of the United Kingdom. This third issue "REX" coinage was the only coinage struck by King John in his own name.
*AlexMar 09, 2023
317_-_337__Constantine_II_Campgate_PLON.JPG
ROMAN EMPIRE, CONSTANTINE II as CAESAR, AE3 struck 324 - 325 at Londinium (London)Obverse: CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Constantine II, viewed from the rear, facing right.
Reverse: PROVIDENTIAE CAESS. Camp-gate with two turrets, star above; in exergue, PLON.
Diameter: 20mm | Weight: 3.43gms | Die Axis: 6h
RIC VII : 296 | SPINK: 738a
*AlexMar 09, 2023
306_-_308_Maximianus_Follis_PLN_London.JPG
ROMAN EMPIRE, MAXIMIANUS (Second Reign), AE Follis, struck 307 at Londinium (London)Obverse: D N MAXIMIANO P F S AVG. Laureate and cuirassed bust of Maximianus facing right.
Reverse: GENIO POP ROM. Genius, turreted, standing facing left, holding patera in right hand and cornucopia in left; in exergue, PLN.
Diameter: 27mm | Weight: 8.2 gms | Die Axis: 6h
RIC VI: 90 | SRCV IV: 13444 | Cohen: 142 | SPINK: 704
*AlexMar 09, 2023
209_-_212_Geta_AR_Denarius_Victoriae_Brit~0.JPG
ROMAN EMPIRE, GETA, AR Denarius, Struck 210 at RomeObverse: P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG BRIT. Laureate head of Geta facing right.
Reverse: VICTORIAE BRIT. Victory, half naked, standing facing left, holding wreath in her right hand and palm in her left.
Diameter: 20mm | Weight: 2.79gms | Die Axis: 6h
RIC IV: 92 | RSC: 219 | SRCV: 7254 | Cohen: 219 | BMC: 68 | Spink: 662
SCARCE

This coin commemorates the Roman victories achieved in Scotland in 209 and 210 by Septimius Severus and Caracalla, Geta's father and brother, while Geta and his mother, Julia Domna, remained behind in London.
*AlexMar 09, 2023
Sept_Severus_VICTORIAE_BRIT.JPG
ROMAN EMPIRE, SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS, AR Denarius, Struck 210 at RomeObverse: SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT. Laureate head of Septimius Severus facing right.
Reverse: VICTORIAE BRIT. Victory advancing right, holding wreath in her outstretched right hand and palm branch in her left.
Diameter: 19mm | Weight: 3.5gms | Die Axis: 6h
RIC IV: 332 | RSC: 727 | SRCV: 6382 | SPINK: 650
SCARCE

This coin commemorates the success of the Roman campaigns in Scotland during 209 and 210 culminating in the death of Severus at York, England, in February 211.
*AlexMar 09, 2023
193_-_211_Sept_Severus_VICTORIAE_BRIT.JPG
195 - 211, SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS, AR Denarius, Struck 210 at Rome, alluding to BritanniaObverse: SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT. Laureate head of Septimius Severus facing right.
Reverse: VICTORIAE BRIT. Victory advancing right, holding wreath in her outstretched right hand and palm branch in her left.
Diameter: 19mm | Weight: 3.5gms | Die Axis: 6h
RIC IV: 332 | RSC: 727 | SRCV: 6382 | SPINK: 650
SCARCE

This coin commemorates the success of the Roman campaigns in Scotland during 209 and 210 culminating in the death of Severus at York, England, in February 211.

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
Lucius Septimius Severus was Roman emperor from 193 to 211. He was born in Leptis Magna in the Roman province of Africa.
Severus seized power after the death of the emperor Pertinax in 193 (the Year of the Five Emperors).
After consolidating his rule over the western provinces, Severus waged a brief, successful war in the east against the Parthian Empire, sacked their capital Ctesiphon, expanded the eastern frontier to the Tigris and enlarged and fortified the Limes Arabicus in Arabia Petraea. In 202, he campaigned in Africa and Mauretania against the Garamantes, captured their capital Garama and expanded the Limes Tripolitanus along the southern desert frontier of the empire. In 198 he raised his elder son Caracalla to Augustus and in 209 did the same to his younger son, Geta.
In AD 209 Severus invaded Caledonia (modern Scotland) with an army of 50,000 men, but he fell fatally ill of an infectious disease in late 210 and died at Eboracum (York, England) early in 211.

SEVERUS' CAMPAIGNS IN BRITAIN
In 208 Septimius Severus travelled to Britain with the intention of conquering Caledonia (Scotland). Modern archaeological discoveries have helped to throw some light on the scope and direction of this northern campaign.
Severus began by occupying the territory up to the Antonine Wall, this is evidenced by extensive Severan era fortifications and the likely reoccupation of some of the forts on that wall. Over the previous years Hadrian's Wall had fallen into disrepair and Severus strengthened and repaired much of it, he did this to such an extent that many early Antiquarians thought that he was the emperor who had actually built it. Severus constructed a 165-acre (67 ha) camp south of the Antonine Wall at Trimontium, probably assembling the main body of his forces there. Severus then thrust north across the Antonine Wall into Caledonian territory, supported and supplied by a strong naval force. He retraced the steps of Agricola of over a century before, rebuilding many abandoned Roman forts along the east coast, and he re-garrisoned the naval base at Carpow, likely built by Commodus in 185, and possibly the place named as "Horrea Classis" or "Poreo Classis" in the Ravenna Cosmography.
By 210 Severus' campaigning had made significant gains, despite Caledonian guerrilla tactics and purportedly heavy Roman casualties.
According to Cassius Dio: “Severus did not desist until he approached the extremity of the island. Here he observed most accurately the variation of the sun's motion and the length of the days and the nights in summer and winter respectively. Having thus been conveyed through practically the whole of the hostile country (for he actually was conveyed in a covered litter most of the way, on account of his infirmity), he returned to the friendly portion, after he had forced the Britons to come to terms, on the condition that they should abandon a large part of their territory.”
The Caledonians had sued for peace, which Severus had granted on the condition that they relinquished control of the Central Lowlands of Scotland, but later that year (210), they, along with the Maeatae, revolted. Severus prepared for another campaign, now intent on exterminating the Caledonians. However the campaign was cut short when Severus fell ill and withdrew south to Eboracum (York) where he died on 4 February 211. Severus was succeeded by his sons, Caracalla and Geta. Caracalla continued campaigning in Caledonia during 212 but soon settled for peace, and shortly after that the frontier was withdrawn south to Hadrian's Wall.
On his death, Severus was deified by the Senate and his remains were buried in the Mausoleum of Hadrian in Rome.

CLICK ON IMAGES BELOW TO ENLARGE THEM


1 comments*AlexMar 08, 2023
530_AD_JUSTINIAN_I_Anonymous_Half-Siliqua.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AR Anonymous Half-Siliqua, struck c.530 at ConstantinopleObverse: No legend. Helmeted and draped bust of Constantinopolis facing right.
Reverse: Large K (Kappa) within pelleted circle.
Diameter: 15mm | Weight: 0.7gms | Die Axis: 12
Bendall, Anonymous, 8c. | Vagi 3051
Not in SBCV or DOC

The issue of this particular coin has been tentatively dated, based on style, to around 530 and struck in connection with the bicentennial of the founding of Constantinople.
According to the late Simon Bendall, type 8c is the commonest of all the anonymous types, the majority being quite crude, very light and obviously of sixth century date.
These issues are a copy of a type issued by Constantine I for the foundation of Constantinople in 330, but with the bust of Constantinopolis facing right rather than facing left as it did on Constantine's coin. There seems little doubt that the type was originally resuscitated by Justinian I on the anniversary of the 330 issue, presumably c.530. However, as the overall type is commoner than any sixth century silver coin bearing an imperial portrait, and is of varying degenerative styles and weights (the smallest specimens being the crudest) it would appear that some numbers of them must have continued to have been struck after 530, perhaps even as much as 50 or so years after. A number of theories have been put forward regarding the dating of these but, due to the scant archaeological, epigraphical and hoard evidence presently available, the exact date or dates of issue of individual coins of this type has so far proved to be inconclusive.

6 comments*AlexFeb 23, 2023
Severus_II_Follis_London~0.JPG
ROMAN EMPIRE, SEVERUS II as Caesar, AE Follis struck 305 - 306 at Londinium (London), EnglandObverse: SEVERVS NOBILISSIMVS CAES. Laureate and cuirassed bust of Severus II facing right.
Reverse: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI. Genius, kalathos on head, standing facing left, holding patera in right hand and cornucopia in left; no mint-mark in exergue.
Diameter: 29mm | Weight: 10.399gms | Die Axis: 6h
RIC VI: 59a | Cohen VII: 24 | SPINK: 712
Rare
Ex. Errett Bishop Collection | Ex. FORVM
*AlexFeb 11, 2023
193_-_211_Sept__Severus_AR_Denarius_BRIT.JPG
ROMAN EMPIRE, SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS, AR Denarius, Struck 210 at Rome, alluding to BritanniaObverse: SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT. Laureate head of Septimius Severus facing right.
Reverse: VICTORIAE BRIT. Victory seated on shield facing left, holding another shield resting on her knee in her right hand and palm branch in her left.
Diameter: 19mm | Weight: 2.35gms | Die Axis: 12h
RIC IV: 335 | RSC: 731 | SRCV: 6385 | SPINK: 651C
SCARCE
*AlexFeb 11, 2023
193_-_211_Septimius_Severus_BRIT.JPG
ROMAN EMPIRE, SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS, AR Denarius, Struck 210 at Rome, alluding to BritanniaObverse: SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT. Laureate head of Septimius Severus facing right.
Reverse: VICTORIAE BRIT. Victory standing right, holding palm branch in her right hand and placing uninscribed shield on palm tree with her left.
Diameter: 20mm | Weight: 2.83gms | Die Axis: 7h
RIC IV: 336 | RSC: 730 | SRCV: 6384 | SPINK: 651A
SCARCE
*AlexFeb 11, 2023
Justinian_I_250_Nummi~0.JPG
BYZANTINE, JUSTINIAN I, AR 250 Nummi, struck 540 - 542 at RavennaObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Diademed bust of Justinian I, wearing imperial mantle, facing right.
Reverse: Large CN (= 250 Nummi) within wreath.
Diameter: 14mm | Weight: 1.07gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 313 | DOC: 334a
RARE
1 comments*AlexFeb 11, 2023
Cunobelinus.JPG
1st Century CE, IRON AGE BRITAIN, Tribes: Catuvellauni and Trinovantes, AE Unit, Struck c.10 - 40 at Verlamion under CunobelinusObverse: CVNO - BELIN. Bare head facing left.
Reverse: TASCIO. Metal worker, wielding hammer, seated facing right.
Diameter: 15mm | Weight: 2.24gms | Axis: 3h
Spink: 342 | ABC: 2969 | Van Arsdell 2097

CUNOBELINUS
Cunobelinus was a king in Iron Age Britain from about 9 CE until about 40 CE. He is mentioned by the Roman historians Suetonius and Dio Cassius, and many coins bearing his inscription have been found. Cunobelinus controlled a substantial portion of south-eastern Britain, including the territories of the Catuvellauni and the Trinovantes, and is called “Britannorum rex" (King of the Britons) by Suetonius. He appears to have been recognized by the Roman emperor Augustus as a client king, shown by the use of the Latin title Rex on some of his coins.
Numismatic evidence appears to indicate that Cunobelinus took power around AD 9 after the death of his father Tasciovanus, minting coins from both Camulodunum, capital of the Trinovantes and Verlamion (Roman Verulamium), capital of the Catuvellauni. Some of the Verulamium coins name him as the son of Tasciovanus, a previous king of the Catuvellauni. Cunobelinus' earliest issues are, however, from Camulodunum, indicating that he took power there first, and some have a palm or laurel wreath design, a motif borrowed from the Romans indicating a military victory. It is possible that he was emboldened to act against the Trinovantes, whose independence was protected by a treaty they made with Julius Caesar in 54 BC, because problems in Germania severely affected Augustus' ability to defend allies in Britain.
Cunobelinus, however, appears to have maintained quite good relations with the Roman Empire, he used classical motifs on his coins and his reign also saw an increase in trade with the continent. Archaeological evidence shows an increase in imported luxury goods, including wine and drinking vessels from Italy, olive oil and “garum” (fish sauce) from Spain, as well as glassware, jewellery, and tableware from the wider continent, all of which, from their distribution, appear to have entered Britain via the port of Camulodunum. Rome's lucrative trade with Britain was also reported by Strabo, according to him the island's exports included grain, gold, silver, iron, hides, slaves and hunting dogs. It seems likely that Cunobelinus was one of the British kings, mentioned by Strabo, who sent embassies to Augustus.
Cunobelinus died about 40, probably within a year of that date, as he was certainly dead by 43.
Traditionally it has been suggested that the “Lexden Tumulus” on the outskirts of Colchester was Cunobelinus' tomb, but without evidence confirming that, it is also possible that the tomb was built for the earlier Trinovantian king, Addedomarus. Interestingly there is a second tumulus, though this one is not so well known, 665m to the northwest of the Lexden burial mound, on a grassy area in the middle of a modern housing estate. This tumulus, known as ‘The Mount’, probably dates from around the same time as the well-known one at Fitzwalter Road, Lexden.


CLICK ON MAP BELOW TO ENLARGE IT
1 comments*AlexFeb 01, 2023
CELTIC_TRIBAL_MAP_Catuvellauni___Trinovantes.JPG
*AlexFeb 01, 2023
DUBNOVELLAUNUS.JPG
1st Century BC - 1st Century CE, IRON AGE BRITAIN, Tribe: Trinovantes, AE Unit, Struck c.10 BC – 10 CE in Camulodunum(?) in Essex under DubnovellaunusObverse: Head facing right, hair(?) lines on head divided by clear centre parting.
Reverse: Horse prancing left; complex pellets and circles above and below.
Diameter: 13.5mm | Weight: 1.61gms | Axis: 3h
SPINK: -- | BMC -- | ABC 2413
VERY RARE

Very rare uninscribed bronze unit of Dubnovellaunus found in Essex. The type is designated as a “Dubnovellaunus Centre Parting” bronze unit in ABC (Ancient British Coins), and to date (January, 2023) it is unlisted in any other major reference works.

DUBNOVELLAUNUS

It is generally thought that Dubnovellaunus succeeded his father Addedomarus as king of the Trinovantes somewhere around 10-5 BC and ruled for several years before being supplanted by Cunobelinus of the Catuvellauni.
In the Res Gestae Divi Augusti, a British king called Dumnovellaunus appears, alongside Tincomarus of the Atrebates, as a supplicant to Augustus in around AD 7 and, given the chronology, it is indeed possible that Dubnovellaunus of the Trinovantes is the same person as the Dumnovellaunus who presented himself to Augustus. The spelling variation is due to a Celtic, rather than a Latin, interpretation of the ruler's name.
It is worth mentioning that the authors of ABC (Ancient British Coins) also think that Dubnovellaunus of the Trinovantes could possibly be the same individual as the Dumnovellaunus who ruled in Kent in the 30s - 20s BC, they suggest that he could have been a Cantian king who later gained control over the southern part of the Trinovantes and that therefore he might have ruled both territories north and south of the Thames estuary for a few years. It should be noted however, that Van Arsdell, an authority on the Celtic Coinage of Britain, emphatically disputes this.

TRINOVANTES
The Trinovantes were one of the Iron Age Celtic tribes of Pre-Roman Britain. Their territory was on the north side of the Thames estuary in the present day counties of Essex, Hertfordshire and Suffolk, and also included lands now located in Greater London. They were bordered to the north by the Iceni, and to the west by the Catuvellauni. Their capital was Camulodunum (modern Colchester).
Shortly before Julius Caesar's invasion of Britain in 55 and 54 BC, the Trinovantes were considered the most powerful tribe in Britain. At this time their capital was probably at Braughing (in modern-day Hertfordshire). In some copies of Caesar's Gallic War their king is referred to as Imanuentius, although no name is given in other copies which have come down to us. That said however, it seems that this king was overthrown by Cassivellaunus, king of the Catuvellauni, some time before Caesar's second expedition and that Imanuentius' son, Mandubracius, fled to the protection of Caesar in Gaul. During his second expedition Caesar defeated Cassivellaunus and restored Mandubracius to the kingship. Cassivellaunus agreed to pay tribute and also undertook not to attack him again.
The next identifiable king of the Trinovantes, known from numismatic evidence, was Addedomarus, who took power around 20 – 15 BCE, and moved the tribe's capital to Camulodunum. For a brief period, around 10 BCE, Tasciovanus of the Catuvellauni issued coins from Camulodunum, suggesting that he must have conquered the Trinovantes, but he was soon forced to withdraw, perhaps as a result of pressure from the Romans. Addedomarus was restored and Tasciovanus' later coins no longer bear the mark “REX”. Addedomarus was briefly succeeded by his son Dubnovellaunus, around 10 to 5 BCE, but a few years later the tribe was conquered by either Tasciovanus or his son Cunobelinus.
The Trinovantes do not appear in history again until their participation in Boudica's revolt against the Romans in 60 CE. After that though they seem to have embraced the Romanisation of Britain and their name was later given to one of the “civitates” of Roman Britain, whose chief town was Caesaromagus (modern Chelmsford in Essex).

CLICK ON MAP BELOW TO ENLARGE IT

1 comments*AlexJan 28, 2023
TRINOVANTES.JPG

*AlexJan 24, 2023
BYZANTINE_Tiberius_II_578_-_582__5_Nummi.JPG
BYZANTINE, Tiberius II Constantine (578 – 592) , Æ Pentanummium (5 Nummi) struck 579 – 582 at ConstantinopleObverse: D M TIB CONSTANT P P, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust facing right.
Reverse: Large Ч (= 5) within circle.
15mm | 0.7gms | Axis 6
SBCV: 438
*AlexJan 23, 2023
Justinian_I_250_Nummi.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AR 250 Nummi, struck 540 - 542 at RavennaObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Diademed bust of Justinian I, wearing imperial mantle, facing right.
Reverse: Large CN (= 250 Nummi) within wreath.
Diameter: 14mm | Weight: 1.07gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 313 | DOC: 334a
RARE

The Ravenna mint was active from the conquest of the city by Belisarius in 540 until the fall of the Exarchate of Ravenna to the Lombards in 751.
3 comments*AlexJan 22, 2023
SEPTIMIUS_SEVERUS_VICTORIAE_BRIT.JPG
195 - 211, SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS, AR Denarius, Struck 210 at Rome, alluding to BritanniaObverse: SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT. Laureate head of Septimius Severus facing right.
Reverse: VICTORIAE BRIT. Victory seated on shield facing left, holding another shield resting on her knee in her right hand and palm branch in her left.
Diameter: 19mm | Weight: 2.35gms | Die Axis: 12h
RIC IV: 335 | RSC: 731 | SRCV: 6385 | SPINK: 651C
SCARCE

This coin commemorates the success of the Roman campaigns in Scotland during 209 and 210 culminating in the death of Severus at York, England, in February 211.

SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
Lucius Septimius Severus was Roman emperor from 193 to 211. He was born in Leptis Magna in the Roman province of Africa.
Severus seized power after the death of the emperor Pertinax in 193 (the Year of the Five Emperors).
After consolidating his rule over the western provinces, Severus waged a brief, successful war in the east against the Parthian Empire, sacked their capital Ctesiphon, expanded the eastern frontier to the Tigris and enlarged and fortified the Limes Arabicus in Arabia Petraea. In 202, he campaigned in Africa and Mauretania against the Garamantes, captured their capital Garama and expanded the Limes Tripolitanus along the southern desert frontier of the empire. In 198 he raised his elder son Caracalla to Augustus and in 209 did the same to his younger son, Geta.
In AD 209 Severus invaded Caledonia (modern Scotland) with an army of 50,000 men, but he fell fatally ill of an infectious disease in late 210 and died at Eboracum (York, England) early in 211.

SEVERUS' CAMPAIGNS IN BRITAIN
In 208 Septimius Severus travelled to Britain with the intention of conquering Caledonia (Scotland). Modern archaeological discoveries have helped to throw some light on the scope and direction of this northern campaign.
Severus began by occupying the territory up to the Antonine Wall, this is evidenced by extensive Severan era fortifications and the likely reoccupation of some of the forts on that wall. Over the previous years Hadrian's Wall had fallen into disrepair and Severus strengthened and repaired much of it, he did this to such an extent that many early Antiquarians thought that he was the emperor who had actually built it. Severus constructed a 165-acre (67 ha) camp south of the Antonine Wall at Trimontium, probably assembling the main body of his forces there. Severus then thrust north across the Antonine Wall into Caledonian territory, supported and supplied by a strong naval force. He retraced the steps of Agricola of over a century before, rebuilding many abandoned Roman forts along the east coast, and he re-garrisoned the naval base at Carpow, likely built by Commodus in 185, and possibly the place named as "Horrea Classis" or "Poreo Classis" in the Ravenna Cosmography.
By 210 Severus' campaigning had made significant gains, despite Caledonian guerrilla tactics and purportedly heavy Roman casualties.
According to Cassius Dio: “Severus did not desist until he approached the extremity of the island. Here he observed most accurately the variation of the sun's motion and the length of the days and the nights in summer and winter respectively. Having thus been conveyed through practically the whole of the hostile country (for he actually was conveyed in a covered litter most of the way, on account of his infirmity), he returned to the friendly portion, after he had forced the Britons to come to terms, on the condition that they should abandon a large part of their territory.”
The Caledonians had sued for peace, which Severus had granted on the condition that they relinquished control of the Central Lowlands of Scotland, but later that year (210), they, along with the Maeatae, revolted. Severus prepared for another campaign, now intent on exterminating the Caledonians. However the campaign was cut short when Severus fell ill and withdrew south to Eboracum (York) where he died on 4 February 211. Severus was succeeded by his sons, Caracalla and Geta. Caracalla continued campaigning in Caledonia during 212 but soon settled for peace, and shortly after that the frontier was withdrawn south to Hadrian's Wall.
On his death, Severus was deified by the Senate and his remains were buried in the Mausoleum of Hadrian in Rome.

CLICK ON IMAGES BELOW TO ENLARGE THEM

5 comments*AlexJan 22, 2023
534_-_565_JUSTINIAN_I_AR_SILIQUA.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AR Siliqua or Half-Siliqua, struck 534 - 565 at CarthageObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AG. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: VOT / MVLT / HTI in three lines within wreath; below, CONOS.
Diameter: 16mm | Weight: 0.7gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 253 (Siliqua) | DOC: 280

On September the 15th 533 Justinian's army, led by Belisarius, entered the city of Carthage and brought it back into the Roman Empire after 98 years of Vandal rule.
1 comments*AlexJan 09, 2023
Catuvellauni.JPG
*AlexJan 03, 2023
BOTLAUREL_2023.JPG
2023THIS YEAR'S WINNER
CLICK ON THE COIN FOR ITS DETAILS

*AlexDec 31, 2022
JUSTINIAN_I_Eight_Nummi.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Octonummium (8 Nummi), struck 527 – 562 at ThessalonicaObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: Large H between smaller A – (P) across field; cross between two stars (* + *) above.
Diameter: 17mm | Weight: 2.56gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 192 | DOC: 100d
RARE

Regarding the letters AHP on the reverse of this coin, it is generally accepted that the "H" of the inscription equates to "8", a denomination used only at Thessalonica by Justinian. However the meaning of the letters A and P is still uncertain despite having been the subject of much scholarly debate.
1 comments*AlexDec 31, 2022
Roman_Britain_Severan_Campaigns.jpg
*AlexDec 26, 2022
100_-_30_BC_Iron_Age_Durotriges.JPG
2nd - 1st Century BC, IRON AGE BRITAIN, Tribe: Durotriges, Base AR Stater, Struck c.40 BCObverse: No legend. Abstract head of Apollo made up of pellets and lines.
Reverse: No legend. Crude disjointed horse with three tails standing facing left, large group of pellets and “coffee bean” symbol above, single pellet below.
One of a small group of coins found west of Cheriton, south east of Winchester.
Diameter: 19mm | Weight: 2.89gms | Axis: Unclear
Spink: 366

THE DUROTRIGES
The Durotriges were one of the Celtic tribes living in Britain prior to the Roman invasion. They were one of the groups that issued coinage before the Roman conquest. Their coins were abstract and simple and had no inscriptions, so no names of any issuers or rulers are known. Nevertheless, the Durotriges presented a settled society, based in the farming of lands surrounded by hill forts, the majority of which seem to have gone out of use by 100 BC, long before the arrival of the Romans in 43 or 44 AD. Constructed initially around 600 BC, the Durotriges ultimately occupied the largest hill fort in Britain, Maiden Castle, which encloses some 19 hectares (47 acres). Around 100 BC though, for some reason habitation at the hill fort went into decline and became concentrated at the eastern end of the site. Maiden Castle appears to have been abandoned after the Roman conquest of Britain although the Romans later built a small temple on the site.
The tribe lived in an area centred on Dorset, south Wiltshire, south Somerset and Devon east of the River Axe. Their territory was bordered to the west by the Dumnonii; and to the north east by the Belgae. The area controlled by the Durotriges is identified in part by coin finds, few Durotrigan coins are found in the south eastern tribal areas, so it would appear unlikely that they were acceptable there. A recent coin hoard found on the Isle of Wight, however, would seem to indicate that the Durotriges might have had some influence at least over the western half of the island.
The Durotriges' main outlet for trade across the Channel, strong in the first half of the 1st century BC before drying up in the decades prior to the arrival of the Romans, was at Hengistbury Head. The numismatic evidence indicates a progressive debasing of the coinage suggesting economic difficulties in conjunction with their declining trade.


CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO ENLARGE IT
*AlexDec 22, 2022
CELTIC_TRIBAL_MAP_28Atrebates29.JPG

*AlexDec 22, 2022
Justin_I___Justinian_I_Follis.JPG
JUSTIN I and JUSTINIAN I as joint Emperors, AE Follis (40 Nummi), struck 4th April - 1st August 527 at ConstantinopleObverse: D N IVSTIN Є IVSTINIAN P AV. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justin I, star on shoulder, facing right.
Reverse: Large M, cross above and officina letter (B = 2nd Officina) below, star to left of M, cross to right; in exergue, CON
Diameter: 30mm | Weight: 14gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 125 (var) | DOC: 10.-
RARE

Justin I's health slowly declined in his old age and, on the first of April 527, he formally named his nephew Justinian as co-emperor and his successor. Justin only lived for a few more months and, when he died at the age of 77 on the first of August, Justinian smoothly succeeded him.
*AlexSep 06, 2022
JUSTINIAN_I_AE_5_Nummi.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Pentanummium (5 Nummi), struck 560 – 565 at Antioch (Theoupolis)Obverse: "D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG" (badly blundered legend as is usual for this type). Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: Large C enclosing complex monogram of Antioch forming a cross, all within circle (SBCV Monogram 2)

Diameter: 16mm | Weight: 2.5gms | Die Axis: 12
SBCV: 245 | DOC: 272.1

Much of Antioch was destroyed by a great earthquake on 29th November 528 and, following this disaster, the city was renamed Theoupolis.
*AlexSep 03, 2022
545_-_546_JUSTINIAN_I_AE_Follis_KYZ_28Cyzicus29.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Follis (40 Nummi), struck 545/546 at CyzicusObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Helmeted and cuirassed facing bust of Justinian I holding globus cruciger in his right hand and shield, adorned with rider galloping right spearing a fallen enemy, in his left; cross in right field.
Reverse: Large M, cross above and officina letter below (B = 2nd Officina), A/N/N/O in field to left of M and regnal year X/ЧI/II/I in field to right; in exergue, :K•YZ
Diameter: 34mm | Weight: 19.22gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 207 | DOC: 171b.3

Justinian I introduced the system of dating on the Byzantine bronze coinage in the 12th year of his reign (Regnal year 538/39).

546: On December 17th of this year the Ostrogoths under King Totila plundered Rome and destroyed its fortifications. The city fell after almost a year's siege due to the capture, near the mouth of the Tiber, of a grain fleet sent by Pope Vigilius and the failure of the troops sent by the Byzantine Empire under Belisarius to relieve the city. After sacking Rome the Ostrogoths withdrew to Apulia in southern Italy.
2 comments*AlexSep 02, 2022
Justinian_I_One_Nummus.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Nummus, struck 534 - 539 at CarthageObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS --. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right..
Reverse: No legend. Large within circle.
Diameter: 10mm | Weight: 0.99gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 281 | DOC: 309.1
SCARCE

In March, 534, the Vandal king Gelimer surrendered to the Byzantine general Belisarius ending the Vandal kingdom and returning the African provinces to the empire.
Large numbers of captured Vandals were transported to Constantinple and in April Belisarius returned to Constantinople and left a small force in Africa under general Solomon to complete the subjugation of the African provinces.
During the Summer, Belisarius was permitted by Justinian I to celebrate a triumph, the first non-imperial triumph for over 500 years.
In the Spring of 536 Belisarius had to return to Carthage with 1000 men to suppress a revolt against general Solomon. The city was besieged by 9000 rebels, including many Vandals, led by a disaffected Byzantine soldier called Stotzas, but Belisarius defeated them at the Battle of the River Bagradas and Stotzas fled with many of his followers into Numidia. The following year (537), having regrouped, Stotzas made another attempt at taking control of north Africa. This time though the Byzantines under general Germanus utterly crushed the rebels at the Battle of Scalas Veteres, 6 kilometres south of Carthage. Stotzas though, with only a handful of rebels, managed to flee to Mauretania.

*AlexAug 29, 2022
322_-_323_Constantine_II_Caesar.jpg
317 - 337, CONSTANTINE II as Caesar, AE3 struck 322 - 323 at Londinium (London), EnglandObverse: CONSTANTINVS IVN N C. Radiate and cuirassed bust of Constantine II facing left.
Reverse: BEAT TRANQLITAS (sic). Altar, inscribed VOT IS XX in three lines, surmounted by cosmic globe with three stars above; across field, F – B; in exergue, PLON.
Diameter: 19mm | Weight: 2.05gms | Die Axis: 6h
RIC VII : 257.

Flavius Claudius Constantinus was the eldest son of Constantine and Fausta, he was given the rank of Caesar in A.D.316, at the same time as Crispus and Licinius II.
This coin was struck in connection with the fifteenth anniversary of his father, Constantine the great.
*AlexAug 18, 2022
Constantine_I_Altar_VOTIS_XX_Treveri_PTR.JPG
Struck A.D.321. CONSTANTINE I as Augustus. AE3 of Treveri (Trier)Obverse: CONSTANTINVS AVG. Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Constantine facing right.
Reverse: BEATA TRANQVILLITAS. Globe set on altar inscribed VOT/IS/XX in three lines; above, three stars; in exergue, PTR
RIC VII : 303
*AlexAug 16, 2022
Constantine_I_VOT_XX_Aquileia_AQP.JPG
Struck A.D.322. CONSTANTINE I as Augustus. AE3 of AquileiaObverse: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG. Laureate head of Constantine facing right.
Reverse: D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG. Laurel wreath encircling palm branches either side of VOT • XX; in exergue, AQP.
RIC VII : 104

This coin is one of the issues struck to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of Constantine's reign.
1 comments*AlexAug 16, 2022
Constantine_I_Captives_STR.JPG
Struck A.D.320. CONSTANTINE I as Augustus. AE3 of TreveriObverse: CONSTANTINVS AVG. Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Constantine facing right.
Reverse: VIRTVS EXERCIT. Two captives seated back to back at foot of standard inscribed VOT XX; in exergue, STR (2nd Officina).
RIC VII : 258
EXTREMELY RARE

This coin is one of the issues struck in A.D.320 to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of Constantine's reign.
1 comments*AlexAug 16, 2022
Constantine_I_STR.JPG
Struck A.D.320 - 321. CONSTANTINE I as Augustus. AE3 (Follis) of Treveri (Trier)Obverse: CONSTANTINVS AVG. Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Constantine I facing right.
Reverse: VIRTVS EXERCIT. Two prisoners, hands bound behind their backs, seated back to back beneath trophy. In left field, T; in right field, F; in exergue, STR (Second Officina, Treveri).
RIC VII : 279
EXTREMELY RARE
*AlexAug 08, 2022
LICINIUS_II_Roma_Aeternae.JPG
Struck A.D.321. LICINIUS II as CAESAR. AE3 of RomeObverse: LICINIVS IVN NOB C. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Licinius II facing right.
Reverse: ROMAE AETERNAE. Roma seated facing right, inscribing XV on shield set on her knees: in left field, P; in right field, R; in exergue, RT.
RIC VII : 154 | VM : 9.
VERY RARE.

Struck to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the reign of Constantine I.
*AlexAug 06, 2022
Constantine_I_DAFNE.JPG
Struck A.D.327 - 330. CONSTANTINE I as Augustus. AE3 of ConstantinopleObverse: CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG. Rosette diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Constantine facing right.
Reverse: CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE. Victory seated on cippus facing left, holding palm branch in each hand, head turned away to right spurning kneeling captive at foot of trophy before her. In left field, Z; in exergue, CONS.
RIC VII : 35
RARE

This coin most likely symbolized the defeat of Licinius (the Greek word for laurel is daphne, and laurel wreaths were signs of victory). The legend of the Dafne coin would actually translate as 'Constantinian Victory'.
The fort on the north bank of the Danube, often cited as being commemorated on this coin, could very well have been named "Dafne", after all a fort alluding to victory seems more than appropriate and is not without precedent. However, the fort can have no connection with the Dafne coinage, other than the use of the word "Dafne" because the Dafne coins were probably issued as early as A.D.327 and the fort was not constructed until around A.D.330. It seems unlikely a coin was issued to commemorate a fort that was yet to be built.
This coin replaced other reverse types for Constantine and was the only type issued for almost three years exclusively in the name of Constantine, this is an important point. If this coin commemorated the building of a fortress, three years would be a very long time for a coin to have been issued. Becoming the sole ruler of the Roman Empire, however, might just merit a special coinage! Also the adjective CONSTANTINIANA was never used except on this issue, the word is unique to this series. It seems most likely, therefore, that the Dafne coinage commemorates the A.D.324 victory of Constantine over Licinius rather than any other event.

The above comments are from Victor Clark's
"Constantine the Great" website.
*AlexAug 05, 2022
Licinius_I_VOT_XX_Aquileia.JPG
Struck A.D.320. LICINIUS I. AE3 (Nummus) of AquileiaObverse: IMP LICINIVS AVG. Laureate head of Licinius facing right.
Reverse: DOMINI N LICINI AVG. Laurel-wreath around VOT•XX; in exergue; AQS.
RIC VII : 86. Weight 3.3gms.
RARE

This coin is one of those struck in c.A.D.320 to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the reign of Constantine, which was also celebrated in the West as the fifteenth anniversary of Licinius.
*AlexAug 05, 2022
Constantine_Mars.JPG
Struck A.D.312 - 313. CONSTANTINE I as Augustus. AE Follis of TicinumObverse: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG. Laureate and cuirassed bust of Constantine facing right.
Reverse: MARTI CONSERVATORI. Mars standing facing right, leaning on shield and holding vertical spear in his right hand; in left field, star; in exergue, T T.
RIC VII : 12
EXTREMELY RARE
*AlexAug 05, 2022
528-529_JUSTINIAN_I_AE_Half-Follis_ANTIOCH.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Half-Follis (20 Nummi), struck 527 – 528 at AntiochObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: Large K, Large latin cross to left dividing letters A–N / T–X; officina letter to right of K (Γ = third officina).
Diameter: 28mm | Weight: 5.8gms | Die Axis: 12
SBCV: 224a | Not in DOC
Rare

This coin was struck prior to Antioch being renamed Theoupolis following the great earthquake that virtually destroyed the city on 29th November 528.

527: One of Justinian's first acts as sole emperor was to reorganise the command structure of the Byzantine army. He appointed Belisarius to command the Eastern army in Armenia and on the Byzantine-Persian frontier.
528: In February of this year Justinian appointed a commission to codify all the laws of the Roman Empire that were still in force from Hadrian to the current date. This Code of Civil Laws came to be called the Codex Justinianus.
On November 29th a great earthquake struck Antioch, killing thousands and destroying much of the city including the Domus Aurea (Great Church) built by Constantine the Great.
*AlexAug 04, 2022
527_-_562_JUSTINIAN_I_16_Nummi_28229.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE 16 Nummi, struck 527 – 562 at ThessalonicaObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: Large AISP; cross between two stars above; TЄS in exergue below.
Diameter: 23mm | Weight: 5.93gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 177 | DOC: 98c.2

Regarding the letters AISP on the reverse of this coin, it is generally accepted that the "IS" of the inscription equates to "10+6" = "16", a denomination used only at Thessalonica. However the meaning of the letters A and P is still uncertain despite having been the subject of much scholarly debate.
*AlexAug 03, 2022
HENRY_IV_28Illumination29.JPG
LINK TO COIN*AlexJul 25, 2022
527_-_562_JUSTINIAN_I_16_Nummi.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE 16 Nummi, struck 527 – 562 at ThessalonicaObverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: Large AISP; chi-rho monogram above “I”; TЄS in exergue below.
Diameter: 23mm | Weight: 5.92gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 178 | DOC: 98d.5

Regarding the letters AISP on the reverse of this coin, it is generally accepted that the "IS" of the inscription equates to "10+6" = "16", a denomination used only at Thessalonica. However the meaning of the letters A and P is still uncertain despite having been the subject of much scholarly debate.
*AlexJul 22, 2022
529_-_539_Justinian_I_AE_Pentanummi.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Pentanummium (5 Nummi), struck 529 – 539 at Antioch (Theoupolis)Obverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P A. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: Large E, crossed bar in centre and officina letter (A = 1st Officina) to right, all within pearl circle.
Diameter: 13mm | Weight: 2.11gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 241 | DOC: 268a

Much of Antioch was destroyed by a great earthquake on 29th November 528 and, following this disaster, the city was renamed Theoupolis.
2 comments*AlexJul 15, 2022
529_-_533_JUSTINIAN_I_Follis_Antioch.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Follis (40 Nummi), struck 529 - 533 at Antioch (Theoupolis)Obverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Justinian enthroned facing, holding long sceptre in his right hand and globus cruciger in his left.
Reverse: Large M, cross above and officina letter (Δ = 4th Officina) below, asterisk in field to left of M and outward facing crescent in field to right; in exergue, +THEUP
Diameter: 34mm | Weight: 18.69gms | Die Axis: 5
SBCV: 214 | DOC: 206d.1

Much of Antioch was destroyed by a great earthquake on 29th November 528 and, following this disaster, the city was renamed Theoupolis.

530: In the spring of this year Belisarius and Hermogenes (magister officiorum) defeated a combined Persian-Arab army of 50,000 men at the Battle of Dara in modern Turkey, and in the summer a Byzantine cavalry force under the command of Sittas defeated a major Persian invasion into Roman Armenia at the Battle of Satala.
531: On April 19th, at the Battle of Callinicum, a Byzantine army commanded by Belisarius, was defeated by the Persians at Raqqa in northern Syria. Nevertheless, Justinian negotiated an end to the hostilities and Belisarius was hailed as a hero.
532: On January 11th this year anger among the supporters of the most important chariot teams in Constantinople, the Blues and the Greens, escalated into violence towards the emperor. For the next five days the city was in chaos and the fires that started during the rioting resulted in the destruction of much of the city. This insurrection, known as the Nika riots, was put down a week later by Belisarius and Mundus resulting in 30,000 people being killed in the Hippodrome.
On February 23rd Justinian ordered the building of a new Christian basilica in Constantinople, the Hagia Sophia. More than 10,000 people were employed in the construction using material brought from all over the empire.

2 comments*AlexJul 09, 2022
JUSTINIAN_I_AE_20_nummi_ANTIOCH.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Half-Follis (20 Nummi), struck 548/549 at Antioch (Theoupolis)Obverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Helmeted and cuirassed facing bust of Justinian I holding globus cruciger in his right hand and shield in his left; cross in right field.
Reverse: Large K, cross above and mint-mark O/Π below. A/N/N/O in field to left of K and regnal year XXII in field to right
Diameter: 25mm | Weight: 7.8gms | Die Axis: 11
SBCV: 230 | DOC: 238.3

Much of Antioch was destroyed by a great earthquake on 29th November 528 and, following this disaster, the city was renamed Theoupolis.

548: On June 28th of this year, at the age of 48, the Empress Theodora died. Her body is buried in the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.
Also in this year Justinian I relieved Belisarius from military command in favour of the elderly Byzantine general Narses.
549: This year, after Belisarius had returned to Constantinople, the Ostrogoths under Totila besieged Rome for a third time. The Ostrogoths then conquered the city of Perugia in central Italy and stationed a Gothic garrison there.
549 was also the year that the last ever chariot races were held in the Circus Maximus in Rome.

*AlexJul 06, 2022
529_-_539_Justinian_I_AE_Follis_THEUP_28Antioch29.JPG
JUSTINIAN I, AE Follis (40 Nummi), struck 533 – 537 at Antioch (Theoupolis)Obverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG. Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Justinian I facing right.
Reverse: Large M, cross above and officina letter (B = 2nd Officina) below, star to right and left of M; in exergue, +THEUP+ (Theoupolis).
Diameter: 31mm | Weight: 15.37gms | Die Axis: 6
SBCV: 216 | DOC: 210b.3

Much of Antioch was destroyed by a great earthquake on 29th November 528 and, following this disaster, the city was renamed Theoupolis.
1 comments*AlexJun 30, 2022
Edward_I_AR_Farthing.JPG
1272 - 1307, EDWARD I, AR Farthing, Struck 1279 - 1299 at London, EnglandObverse: + EDWARDVS REX. Crowned bust of Edward I facing within circle of pellets. Cross pattée in legend.
Reverse: LONDONIENSIS. Long cross dividing legend into quarters, trefoil in each quarter of inner circle.
Undated Farthing, Class 3c
Diameter: 13mm | Weight: 0.42gms | Die Axis: 2h
SPINK: 1445

This is an early issue farthing with the reverse legend “LONDONIENSIS” which was later replaced by the ubiquitous legend “CIVITAS LONDON” for the London mint. Edward I began a major recoinage in 1279 which consisted not only of pennies, but new round half-pennies and farthings as well, and also introduced a new denomination, the fourpenny piece called the "Groat".

Edward I was King of England from 1272 - 1307. He was the eldest surviving son of Henry III and Eleanor of Provence. The contests between his father and the barons led by Simon de Montfort called Edward early into active life when he restored the royal authority within months by defeating and killing de Montfort at the battle of Evesham in 1265. He then proceeded to Palestine, where no conquest of any importance was achieved. After further campaigns in Italy and France he returned to England on his father's death and was crowned at Westminster Abbey in 1274.
Edward was popular because he identified himself with the growing tide of nationalism sweeping the country, displayed later in his persecution and banishment of the Jews which was the culmination of many years of anti-semitism in England.
Edward now turned his attention to the west and so, following a revolt in the Principality of Wales against English influence, Edward commenced a war which ended in the annexation of the Principality to the English Crown in 1283. He secured his conquest by building nine castles to watch over it and created his eldest son, Edward the Prince of Wales in 1301.
Edward's great ambition, however, was to gain possession of Scotland, but the death of Margaret, the Maid of Norway, who was to have been married to Edward's son, for a time frustrated the king's designs. However the sudden death of the King of Scotland, Alexander III, and the contested succession soon gave him the opportunity to intervene. He was invited by the Scots to arbitrate and choose between the thirteen competitors for the Scottish throne. Edward's choice, John Balliol, who he conceived as his puppet, was persuaded to do homage for his crown to Edward at Newcastle but was then forced to throw off Edward's overlordship by the indignation of the Scottish people. An alliance between the French and the Scots now followed, and Edward, then at war with the French king over possession of Gascony, was compelled to march his army north. Edward invaded Scotland in 1296 and devastated the country, which earned him the sobriquet 'Hammer of the Scots'. It was at this time that the symbolic Stone of Destiny was removed from Scone. Edward's influence had tainted Balliol's reign and the Scottish nobility deposed him and appointed a council of twelve to rule instead. Balliol abdicated and was eventually sent to France where he retired into obscurity, taking no more part in politics. Scotland was then left without a monarch until the accession of Robert the Bruce in 1306.
Meanwhile Edward assumed the administration of the country. However the following summer a new opposition to Edward took place under William Wallace whose successes, notably at Stirling Bridge, forced Edward to return to Scotland with an army of 100,000 men. Although he defeated Wallace's army at Falkirk, and Wallace himself was betrayed, Edward's unjust and barbaric execution of him as a traitor in London made Wallace a national hero in Scotland, and resistance to England became paramount among the people. All Edward's efforts to reduce the country to obedience were unravelling, and after the crowning of Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, as Robert I of Scotland in 1306 an enraged Edward assembled another army and marched yet again against the Scots. However, Edward only reached Burgh-on-Sands, a village near Carlisle, when he died. His body was taken back to London and he was buried at Westminster Abbey.
Edward I was married twice: to Eleanor of Castile, by whom he had sixteen children, and Margaret of France by whom he had three. Twelve memorials to his first wife stood between Nottingham and London to mark the journey taken by her funeral cortege. Three of those memorials, known as "Eleanor Crosses", can still be seen today.
*AlexMay 20, 2022
796_-835_EANBALD_II.JPG
796 – c.835, EANBALD II, Archbishop of York, Northumbria, AE Styca, struck c.830 - 835 at York, EnglandObverse: + EANBALD AR around small Greek cross. Greek cross in legend.
Reverse: + EDILVARD around cross pommée. Cross pommée in legend. Moneyer: Aethelweard
Phase 1b issue
Diameter: 13mm | Weight: 1.0gms | Die Axis: 6h
SPINK: 861 | British Numismatic Journal (1916) – (H A Parsons, The coins of Archbishop Eanbald II of York): 60

Initially a base silver coin, after the devastating Viking attack on Lindisfarne in 793, with its subsequent commercial impact on the kingdom of Northumberland, the second issue of stycas under King Eanred were debased by having their silver content replaced by zinc. There was a further debasement of the coinage in 829 after Eanred's submission to Ecgberht of Wessex, such that the styca became basically a copper alloy coin.

Eanbald II was, prior to his elevation to the archiepiscopate, a priest of the Church of York. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records his consecration as Archbishop on 14th August, 796, immediately after the death of the first prelate of the same name.
In the year 797, Eanbald II is recorded as having assisted in the recovery of the rights of the see of Canterbury, which had been much impaired during the reign of King Offa of Mercia in order that his new primacy at Lichfield might be promoted. In this work of restitution, Eanbald collaborated with Æthelhard, Archbishop of Canterbury, who had appealed to Rome over the matter. The case was also presented to Coenwulf, the successor of Offa, and he was persuaded by the two prelates to refer the question to the Pope which resulted in Offa's new archiepiscopal see of Lichfield being abolished.
In 798 Eanbald convened a great synod at Finchale, near Durham. There, he enacted a number of regulations relating to the ecclesiastical courts and the observance of Easter.
Early on Eanbald became estranged from Eardwulf, King of Northumbria, after denouncing Eardwulf's adulteries and sheltering Eardwulf's enemies by giving them church sanctuary. But Eardwulf seems to have been deposed in around 806 and was eventually succeeded by Eanred around 810.
No record of Eanbald II's death survives and the time of his death has been variously estimated to range from as early as 808 to as late as 835, the latter date based on numismatic evidence.

The Kingdom of Northumbria was a medieval Anglian kingdom in what is now Northern England and South-east Scotland. The name derives from the Old English Norþan-hymbre meaning "the people or province north of the Humber", Northumbria started to consolidate into one kingdom in the early seventh century when the two earlier territories of Deira and Bernicia united. At its height, the kingdom extended from the Humber Estuary in the south to the Firth of Forth (now in Scotland) in the north.
Northumbria ceased to be an independent kingdom in the mid-tenth century.
*AlexApr 15, 2022
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