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GalbaRoman Empire
Imperator Servius Galba Caesar Augustus
(Reign as 6th Emperor: June 8, 68-Jan. 15, 69)
(Born: Dec. 4th, 3 BC, Died Jan. 15th 69 [Age 71])
Obverse: IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG, Head of Galba wearing laurel wreath and facing right
Reverse: SALVS GEN HVMANI, Salus standing facing left, stepping on globe, sacrificing over altar and holding rudder
Silver Denarius
Minted in Rome July 68-Jan. 69
Understanding the inscriptions:
IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG=Imperator Servius Galba Caesar Augustus Sphinx357Sep 14, 2014
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DomitianRoman Empire
Imperator Titus Flavius Caesar Domitianus Augustus Germanicus
(Reign as 11th Emperor: Sept. 14th, 81-Sept. 18th, 96)
(Born: Oct. 24th, 51, Died: Sept. 18th, 96 [age: 44])
Obverse: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM PM TRP XI, Head of Domitian wearing laurel wreath and facing right
Reverse: IMP XXI COS XVI CENS P PP, Minerva standing on a galley's prow (or a rostral column), holding spear and shield, owl at feet
Silver Denarius (18.2mm, 3.63g)
Minted in Rome circa 92
Understanding the inscriptions:
IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM=Imperator Caesar Domitianus Augustus Germanicus Sphinx357Sep 14, 2014
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OthoRoman Empire
Otho
(Reign as 7th Emperor of the Roman Empire Jan. 15, 69-April 16, 69AD)
(b. 32 AD, d. 69 AD)
Obverse: IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P, Bare head of Otho facing right
Reverse: Inverse of obverse design due to brockage error
Silver Denarius
Minted in Rome Jan. 69-April 69 AD
Translations:
IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P=Imperator(Commander-in-Chief) Marcus Otho Caesar Emperor Tribune of the Plebs
Reference:
RIC I 1, 4, 8, 16, 14 or 17Sphinx357Apr 28, 2014
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AugustusRoman Empire
Augustus
(Reign as 1st Emperor of the Roman Empire 27 BC-14 AD)
(b. 63 BC, d. 14 AD)
Obverse: CAESAR PONT MAX, Laureate head of Augustus facing right
Reverse: ROM ET AVG, Altar of the Sanctuary of the Three Gauls, Victory on each pedestal
Bronze As
Minted in Lugdunum 15-10 BC
Translations:
CAESAR PONT MAX=Caesar Augustus, Greatest Priest
ROM ET AVG=To Rome and Augustus
Lugdunum=Lyons, France
The Sanctuary of the Three Gauls was founded by Drusus (stepson of Augustus) to federalize and Romanize this area as an Imperial province under Augustus following the Gallic wars of his predecessor Julius Caesar
References:
RIC I 230
ERIC II 632
Sphinx357Mar 10, 2014
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LucillaRoman Empire
Lucilla
(Daughter of Marcus Aurelius, Married to Lucius Verus (her adoptive uncle), executed after failed assassination and coup attempt against Commodus)
(b. 148-150 AD, d. 182 AD)
Obverse: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, Draped Bust of Lucilla facing right
Reverse: VOTA PVBLICA in wreath
Silver Denarius
Minted in Rome 164-169 AD
Translations:
LVILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F= For Lucilla Empress, Daughter of Emperor Antoninus
VOTA PVBLICA=Public Vows
References:
RIC III 791
ERIC II 38Sphinx357Mar 10, 2014
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Constantine "the Great"Roman Empire
Constantine I ‘the Great’
(Reign as 57th Emperor of the Roman Empire 309-337 AD)
(b. 272 AD, d. 337 AD)
Obverse: CONSTANTINVS AVG, Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Constantine facing right
Reverse: BEATA TRANQVILLITAS, Altar with globe atop reading VO TIS XX, three stars above, mint mark .PTRcrescent symbol
Bronze Follis
Minted in Treveri 323 AD
Translations:
CONSTANTINVS AVG=Constantine Emperor
BEATA TRANQVILLITAS=Blessed Tranquility
VOTIS XX=Vows of Twenty Years
Treveri=Trier, Germany
.PTRcrescent=First Officina in Trier
References:
RIC VII 389
ERIC II 2298Sphinx357Mar 08, 2014
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Constantius ChlorusRoman Empire
Constantius Chlorus (the Pale)
(Reign as 54th Emperor of the Roman Empire May 305-July 306AD) (Ruled the Western part of the Empire while Galerius was Augustus of the Eastern part)
(b. 250 AD, d. 306 AD)
Obverse: IMP CONSTANTIVS AVG, Laureate and Cuirassed bust of Constantius facing left
Reverse: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius standing facing left, sacrificing over altar and holding cornucopia
Mintmark * PLG
Bronze Follis
Minted in Lugdunum May 305-July 306 AD
Translations:
IMP CONSTANTIVS AVG = Imperator(Commander-in-Chief) Constantius Emperor
GENIO POPVLI ROMANI = Protector of the Roman People
* PLG = The first officina in Lugdunum (Lyons, France)
References:
RIC 187aSphinx357Mar 08, 2014
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HadrianRoman Empire
Hadrian
(Reign as 14th Emperor of the Roman Empire 117-138AD)
(b. 76, d. 138AD)
Obverse: IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG P M TR P COS III, Laureate bust of Hadrian facing right
Reverse: RELIQVA VETERA HS. NOVIES MILL. ABOLITA, Lictor standing facing left, fasces in left hand, lighting a heap of bonds with a torch in his right, three citizens facing him
Orichalcum Sestertius
Minted in Rome 119-121 AD
This design commemorated Hadrian's forgiveness of debts early in his reign. He canceled the arrears of taxes due by individuals from Rome, Italy, and the provinces, for a total of 900 million sestertii and over a period of 16 years. The ceremony took place on the forum where a monument was erected to commemorate the event.
Translations:
IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG P M TR P COS III=Imperator(Commander-in-Chief) Caesar Trajan Hadrian Augustus, Pontifex Maximus(Greatest Priest,) Tribune of the Plebs, Consul for the 3rd time
RELIQVA VETERA HS. NOVIES MILL. ABOLITA=nine times a hundred thousand sestertii of outstanding debts cancelled
The legend RELIQVA VETERA HS NOVIES MILL ABOLITA literally translates to “old receipts in the amount of nine times a hundred thousand sestertii cancelled." The HS is a standard abbreviation for sestertii and, depending upon its context, it can mean a single sestertius, a unit of one thousand sestertii, or a unit of one hundred thousand sestertii. Novies means "nine times" and applies to the sestertius as a unit of one thousand sestertii. Considering the monumental inscription, the HS in the legend of this sestertius should be interpreted with the thousand, or mille, understood. Thus, the figure should be increased to 900 million sestertii, equaling the sum named on Hadrian’s monumental inscription.
Orichalcum=Brass
Reference: RIC 592aSphinx357Mar 08, 2014
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Maximinus ThraxRoman Empire
Maximinus Thrax
(Reign as 27th Emperor of the Roman Empire 235-238 AD)
(b. ca. 173 AD, d. 238 AD)
Obverse: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus facing right
Reverse: PM TR P II COS PP, Maximinus standing facing left, raising hand and holding spear, legionary standards on both sides
Silver Denarius
Minted in Rome 236AD
Translations:
IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG= Imperator(Commander-in-Chief) Maximinus Pious Emperor
PM TR P II COS PP=Greatest Priest, Tribune of the Plebs for the Second Time, Consul, Father of the Country
Reference:
RIC IVii 3Sphinx357Feb 23, 2014
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CaligulaRoman Empire
Caius Caesar "Caligula"
(Reign as 3rd Emperor of the Roman Empire 37-41 AD)
(b. 12 AD, d. 41 AD)
Obverse: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS IMP, Laureate head of Caligula facing left
Reverse: SEGO BRIGA within wreath
Bronze As
Minted in Segobriga, Spain 37-41 AD
Translations:
C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS IMP = Caius Caesar Emperor Germanicus Imperator(Commander-in-Chief)
SEGO BRIGA = Segobriga, Spain (near Madrid)
References:
RPC 476 Sphinx357Feb 15, 2014
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VitelliusRoman Empire
Vitellius
(Reign as 8th Emperor of the Roman Empire April 16-Dec. 22, 69 AD)
(b. 15 AD, d. 69 AD)
Obverse: A VITELLIVS IMP GERMAN, Laureate head of Vitellius facing right
Reverse: FIDES EXERCITVVM, Hands in handshake
Silver Denarius
Minted in Tarraco Jan.-June 69 AD
Translations:
A VITELLIVS IMP GERMAN= Aulus Vitellius Imperator(Commander-in-Chief) Germanicus
FIDES EXERCITVVM= Loyalty of the Armies
Tarraco = Tarragona, Spain
References:
RIC I 27
ERIC II 101Sphinx357Feb 08, 2014
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NeroRoman Empire
Nero
(Reign as 5th Emperor of the Roman Empire 54-68 AD)
(b. 37 AD, d. 68 AD)
O: NEPΩ KΛAV KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP, Radiate bust of Nero facing right, wearing aegis
R: AYTO KPA, Draped bust of Alexandria facing right, wearing elephant-skin headdress, mint mark LIB
Billon Tetradrachm
Minted in Alexandria 65-66 AD
Translations:
NEPΩ KΛAV KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP=Nero Claudius Caesar Emperor Germanicus
AYTO KPA= Autokrator(Commander-in-Chief)
LIB=12th year of Nero’s Reign
Billon=Silver and Copper alloy
References:
Emmet 109
BMC Alexandria 163Sphinx357Jan 05, 2014
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CaesarRoman Imperatorial
Gaius Julius Caesar
(Reign as Dictator and/or Consul of the Roman Republic 49-44 BC)
(b. 100 BC, d. 44 BC)
Obverse: DICT.IN PERPETVO CAESAR, Wreathed and veiled head of Caesar facing right
Reverse: C MARIDIANVS, Venus holding Victory, resting elbow on shield set on globe, facing left
Silver Denarius
Minted in Rome February-March, 44 BC
Translations:
Imperatorial=The Imperatorial period extends from the outbreak of civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey in January 49 B.C. and ends early 27 B.C. when Caesar's adopted heir Octavian was given the title "Augustus" by the Senate, effectively making him the sole ruler of the entire Roman territory.
DICT.IN PERPETVO CAESAR=Dictator for Life Julius Caesar
C MARIDIANVS=Moneyer Caius Cossutius Maridianus
References:
Crawford 480/15
RSC 42
Sphinx357Jan 05, 2014
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AugustusRoman Imperatorial
Octavian Caesar
(Reign as ‘Augustus’ 1st Emperor of the Roman Empire 27 BC-14 AD)
(b. 63 BC, d. 14 AD)
Obverse: Bare head of Octavian facing right
Reverse: IMP CAESAR, Facing head of Octavian on ithyphallic boundary stone of Jupiter Terminus, winged thunderbolt below
Reverse refers to Octavian's reestablishment of boundaries in the east after the battle of Actium and review of the client kingdoms established by Mark Antony (in particular return of Roman territory from Cleopatra and her children)
Silver Denarius
Minted in Italy 30-29 BC
Translations:
Imperatorial=The Imperatorial period extends from the outbreak of civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey in January 49 BC and ends early 27 BC when Caesar's adopted heir Octavian was given the title "Augustus" by the Senate, effectively making him the sole ruler of the entire Roman territory.
IMP CAESAR=Imperator(Commander-in-Chief) Caesar(Octavian took Julius Caesar’s name after he was posthumously adopted by him in 44 BC)
Reference
RIC I 269aSphinx357Jan 03, 2014
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Amastris, PaphlagoniaAncient Greek City Issue
Amastris, Paphlaognia
(Under Reign of Mithridates VI 'the Great' of Pontus)
Obverse: Aegis with facing head of gorgon in middle
Reverse: Nike advancing right, palm across shoulders, AMAΣ-TPEΩΣ in fields
Bronze Unit (20mm, 7.1g)
Minted in Amastris 85-65BC
Reference: SNG Copenhagen 246
Translations and explanations:
Amastris was founded circa 300BC by a Persian princess of the same name, niece of King Darius III and is now Amasra in modern day Turkey.
Mithridates VI was a thorn in Rome's side for 40 years until finally being defeated by Pompey the Great.
An aegis is the shield or breastplate of Zeus or Athena.
Nike is the Greek god of victory.
AMAΣTPEΩΣ means 'of the Amastrians'.
Sphinx357Jan 03, 2014
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Apollonia Pontica, ThraceAncient Greek City Issue
Apollonia Pontica, Thrace
Obverse: Gorgon (Medusa?) or Apollo head facing with tongue sticking out
Reverse: Upturned anchor with crayfish and A on sides
Silver Drachm (16mm, 2.5g)
Minted in Apollonia Pontica 450-400BC
Reference: SNG Black Sea 155
Translations and explanations:
Apollonia Pontica (Apollonia on the Black Sea) is modern day Sozopol, Bulgaria.
While the city was clearly named after Greek god Apollo, the earlier coins feature a snake-haired gorgon face that over time seems to transition to a more Apollo like image.
The anchor on the reverse was the symbol of the city denoting its important maritime trade status.
Sphinx357Jan 03, 2014
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