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Index Of All Titles


BEST OF

AEQVITI
Aes Formatum
Aes Rude
The Age of Gallienus
Alexander Tetradrachms
Ancient Coin Collecting 101
Ancient Coin Prices 101
Ancient Coin Dates
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Augustus - Facing Portrait
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XXI

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ERIC Table of Contents


Title Page

Introduction

About Roman Coins

Denominations

Coins of Other Ancient Cultures

Identifying Roman Coins

How To Use This Book

Mintmarks

Mint Map

Pricing And Grading

Bibliography

Reference Catalogs Cited

Coin Terms Used

Glossary

Rarity Tables

Index of Rulers

Photography Credits

Additional Web Resources

Imperial Catalog:

AUGUSTUS
LIVA
AGRIPPA
NERO CLAUDIUS DRUSUS
GERMANICUS
AGRIPPINA I
TIBERIUS
DRUSUS
ANTONIA
CALIGULA
CLAUDIUS I
BRITANNICUS
AGRIPPINA II
NERO
GALBA
CLODIUS MACER
OTHO
VITELLIUS
VESPASIAN
DOMITILLA
TITUS
DOMITIAN
DOMITIA
JULIA TITI
NERVA
TRAJAN
PLOTINA
MARCIANA
MATIDIA
HADRIAN
SABINA
AELIUS
ANTONINUS PIUS
FAUSTINA I
MARCUS AURELIUS
FAUSTINA II
LUCIUS VERUS
LUCILLA
COMMODUS
CRISPINA
PERTINAX
DIDIUS JULIANUS
MANLIA SCANTILLA
DIDIA CLARA
PESCENNIUS NIGER
CLODIUS ALBINUS
SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
JULIA DOMNA
CARACALLA
PLAUTILLA
GETA
MACRINUS
DIADUMENIAN
ELAGABALUS
JULIA MAESA
JULIA SOAEMIAS
JULIA PAULA
AQUILIA SEVERA
ANNIA FAUSTINA
SEVERUS ALEXANDER
JULIA MAMAEA
ORBIANA
MAXIMINUS I
PAULINA
MAXIMUS
GORDIAN I
GORDIAN II
BALBINUS
PUPIENUS
GORDIAN III
TRANQUILLINA
PHILIP I
OTACILIA SEVERA
PHILIP II
PACATIAN
JOTAPIAN
TRAJAN DECIUS
HERENNIA ETRUSCILLA
HERENNIUS ETRUSCUS
HOSTILIAN
TREBONIANUS GALLUS
VOLUSIAN
AEMILIAN
CORNELIA SUPERA
SILBANNACUS
URANIUS ANTONINUS
VALERIAN I
MARINIANA
VALERIAN II
GALLIENUS
SALONINA
SALONINUS
REGALIANUS
DRYANTILLA
POSTUMUS
LAELIANUS
MARIUS
VICTORINUS
DOMITIAN II
TETRICUS I
TETRICUS II
QUIETUS
MACRIANUS
CLAUDIUS II
QUINTILLUS
AURELIAN
SEVERINA
ZENOBIA
VABALATHUS
TACITUS
FLORIAN
PROBUS
SATURNINUS
CARUS
CARINUS
MAGNIA URBICA
NIGRIAN
NUMERIAN
JULIAN I
DIOCLETIAN
MAXIMIAN
CARAUSIUS
ALLECTUS
DOMITIUS DOMITIANUS
CONSTANTIUS I
THEODORA
GALERIUS
GALERIA VALERIA
SEVERUS II
MAXENTIUS
ROMULUS
CONSTANTINE I
HELENA
FAUSTA
ALEXANDER
LICINIUS I
CONSTANTIA
MAXIMINUS II
LICINIUS II
CRISPUS
VALERIUS VALENS
MARTINIAN
CONSTANTINE II
DELMATIUS
HANNIBALLIANUS
CONSTANS
CONSTANTIUS II
MAGNENTIUS
DECENTIUS
NEPOTIAN
VETRANO
CONSTANTIUS GALLUS
JULIAN II
JOVIAN
VALENTINIAN I
VALENS
PROCOPIUS
GRATIAN
VALENTINIAN II
THEODOSIUS I
AELIA FLACCILLA
MAGNUS MAXIMINUS
FLAVIUS VICTOR
EUGENIUS
HONORIUS
CONSTANTINE III
CONSTANS II
MAXIMINUS
PRISCUS ATTALUS
JOVINUS
SABASTIANUS
CONSTANTIUS III
GALLA PLACIDIA
JOHANNES
VALENTINIAN III
LICINIA EUDOXIA
HONORIA
PETRONIUS MAXIMINUS
AVITUS
MAJORIAN
LIBIUS SEVERUS
ANTHEMIUS
EUPHEMIA
ANICIUS OLYBRIUS
GLYCERIUS
JULIUS NEPOS
ROMULUS AUGUSTUS
ARCADIUS
EUDOXIA
PULCHERIA
THEODOSIUS II
EUDOCIA
MARCIAN
LEO I
VERINA
LEO II
ZENO
ARIADNE
BASILISCUS
ZENONIS
LEONTIUS I
ANASTASIUS I
ANONYMOUS COINAGE

ERIC The Encyclopedia of Roman Imperial Coins
by Rasiel Suarez


Majorian

Augustus 457-461

Majorian ruled for a comparatively lengthy four-year reign at the end of the Roman empire. Having been associated in his youth with Aetius, the commander slain by Valentinian III, his imperial title came at the disposition of the general Ricimer with whom he was also involved. Ricimer would have loved to make himself emperor but his barbarian blood prevented him from the post. His discretion in not forcing the issue meant he wouldn 't have to quell any revolts within Italy and his choice to appoint his friend Majorian would have been the next best thing. 
Majorian himself appears to have had a commendable character. Widespread discontent had been rampant ever since tax collectors refused the legal tender of the day and instead demanded payment in money minted by second-century emperors! So in a bid to ease tensions in the moribund empire he nullified past debts owed to the state treasury. By resetting the public balance sheet Majorian could only have gained a good deal of popularity and perhaps this explains why his tenure as emperor lasted so long compared to his two immediate predecessors. However, his downfall was soon to come just at the height of his glory. 
With the newfound unity among Romans, Majorian set out to reclaim the north African coast lost to the Vandals and which had been for the past 50 years its single biggest loss. Carthage and its adjoining provinces was Italy 's breadbasket and without it the Roman empire was slowly starving. Majorian and Ricimer devised a plan to drive the Vandals out of Africa by building a powerful new navy from scratch. As the army set sail by way of Spain someone double-crossed the two and the navy ships were ambushed while in port at Carthagena. Majorian and Ricimer 's grand scheme crumbled without a way to mount an invasion. Suddenly his formerly grateful subjects turned on him and threatened rebellion. Whether Ricimer let him resign or Majorian himself abdicated is unsure. Several days later he was found dead and although the historical references point to disease the timing seems to favor an alternate, more violent end.

Under Majorian 's four year reign the social, political and economic upheavals of the previous years get a much needed period of rest. Coins, however, continue to be struck in very limited quantities and no significant effort is expended in halting the artistic slide committed into their production.
 
A few small coppers survive and these are the "cheapest". They still run quite pricey at a minimum of $500 each and for this one should expect no more than a barely identifiable specimen.
 
Silver and, of course, gold coins hold up better with full- or near-full legends being the norm. When available, they will cost at least a thousand dollars and, more typically, several thousand.


Busts:


 
1) Diademed (pearls), draped and cuirassed bust right
2) Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right
3) Diademed bust facing, wearing consular robes, holding mappa and scepter
4) Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield

 

Obverses:

 
1) DN IVL MAIORIANVS C
2) DN IVL MAIORIANVS PE AVG
3) DN IVL MAIORIANVS PER AVG
4) DN IVL MAIORIANVS PF
5) DN IVL MAIORIANVS PF A
6) DN IVL MAIORIANVS PF AVG
7) DN IVLIVS MAIORIANVS
8) DN IVLIVS MAIORIANVS F AVG
9) DN IVLIVS MAIORIANVS PE AVG
10) DN IVLIVS MAIORIANVS PF AV
11) DN IVLIVS MAIORIANVS PF AVG
12) DN MAIORIANE PF AVG
13) DN MAIORIANE PT AVG
14) DN MAIORIANVS PF AVG
15) DN MAIORIANVS PT AVG

 

Reverses:

 
1) VICTORIA AVGG
2) VICTORIA AVGGG
3) VOTIS MVLTIS
4) No legend

 

Types:

 
1) Majorian and Leo I seated, facing, each holding mappa and scepter with crossed tip.
2) Majorian standing left, holding spear and shield
3) Majorian standing, facing, resting hand on head of captive and holding labarum
4) Majorian standing, facing, stepping on snake, holding cross and Victory on globe.
5) Victory standing left, holding cross
6) Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm.
7) Wreath, cross within

 

Mints:

 
1) Arelate
2) Mediolanum
3) Ravenna
4) Roma Suspected, but not yet confirmed

 
AU Solidus Reference(s)

 
1) B4, O11, R2, T4, M1 Exe: A/R/COMOB. RIC X 2627
2) B4, O11, R2, T4, M3 Exe: R/V/COMOB RIC X 2614

 
AU Tremissis

 
3) B1, O06, R4, T7, M3 Exe: COMOB RIC X 2611

 
AR ½ Siliqua

 
4) B4, O07, R1, T5, M2 RIC X 2650

 
AE3/AE4

 
5) B1, O06, R2, T6, M2 Exe: MD RIC X 2646, L 582
6) B1, O06, R2, T6, M3 Exe: RV RIC X 2616, L 586

 

Majorian Busts

Majorian Types

 
 
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