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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Roman Coins| ▸ |The Twelve Caesars||View Options:   | | | |
This type has traditionally been attributed to Pergamum, c. 27 - 20 B.C. More recently, it has been suggested that it was struck at Samos, c. 21 - 20 B.C., when the city was Augustus' headquarters during his visit to the East. That all being said, David Sear has voiced skepticism to an Eastern origin in SRCV I (2000) where he writes, "the usual attribution of this issue to an 'eastern' mint is not supported either by the style of the engraving or by the evidence of provenance." In BMCRE I (1923), Harold Mattingly notes that specimens of the aureii of the same exact type (RIC I2 539) have been found at Ambenay (in France) and Xanten (in Germany).
The identity of the imperial portrait has been a matter of debate for many generations, a scholarly tug of war between an idealized depiction of Augustus and his adopted grandson, Gaius Caesar. While many nowadays prefer the former identification (note, for instance, the oak wreath), David Sear favors Gaius in SRCV I, seeing in the coin designs the "well established" connection to the Ludi Saeculares celebrations of 17 B.C., during which "year saw the birth of Gaius' younger brother, Lucius, and the adoption of both by Augustus." In 2012, a Canadian auction house sold a fascinating specimen overstruck on an earlier denarius bearing remnants of a "T R POT" legend and the suggestion of a head on the overtype's obverse. The cataloger(s) tentatively suggested the host coin was a Licinius Stolo denarius from the Rome mint (RIC I2 343), another coin with ties to the Ludi Saeculares in 17 B.C. However, in the present cataloger's view, traces of the undertype's thick edge beading may suggest a different denarius issue.
Lastly, the old description of the candelabrum being "surmounted by a crescent," noted as early as 1910 (in BMCRR II) and which is still widely cited today, was likely an incorrect interpretation of a partially visible patera.RS114560. Silver denarius, RIC I2 540, BMCRE I 684-685, BnF I3 1013-1016, RSC I 2 (Caius Caesar), SRCV I 1749 (same, $1,440 VF), Cohen I 2 (same, 30 Fr.), aVF, retoned, light scratches, banker's marks on obv., slightly off-centered, weight 3.448 g, maximum diameter 18.8 mm, die axis 180o, possibly eastern (Pergamum or Samos?) mint, c. 17 B.C.; obverse bare head of youthful Augustus(?) right, CA-ES-AR counterclockwise below, all within an oak wreath; reverse candelabrum, ornamented with rams' heads, all within a floral wreath entwined with two bucrania and three paterae, AVG-VST across field; ex CNG e-auction 540 (15 Jun 2023), lot 397; ex Kalevala Collection; ex Baldwin's auction 48, (24 Sep 2020), lot 594; ex T. Hardaker Collection; ex CNG e-auction 277 (11 Apr 2012), lot 210; $500.00 (470.00)
Judaea, Pontius Pilate, Roman Prefect Under Tiberius, 26 - 36 A.D.
Pontius Pilate is chiefly known for the part he played in the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. Scholars disagree on the date of this type. If the "S" is actually a retrograde (backward) "Z," the date is year 17 or 30 A.D. If the "S" is actually the Greek letter stigma, the date is year 16 or 29 A.D.JD114819. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6371a; Meshorer TJC 333b; Sofaer 41; BMC Palestine p. 259, 74; RPC I 4968 var. (LIZ), aF, rev. weak, rough sprue cuts resulting in an irregular flan with two flat sides, weight 1.268 g, maximum diameter 14.7 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, 29 or 30 A.D.; obverse TIBEPIOY KAICAPOC (of Tiberius Caesar), lituus (augural wand); reverse LIς (year 16) or LIZ (Z retrograde, year 17) within wreath; $100.00 (94.00)
Poppaea Sabina, Wife of Nero, Augusta 63 - 65 A.D., Akmoneia, Phrygia
Poppaea was renowned for her beauty and voluptuous extravagance. In 62 A.D., Nero divorced his wife Octavia to marry Poppaea. According to Tacitus, Poppaea married Otho only to get close to Nero and then, in turn, became Nero's favorite mistress, and then wife. She bore Nero one daughter, Claudia Augusta, born 21 January 63, who died at only four months of age. At the birth of Claudia, Nero honored mother and child with the title of Augusta. According to Suetonius, one day in the summer of 65, Poppaea quarreled fiercely with Nero over his spending too much time at the races. She was pregnant with her second child. In a fit of rage, Nero kicked her in the abdomen, killing her.
Unusually long legend for such a small coin. The reverse fields are completely filled with letters.
RP114986. Bronze AE 17, RPC I 3175; SNG Cop 24; SNG Fitz 4914; BMC Phrygia p. 11, 48; Waddington 5495, aF, dark blue-green enhanced (paint?) patina, areas of bare brass, porous, off center, weight 2.672 g, maximum diameter 16.5 mm, die axis 0o, Akmoneia (Ahat Koyu, Turkey) mint, 2nd issue, c. 62 A.D.; obverse ΠOΠΠAIA ΣEBAΣTH, draped bust of Poppaea right, wearing wreath of grain, lion on shoulder; reverse ΣEPOYHNIOY KAΠITΩNOΣ KAI IOYΛIAΣ ΣEOYHPAΣ AKMONEΩN ([magistrates] Servenius Capito and Iulia Severa), Artemis advancing right, drawing arrow and holding bow; a small figure of Nike holding palm and wreath before her; $100.00 (94.00)
Augustus, 16 January 27 B.C. - 19 August 14 A.D., Akmoneia, Phrygia
Akmoneia (Acmonea) was an important city of central Phrygia, located on a tributary of the river Senaros.RP114987. Brass AE 20, RPC I 3168; BMC Phrygia p. 9, 33; SNG Cop 23; AMC I 1372; Waddington 5482, aVF, blue-green enhanced (paint?) patina, areas of bare brass, porous, part of edge ragged, weight 4.913 g, maximum diameter 19.9 mm, die axis 0o, Akmoneia (Ahat Koyu, Turkey) mint, 16 Jan 27 B.C. - 19 Aug 14 A.D.; obverse ΣEBAΣTOΣ (clockwise behind), laureate head of Augustus right, lituus before lower right; reverse Nike advancing right, raising wreath in right hand, palm frond in left hand; AKMONE/ΩN KPATHΣ / MHNOKPITOY (Akmoneia, [magistrate] Krates, son of Menokritos) starting in two upward lines on the left, ending counterclockwise on the left; $90.00 (84.60)
Vespasian, 1 July 69 - 24 June 79 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria
Struck to pay Titus' legions during and after the First Jewish Revolt. RPC notes between 69 and 73 A.D. about 320 different dies were used, indicating about 6,500,000 Syrian tetradrachms might have been minted. This was the quantity Titus would have needed to pay his four legions. Hoard evidence finds many of these types in Judaea confirming they were used to pay the legions.RP114882. Silver tetradrachm, McAlee 334/2 (same dies); RPC II 1945; Prier 112; Wruck 79; BMC Galatia p. 179, 230; cf. SNG Cop 166 (year 1), VF, nice portrait, full obv. legend, flow lines, rev. a little off center, light marks, small closed edge cracks, weight 14.971 g, maximum diameter 26.2 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 69 - 70 A.D.; obverse AYTOKPAT KAIΣA OYEΣΠAΣIANOY, laureate head right; reverse ETOYC B IEPOY (of holy year 2), eagle standing left on club left, head left, tail right, wings open, upright palm frond on left curving right; $300.00 (282.00)
Tiberius, 19 August 14 - 16 March 37 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria
In 14 A.D., a census indicated that there were 4,973,000 Roman citizens.RY114980. Bronze dupondius, McAlee 214; RPC I 4270; SNG Cop 144; SNG Munchen 713; SNG Righetti 1913; BMC Galatia p. 169, 150; Lindgren-Kovacs 1958, VF, nice portrait, oval flan, bare metal, scratches, weight 16.375 g, maximum diameter 28.5 mm, die axis 45o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 14 - 15 A.D.; obverse ΣEBAΣTOΣ ΣEBAΣTOY KAIΣAP, bare head right; reverse A EΠI ΣI/ΛANOY / ANTIO/XEΩN / EM (regnal year 1, Actian year 45), inscription in six lines within inner linear boarder surrounded by laurel wreath and outer linear border; $150.00 (141.00)
Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria
In 60 A.D., Queen Boudica led a rebellion of the Iceni against Roman rule in alliance with the Trinovantes, Cornovii, Durotriges and Celtic Britons. The Iceni and Trinovantes first destroyed the Roman capital Camulodunum (Colchester), wiped out the infantry of the Legio IX Hispana (commanded by Quintus Petillius Cerialis) and went on to burn Londinium (London) (probably destroying London Bridge) and Verulamium (St Albans), in all cases massacring the inhabitants by the thousands.RY114876. Silver tetradrachm, RPC Online I 4181; McAlee 257; Prieur 81; Wruck 38; BMC Galatia , p. 174, 190, VF, nice portrait, well centered on a tight flan, weight 14.596 g, maximum diameter 24.9 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 60 - 61 A.D.; obverse NEPΩNOΣ KAIΣAPOΣ ΣEBAΣTOY (Nero Caesar Augustus), laureate beardless bust right wearing aegis; reverse eagle standing on a thunderbolt, wings spread, palm frond left, Z (retrograde) / ΘP right (regnal year 7 & year 109 of the Caesarian era); $250.00 (235.00)
Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria
The Sela Neron (Nero Tetradrachm) is mentioned in the Mishna Keilim 17:12.RP114877. Silver tetradrachm, RPC Online I 4185; McAlee 261; Prieur 85; Wruck 42; BMC Galatia p. 175, 195, gF, excellent portrait, light marks, tight flan, weight 14.737 g, maximum diameter 25.3 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 62 - 63 A.D.; obverse NEPΩN KAIΣAP ΣEBAΣTOΣ (Nero Caesar Augustus), laureate bust right wearing aegis; reverse ETOYΣ AIP Θ (year 111 Caesarian era, regnal year 9), eagle standing right on thunderbolt, pellet and palm branch right; $250.00 (235.00)
Vespasian, 1 July 69 - 24 June 79 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria
| The ruins of Antioch on the Orontes lie near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey. Founded near the end of the 4th century B.C. by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch's geographic, military and economic location, particularly the spice trade, the Silk Road, the Persian Royal Road, benefited its occupants, and eventually it rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the Near East and as the main center of Hellenistic Judaism at the end of the Second Temple period. Antioch is called "the cradle of Christianity," for the pivotal early role it played in the emergence of the faith. It was one of the four cities of the Syrian tetrapolis. Its residents are known as Antiochenes. Once a great metropolis of half a million people, it declined to insignificance during the Middle Ages because of warfare, repeated earthquakes and a change in trade routes following the Mongol conquests, which then no longer passed through Antioch from the far east. |  |
Vespasian and Titus, 1 July 69 - 24 June 79 A.D., Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria, Syria
Struck to pay Titus' legions during and after the First Jewish Revolt. RPC notes c. 320 different dies indicate 6,500,000 Syrian tetradrachms might have been minted. This was the quantity Titus would have needed to pay his four legions. Hoard evidence finds many of these types in Judaea confirming they were used to pay the legions.RY114290. Silver tetradrachm, RPC II 1943 (11 spec.), McAlee 9, McClean 9378, Prieur 110, F, bumps, marks, spot of green, graffito on reverse, weight 14.443 g, maximum diameter 23.8 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, "new holy year 2" = 69 - 70 A.D.; obverse AYTOKPAT KAIΣA OYEΣΠAΣIANOY, laureate draped bust of Vespasian on eagle; reverse T ΦΛAYI OYEΣΠ KAIΣ ETOYΣ NEOY IEPOY, laureate head of Titus right, B (year 2) right, star behind; scarce; $250.00 (235.00)
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