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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Certified Coins||View Options:   | | | FORVM ANCIENT COINS is known worldwide for its expertise in the identification, grading, and authentication of ancient and medieval coins. Our guarantee of authenticity is for for eternity. On this page we include coins that have 3rd party certification by the Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC), Independent Coin Graders (ICG), and David Sear. Most of the coins on this page were received from consignors certified and encapsulated. We also submit coins for a second opinion to NGC or to David Sear if we have even the slightest uncertainty about a coins authenticity. If you collect NGC certified coins, feel free to select any coin from our shop and add NGC certification (listed below) to your shopping cart. We will send the coin(s) you order to NGC prior to delivery to you. |
A decursio was a military exercise, by which Roman soldiers were taught to make long marches in a given time, under arms and without quitting their ranks. They sometimes consisted of a mock fight between two divisions. Augustus and subsequently Hadrian ordered that the infantry and cavalry were to march out three times a month ten miles from the camp and ten miles back, fully armed and equipped. Decursio on this coin probably refers Nero's participation in mock military maneuvers in the circus.SL111603. Orichalcum sestertius, RIC I 168 (S); BMCRE I p. 226, 142; BnF II -; Hunter I -; SRCV I -, ANACS VF30 (7432075, says Lugdunum mint in error), dark spots are where the plastic holder is in contact with the coin, weight 27.15 g, maximum diameter 35.5 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, c. 66 A.D.; obverse NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P, laureate head left; reverse DECVRSIO, Nero and a soldier on horseback prancing right, Nero bear headed, wearing cuirass and short tunic, and holds spear in right hand, soldier, on far side and slightly behind, holds vexillum in right over shoulder, S - C (senatus consulto) flanking high across field; ex Classical Coins, ANACS| Verify;
Ephesos, Ionia, Phanes, c. 625 - 600 B.C., Ancient Counterfeit Electrum Plate Over Silver
The official coin, of which this is an ancient counterfeit, is known to be among the oldest coins because a hemihekte from the issue was in the famous "Artemision Find" excavated from the foundation of the temple of Artemis at Ephesos. Seven different denominations are linked by the stag type, a common weight standard, and reverse die links. The stag is a symbol of Artemis and thus of Ephesus. The two larger denominations bear the name Phanes, who was likely a prominent citizen of Ephesus, perhaps a despot, a magistrate, or a wealthy money-lender. This coin is undoubtedly one of the very first counterfeit coins. Criminal counterfeiters were evidently a problem from the very beginnings of coinage.SL112770. Fouree electrum plated 1/24 stater, Weidauer - , BMC - ; cf. SNG VA 7773 (not plated), NGC VF (6827718-002), weight 0.435 g, maximum diameter 6.2 mm, unofficial counterfeiter's mint, after c. 625 B.C.; obverse forepart of stag right, head turned left, three pellets before; reverse incuse square with raised lines; photo taken before certification, NGC| Lookup;
Nerva, 18 September 96 - 25 January 98 A.D.
The fiscus Iudaicus was an annual tax imposed on Jews after the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple. The amount was two denarii, equivalent to the one-half of a shekel Jews had previously paid to the Temple of Jerusalem. The tax applied to Jews throughout the empire and, while the tax paid for the Temple of Jerusalem was payable only by adult men between the ages of 20 and 50, the fiscus Iudaicus was imposed on all Jews, including women, children, the elderly, and even Jewish slaves. To add to the humiliation, the tax went to the pagan Temple of Capitoline Jupiter in Rome. Domitian strictly enforced the tax on those who attempted to concealed their identity to avoid the tax. Suetonius relates that an old man of 90 was stripped to see whether he was circumcised and therefore Jewish. This coin commemorates the fisci Iudaici calumnia sublata (abolition of malicious prosecution in connection with the Jewish tax) reforms eliminating the harsh policies of Domitian, but not the tax. It is not known when the tax was formally abolished. Some historians credit the emperor Julian with its abolition in about 361 or 362.SL111602. Orichalcum sestertius, Hendin 6634b (R), RIC II 82 (S), BMCRE III 105, BnF III 97, Hunter I 45, Cohen II 57, NGC Ch F, 4/5, 1/5 (6155649-001), weight 23.27 g, maximum diameter 34 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, Jan - Sep 97 A.D.; obverse IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P, laureate head right; reverse FISCI IVDAICI CALVMNIA SVBLATA, date palm tree (symbol of Judaea), S - C (senatus consulto) across field; ex CNG e-auction 487 (10 Mar 2021), 530; ex Gorny auction 267 (17 Oct 2019), 3624; ex Shlomo Moussaieff Collection (London, acquired between 1948 and 1980s); NGC| Lookup; rare;
Cornelia Supera, Wife of Aemilian, 253 A.D., Imitative of Parion, Mysia
Cornelia Supera is unknown to history, except through her coins. Her coins indicate she was probably the wife of Aemilian.SL112773. Bronze AE 23, For prototype, cf. RPC Online IX 382 (11 spec.), SNGvA 7448, BMC Mysia -, SNG Cop -, SNG BnF -, NGC Ch F (6827718-003), weight 3.943 g, maximum diameter 23.1 mm, die axis 45o, unofficial mint, 253 A.D.; obverse G CORN SUPERA AVG (or similar), diademed and draped bust right; reverse Capricorn right, cornucopia on back, globe between legs, C G I H P (blundered, Colonia Gemella Iulia Hadriana Pariana) below; NGC| Lookup; very rare;
Vitellius, 2 January - 20 December 69 A.D.
Vitellius was made emperor by his troops on 2 Jan, but Otho was still emperor in Rome until he killed himself on 16 Apr. The Rome mint likely began to strike coinage for Vitellius' about 3 days later, when the soldiers in Rome swore allegiance and the senate hailed him. This coin was struck in next few days or weeks, before they knew what Vitellius looked like.SL112614. Silver denarius, RIC I 71 (S), RSC II 121, BMCRE I 4, BnF III 37, Hunter -, SRCV I -, NGC F (6827716-002), light scratches, weight 3.052 g, maximum diameter 18.0 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, c. 19 Apr - May 69 A.D.; obverse A VITELLIVS GERMANICVS IMP, bare head right (except for hair, an Otho portrait on this early issue); reverse Victory seated left, patera in right, palm frond over shoulder in left; photo taken before certification, NGC| Lookup; scarce;
Macrinus, 11 April 217 - 8 June 218 A.D.
Salus was the Roman goddess of health. She was Hygieia to the Greeks, who believed her to be the daughter of Aesculapius, the god of medicine and healing, and Epione, the goddess of soothing of pain. Her father Asclepius learned the secrets of keeping death at bay after observing one snake bringing another snake healing herbs. Woman seeking fertility, the sick, and the injured slept in his temples in chambers where non-poisonous snakes were left to crawl on the floor and provide healing.SL112656. Silver denarius, RIC IV 23b, RSC III 67, BMCRE V 39, SRCV II 7346, Hunter -, NGC XF (6827716-013), weight 3.288 g, maximum diameter 19.4 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, Apr - Dec 217 A.D.; obverse IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front; reverse PONTIF MAX TR P COS P P (high priest, holder of Tribunitian power, consul, father of the country), Salus seated left on throne with high-back, snake coiled around and rising from altar before her, Salus holding snake with right hand and feeding snake from patera in left hand; photo taken before certification, NGC| Lookup; scarce;
Byzantine Empire, Tiberius III Apsimar, Late 698 - Summer 705 A.D.
All coins of Tiberius III are scarce or rare.SL111842. Bronze follis, Anastasi 337, DOC II-2 32, Spahr 271, Tolstoi 60, Hahn MIB 79b, SBCV 1395, Sommer -, Wroth BMC -, Ratto -, NGC AU, strike 4/5, surface 3/5 (6057928-005), weight 3.57 g, maximum diameter c. 20.5 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse (Sicily, Italy) mint, late 698 - summer 705 A.D.; obverse no legend, bust of Tiberius III facing, wearing loros and crown with cross, spear diagonally before body in right, shield ornamented with horseman on left shoulder, star left; reverse large M (40 nummi) between two palm fronds, Tiberius' monogram
above, SCL in exergue; ex Heritage auction 232305 (1 Feb 2023), lot 61247 (part of); NGC| Lookup; rare; 
Jesus, referring to a "penny" asked, "Whose is this image and superscription?" When told it was Caesar, He said, ''Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:20-21). Since Tiberius was Caesar at the time, this denarius type is attributed by scholars as the "penny" referred to in the Bible.SL86749. Silver denarius, Giard Lyon, group 2, 146; RIC I 28 (S); BMCRE I 44; RSC II 16b; SRCV I 1763, NGC Choice AU, strike 5/5, surface 2/5 (4625221-001), weight 3.67 g, maximum diameter 19.0 mm, die axis 135o, Lugdunum (Lyon, France) mint, early ornate style, 15 - 18 A.D.; obverse TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head right; reverse PONTIF MAXIM (high priest), Pax (or Livia as Pax) seated right on chair with ornately decorated legs set on base of two lines above exergue, reversed spear vertical behind in her right hand, branch in left hand, no footstool; NGC| Lookup; scarce; SOLD
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D.
Certificate of Authenticity issued by David R. Sear.
This coin is a near perfect specimen, cut from fresh dies which were equisitly engraved. When rotating the coin under a light, Severus' hair and laurel wreath literally sparkle as if a diamond. One of the finest coins ever handled by Forum, this coin has no equal.SH21939. Gold aureus, RIC IV 103, BMCRE VI 620, brilliant Mint State, weight 5.922 g, maximum diameter 20.6 mm, die axis 225o, Rome mint, 230 A.D.; obverse IMP SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate bust right with drapery on left shoulder; reverse P M TR P VIII COS III P P, emperor advancing right, spear in right hand, trophy over shoulder in left; "brilliant mint state" grade by Sear and on certificate, ex Gemini III, 430; SOLD
Aurelian, August 270 - October or November 275 A.D.
Certificate of Authenticity issued by David R. Sear.SH24849. Gold aureus, MER-RIC 1584, Göbl MIR 127q, pl. 74 (O96/R298); BnF XII 424, pl. 13 (same dies); Estiot 1999-I 58 (same dies); RIC V 15, aEF, edge bump at 10 o'clock, weight 4.459 g, maximum diameter 21.4 mm, die axis 180o, Mediolanum (Milan, Italy) mint, issue 3, mid 272 - end 272; obverse IMP CL DOM AVRELIANVS P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right, wearing aegis across chest with small Medusa head in center; reverse VIRTVS AVG (the valor of the Emperor), Virtus, helmeted, cloaked, holding spear in right and trophy across left shoulder, walking right, captive before; ex Harlan Berk; SOLD
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