Roman Bronze Coins

This hoard of 47,912 Third century A.D. bronze Antoniniani is one of the largest ever found in Britain. It was discovered by a metal detectorist in December 1985 in the parish of Normanby, about twelve miles north of Lincoln. The hoard was delivered to the British Museum for cleaning and study, and was the subject of a Treasure Inquest on 19 May 1987, where it was found not to be Treasure Trove, in view of the low silver content of the coins, and consequently became the property of the land owner. The hoard was immediately sold by the owner to a coin dealer and has been gradually dispersed in the trade. We have been fortunate to acquire a small group of coins from this hoard. The coins were struck between A.D. 260 and 287 and are mostly of Victorinus, Tetricus I, and II. You can have a choice of grades, Fine, Very Fine, or Extremely Fine with prices to please. These Roman coins will be over 1,700 years old soon, they were found in Britain and we will provide you with a certificate of authenticity. Get one for your collection today!

Bronze Antoninianus in Extremely Fine condition

Bronze Antoninianus in Fine condition

Bronze Antoninianus in Very Fine condition

Carinus. A.D. 283-285., Rome - A.D. 285. Billon Antoninianus. Radiate bust right / 'PIETAS AVG' Mercury standing left holding purse & caduceus. Good Very Fine & Scarce. Mercury is rare on Imperial Roman coins.

Florian. A.D. 276., Cyzicus. Billon Antoninianus. Rad. bust R. / 'CONCORDIA MILITVM' Victory stg. on L. hdg. palm & offering wreath to Florian stg. hdg. sceptre. Good Very Fine & Scarce.

Galerius as Caesar. A.D. 293-305., Rome - A.D. 294-297. Billon Follis. Laureate bust right / 'GENIO POPVLI ROMANI' Genius stg. left holding patera & cornucopiae. Very Fine with silvering.

Gallienus. A.D. 253-268. Antioch - A.D. 267. Silvered Æ Ant. Radiate bust right / 'SOLI INVICTO' Sol standing facing, head left, with arm raised & holding globe. Silvered, Good Extremely Fine & Scarce. One of very few types that depict Sol wearing any clothes.

Gallienus ruled as sole emperor from A.D. 260-268 during one of the most difficult times in the history of the empire. He issued a fantastic group of bronze Antoniniani coins to ask Gods for their protection. We offer: the Doe for Diana, The Hippocamp for Neptune, The Gazelle for Diana, and the Panther for Liber. The coins are Very Fine and for some of them we have just seven left, get in quick.

Gallienus ruled as sole emperor from A.D. 260-268 during one of the most difficult times in the history of the empire. Not only was the empire facing natural disasters and invasions on all sides but he had to face at least eight rebellions from his own governors and generals! He issued a fantastic group of bronze Antoninianus coins to honour the Gods, asking for their protection against these troubles. Though made in Europe, these coins were used in Britain and are a large part of the Mildenhall Hoard in the British Museum. Depicted on these coins are a variety of animals, some real and some mythical, each linked to one of the Roman deities. This series is known as the 'Gallienus Zoo Coins' and make a great set to try to complete. From this series, we offer here the Gazelle, identified as different to the antelope by the numbers ‘XI’ or ‘XII’ underneath and the straight horns. These are designed to honour Diana, the sister of Apollo and the goddess of the hunt. This is likely to bring luck to hunting and like her brother, for plagues and disease. The coins are at least Very Fine but because of the chaos at the time remember they may be a little weakly struck. As always the first to order will get the best. This is the last to complete the set we have available!

Maximian. A.D. 286-305., Lugdunum - A.D. 293. Billon Antonininianus. Radiate bust right / 'PAX AVGG' Pax standing left holding Victory on globe & sceptre. Reverse struck from worn die, Extremely Fine.

Maximianus. A.D. 286-305., Trier - A.D. 297. Æ Follis. Laureate head right / 'GENIO POPVLI ROMANI' Genius stg. left holding cornucopiae & patera. Cracked flan, Very Fine.

Late in the ‘Crisis of the Third Century’ Britain & Northern France did not have enough regular coinage so the locals took matters into their own hands! Recent research shows the new, superior silver coin of Aurelian were being saved and not used, so for about 11 years (A.D. 275-286) crude, bronze coins were made locally to ‘top up’ the coins in circulation. They copied old types from Gallienus, Postumus, Claudius II (to name a few) but the quality of the designs varied hugely as they were made by normal people risking death for ‘counterfeiting’. We have a group of these ‘Barbarous Radiates’ that all show a head on the obverse and different reverses, but as they are crudely made, the first to order will get the best. Add to your collection an ancient coin of the people who risked death just to help out their local area, a local coin for local people!

Vabalathus. A.D. 271-272., Antioch. Billon Antonianus. 'VABALATHVS V C R IM D R' Laureate bust right / 'IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG' Radiate bust of Aurelian right. Good Very Fine & Very Scarce. Made by Zenobia to try to legitimise her regime.