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The_First_12.jpg
The First 12342 viewsYou know who they are!10 commentsNemonater
MazaeusStater.jpg
Mazaios, Satrap of Cilicia AR Stater325 viewsCILICIA, Tarsos. Mazaios. Satrap of Cilicia, 361/0-334 BC., 10.78g. AR Stater
O: Baaltars seated left, head and torso facing, holding eagle, grain ear, and grape bunch in extended right hand, lotus-tipped scepter in left; TN (in Aramaic) to left, M (in Aramaic) below throne, B’LTRZ ("Baal of Tarsos" or "Baaltars" in Aramaic) to right
R: Lion attacking bull left; MZDY (Mazaeus in Aramaic) above, monogram below.
- Casabonne Series 2, Group C; SNG France –; SNG Levante 106. -Ex Walter M. Shandruk Collection

The obverse of this coin depicts the Baal of Tarsos.

"Baal" is a Semitic word for "Lord" or "God." The symbols of an eagle, wheat stalk, grapes, and a scepter may represent Baal’s capacity as a god involved in the seasonal cycles of life and death.

The reverse features a lion-and-bull motif as did earlier Anatolian coins of Kroisos/Croesus. But here, on the reverse, the full bodies of both lion and bull are shown, and the lion is ferociously jumping on the back of the bull, who's kneeling.

If you assume that a kneeling bull (without a lion) on the scores of later Greek and Roman coins is symbolic of Zeus, a position that Marvin Tameanko has persuasively argued for (Celator, Jan. 1995, pp. 6-11), and that the lion is symbolic of the supreme god, or Baal, of the Celicians, the symbolism of this coin, may be direct and simple: Our god is more powerful than your god.

The Baal obverse of Mazaios' coinage may have been used as the model for the Zeus reverse of Alexander the Great's huge output of silver coinage, though Martin Price believed that both coinages were based on similar models. Price did feel, however, that the celator who engraved the latter Mazaios staters also engraved Alexander III's Tarsos tetradrachms.

Mazaios (also referred to as "Mazaeus" and "Mazday") was the Persian satrap of Celicia beginning c. 361 BC, then the satrap of both Celicia and the larger territory of Transeuphratesia/Transeuphrates (Syria and Palestine, also known as Abar Nahara) beginning c. 345 BC.

Mazaios fought Alexander the Great at the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC. After this loss, he fled to Babylon. With the Great King Darius III of Persia also fleeing Alexander's army, Mazaios was the person who surrendered the capital of the Persian Empire, Babylon, to Alexander later in 331 BC, which prevented the sack of the city. For doing this without a fight, Alexander appointed him governor of Babylon, which at the time was the world's largest city. Mazaios died in 328 BC.
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=baal
10 commentsNemonater
VespasianDidrachmWeb.jpg
Vespasian with Titus as Caesar272 viewsVespasian, with Titus as Caesar. Cappadocia, Caesarea-Eusebia mint, struck 76/77 C.E. AR Didrachm (23mm, 7.16 g, 12h). Provincial style, Dated RY 9.
O: Laureate head right; Greek legend, AYTOKPA (Emperor) KAICAP (Caesar) OYECΠACIANOC (Vespasian) CEBACTOC (Augustus)
R: Titus, laureate and in military outfit, standing facing, holding spear and parazonium; Greek legend TITOC (Titus) AYTOKPATWP (Emperor) KAICAP (Caesar) ET Θ in exergue (ETOYC is the Greek word for year. Regnal Year Θ or theta the 9th letter of greek alphabet.) RPC 1649; Sydenham, Caesarea 72. From the Bruce R. Brace Collection.

A rather rare coin. The British Museum has 2 specimens, this is only the 2nd example I have ever seen on the market. RPC 1649 lists two other examples with ETOYC abbreviated as ET: Berlin ex Imhoof, published by him in Swiss Num. Review 1898; and Seaby's Bulletin, Sept. 1982, D 75.

Vespasian was proclaimed emperor in Alexandria on July 1, 69, how does year 9 equal 76-77?
The regnal years at Alexandria began on August 29 of each year and continued through August 28 of the following year. In some cases two regnal years are counted in the same calendar year, for example Vespasian in 69. The first regnal year is counted for the portion of time he ruled in 69 till August 28 and his second year started August 29, 69 into 70.

A Roman parazonium is a long triangular dagger, 15 to 19 inches long, wide at the hilt end and coming to a point. In Roman art, it is frequently carried by Virtus, and is also sometimes carried by Mars, or Roma, or the Emperor, giving them the aura of courage. The parazonium was a symbol of rank and was used to rally the troops. An officer would exchange his parazonium for a gladius or a spatha if he was directly threatened during a battle.
10 commentsNemonater
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Imperator Caesar Decimus Clodius Septimius Albinus Augustus247 viewsClodius Albinus, Lugdunum mint, 18mm, 3.25 g. Struck 195 - 196 C.E.
O: Bust right, IMP CAES D CLO SEP ALB AVG
R: Aequitas facing left holding scales and cornucopiae, AEQVITAS AVG COS II. RIC 13a, Ex Tom Cederlind

When allied with Septimius Severus, Clodius Albinus’ portraits show him with hair combed forward to cover a receding hairline matched with a short scruffy beard.

When Septimius Severus named his son Caracalla Caesar, Albinus understood this as the end of their alliance and the beginning of a fight for his life. Ablinus took the title of Augustus (Imperator Caesar Decimus Clodius Septimius Albinus Augustus), and his portrait quickly converts to a full head of hair and voluminous beard worthy of an Emperor.

According to Curtis Clay, Albinus broke with Severus c. Nov. 195, but was defeated and killed by Severus near Lugdunum, not on 19 Feb. 197 as traditionally stated, but a year earlier on 19 Feb. 196, after a revolt lasting only about three months!

This explains the scarcity of Albinus' coinage as Emperor compared to Albinus as Caesar under Severus.
3 commentsNemonater
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Gaius Julius Caesar243 viewsFebruary-March 44 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.90 g, 5h). Rome mint. P. Sepullius Macer, moneyer. Laureate and veiled head right / Venus standing left, holding Victory and scepter; shield at base of scepter. Crawford 480/13; CRI 107d; Sydenham 1074; RSC 39. From the Jörg Müller Collection.

Alföldi arranges Crawford 480 series coins in (44 BC) month order as follows:

RRC 480/1, Buca - January
RRC 480/2, DICT QVART - early February
RRC 480/3/4/5, CAESAR IMP - late February
RRC 480/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14, DICT PERPETVO - early to mid March
RRC 480/17/18, CAESAR IMPER - late March
RRC 480/19/20, PARENS PATRIAE - April
RRC 480/15/16, MARIDIANVS - April
RRC 480/21/22, CLEMENTIAE CAESARIS and Mark Antony - April

"Iconography, historical meaning:

The rev. can be understand easily: The Iulians ascribed their gens back to Aeneas who was the son of Venus (Aphrodite) and Anchises.Venus was the tutelary goddess of the gens Iulia and hence of Caesar. 46 BC Caesar has consecrated together with his new built forum also the temple of Venus Genetrix, the ancestress of his gens. On this denarius with Victory, spear and shield it is rather Venus Victrix.

The portrait on obv. is imposing by its realistic depiction. It was for the first time that a living ruler was pictured on a Roman coin. This too raised suspicion that Caesar - even if he wasn't acclaimed king - would behave as such.

Caesar's portrait attracts attention by the wreath he is wearing. It protrudes notable wide beyond his forehead. Furthermore it is padded and very ragged. This characteristic received too little attention until now. There is every indication that it is not a usual wreath but a corona graminea, a Grass or Blockade crown. This crown was dedicated by the army to that commander who has freed them from an encirclement and saved them from certain death. The crown was composed from flowers and tuft of grass which was plucked at the location of their liberation. This crown was regarded as the highest of all crowns! Pliny (nat. 22, 6) has known only of 8 persons with this honour:
1. Lucius Siccius Dentatus, tribunus plebis 454 BC
2. Publius Decius Mus, 343 BC, 1st Samnite War, dedicated even by 2 armies!
3. Marcus Calpurnius Flamma, 258 BC, at Carmina on Sicily
4. Quintus Fabius Maximus, after the departure of the Carthaginians from Italy, 203 BC
(dedicated by the Senate and the people of Rome, possibly posthumous)
5. Scipio Aemilianus Africanus
6. Gnaeus Petreius Atinas, centurio during the war against the Cimbri
7. Lucius Cornelius Sulla, during the Allied War at Nola 89 BC
8. Quintus Sertorius, 97 BC aa military tribune in Spain under Titu Ddius.
To Caesar and Augustus the crown was dedicated by the Senate!

The veil Caesar is wearing as Pontifex Maximus for lifetime.

DICTATOR PERPETVVS

During Republican times a dictator was designated when the state was in an emergency situation. His position was always temporally limited, yes, sometimes designated only for a single task. In the beginning Caesar too was dictator limited to 1 year and had to be designated again for the next year. Already 46 BC Caesar has been nominated dictator for 10 years but the title had to be renewed each year. So we know of coins with DICT, DICT ITER (= again, for the second time), IC TER (for the third time) and DICT QVART.

Since the proclamation as king has failed the title dictator disappeared from the denarii and were replaced by IMP. But soon behind Caesar's head appeares a star, a crescent, or Victory's spear stands on a star. These celestial signs - and that was understod by all - stand for divinity and should raise Caesar high above all Romans. Incompatible with the idea of a republican constituted Rome.

The point of culmination in this series is the legend DICT PERPETVO of this coin. Now the title of dictator was no more temporally limited but was valid like his office as Pontifex Maximus for all his life and it no more was necessary to confirm the title each year. That actually was a spectacular violation of the Roman constitution! The fact that he appeared at the Lupercalia on February 15. 44 BC in the ancient robe of kings strengthened the suspicion that he was looking for the kingship. In fact he has publicly
refused the royal crown that was offered to him by Marcus Antonius, but his authority to exert power was equal a king even without bearing the title of king. That was the most hateful title of the Roman Republic.

Now he has passed a line that his republican enimies couldn't tolerate any more if they still wanted to be taken seriously. So this coin actually led to his murder by the conspirators. So "The coin that kills Caesar" is by no means an exaggeration.

The planned Parthian War:

Caesar has planned a war against the Parthians. In March 44 BC he wanted to start for a campaign to the east. His assassination inhibited this intention. In science disputed are the goals which Caesar has had in mind with his war. They are reaching from a boundary adjustment, as Mommsen suggested, to world domination like Alexander the Great, as Plutarch is writing: According to him Caesar after the submission of the Parthians would go across Hyrcania at the Caspian Sea, then round the Black Sea via the Caucasus, invade the land of the Scyths, attack Germania and would finally return to Italy through the land of the Celts. In this way he would have conquered the world known to the Ancients and his limits were only the shores of the surrounding Okeanos.

Probably Sueton who was sitting directly at the sources was more realistic. And we know of the campaigns of Marcus Antonius and Augustus who surely have known Caesar's plans and have used them for their own purposes. It's clear that Caesar doesn't want to repeat the errors of Crassus who perished at Carrhae, and has tried to avoid he Parthian cavalry units. Therefore a route through Lesser Armenia is most probable. And there was hope that the Mesopotamian cities would raise against the Parthians. Caesar had gathered an army of 16(!) legions, a huge power that alone by its mere bigness would ensure the victory. Caesar was no gambler, rather a cautious and prudential commander.The famous "veni, vidi, vici" doesn't exist longer. What he actually had in mind we don't know. It's speculative. But there is every indication that it was a reorganisation of the east. And that rather by establishing client-kingdoms than creating new Roman provinces.

Probably the conspirators were afraid of Caesar's Parthian War, because a victory, which was possible or even probable, would have strengthen Caesar's position and has made him practically invulnerable." - Jochen
4 commentsNemonater
Elagab.jpg
Elagabalus aka Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus aka Varius Avitus Bassianus239 viewsElagabalus 221-222 AD. (3.23 g 20 mm) Rome mint. O: IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped (Hornless) bust right right. R: SACERD DEI SOLIS ELAGAB, Elagabalus sacrificing right over lighted altar, holding palm, star in right field. RIC 131; RSC246a.

At the age of fourteen, Elagabalus became high priest of the sun-god Elagabalus at Emesa in Syria. The cult was represented by a sacred stone, and in AD 219 when he moved from Emesa to Rome, he took the stone, probably a meteorite, with him. During his reign, Elagabalus devoted his efforts to the promotion of his cult god, building a lavish temple to house the stone. The reverse type and legend on the present coin promote his position as high priest of the sun-god Elagabalus.
4 commentsNemonater
GalbaDenarius.jpg
Galba234 viewsDenarius. Rome, A.D. 68. Bare head of Galba right. Rv. S P Q R/OB/C S in three lines within wreath. 3.46 grams. RIC 167. BMC 34 corr. (obv. incorrectly described). RSC 287.4 commentsNemonater
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Artaxerxes II - Darius III213 viewsPersian Empire, Lydia, Anatolia, Artaxerxes II - Darius III, c. 375 - 340 B.C., Silver siglos, 5.490 g, maximum diameter 15.1 mm, die axis 0, Carradice Type IV (late) C, 46 ff.; BMC Arabia 172 ff.; SNG Kayhan 1031; SGCV II 4683; Rosen 674; Klein 763; Carradice Price p. 77 and pl. 20, 387 ff.

Following Darius II came Artaxerxes II (called Mnemon), during whose reign Egypt revolted and relations with Greece deteriorated. His reign (dated as from 404 to 359 B.C.E.) was followed by that of his son Artaxerxes III (also called Ochus), who is credited with some 21 years of rule (358-338 B.C.E.) and is said to have been the most bloodthirsty of all the Persian rulers. His major feat was the reconquest of Egypt.
This was followed by a two-year rule for Arses and a five-year rule for Darius III (Codomannus), during whose reign Philip of Macedonia was murdered (336 B.C.E.) and was succeeded by his son Alexander. In 334 B.C.E. Alexander began his attack on the Persian Empire.

Siglos was the Greek transliteration of the Semitic denomination ""shekel"" which became a standard weight unit for silver in the Achaemenid Persian Empire after the conquest of Babylonia by Cyrus the Great in 539 B.C. Ironically, silver sigloi seem to have been struck primarily in the western part of the empire and the standard went on to influence several Greek civic and royal coinages in the fifth and fourth centuries B.C. There is endless debate about whether the figure on the obverse represents the Persian Great King or an anonymous royal hero, but since the Greeks regularly referred to the parallel gold denomination as the ""daric"" it seems clear that at least some contemporaries considered it a depiction of the king. Of course, whether this is what the Persian authorities intended or an example of interpretatio Graeca must remain an open question.
4 commentsNemonater
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Septimius Severus208 viewsSeptimius Severus Denarius. 197 AD. Rome mint, L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIIII, laureate head right / MVNIFICENTIA AVG, Elephant (possibly wearing cuirass) walking right. RIC 100, RSC 349

In 197, Septimius Severus returned to Rome and executed about 30 of Albinus' supporters in the Senate. After his victory he declared himself the adopted son of the late Marcus Aurelius. This type refers to games held to celebrate the victory over Albinus before departing on his second Parthian campaign. They are mentioned by the vita Severi: "He then set out for the Parthian war, after holding gladiatorial games and distributing a largesse to the people."
8 commentsNemonater
JC_Elephant.jpg
Julius Caesar197 viewsJulius Caesar. 49-48 BC. AR Denarius (19 mm, 3.66 g). Military mint traveling with Caesar.
O: Elephant right, trampling on serpent
R: Simpulum, sprinkler, axe and priest's hat. - Crawford 443/1; CRI 9; Sydenham 1006; RSC 49.
Variant type recognized by B. Woytek, in cruder style and with the elephant's two front legs and two back legs virtually parallel with each other.

Julius Caesar and his armies assembled on the banks of the Rubicon River on 10 January 49 BC, ready to invade Italy. Since large quantities of denarii were necessary to pay Caesar's military expenses, the mint traveled with them. This issue was ordered, not by a moneyer, as was usual, but by Julius Caesar himself. In all likelihood, this type was used by Caesar's military forces at least until the decisive battle of Pharsalus.

"It is the inscription CAESAR in the exergue that has led to the modern identification of the elephant as Caesar. But the exergue is the traditional place for the moneyer’s name and Caesar is separated from the field by the ground line. When Hirtius minted, he put his own name there. Presumably the Caesarian message remained the same with or without CAESAR inscribed on the coin. So whatever that message was, it had to be using symbols easily recognized by the people he was speaking to.

The main problem with a Good over Evil interpretation is that the snake was not a symbol of evil in the pagan Roman mind. As for the elephant, the most frequent use of the elephant on coinage had been by the Metelli. Of all the families of Rome they had done more to connect their name with the elephant image than any other family line. And Metellus Scipio himself even used the elephant again (without snake, of course) after Caesar minted his coin.

As others have pointed out, the other side of the coin with the implements of the pontifex maximus makes an unmistakable reference to Caesar with or without the name Caesar. But that also got me to thinking. Why did he want to advertise that position? Simply put, the main concern of the Roman state religion was the Salus of the state, hence it was Caesar’s chief concern as Pontifex Maximus. If the Metellan elephant was trampling on the Salus of the state, it was his duty as Pontifex Maximus to protect and restore Salus." - mharlan, http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=88757.0
4 commentsNemonater
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Severus Alexander197 viewsSEVERUS ALEXANDER, A.D. 222-235. AR Denarius 3.17 gm., Rome Mint, 16th emission, ca. A.D. 223.

O: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG; Laureate and draped bust of Severus Alexander facing right.
R: P M TR P XII COS III P P; Sol standing left, radiate, nude but for cloak on shoulders billowing behind, raising right commanding the sun to rise, whip vertical behind in left. 
- RIC IV 120; BMCRE 930-1; RSC 440.

From the Leo & Paula Gorelkin Collection

Nice luster throughout with beautiful, impossible to photograph, toning.
7 commentsNemonater
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Gaius Caligula COS IIII Denarius197 viewsGaius (Caligula). AD 37-41. AR Denarius, 3.67 g. Rome mint. Struck January AD 41.
O: C CAESAR • AVG • PON • M • TR • POT IIII COS • IIII, laureate head right
R: S • P• Q • R •/P P/OB • C • S • in three lines within oak wreath.
- RIC I -; RIC I (1st ed.) 7 = BMCRE 32 = RSC 23a.

Extremely rare, final issue denarius of Caligula's fourth consulship, which only lasted from 1 January 41 until his assassination on 24 January. The fourth known.

Although the first of these three rare coins, the British Museum piece, was cataloged in the first edition of RIC I, it was left out of the revised edition. In that edition, Giard notes (p. 110, note *) that the BM piece was a misreading of TR POT III COS III. In fact, the first edition was correct, the piece was not misdescribed. The second known example of this type was sold as lot 56 in the Bourgey sale of 17 December 1913. Ironically, Bourgey misdescribed that coin as TR POT III COS III. A third example sold through CNG, printed auction 78 lot 1723.

"On the ninth day before the Kalends of February at about the seventh hour he hesitated whether or not to get up for luncheon, since his stomach was still disordered from excess of food on the day before, but at length he came out at the persuasion of his friends. In the covered passage through which he had to pass, some boys of good birth, who had been summoned from Asia to appear on the stage, were rehearsing their parts, and he stopped to watch and to encourage them; and had not the leader of the troop complained that he had a chill, he would have returned and had the performance given at once. From this point there are two versions of the story: some say that as he was talking with the boys, Chaerea came up behind, and gave him a deep cut in the neck, having first cried, "Take that," and that then the tribune Cornelius Sabinus, who was the other conspirator and faced Gaius, stabbed him in the breast. Others say that Sabinus, after getting rid of the crowd through centurions who were in the plot, asked for the watchword, as soldiers do, and that when Gaius gave him "Jupiter," he cried "So be it," and as Gaius looked around, he split his jawbone with a blow of his sword. As he lay upon the ground and with writhing limbs called out that he still lived, the others dispatched him with thirty wounds; for the general signal was "Strike again." Some even thrust their swords through his privates. At the beginning of the disturbance his bearers ran to his aid with their poles, and presently the Germans of his body-guard, and they slew several of his assassins, as well as some inoffensive senators. (Suetonius - Life of Caligula 58).
11 commentsNemonater
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Vespasian / Judaea Capta Palm Tree194 viewsAD 69-79. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.03 g, 6h). Judaea Capta - Rome mint. Struck circa 21 December AD 69-early AD 70. Laureate head right / IVDAEA in exergue, palm tree; to right, Jewess, arms bound behind, seated right. RIC II 4; Hendin 1480; RSC 229.
From the Sierra Collection. Ex Gorny & Mosch 142 (10 October 2005), 2350.

This example clearly shows the ropes binding her wrists.
7 commentsNemonater
Niger.jpg
Pescennius Niger189 viewsPESCENNIUS NIGER. 193-194. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.2 g). Antioch mint. O: Laureate head right, IMP CAES C PESC NIGER IVSTI AV / BONIE V ENTVS, Fides standing left, holding plate of fruit and two grain ears. Obverse double struck. RIC IV var

When Pescennius was proclaimed emperor by his troops in AD 193, he knew his reign as emperor would not be peaceful. He quickly set out to issue huge sums of denarii in his name to pay his troops and to win the loyalty of others. To do this, like so many before him, Pescennius reduced the fineness of his denarii to a point that they were equivalent to the Caesarean drachm.

Considering his short bid for power, the variety of Niger denarii is amazing.

The scarcity of his coinage belies the fact that it was struck on a monumental scale, and we can only assume that after his defeat at the hands of Septimius Severus in AD 194 his coins were meticulously recalled and melted. Although it has been extensively published, there are such a huge number of minor varieties that no single catalogue is without numerous lacunae. It appears that the all of Niger's coins were struck at Antioch and possibly a subsidiary mint operating at Caesarea in Cappadocia.

This example illustrates the high level of quality control at the mint!
2 commentsNemonater
ShekelDeltaBl.jpg
Shekel Tyre Civic Year 4 (123/2 BC)189 viewsPHOENICIA. Tyre. AR shekel (30mm, 14.09 gm, 12h). Dated Civic Year 4 (123/1222 BC).
O: Laureate head of Melqart right
R: TYPOY IEPAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY (Tyre the Holy and Inviolable), Eagle standing left on prow, palm frond over wing; to left, LΔ (date) above club, M and Phoenician bet between legs.
- DCA Tyre 9. DCA 921. ex ClassicalCoins.Com 2005

Note the unusual placement of the monogram. From years 1-4 the placement of the monogram varies, after which it became standardized to the right of the eagle.

A development which encouraged the wealth of Tyre seems to have been a religious revolution in the city under the reigns of Abibaal and Hiram which elevated the god known as Melqart (a deified version of Hercules) over the traditional divine couple of the Phoenicians, Baal (also known as El) and Astarte (Asherah). The primacy of Melqart (whose name means `King of the City') drew power away from the priests of the traditional pantheon of the gods and placed it at the disposal of the palace. Richard Miles notes, "It seems that a desire to bring the temples to heel lay behind the royal decision to replace the traditional chief deities of Tyre with a new god, Melqart"(32). The result was not only an increase in the wealth of the palace but, through a more efficient distribution of that wealth, increased prosperity for the whole of the city.
5 commentsNemonater
CivilWarRIC12.jpg
Civil Wars RIC 12188 viewsCivil Wars 68-69 CE. AR Denarius (17.50 mm, 3.39 g). Spanish mint, April-June 68 CE.
O: BONI EVENTVS, Female bust right, wearing fillet; hair rolled and looped above neck
R: VICTORIA P R, Victory standing left on globe, holding wreath in right hand and palm in left
- BMCRE I 292 Note + Taf 50.2; P.-H. Martin, the anonymous coins of the year 68 AD (1974) 82 # 99 PL 9; E. P. Nicolas, De Néron à Vespasien (1979) 1308 No. 31; 1435 f 1456 # 107 Taf 14.107 B; RIC I² Nr. 12 (Spain, 68 n. Chr.) R5 (Group I). Evidently the second known. The above references are all to one example found in Münzkabinett Berlin.

Likely struck by Galba in Spain between April 6 and early June, 68 AD, that is, between the dates of his acceptance of the offer from Vindex and of his receiving news of his recognition by the Senate.

The civil wars at the end of Nero’s reign began with the revolt of the governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, Gaius Julius Vindex, probably around the beginning of March of AD 68. Vindex had claimed that he had a force of 100,000 men, and a substantial coinage was certainly needed to pay them.

Vindex offered the leadership of the revolt to Servius Sulpicius Galba, then governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, who was hailed imperator by the Spanish legions at Carthago Nova in April of the same year. The title was cautiously refused, but Galba did declare himself the legatus of the senate and people of Rome. Just a month later, Galba’s confidence would be shaken by the crushing defeat of Vindex near Besançon by the general Lucius Verginius Rufus, governor of Germania Superior. By 9 June Nero was dead, having taken his own life. Galba began his march to Rome, and his brief reign was underway.

Without an emperor to strike in the name of (save for that in honor of the “model emperor” of Roman history, Augustus) the coinage was struck with messages suiting the political climate. The coinage under Vindex possesses a more aggressive air that underscores the militant nature of his revolt, while Galba’s tends to be more constitutional and optimistic in tone. Originally struck in large numbers, as indicated by the number of types employed, the coins of the civil wars are all rare today, having been recalled after the final victory of Vespasian in 69 AD.
5 commentsNemonater
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Elagabalus aka Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus aka Varius Avitus Bassianus184 viewsElagabalus denarius
O: Laureate bust of Elagabalus, draped, horn. "IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG"
R: Elagabalus standing left holding patera over altar. Club in left hand, star in right field."SACRED DEI SOLIS ELAGAB" - RSC 252

ExKunker auction 136, lot 1118; Ex Auktion Auctiones A. G. 23, Basel 1993, Nr. 535.


This is the rare, initial, SACERD DEI SOLIS ELAGABAL type, with the emperor sacrificing left not right, and with the star erroneously behind him rather than before him. The star apparently stood for his sun god, to whom the emperor was depicted sacrificing, and therefore it should have been placed before him, above his patera and the altar.

We know that the star behind the emperor was wrong, because on quite a few dies of all four emperor-sacrificing types the star was eradicated from behind the emperor and re-engraved in front of him. Note that on the obverse Elagabalus is still unbearded, confirming the early date (c. summer 221).

The normal type, emperor sacrificing right, star before him, was represented by 181 specimens in the Reka Devnia hoard, compared to 3 specimens for this early variety. (Thanks to CClay for these details.)

At the age of fourteen, Elagabalus became high priest of the sun-god Elagabalus at Emesa in Syria. The cult was represented by a sacred stone, and in AD 219 when he moved from Emesa to Rome, he took the stone, probably a meteorite, with him. During his reign, Elagabalus devoted his efforts to the promotion of his cult god, building a lavish temple to house the stone. The reverse type and legend promote his position as high priest of the sun-god Elagabalus.
5 commentsNemonater
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Julius Caesar181 viewsJulius Caesar. 49-48 BC. AR Denarius (18.07 mm, 3.87 g). Military mint traveling with Caesar.
O: Elephant right, trampling on serpent
R: Emblems of the pontificate - Simpulum, sprinkler, axe and priest's hat.
- Crawford 443/1; Sear (History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators) 9; Sydenham 1006; BMCRR (Gaul) 27; Cohen/RSC 49; Babelon (Voconia) 1; Sear (Roman Coins & Their Values I) 1399.

Julius Caesar and his armies assembled on the banks of the Rubicon River on 10 January 49 BC, ready to invade Italy. Since large quantities of denarii were necessary to pay Caesar's military expenses, the mint traveled with them. This issue was ordered, not by a moneyer, as was usual, but by Julius Caesar himself. In all likelihood, this type was used by Caesar's military forces at least until the decisive battle of Pharsalus.

"It is the inscription CAESAR in the exergue that has led to the modern identification of the elephant as Caesar. But the exergue is the traditional place for the moneyer’s name and Caesar is separated from the field by the ground line. When Hirtius minted, he put his own name there. Presumably the Caesarian message remained the same with or without CAESAR inscribed on the coin. So whatever that message was, it had to be using symbols easily recognized by the people he was speaking to.

The main problem with a Good over Evil interpretation is that the snake was not a symbol of evil in the pagan Roman mind. As for the elephant, the most frequent use of the elephant on coinage had been by the Metelli. Of all the families of Rome they had done more to connect their name with the elephant image than any other family line. And Metellus Scipio himself even used the elephant again (without snake, of course) after Caesar minted his coin.

As others have pointed out, the other side of the coin with the implements of the pontifex maximus makes an unmistakable reference to Caesar with or without the name Caesar. But that also got me to thinking. Why did he want to advertise that position? Simply put, the main concern of the Roman state religion was the Salus of the state, hence it was Caesar’s chief concern as Pontifex Maximus. If the Metellan elephant was trampling on the Salus of the state, it was his duty as Pontifex Maximus to protect and restore Salus." - mharlan, http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=88757.0
5 commentsNemonater
halfshekelI.jpg
Half Shekel, Tyre LA (Year 1)178 views6.43 g Tyre Mint 126/125 BCE

O: Head of Herakles (Melqart)
R: Eagle standing left; ΤΥΡΟΥ ΙΕΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΣΥΛΟΥ "Of Tyre the Holy and City of Refuge." around; Date LA to left; Monogram FP to right.
- DCA Tyre Release 2 Part 2 #720, this coin

BMC Phoenicia page 250 #213 lists one Year 1 half shekel with M monogram. DCA lists this date as R3, the highest rarity rating.
Unique with with FP monogram. Glossy, dark chocolate find patina.

Demetrius II, who twice ruled the Seleucid Kingdom, was the last Greek king to strike silver coins at Tyre (though Seleucid rulers issued silver coins as late as 106 or 105 B.C. at two of Tyre’s close neighbors, Sidon to the north and Ake-Ptolemais to the south). Interestingly, the second reign of Demetrius II, from 129 to 125 B.C., ended with his execution at Tyre after March 125 — the year by which Tyre certainly had introduced its famous shekels.

Before his execution, Demetrius had issued large quantities of tetradrachms and didrachms at Tyre. At about 14 grams, his tetradrachms weighed the same as the shekels that Tyre would strike upon achieving independence from the Seleucids.

Shekels and Half Shekels of Tyre began being issued as autonomous silver coins in 126/125 BCE after gaining freedom from Seleucid domination that year. Although similar in style to the Seleucid coinage, the most obvious change was the King's bust being replaced with the city's chief god Melqart.

They have become highly desired due to their being the money of choice for payments to the Jerusalem Temple. The half shekel was the required yearly tribute to the temple for every Jewish male over the age of 20.

Ed Cohen notes in Dated Coins of Antiquity, that the minting of Tyre shekels or, more specifically, half shekels, ended at the onset of the Jewish Revolt in 65/66 and the minting of the Jewish Revolt shekels then begins. This, along with other compelling evidence, has led many, including me, to believe the later "KP" shekels were struck south of Tyre.
4 commentsNemonater
Seleukos_I_Nikator.jpg
Seleukos I Nikator177 viewsSeleukos I Nikator, 312 - 281 B.C. AR Unit 17mm, 3.3 g. Babylon I mint. Struck circa 311-300 BC O: Head of Herakles wearing lion skin R: Club and quiver-over-bow; monogram to left, Lambda to right.
SC 84; Price 3705; A. Spaer, “A New Type of Alexander the Great?” INJ 5 (1981), 1; HGC 9, 70 (R3). Only two others published, each from a different set of dies and different monogram on the reverse.

Seleukos was Satrap in Babylon from 321/20-316 BC and then fled to Egypt under threat from Antigonos. He returned to Babylonia in April 311 and it is from this date in the Macedonian year 312/11 that the Seleukid era is dated i.e. Seleucid Year 1 = 312/11 BC being the year he ousted Peithon from Babylonia. Peithon had been appointed Satrap of Babylonia by Antigonos after the flight of Seleukos.

Previous authors have noted the denomination of this rare issue as 1/5th tetradrachm or 1/5th stater, based on the Macedonian standard used from Archelaos through Philip II. However, the weights of the three published pieces, 3.3 g, 3.19 g and 2.79 g, do not comport well with this idea. The fact that this type is only known in the far eastern mint of Babylon also makes such a weight standard doubtful. Unfortunately, the weights of these three pieces also do not comport well with the local Babylonian standard. Until more pieces come to light, their exact standard and denomination remains unknown.
6 commentsNemonater
DidiusJul.jpg
Marcus Didius Severus Julianus Augustus177 viewsDIDIUS JULIANUS. 193 AD. AR Denarius 19mm. 3.01 gm.
O: IMP CAES M DID IVLIAN AVG Laureate head right
R: P M TR P COS Fortuna standing facing, head left, holding rudder on globe, and cornucopiae.
- RIC IV 2; BMCRE 6; RSC 10. Ex-CNG Printed Auction 66, May 19, 2004, Lot: 1528; ex Wayne Philips

This type with Fortuna was struck in gold, silver and bronze (dupondius and sestertius).

Following the assassination of Pertinax, the praetorian guard put the emperorship up for auction. There was spirited bidding between Flavius Sulpicianus, the father-in-law of the murdered Pertinax, and the senator Didius Julianus, one of the wealthiest men in Rome. When Julianus pledged an accession bonus of 25,000 sestertii per guard, it was a bid that Sulpicianus could not top. The praetorians led Julianus before the terrified Senate, which had no choice but to ratify the coup díetat. The people of Rome, however, were disgusted by this shameful turn of events and sent messengers to seek help from the commanders of the legions in the provinces. Three generals responded and marched on Rome. Septimius Severus, being the closest to Rome, had the upper hand. The praetorians were no match for the battle hardened soldiers from the frontier, and they quickly decided in favor of Severus. Didius Julianus was not so fortunate, as he was captured at the beginning of June and beheaded in the manner of a common criminal. His rule lasted 28 March - 2 June 193 A.D.
1 commentsNemonater
The_First_12_in_black.jpg
The Twelve Caesars in Black177 views9 commentsNemonater
Tiberius_Drachm.jpg
Tiberius174 viewsSilver drachm, RPC I 3620; Sydenham 42; BMC Cappadocia p. 46, 11, Caesarea mint, weight 3.498g, maximum diameter 18.0mm, die axis 0o, obverse TIBERIOS KAISAR SEBASTOS, laureate head right; reverse QEOU SEBASTOU UIOS, Mount Argaeus, surmounted by radiate and nude statue holding globe in right and scepter in left.
The imperial mint at Caesarea was founded by Tiberius c. 30 AD. This is the only coin of Tiberius issued solely in his name at Caesarea.
7 commentsNemonater
SevAlexXIIII.jpg
Severus Alexander TR P XIIII174 viewsSeverus Alexander. AD 222-235. AR Denarius 3.42 g, 6h. Rome mint. 18th emission, January–February/March AD 235. Last issue of reign.
O: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
R: P M TR P XIIII COS III P P, Sol, radiate, standing left, raising hand and holding whip.
RIC IV 125 var. (without cuirass); BMCRE 962; RSC 453a.

This coin was struck in the last months of Alexander's reign, and is the sole dated type among those of his last issue. Alexander was assassinated by his soldiers while campaigning along the Rhine frontier. He is said to have been killed while cowering in the arms of his domineering mother, Julia Mamaea, who was also murdered.
Although he is typically depicted on the coins as a military emperor with an idealized countenance, in reality he detested warfare, which was a major fault in the turbulent third century. Also, he was constantly under the dominance of other, more powerful personalities, particularly his mother. Eventually, Alexander’s weak leadership proved fatal, and he became one of many emperors murdered on campaign by his own soldiers.
6 commentsNemonater
AnDid.jpg
Anonymous Didrachm / Quadrigatus **SOLD**170 viewsAnonymous. Silver Didrachm (6.80g, 22.5mm), ca. 225-214 BC. Uncertain mint.

O: Laureate head of Janus (Dioscuri?), two annulets atop head.
R: ROMA incuse on solid tablet in exergue, Jupiter, hurling thunderbolt and holding scepter, in galloping quadriga right driven by Victory.

- ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachf., Crawford ?

"Silver Quadrigatus Roman coinage was fortified during the Second Punic War. In addition to gold coins, the Romans issued copper and silver coins, sometimes in enormous quantities. The principal silver coin of the war was a reduced-weight didrachm called a "quadrigatus" after its reverse design, a four-horse chariot (quadriga) bearing Victory and Jupiter. There are many varieties of quadrigati, as revealed by differences in die engraving, metal purity and production standards, not to mention subtle variations of the main design. This suggests that several mints issued quadrigati at different times, and under quite different circumstances. The double-head on the obverse usually is described as the god Janus because of its distinctive form, but the faces are of young men, and it more likely represents the Dioscuri, the gods Castor and Pollux, who were credited with saving Rome at the Battle of Lake Regillus nearly three centuries before." - David Vagi
3 commentsNemonater
DiplomaABScript.jpg
Gordian III Bronze Military Diploma 241/242 CE Highlighted Script170 viewsThe two faces, A and B, are duplicate copies of the first half of a diploma of Gordian III addressed to veterans of the ten Praetorian Cohorts, cohortibus praetoris Gordianis decem (numerals 1 – 10) piis vindicibus, granting them Roman right of marriage (conubium) with their wives even if of non-Roman status (peregrinae), provided they are their first and only wife. The evidence of date is contained in the third line of Face B (the equivalent text is lost from A), which describes Gordian as TRIB POT V COS II. This is the year which ran from 10 December 241 to 9 December 242.
7 commentsNemonater
Five_Emperors.jpg
The Year of the Five Emperors168 viewsThe Year of the Five Emperors refers to the year 193 AD, in which there were five claimants for the title of Roman Emperor. The five were Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus and Septimius Severus.

The political unrest began with the murder of Commodus on New Year’s Eve 192 AD. Once Commodus was assassinated, Pertinax was named emperor but immediately had opposition coming from the Praetorian Guard. They plotted an assassination of Pertinax and carried it out. Pertinax was killed while trying to resist the troops. He was only emperor for three months. Didius Julianus succeeded Pertinax as emperor but was overrun by Septimius Severus and executed on June 1. Severus was declared Caesar by the Senate but Pescinnius Niger was quickly made his enemy when he declared himself emperor. This started the civil war between Niger and Severus as both gathered troops and fought throughout the vast Roman Empire. Due to this war, Severus allowed Clodius Albinus, who he saw as a threat to his throne, to be co-Caesar so that Severus did not have to preoccupy himself with the duties of the empire so he could go win the civil war he was waging against Niger. Most historians count Severus and Albinus as two emperors even though they ruled simultaneously. The Severan dynasty was created out of the chaos of 193 AD. and Septimius Severus started this dynasty. Overall, most sources denote this year in Roman history as a year of civil war since there were rapidly changing emperors who were fighting against one another to gain a foothold as Caesar. - Wikipedia
6 commentsNemonater
MilitaryDiploma.jpg
Military Diploma fragment issued by Severus Alexander165 viewsDated by line 3 to 229-230, 233-235: COS III, preceded by II, the last two digits of the TRIB POT number. He became COS III in 229, and remained this until his death in 235, so the possible years are 229 (TRIB POT VIII), 230 (VIIII), 233 (XII), 234 (XIII) and 235 (XIIII). (78x54 mm)

... M]AGNI II FIL
“Son of Magnus Pius”
... ALEXAN]DER PIVS FELIX AVG
“Alexander Pius Felix Augustus”
... TRIB POT?]II COS III P P
“In the ? year of Tribunician and Conul power, Pater Patriae”
... MI]LITAVERVNT IN
“Who served in”
... SE]VERIANIS DECEM
“Ten Severan”
... ] PIIS VINDICIBVS
“Loyal and Avenging”
... MILI]TIA FVNCTI SVNT
“Performed their military function”
... ] CVM SINGV
“With one”
?LIS ... ETIA]M SI PEREGRI
“Even if foreign”
NI IVRIS ... ] ...

"The underlined portions being the words that are visible on the fragment:

'The Emperor Caesar, son of the deified Antoninus Pius the Great [i.e. 'Caracalla'], grandson of Severus Pius [i.e. Septimius Severus], Marcus Aurellius [thus usually written] Severus Alexander Pius Felix ['happy'] Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, in the [...]IIth year of his Tribunician Power, Consul three times [i.e. 229 or later: see above], Father of his Country. The names of the soldiers who have served in the ten Severan Praetorian Cohorts (numbered) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Pius Vindex ['dutiful, avenging'], who have dutifully and bravely completed their service, (to them) I have granted the right of Roman marriage, provided it is with one woman only and she their first wife, so that even if they marry women of non-Roman status ...'" - Great thanks to the Classics Faculty in Oxford.

After serving twenty-five years in the Roman auxiliary units, a soldier was granted Roman citizenship as well as the legalization of his existing or future marriage. This was of relevance for his children who thus became Roman citizens and his full legal heirs under Roman law. His wife was not granted Roman citizenship. A diploma, copied from an original posted in Rome , served as evidence of these civic rights and no doubt was preserved as an important legal document by its recipient and his descendants.

Why have so few diplomas survived to the present? Is it possible that veterans received copies in wood, papyrus or bronze depending on what the could afford? Or perhaps only a select few received the small bronze copies of the public imperial constitutions? Whichever the case, far more questions surround these pieces than answers!

The old Praetorian Guard was disbanded by Septimius Severus after he seized Rome in 193 A.D., and was replaced by a new Guard of ten cohorts, each 1000-men strong, drawn from the Danubian legions which had supported his usurpation. It continued to be largely recruited from this source, with many Guardsmen being of Thracian origin, until it was finally disbanded by Constantine in 312 A.D.
4 commentsNemonater
JulCaesFlip.jpg
Julius Caesar Flip Over Double Strike165 viewsJulius Caesar. 49-48 BC. AR Denarius (19 mm, 3.66 g). Military mint traveling with Caesar.
O: Elephant right, trampling on serpent
R: Simpulum, sprinkler, axe and priest's hat; CAESA[R] to right

After being struck, a blank flan was placed in the die and somehow this coin was flipped and re-struck!
4 commentsNemonater
DiadF.jpg
Diadumenian164 viewsDiadumenian, as Caesar. 218 AD. AR Denarius 3.04 g. 2nd emission, July AD 217-March 218

O: M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES, bare-headed and draped bust right
R: PRINC IVVENTVTIS, Diadumenian standing half-left, head right, holding standard and sceptre; two standards behind.
RIC IV 102 (Macrinus); BMCRE 87 (Macrinus); RSC 3.

Marcus Opellius Diadumenianus was born in 208. According to Aelius Lampridius, quoted below, the boy was so named because he was born with a diadem formed by a rolled caul.

“Now let us proceed to the omens predicting his imperial power — which are marvellous enough in the case of others, but in his case beyond the usual wont. 4 On the day of his birth, his father, who then chanced to be steward of the greater treasury, was inspecting the purple robes, and those which he approved as being brighter in hue he ordered to be carried into a certain chamber, in which two hours later Diadumenianus was born. 2 Furthermore, whereas it usually happens that children at birth are provided by nature with a caul, which the midwives seize and sell to credulous lawyers (for it is said that this bring luck to those who plead), 3 this child, instead of a caul, had a narrow band like a diadem, so strong that it could not be broken, for the fibres were entwined in the manner of a bow-string. 4 The child, they say, was accordingly called Diadematus, but when he grew older, he was called Diadumenianus from the name of his mother's father, though the name differed little from his former appellation Diadematus.”

His father Macrinus was hailed as Augustus in 217. Diadumenian, in turn, received the titles of Caesar and Prince of the Youth. He was also given the name Antoninus after the assassinated emperor Caracalla.

These titles are seen on this example as ANT and PRINC IVVENTVTIS.

When the armies of Elagabalus revolted at Emesa on May 16, 218, Macrinus traveled to the praetorian fortress at Apamaea to shore up (buy) support and to raise Diadumenian to the rank of Augustus. Still, Macrinus’ armies were defeated outside Antioch in less than a month.

10 year old Diadumenian was captured while fleeing to Zeugma and executed shortly thereafter. He reigned as Caesar for 13 months and as Augustus for less than one.

Although the Senate never confirmed Diadumenian’s title as Augustus, there is extremely rare silver (one or two pieces?) with Diadumenian as emperor. It is believed that a large issue was struck, only to be immediately recalled and melted down when the news of Macrinus’ defeat reached Rome.
5 commentsNemonater
JudaeaDevicta.jpg
Vespasian / Judaea Devicta Fourée163 viewsVespasian. AD 69-79. 17mm 2.7g. Fourée Denarius, Lugdunum or illegal mint.
O: Laureate head right, IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG TR P R: Draped Jewess standing left, hands tied in front of her, palm tree behind, IVDAEA DEVICTA.

One of the more interesting types as it is found more often as a fourée than solid silver.
9 commentsNemonater
DomitianTRPIIII.jpg
Domitian AR Denarius AD 85161 viewsDomitian. AD 81-96. AR Denarius, 20mm, 3.50g. Rome mint. Struck AD 85
O: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P IIII; Laureate bust Domitian right with aegis
R: IMP VIIII COS XI CENS POT P P; Minerva standing right on capital of rostral column with spear and shield; aegis draped over back with snakes around; owl to right.
- RIC 334

Minerva was clearly the favorite goddess and patroness of Domitian, evidenced here by his wearing of her aegis.
In the Thebaid Minerva is represented as a terrifying battle goddess, entrusted with Jupiter's horrible aegis, that terrifies the Thebans. The popular perception of Domitian as cruel and capricious was entirely consistent with the wanton destructiveness of Minerva in the epic.

What scene is portrayed on the center of the capital?
From Dressel, Berlin Medallions (published 1973), p. 14, note 1: 'Cohen 237 note says, "a standing figure and a seated figure". Gnecchi, Medaglioni I, p. 43, 4 says "two small figures, the one on the left seated and the second one kneeling before the seated figure". As can be seen on many of the more carefully engraved specimens [Dressel continues], the first figure is shown seated right, while the second figure kneels before the first figure, with arms raised in entreaty.'
6 commentsNemonater
Year2Shekel.jpg
Judaea, First Revolt Shekel, Year 2159 viewsJudaea, First Jewish War AR Shekel. Dated year 2 (AD 67/8)
O: Hebrew script read from right to left SKL ISRAL “Shekel of Israel”, the date Shin Bet, "Year Two" of the revolution, above Omer cup with beaded rim
R: Hebrew script YRUSLIM H KDOSA “Jerusalem the Holy” around sprig of three pomegranates.

This coin was minted during times of great upheaval in Judaea as well as the rest of the Roman empire.

As Jewish factions were fighting for control in Jerusalem, General Vespasian's armies invaded Galilee in 67 CE with 60,000 men as they began the effort to quell the rebellion started a year earlier. Vespasian captured the commander of Galilee, Josephus ben Matthias, in the little mountain town of Jotapata, which fell after a fierce siege of 47 days. It was the second bloodiest battle of the revolt, surpassed only by the sacking of Jerusalem, and the longest except for Jerusalem and Masada.

Driven from Galilee, Zealot rebels and thousands of refugees arrived in Judea, causing even greater political turmoil in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, back in Rome in 68 CE, Nero commits suicide, plunging the Empire into a civil war. Galba, Otho and Vitellius would assume the purple till Vespasian, leaving the battle in Judaea to Titus, brought the matter to a conclusion in 69.
6 commentsNemonater
VespasianQuadrigaAntioch.jpg
Vespasian Judaean Triumph158 viewsVespasian. AD 69-79. Denarius, 18mm, 3.34g. Antioch mint. Struck AD 72-73.
O: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII; laureate head of Vespasian right.
R: Vespasian in slow quadriga right, holding branch and scepter. RIC II 1559; RPC II 1931; RSC 643

The reverse commemorates Vespasian and Titus' Judaean triumph celebrated in Rome.
6 commentsNemonater
TitusPalm.jpg
Titus as Caesar156 viewsTitus Denarius, 3.22g. Rome mint 72-3 AD. O: T CAES IMP VESP PON TR POT Laureate head right. R: Standing emperor, left foot on globe, holding spear and parazonium with seated mourning Judaea on either side of palm tree. RIC 369 (R2). BM 85. Cohen 392 (10 Fr.) var. Cf. Paris 74 (aureus).
Ex Harry N. Sneh Collection, purchased from Tom Cederlind, Ex Baldwins Auctions. No 42. 26 Sep 2005. "The William C Boyd collection" lot 288 (part), Ex William Boyd (1840-1906) Collection. Mr. Boyd was a member of the Royal Numismatic Society, and was Treasurer at the time of his death. He purchased this coin from W.S Lincoln in December of 1898. (W.S Lincoln operated a shop on Oxford St at the turn of the 20th century. He and his brother Edgar sold coins, stamps, coin cabinets and produced some numismatic references)

This Judaea Capta type is comparatively common at Antioch (portrait draped and cuirassed), but rare at Rome (portrait head only). RIC 369 rates the Rome-mint denarius R2, "very few examples known", and the Paris collection lacks a specimen of this coin. CoinArchives contains 26 denarii of this type, 24 of them struck at Antioch and only two struck at Rome. The same obverse die was also used for an aureus with reverse Emperor in triumphal quadriga right.
According to CClay, "Use of the SAME dies for both aurei and denarii was the rule up until Titus and continued in some issues until about Hadrian. Thereafter the style and size of the two denominations diverged, though gold and silver QUINARII often continued to be struck from the same dies."
6 commentsNemonater
TiberiusLivia~0.jpg
Tiberius Pax Group 4155 viewsTiberius denarius Group 4, c. 18 - 35 A.D. Lugdunum mint, 17.5mm., 3.79g.
O: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS; One of the ribbons of Tiberius' laurel wreath falls over his neck.
R: PONTIF MAXIM; No base under the throne (just the single exergual line), Pax usually holds scepter (or rarely a reversed spear), her feet rest on a low footstool.

Baptiste Giard divides Tiberius' PONTIF MAXIM coins (aurei and denarii), into six groups, based on what he believes is the evolution of style over time.1 To some extent the portraits also reflect Tiberius' aging over a period of about 22 years. An excellent writeup can be found at http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=tribute%20penny.
4 commentsNemonater
Daric.jpg
Time of Darius I - Xerxes II152 viewsACHAEMENID PERSIAN EMPIRE. Time of Darius I - Xerxes II Circa 485-420 B.C.E. AV daric. 16mm, 8.36g. O:Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, holding spear and bow. R: Incuse punch. Carradice Type IIIb A/B (pl. XIII, 27).

In 550 BC Cyrus the Great founded the Achaemenid Persian Empire by amalgamating the Iranian tribes of the Medes and the Persians. Cyrus then looked to the west. His army defeated the Lydians and their king Croesus in 547 BC and in the following year the Persian army marched into the kingdoms of Ionia, Caria and Lykia, on what is now the west coast of Turkey.

It was there that the Persians first came into contact with coinage. From here it spread over the next century throughout the Persian Empire as far as Afghanistan and Egypt. After conquering Lydia in 547 BC, the Persians adopted the Lydian tradition of minting coins. Soon the local 'lion and bull' croesid coins were replaced by a new Achaemenid coinage.

The gold daric, named after the Persian king Darius I (521-486 BC), and the silver siglos (or shekel) were the main denominations. An archer, representing the Persian king, appeared on the obverse (front) of the coin. The reverse consisted of a rectangular punch. These coins were minted in the western part of the Achaemenid Empire. Their production continued long after the death of Darius, until the conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great at the end of the fourth century BC. (Comments from britishmuseum.org)

After the destruction of the Kingdom of Judah, the Jews were taken into the seventy-year Babylonian captivity. When ancient Persia took control of Babylon, Haman, the royal vizier, convinced King Ahasuerus to destroy all the Jews. Esther, Ahasuerus's queen and, unknown to him, a Jew, interceded on behalf of her people. By law the King could not rescind the order to slaughter the Jews, so he issued a second decree that permitted the Jews to defend themselves with armed force.

The King replaced Haman with Mordecai, a palace official, cousin and foster parent of Esther. The Jews defeated Haman, killing his ten sons that were leading the attacks, and then hanged Haman. The day after the battle was designated as a day of feasting and rejoicing. Scholars identify King Ahasuerus as the historical king Xerxes I, 486 - 465 BCE. Xerxes is the Greek version of his name but the Babylonians knew him as Khshayarsha. The Hebrew name Ahasuerus, appears to be derived from Khshayarsha, with the letter A added at the beginning.
3 commentsNemonater
Shekel_33_34~0.jpg
Shekel Tyre CY 159, (33-34 CE)152 viewsShekel Tyre CY 159, 33-34CE
PHOENICIA, Tyre. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. AR Shekel (14.29 g g, 12h). Dated CY 159 (AD 33/4).
O: Bust of Melkart right, wearing laurel wreath.
R: Eagle standing left on prow, palm frond over right wing; to left, PNΘ (date) above club; to right, KP above monogram; Phoenician letter between legs; TYPOY IEPAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY around.
- Rouvier 2107 var. (monogram); RPC 4663; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC 204 var. (monogram & letter between legs); HGC 10, 357; DCA 920.

Perhaps the most desirable date in the 191 year series due to 33 C.E. being the most widely accepted year for Jesus execution.

Tacitus, a Roman historian who lived during the latter part of the first century C.E., wrote: “Christus [Latin for “Christ”], from whom the name [Christian] had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus.”—The Complete Works of Tacitus (New York, 1942), “The Annals,” Book 15, par. 44.
2 commentsNemonater
Claudius.jpg
Claudius151 viewsClaudius Denarius. Struck 41/2 AD. Rome mint. (19mm 3.51g) TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P, laureate head right / PACI AVGVSTAE, Nemesis walking right, holding caduceus in left hand, serpent before. RIC 10

What a difficult coin to photograph! Much better in hand.
6 commentsNemonater
TitusTramplingEnemy.jpg
TITUS, as Caesar151 viewsTITUS, as Caesar. 69-79 AD. Rome Mint AE Sestertius (36mm, 26.62 g). Struck 72 AD. O: Laureate head right, T CAES VESPASIAN IMP PON TR POT COS II R: Titus in military dress, cloak flying behind him, his horse rearing as he attacks prostrate Jew who is armed with sword and shield. SC in exergue. RIC 430, Hendin 1524, Ex Harry N. Sneh Collection Gemini Auction X, ex Goldberg 41, part of lot 2841 (Alan Levin Collection)

It is likely this coin refers to a battle recorded in Josephus Wars Book V Chapter 2, where Titus was ambushed by Jews who “leaped out suddenly at the towers called the "Women's Towers," through that gate which was over against the monuments of queen Helena.”

Cut off from his men, the account goes on, “So he perceived that his preservation must be wholly owing to his own courage, and turned his horse about, and cried out aloud to those that were about him to follow him, and ran with violence into the midst of his enemies, in order to force his way through them to his own men. And hence we may principally learn, that both the success of wars, and the dangers that kings are in, are under the providence of God; for while such a number of darts were thrown at Titus, when he had neither his head-piece on, nor his breastplate, (for, as I told you, he went out not to fight, but to view the city,) none of them touched his body, but went aside without hurting him; as if all of them missed him on purpose, and only made a noise as they passed by him. So he diverted those perpetually with his sword that came on his side, and overturned many of those that directly met him, and made his horse ride over those that were overthrown.
4 commentsNemonater
VespCyp.jpg
Vespasian Cyprus149 viewsVespasian, 69-79 AD. AR Tetradrachm, 28 mm 12.94, Uncertain Cypriot mint, struck 75-76 A.D.

O: Laureate head left, AVTOKPATΩP OVЄCΠACIANOC KAICAP
R: Zeus Salaminios standing facing, holding patera in right hand, left hand resting on a short sceptre; eagle on left arm. ЄTOVC NЄOV IЄPOV H

RPC 1801, Prieur 1561, BMC 21
5 commentsNemonater
CommodusHercules.jpg
Commodus144 viewsAD 177-192. AR Denarius (17mm, 1.94 g, 1h). Rome mint. Struck AD 192. Head right, wearing lion skin / HER-CVL/ RO-MAN/ AV-GV divided by club; all within wreath. RIC III 251; RSC 190

Numerous events suggest Commodus was becoming mentally ill. Apparently he thought of himself as the reincarnation of Hercules. It is said that in public spectacles he would dress in the manner of Hercules and bludgeon prisoners to death with a club.

I feel this serene portrait is unusually lifelike for the type.
6 commentsNemonater
TheCivilWarsComp.jpg
Roman Civil Wars 68-69144 viewsNero, Vindex, Galba, Otho, Vitellius x2 and Vespasian x38 commentsNemonater
DiplomaAB.jpg
Gordian III Bronze Military Diploma 241/242 CE142 viewsThe two faces, A and B, are duplicate copies of the first half of a diploma of Gordian III addressed to veterans of the ten Praetorian Cohorts, cohortibus praetoris Gordianis decem (numerals 1 – 10) piis vindicibus, granting them Roman right of marriage (conubium) with their wives even if of non-Roman status (peregrinae), provided they are their first and only wife. The evidence of date is contained in the third line of Face B (the equivalent text is lost from A), which describes Gordian as TRIB POT V COS II. This is the year which ran from 10 December 241 to 9 December 242.
4 commentsNemonater
VespVicAVG.jpg
Vespasian / Victory Orichalcum Sestertius140 viewsVespasian, 69-79. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 34mm, 23.49 g 6), Rome, 71.
O: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III Laureate head of Vespasian to right.
R: VICTORIA AVGVSTI, S C in ex, Victory standing right, left foot set on helmet, writing on shield; in right field, mourning Judea seated beneath palm tree.
- BMC 582. BN 560. Cohen 625. RIC 468. Ex Oblos webauction 3 11/15 lot 292, Astarte S.A. XIX '06 Lot 956, UBS Gold & Numismatics '06 Auction 64 lot 173, Auction Numismatica Genevensis 1, Geneva, 27 November 2000, lot 147.
8 commentsNemonater
Domitian_Horseback.jpg
Domitian on horseback139 viewsAD 69-81. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.48 g, 2h). Rome mint. Struck AD 73.
O: CAES AVG F DOMIT COS II; Laureate head right
R: Domitian on horseback left, raising hand and holding eagle-tipped scepter.
RIC II 680 (Vespasian); RSC 664.

The reverse depicts Domitian participating in the Judaea Capta triumph of 71 A.D. He is, as Josephus described him, riding alongside in magnificent apparel and mounted on a horse that was itself a site worth seeing.
4 commentsNemonater
Titus_Left_Throne.jpg
Titus Pulvinar Series138 viewsTitus. AD 79-81. Denarius 18mm 3.12g. Rome mint. Struck January-June AD 80.
O: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M, laureate, bearded. Head right
R: TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P, pulvinar (throne) of Jupiter and Juno: square seat, draped, surmounted by horizontal winged thunderbolt.

Rare with portrait left: Only three specimens in Reka Devnia hoard.
4 commentsNemonater
AlexanderSidonStater.jpg
Alexander III Athena / Nike AV Stater137 viewsKINGS of MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AV Stater (17.5mm, 8.65 g, 11h). Sidon mint. Struck under Menes. Dated RY 7 of Abdalonymos (327/6 BC).
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with coiled serpent, and necklace
R: AΛEΞANΔPOY, Nike standing left, holding wreath in extended right hand and cradling stylis in left arm; palm frond and date (in Phoenician) to left, ΣI below left wing.

- Price 3482; Newell, Dated 21 (dies –/α [unlisted obv. die]); Rouvier 1171; DCA 867. From the rare, earliest issue of dated Sidon staters.

Abdalonymos was a gardener, but of royal descent, who was made king of Sidon by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. After Alexander the Great had Sidon under siege, he gave permission to Hephaestion to bestow its crown on whom he pleased. Hephaestion offered it to two brothers with whom he lodged, but they thankfully declined it, alleging that according to their local laws, it could only be worn by one of royal blood. Being desired to point out such a person, they named Abdalonymos - the gardener, who, notwithstanding his birth, had fallen into such poverty, that he supported himself by the cultivation of a kitchen garden.
Hephaestion directed the brothers to carry the royal crown and robes to Abdalonymos. They obeyed, and found him weeding in his garden. After causing him to wash, they invested him with the ensigns of royalty, and conducted him to Alexander. This prince, who discerned in him an aspect not unworthy of his origin, turning to those around him and said 'I wish to know how he bore his poverty.'-'Would to heaven,' replied Abdalonymos, 'I may as well bear my prosperity! These hands have ministered to all my necessities; and as I possessed nothing, I wanted nothing'. Alexander was so well pleased with this reply, that he confirmed the nomination of Hephaestion, and gave the new king the palace and private estate of Strato his predecessor, and even augmented his dominions from the neighbouring country.
5 commentsNemonater
PertinaxDenWeb.jpg
Pertinax aka Publius Helvius Pertinax Augustus Denarius136 viewsPertinax AR Denarius. Rome, AD 193. 3.21g, 17mm, 7h

O: IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG, laureate head right
R: VOT DECEN TR P COS II, Pertinax, togate and veiled, standing left, sacrificing out of patera in right hand over tripod. - BM 24. RIC 13a (R2). Cohen 56 (50 Fr.)

An interesting type in that it is the earliest Roman coin type to commemorate the undertaking of decennalian vows at the beginning of an emperor's reign. His rule lasted about 9 years and 9 months short of celebrating his decennalia.
1 commentsNemonater
Vespasiancurulechair.jpg
Vespasian with Titus and Domitian135 viewsVespasian, with Titus and Domitian, Caesars. 69-79 AD. AR Denarius (3.18 gm). Lugdunum mint, Struck 71 AD.
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG TR P; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: TITVS ET DOMITIAN CAESARES PRIN IVEN; Titus and Domitian left, on curule chairs, with branches
RIC 1124 (R), BMC 393, RSC 544
6 commentsNemonater
ShekelTyreYear20.jpg
Shekel Tyre CY 20 (107/106 BC)135 viewsPHOENICIA, Tyre. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. AR Shekel Dated CY 20 (107/6 BC).
O: Bust of Melkart right, wearing laurel wreath, lion skin around neck
R: Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond in background; to left, LK (date) above club; monogram to right, Phoenician Bet between legs; TYPOY IEPAΣ KAI AΣYΛOY around.
- Rouvier 1997 var. (letter between legs); HGC 10, 357; DCA 919; BMC 91–2.
1 commentsNemonater
OthoPax.jpg
Marcus Salvius Otho134 viewsAD 69 January 15 to mid-April. 20mm, 3.35 g. Rome mint.
O: IMP M OTHO C[AESA]R AVG TR P, Bare head right
R: PAX ORBIS TERRARVM, Pax standing left, holding olive branch and caduceus.
- RIC I 4; RSC 3.

Otho assumed the title of Pont Max on March 9, 69. This type was therefore likely struck in the first two of his three month reign. Mattingly observed that PAX ORBIS TERRARVM could have been Otho's cry to counter the "Salus Generis" and "Pax P R" of the Galban faction of the civil wars.

Long before there was Metta World Peace, there was Otho. While his earlier denarii took features from Nero's coinage and Plutarch says Otho took Nero's name, signing imperial documents "Nero Otho", this is much less offensive than the fact that Nero took Otho's wife.

For some very interesting reading on the style and composition of Otho denarii, see http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Denarii%20of%20Otho
4 commentsNemonater
TitusQuadriga.jpg
Titus as Caesar / Quadriga133 viewsTitus as Caesar. 70-79 AD. Denarius, 18mm 3.42g. Rome, 72-3 AD.
O: T CAES IMP VE - SP PON TR POT Head laureate right.
R: No legend. Titus in triumphal quadriga right, holding branch in right hand and scepter surmounted by bust (?) in left; on front of car, large wreath.
- RIC 371 (R2). BM 85A. Hendin 1483, pl. 44. Cohen 394 (10 Fr.). Cf. Paris 454 (as irregular).

A rare Rome-mint Judaea Capta denarius. This type is comparatively common at Antioch (portrait draped and cuirassed), but rare at Rome (portrait head only). CoinArchives Pro contains 27 denarii of the type, 26 of them struck at Antioch and only one struck at Rome, and that one coin is from the same reverse die (Meister & Sonntag 2, 20 September 2002, lot 1165). The same reverse die was also used to strike denarii for Vespasian as well as aurei. (Gemini IX lot 304 pictured below.)



The reverse type refers to Vespasian and Titus' triumph over the Jews in 71 AD, the year before the coin was struck. Usually the branch held by the emperor is depicted in the field, below the scepter that he holds in his other hand, but on this die Titus rests his right forearm on the rim of the car and holds the branch slightly downwards, so that it is seen overlapping the top of the car, just above the tail of the horse in the foreground.
- This description modified from a great write up by Curtis Clay in Gemini IX
3 commentsNemonater
VespTitusDidrachm.jpg
Vespasian / Titus Didrachm133 viewsVespasian AR Didrachm, Caesarea, Cappadocia mint, 76-77 AD
O: Laureate head of Vespasian right, AYTOKPA KAICAP OYЄCΠACIANOC CЄBACTOC. (Emperor Vespasian Caesar Augustus)
R: Laureate head of Titus right, AYTO KAI OYЄCΠACIANOC CЄBACTOY YIOC. (The Son of Emperor Vespasian Caesar Augustus)
- RPC 1650
6 commentsNemonater
Titus_Eagle.jpg
Titus / Eagle132 viewsTitus as Caesar. 70-79 AD. Denarius, Rome, 76 AD.
O: T CAESAR IMP - VESPASIANVS Head laureate left.
R: COS - V across field, Eagle with raised wings standing right on garlanded altar, head left.
- RIC 873 (R2), pl. 10 (different dies). BMC 192 note (citing Cohen). Cohen 60 (Rollin).
Very rare with portrait left: not in BM by 1976, not in the Paris catalogue nor in the Reka Devnia hoard, since the reported seven specimens in Sofia were doubtless actually Cohen 59 with portrait right. RIC 873 cites two specimens with portrait left. David Atherton notes in his example of this type, "RIC generically describes the reverse as eagle with 'thunderbolt in claws', so this coin without thunderbolt should be regarded as a variant."

Below is what the coin now looks like September 2020.

7 commentsNemonater
TitusIUDCAP.jpg
Titus130 viewsTitus Æ Sestertius. Uncertain Eastern Mint (Thrace?) AD 80-81.
O: Laureate head right IMP T CAES DIVI VESP F AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII
R: IVD CAP across upper field, S C across middle field, palm tree, to left Jewess seated left on shield in attitude of mourning, to right Jew standing right, hands tied behind back, spear and shield before him. RIC 500; RPC 503; Hendin 1596.
3 commentsNemonater
Herodwithscriptcopy.jpg
Herod I (the Great)128 viewsHerod I (the Great). 40-4 BCE. Æ 8 Prutot, 22mm, 5.82 g. Samaria mint. Dated RY 3 (40 BCE). O: Ceremonial bowl (lebes) on tripod; date L Γ (Year 3) to left, monogram to right. Greek Inscription: BAΣIΛEΩΣ HPΩΔOÎ¥ (of King Herod.) R: Military helmet with cheek guards and straps, star above, palms flanking. Meshorer 44; Hendin 486; RPC I 4901.


Although there is debate over exactly what year “Year 3” refers to, the monogram TP may well indicate the third year of Herod’s tetrarchy. Josephus writes that Mark Antony appointed Herod as tetrarch (TETPAPXHΣ) in 42 B.C.E., which would bring us to 40/39 B.C.E. This is also when Herod was crowned as King of Judaea by the Roman Senate with the approval of Octavian (soon to be Augustus.)

This dating helps to explain the meaning of the obverse image of a soldier’s helmet. Although Herod was appointed as king, the Hasmonaean king, Mattathias Antigonus, was still ruling over Judea and did not recognize Roman authority. Herod would therefore have to raise an army, which he did, and, after a three month siege, conquered Jerusalem in 37 B.C.E.


Although Herod accomplished a great deal during his thirty-year + reign, including the building of massive palaces and amphitheaters and enlarging the temple, he is most remembered as a jealous, paranoid murderer, willing to do anything to maintain his political power.

Herod ordered the death of his Hasmonaean wife Mariamne and her brother Aristobulus. Later he had his two sons by Mariamne killed as well. This effectively eliminated the most serious threats to his power in Judaea. Caesar Augustus observed that it was safer to be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son. His wickedness reached its peak years later when, in fear of a rival king, he ordered the killing of all the boys two years of age and under in Bethlehem.

The Bible writer Matthew records Jesus’ birth taking place, “in the days of Herod the king.” A star led astrologers to Herod proclaiming the birth “of the one born king of the Jews.” The resulting slaughter of these children fulfilled the prophesy at Jeremiah 31:15, “This is what Jehovah has said, ‘In Ra′mah a voice is being heard, lamentation and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping over her sons. She has refused to be comforted over her sons, because they are no more.’”
4 commentsNemonater
VespasianFouree.jpg
Vespasian / Pax Denarius128 viewsVespasian. AD 69-79. Fourrée Denarius (19mm, 3.48).
Obverse style and legend copying Ephesus mint denarii. Reverse copying extremely rare aureus from Antioch - RIC 1539
O: IMP CAES VESPAS AVG Laureate head right
R: PONT MAX – TRIB POT Pax seated r. on throne, holding olive branch and vertical scepter.

For some reason the forger decided to match a denarius obverse from Ephesus with an aureus reverse from Antioch.
Although the weight is good, the poor style, muling of types indicates a possible fourrée.
5 commentsNemonater
Crisis_and_Decline_Comp.jpg
The Year of the Six Emperors (And a Caesar) 128 viewsIn order from top left to right: Maximinus Thrax, murdered; Maximus Caesar, murdered; Gordian I suicide; Gordian II killed in battle; Pupienus, murdered; Balbinus, murdered; Gordian III, probably murdered but possibly died in battle. 5 commentsNemonater
CaracallaYouthCapives.jpg
Caracalla127 viewsCaracalla. AD 198-217. AR Denarius 19.5mm, 3.3 g. Rome mint. 201 / 202 AD.
O: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, Laureate and draped beardless young bust right
R: PART MAX PM TR P X, trophy; at base, bound captive seated at either side.
- RIC 322

A rare mule with a reverse meant for Septimius Severus.

The workmen can be excused for mixing up the dies, for in 201-202 exactly the same PART MAX Trophy type was being struck for both emperors, distinguished only by their titles in the continuation of the rev. legend, so easy to confuse:

PART MAX P M TR P VIIII or X or X COS III P P for Septimius,

PART MAX PONT TR P IIII or V or V COS for Caracalla.

Two others from the same rev. die, but different obv. dies: RIC 322 = BMC p. 385, 163, pl. 64.13; and CClay collection from eBay, Jan. 2007.

Another is reported by Cohen 174 (10 francs) from the Turin collection; and there were two more in the Reka Devnia hoard.
5 commentsNemonater
KingLionSiglos.jpg
Siglos Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II Engraved Reverse Die126 viewsPersian Empire, Xerxes II to Artaxerxes II. Ca. 420-375 B.C. AR siglos (15 mm, 5.43 g).
O: Persian king or hero in kneeling/running stance right, holding dagger and bow
R: Incuse punch; stylized facing lion in reverse punch.

4 commentsNemonater
Titus_PontifMaxim.jpg
Titus / Pontif Maxim Mule125 viewsTitus. As Caesar, AD 69-79. AR Denarius, Rome mint. Struck under Vespasian, AD 73.
O: Laureate head right; T CAES IMP VESP CENS
R: Vespasian seated right on curule chair, feet on footstool, holding scepter and olive branch.
- RIC II 554 (R) (Vespasian); BMC 113; RSC 158. Struck from the same obverse die as the aureus illustrated for Calicó 746.

An interesting mule. When this coin was struck, Titus was only Pontifex not Pontifex Maximus. The same reverse type was also struck for Titus with his correct titles, PONTIF TRI POT.
The reverse type clearly copies the PONTIF MAXIM Livia seated type of Tiberius. Vespasian may have copied this and other earlier aureus and denarius reverse types as restorations, since he was melting down and recoining the originals to take advantage of Nero's debasement of 64 AD. According to CClay, "Use of the SAME dies for both aurei and denarii was the rule up until Titus and continued in some issues until about Hadrian. Thereafter the style and size of the two denominations diverged, though gold and silver QUINARII often continued to be struck from the same dies."
5 commentsNemonater
TitusSeatWeb.jpg
FAKE Titus pulvinar series FAKE121 viewsTitus. AD 79-81. Denarius 19mm 3.58g. Rome mint. Struck January-June AD 80.
O: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M, laureate, bearded. Head right
R: TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P, pulvinar (throne) of Jupiter and Juno: square seat, draped, surmounted by horizontal winged thunderbolt. RIC II 119; RSC 316; BMC 51
1 commentsNemonater
SevAlexDiplomaDenarii.jpg
Military Diploma and Denarii issued by Severus Alexander121 viewsDated by line 3, side 2, to 229-230, 233-235: COS III, preceded by II, the last two digits of the TRIB POT number. He became COS III in 229, and remained this until his death in 235, so the possible years are 229 (TRIB POT VIII), 230 (VIIII), 233 (XII), 234 (XIII) and 235 (XIIII). **CLICK TO EXPAND**

4 commentsNemonater
Family_and_friends.jpg
Marcus, Commodus, Albinus, Septimius, Caracalla, Geta, Macrinus, Diadumenian, Elagabalus120 views2 commentsNemonater
Vespasian_Domitian_didrachm_small_.jpg
Vespasian with Domitian as Caesar120 viewsCappadocia, Caesarea. Vespasian. A.D. 69-79. AR didrachm (21.3 mm, 6.63 g, 12 h). RY 9 = A.D. 76/7.
O: AVTOKPA KAICAP OVЄCΠACIANOC CEBACTOC, laureate head right.
R: ΔOMЄTIANOC KAICAP CЄBA YIO ЄT Θ, Domitian, togate, standing left, holding olive branch.
RPC 1651 var; Metcalf 6d var; Sydenham 112 var.

This reverse legend, with CЄBA, instead of CЄB, is not listed in the standard references. Both Metcalf and Sydenham record the legend variation ΔOMЄTIANOC instead of ΔOMITIANOC, but oddly, RPC II does not.
5 commentsNemonater
TitusRaven.jpg
Titus / Tripod, Ravens, Dolphin RIC 131120 viewsTitus AR Denarius Rome Mint, 80 AD
O: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
R: TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P; Tripod, with fillets streaming out l. and r., on which are ravens r. and l., and in the center, dolphin over wreath: ('exuviae' of Apollo, for 'pulvinar' of Apollo and Diana (?)).
- RIC 131 (R), BMC 82, RSC 323a

Reka Devnia hoard, recording only 3 specimens with ravens and the dolphin and 24 specimens of the regular type with only the dolphin. The dolphin, ravens, laurel and tripod are all symbols of Apollo. His most famous attribute is the tripod, the symbol of his prophetic powers. It was in the guise of a dolphin that Apollo brought priests from Crete to Delphi, explaining Apollo's cult title "Delphinios" and the name of the town. He dedicated a bronze tripod to the sanctuary and bestowed divine powers on one of the priestesses, and she became known as the "Pythia." It was she who inhaled the hallucinating vapors from the fissure in the temple floor, while she sat on a tripod chewing laurel leaves. After she mumbled her answer, a male priest would translate it for the supplicant.
4 commentsNemonater
Caracalla_Hercules.jpg
Caracalla119 viewsCaracalla, Rome mint, 3.153g, 19.4mm, 212 A.D.; O: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head right; R: P M TR P XV COS III P P, Hercules standing half left, nude, branch in right, club and lion-skin in left. RIC IV 192, RSC III 1964 commentsNemonater
TiberiusLivia.jpg
Tiberius Group 6118 viewsGroup 6, c. 36 - 37 A.D. Lugdunum mint.
O: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS; The ribbons of Tiberius' laurel wreath fall more stiffly and usually do not fall over his neck. Tiberius' facial features have become caricatures.
R: PONTIF MAXIM; No base under the throne (just the single exergual line), Pax usually holds scepter (or rarely a reversed spear), her feet rest on a low footstool.

Baptiste Giard divides Tiberius' PONTIF MAXIM coins (aurei and denarii), into six groups, based on what he believes is the evolution of style over time.1 To some extent the portraits also reflect Tiberius' aging over a period of about 22 years. An excellent writeup can be found at http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=tribute%20penny.
2 commentsNemonater
VespasianLeftJup.jpg
Vespasian (Facing Left) Jupiter118 viewsVespasian. AD 69-79. 21mm, 3.3 g. Rome mint. Struck AD 76.
O: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, left
R: IOVIS CVSTOS; Jupiter, bearded, naked, standing facing, sacrificing out of patera in r. hand over low garlanded altar and holding long vertical sceptre in l.
RIC II 850; RSC 554.

A rather scarce coin. 6 left facing vs 67 right facing in the Reka-Devnia hoard; 2 left vs 10 right in the hoard of Francesti.

5 commentsNemonater
Tort_Stater.jpg
Islands off Attica, Aegina Transitional Issue Land Tortoise 118 viewsIslands off Attica, Aegina. Circa 456/45-431 BC. AR Stater 12.40g, 22mm
O: Land tortoise, head in profile, with segmented shell
R: Large square incuse with heavy skew pattern.

- Meadows, Aegina, Group IIIb; Milbank pl. II, 13; HGC 6, 437 var. (head not in profile); SNG Copenhagen 517 var. (same); Dewing 1683 var. (same); Gillet 948 var. (same); Jameson 1200 var. (same); Pozzi 1635 var. (same).

Struck on a broad flan. Very rare with head in profile.

The head of the land tortoise on this massive coinage is typically engraved shown from above, with the tortoise looking forward. Very rarely are they encountered with the head shown in profile. The profile head was canonical on the earlier, sea turtle coinage, thus the land tortoise coins of this variety may represent a short transitional issue at the beginning of this period.

The island of Aegina, about 25 miles southeast of Athens, is a rocky and mountainous outcrop, with limited arable land. Thus from an early period the sea had to serve as the livelihood for the inhabitants. The Aeginetans ranged far and wide over the Mediterranean, becoming exceptional merchants and carriers. In the early 6th century BC. they had a near monopoly on the transshipping of grain out from the Back Sea region to the Peloponnesos. Within fifty years they were holding significant grain concessions at the Egyptian port of Naukratis. During this heyday period the Aeginetans held an enviable reputation as general traders and transporters.
In their travels, the Aeginetan merchants encountered the early forms of money developing in Asia Minor. The concept was obviously seen as advantageous in terms of commerce and trade. Another incentive could very well be that proposed by Kraay, in Archaic and Classical Greek Coins: that the Aeginetans quickly realized that surplus wealth, which their commercial ventures were producing at the time, could also be stored indefinitely in the form of silver coin. And so the island began coining money sometime near the mid-6th century BC. Of thick, chunky fabric for the larger staters, all denominations bear the image of a sea turtle in high relief, with compartmented incuse on the reverse. The choice of turtle (chelones) no doubt alluded to their marine interests. Traditionally these are placed as being the first coins struck in Europe -- and nothing to date has emerged to challenge this view.
The coins of the earliest period, struck up to about 480 BC, are found in hoards of circulated coins dating well into the 4th century BC; this extreme length of use of the coin suggests a remarkable abundance, and thus evidence for a prolific output by her mint. Also, well-worn specimens have been found included among hoard coinage in such diverse spots as Egypt, Tarentum in southern Italy, at Persepolis in Iran, and as far east as Kabul, in Afghanistan. Interestingly, however, in hoards where the dominant coin is that of Aegina, the find spots suggest that her immediate monetary influence was more limited -- the area of the Cyclades islands and Crete was where the bulk of the island's monies were utilized.
Aside from silver and bullion accumulated in trade, Aegina's primary source of silver for her earliest coins seems to have been the mines on the island of Syphnos. Again, hoard evidence suggests how huge the output was for this early trade coin, and likewise indicates that these mines were at the peak of their production in the 6th century. After 480 BC, production of Aegina's "turtles" began decreasing over the next twenty years -- thus either mining activities on Syphnos declined seriously or ceased altogether.
Another hindering factor to the island's coinage during this period would be the rise and dominance of Athens as Mistress of the Aegean. Attic influence went beyond mere commerce, her empire-building included political meddling and the securing of resources. In fact, Athens conquered Aegina in 457 BC and stripped her of her maritime powers. This loss of Aegina's sea-borne livelihood may well have been the reason for the change of design on her coin's obverse. The sea turtle then became a land tortoise, as seen by the pronounced segmented pattern on the creature's shell-covered back. Athens again showed her might by expelling the Aeginetans from their island in 431 BC. It was only after the conclusion of the Peloponnesian War in 404 BC, with Athens' power broken, that the island's inhabitants returned home to resume their activities and their coinage. The final phase of the venerable "turtles" saw them become a reduced coinage, increasingly for local use only. The tortoise motif disappears some time during the 3rd century BC. And by the 2nd century BC, what had been Europe's first and most important precious metal trade coinage was now only small, inconsequential coppers.
6 commentsNemonater
AugustusCLXI.jpg
Augustus RIC 211117 views27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Lugdunum mint. Struck 2 BC-AD 4.
O: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE Head, laureate, to right
R: AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT; C L CAESARES in ex; Gaius and Lucius Caesar standing facing, each resting a hand on a shield. Crossed spears behind the shields. Simpulum on l. and lituus on r., X below.
RIC 211; BMC 537; RSC 43a.

The brothers, Caius and Lucius, were the sons of Agrippa and Julia, daughter of Augustus. They were due to succeed Augustus but predeceased him in 4 and 2 A.D. respectively. Gaius, the elder of the two brothers, has the more prestigious position on the left and the ladle above him marking him as Pontifex. He should have his shield placed in front of that of his younger brother Lucius, who has lituus above marking him as augur. The shield placement is likely just an engravers error.
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Vespasian / Quadriga117 viewsVespasian AR denarius, 2.95g 18mm, Rome mint, 71 AD
O: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M; Vespasian, laureate head right.
R: Vespasian in triumphal quadriga, branch in right hand, scepter in left.
- RIC 49, BMC p. 14 note, RSC 643 var.

Most examples of this reverse type are Antioch mint issues which copy the Rome mint type.

This example is unusual because of the obverse legend IMP CAES VESP AVG PM. RSC records this reverse with COS IIII, which is the Antioch type. This type is a rare official variant which Ian Carradice knows of only three other specimens.

This same reverse die was used to strike aurei for both Vespasian (The example below is, sadly, not in my collection) and Titus.
According to CClay, "Use of the SAME dies for both aurei and denarii was the rule up until Titus and continued in some issues until about Hadrian. Thereafter the style and size of the two denominations diverged, though gold and silver QUINARII often continued to be struck from the same dies."
3 commentsNemonater
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The Adoptive Emperors117 views***Click To Expand***5 commentsNemonater
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Alexander III ‘the Great’115 viewsAlexander III ‘the Great’ AR Drachm (18mm 4.24g) Sardes mint. Lifetime issue, circa 334/25-323 BC.
O: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin R: Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; torch in left field, monogram below throne. Price 2567.
1 commentsNemonater
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Valerius Gratus Hybrid115 viewsValerius Gratus, Roman Prefect under Tiberius, 15 - 26 AD, AE Prutah 17 mm 1.56 gm.
Unlisted Hybrid of Hendin 1332 obverse and 1333 reverse.
O: KAI CAP (Rather than "IOY ΛIA") within wreath.
R: Palm branch flanked by date, L B, (Year 2) 15 AD
(Hendin 1333d is KAI CAP retrograde within wreath.)
- TJC 319

Extremely rare. Four known, two are in my collection and one on Forvm, these three from the same dies.
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Severus Alexander113 viewsSeverus Alexander Denarius. 1.79g 227 AD. IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate draped bust right / P M TR P VI COS II P P, Annona standing left holding corn ears over an altar and cornucopiae. RIC 65; RSC 315.

Although it's light weight was a concern to me at 1.79g, according Curtis Clay, it is simply a drastically underweight official denarius.

The frequency table of the weights of the BM denarii of this emperor, BMC p. 17. 1- 1.89-2.05, 7 - 2.06-2.21, 16 - 2.22-2.37, Heaviest: 2 - 4.30-4.45.
Lightest Oxford specimen: 2.04 g, Walker, Roman Silver Coins, no. 4322.
4 commentsNemonater
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113 viewsMaximus Crowvs
Maximus (Caesar, 235/6-238). AR Denarius Rome mint, 236-7.
O: MAXIMVS CAES GERM; Rvssell Crowvs Bareheaded and draped bust right
R: PRINC IVVENTVTIS; Maximus standing left, holding baton and spear; two signa to right
- RIC IV ?
8 commentsNemonater
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Titus as Caesar112 viewsTITUS, as Caesar. 79-81 AD. Æ As 28mm 8.6 gm. Struck 74 AD. O: T CAES IMP PON TR P COS III CENS, laureate head left R: VICTORIA AVGVST, S C across field, Victory standing right on prow, holding wreath and palm. RIC 755 (Vespasian); BMCRE 711A (Vespasian) note var. (head right); cf. Cohen 363.

This obverse legend with PON TR P added and CAESAR abbreviated to CAES is only known on one coin paired with this reverse type (BMCRE 711A note), but that coin's obverse has Titus facing right. The references mentioned are from the only other example I could find online. I believe this is the third known left facing example.

The Victoria Avgvst, Avgvsti and Navalis Victory on the prow types probably commemorate Titus' pursuit of the Jews at Tarichæa on rafts, and the same circumstance doubtless explains why Titus brought a large number of ships with him when he entered Rome in triumph.
4 commentsNemonater
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Shekel, PHOENICIA, Tyre. CY 51 (76/75 BC)112 viewsPHOENICIA, Tyre. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. AR Shekel (27mm, 13.82 g). Dated CY 51 (76/75 BC). The letter A may have been engraved over another letter.
O: Laureate bust of Melkart right R: Eagle standing left on prow; palm frond over right wing; to left, AN (the date on this coin is very likely re-engraved) above club; D to right; b between legs. - No. 129 plate coin in Cohen's 2014 Supplement.
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Alexander.jpg
Alexander III Tetradrachm Price 2999112 viewsKINGS OF MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 25 mm, 17.13 g, 12 h), Tarsos, struck under Balakros or Menes, circa 333-327.
O: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress.
R: AΛEΞANΔPOY Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and eagle standing right with closed wings in his right.
- Price 2999. A rare early and unusual issue from Tarsos, "Officina B", bearing no symbol.

Alexander the Great (356 B.C.–323 B.C.) has been recognized as the greatest stratelates (roughly, ‘general’) in history. His army consisted of 30,000 infantryman and 5,000 cavalrymen. In 334 B.C., when he was 22 years old, he embarked on a campaign starting from the capital of Macedonia, Pella, and he created the Macedonian Empire within 8 years, by 326 B.C. The Macedonian Empire extended from Greece to India and North Africa. Alexander fought in the front lines in every battle, thereby encouraging his fellow warriors to do their best. He was never a spectator in battles, and the rear line was not for him. In each battle, just as any of his soldiers, he faced the risk of not seeing the sunset. He was in danger of “dining in Hades,” as they said about soldiers who died during battle. All his soldiers saw Alexander’s back in every battle.

By comparing these early Tarsos tetradrachms to the staters of Mazaios (Pictured below) it is easy to see the identical forms of the throne, scepter, footstool and other details. The drapery is rendered in a similar manner, the Aramaic inscription of the one and the Greek inscription of the other share the same curve following the dotted border. This evidence indicates the two series of coins were the common product of a single mint.

2 commentsNemonater
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Hacksilber Fragment, Earliest Coinage Period, Holy Land111 viewsHacksilber Ingot, c. 8-6 centuries BC, Israel. 21 x 14 x 5 mm, 8.4 grams. Cut in antiquity from a larger piece. Possibly an overweight Pym or underweight Nezef?

Similar ingots were found at Ein Gedi, Israel in a terra cotta cooking pot, hidden in a building destroyed near the end of Iron Age II, early 6th century BC (Avi-Yonah Encylcopedia of the Holy Land, volume 2, p. 374.)

The basic weight in use was the shekel, weighing 11.4 g on average. Other weight groups include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Beqa, a half shekel (Ex. 38:26), 5.7 g. (2) Nezef, averaging 9.12 g. The Judaean equivalent to an Egyptian qedet. (3) Pym, 7.6 g. (1 Samuel 13:21) The Judaean equivalent to the Phoenician shekel.

The weight of this ingot is identical to the Mesopotamian shekel. During the 9th to 6th centuries BCE in the Assyrian and Babylonian empires, the common form of expressing prices was in quantities equivalent to one shekel (8.4 g) of silver.

In ancient times, livestock were often used in barter. Indicative of this is the fact that the Latin word for money (pecunia) is drawn from pecus, meaning “cattle.” However, livestock (Ge 47:17) and foodstuffs (1Ki 5:10, 11) were obviously not a convenient medium of exchange.

Instead, pieces of precious metals began to be used, the weight being checked at the time the transaction was made.

Ge 23:16 "Abraham weighed out to E′phron the amount of silver that he had spoken in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred silver shekels current with the merchants."; Jer 32:10 "Then I wrote in a deed and affixed the seal and took witnesses as I went weighing the money in the scales."

The usual Hebrew term translated as “money,” keseph, literally means “silver.” (Ge 17:12) There was no coined money in Israel during the First Temple Period (1006-586 BCE). Rather, it consisted of cut pieces of silver and gold, or molded for convenience into bars, rings, bracelets, having a specific weight. - Ge 24:22

At Judges 5:19, bâtsa‛ keseph, which is commonly rendered as, “No gain of silver did they take,” literally means to break off or cut off silver.
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Titus / Bearded Captive111 viewsTitus AR Denarius. Rome mint, AD 79. 3.1g, 18mm.
O: IMP T CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right
R: TR POT VIII COS VII, bearded captive, wearing trousers and cape, kneeling right at base of trophy.
- RIC 1; RSC 334a; BMCRE 1.

Only two specimens in the Reka Devnia Hoard, not in the Paris collection or Cohen. An attractively toned issue dated to the first week of Titus' reign, between Vespasian's death on 23 June 79 AD and the beginning of Titus' ninth tribunician year on 1 July. The reverse type was carried on from Titus' last issue as Caesar, see http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-89575
5 commentsNemonater
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Titus110 viewsAD 69-79. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.27 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 79. O: Laureate head right, T CAESAR IMP VESPASIANVS R:Bound captive kneeling right before trophy, TR POT VIII COS VII. RIC II 1076; RSC 334.

This type with these legends were minted in the first several days of Titus reign.
4 commentsNemonater
AlexanderA.jpg
Alexander III Tetradrachm Price 2993110 viewsKINGS OF MACEDON. Alexander III ‘the Great’, 336-323 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 25 mm, 17.25 g, 4 h), Tarsos, struck under Balakros or Menes, circa 333-327.
O:Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress.
R: AΛEΞANΔPOY Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and eagle standing right with closed wings in his right; below throne, A.
- Price 2993.
2 commentsNemonater
AugustusCL.jpg
Augustus RIC 207109 views27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius. Lugdunum mint. Struck 2 BC-AD 4.
O: Laureate head right
R: Caius and Lucius Caesars standing facing, holding shields and spears between them; simpulum and lituus above.
- RIC I 207; Lyon 82; RSC 43

Light, bluish toning
1 commentsNemonater
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Vespasian Jupiter108 viewsVespasian. AD 69-79. 18mm, 3.37 g. Rome mint. Struck AD 76.
O: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
R: IOVIS CVSTOS; Jupiter, bearded, naked, standing facing, sacrificing out of patera in r. hand over low garlanded altar and holding long vertical sceptre in l.
RIC II 849; RSC 222
4 commentsNemonater
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Herod Antipas Half Unit108 viewsHERODIANS. Herod Antipas (4 BCE - 39 CE). Tiberias Mint, Æ half denomination, 19.4mm, 5.3 g.
O: TIBE PIAC in two lines within wreath.
R: HPΩΔOY TETPAPXOY (Herod Tetrarch), vertical palm branch, L to left, ΛZ to right, (RY 37 = 33/34 CE)
Hendin-1212 in GBC 5; ex. Hendin; ex Leu Numismatic AG 2003 Auction 86 (part of) lot 494; ex. Teddy Kollek Collection, Mayor of Jerusalem from 1965-1993; Menorah Coin Project ANT 15, Die 02/R12; Sear certificate.

Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great and Malthace, a Samaritan woman. He was brought up in Rome with his brother Archelaus.

In Herod’s will, Antipas had been named to receive the kingship, but Herod changed his will, naming Archelaus instead. Antipas contested the will before Augustus Caesar, who upheld Archelaus’ claim but divided the kingdom, giving Antipas the tetrarchy of Galilee and Perea. “Tetrarch,” meaning ‘ruler over one fourth’ of a province, was a term applied to a minor district ruler or territorial prince.

Antipas married the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia. But on one of his trips to Rome, Antipas visited his half brother Herod Philip, the son of Herod the Great and Mariamne II (not Philip the tetrarch). While visiting, he became infatuated with Philip’s wife Herodias, who was quite the ambitious woman. He took her back to Galilee and married her, divorcing Aretas’ daughter and sending her back home. This insulting action brought war. Aretas invaded and Antipas suffered major losses before receiving orders from Rome for Aretas to stop.

According to Josephus, Herod's defeat was popularly believed to be divine punishment for his execution of John the Baptist. Tiberius ordered Vitellius, the governor of Syria, to capture or kill Aretas, but Vitellius was reluctant to support Herod and abandoned his campaign upon Tiberius' death in 37.

It was Herod Antipas’ adulterous relationship with Herodias that brought reproof from John the Baptizer. John was correct in reproving Antipas, because Antipas was nominally a Jew and professedly under the Law. This would lead to John's murder being schemed during a celebration of Antipas' birthday.

On the last day of Jesus’ earthly life, when he was brought before Pontius Pilate and Pilate heard that Jesus was a Galilean, Pilate sent him to Herod Antipas who happened to be in Jerusalem. Herod, disappointed in Jesus, discredited him and made fun of him, then sent him back to Pilate, who was the superior authority as far as Rome was concerned. Pilate and Herod had been enemies, possibly because of certain accusations that Herod had leveled against Pilate. But this move on Pilate’s part pleased Herod and they became friends.
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Tiberius Pax Group 1108 viewsGroup 1, c. 15 - 18 A.D. Lugdunum mint.
O: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS; One of the ribbons of Tiberius' laurel wreath falls over his neck.
R: PONTIF MAXIM; Legs of the throne are plain, the throne is on a raised base represented by a second line above the exergual line, no footstool.

This coin has become relatively famous, and expensive, due to the fact that Tiberius was Emperor during the entire time of Jesus ministry. Jesus’ only recorded reference to Caesar is when Pharisees, along with party followers of Herod Antipas, try to trap Jesus. Matthew 22:15-22 contains one record of the exchange.
“Teacher,” these men say, “we know you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and you do not care for anybody, for you do not look upon men’s outward appearance. Tell us, therefore, What do you think? Is it lawful to pay head tax to Caesar or not?”
Jesus is not fooled by the flattery. He realizes that if he says, ‘Don’t pay the tax,’ he will be guilty of sedition against Rome. If he says, ‘Yes, you should pay this tax,’ the Jews, who despise their subjugation to Rome, will hate him. So he answers: “Why do you put me to the test, hypocrites? Show me the head tax coin.”
When they bring him a denarius, he asks, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
“Caesar’s,” they reply.
“Pay back, therefore, Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God.”

It was the governments—represented by “Caesar”— that minted these coins and helped establish their value. So in Jesus view, they had the right to ask that it be paid back in the form of taxes. At the same time, he showed that “God’s things”—our life and worship—cannot rightfully be claimed by any human institution.

Baptiste Giard divides Tiberius' PONTIF MAXIM coins (aurei and denarii), into six groups, based on what he believes is the evolution of style over time.1 To some extent the portraits also reflect Tiberius' aging over a period of about 22 years. An excellent writeup can be found at http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=tribute%20penny.
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