Roman Imperial Coins

Born in A.D. 86 Antoninus was made Caesar after Hadrian’s preferred heir Aelius died in A.D. 138. He succeeded to the throne that year and earned the title ‘Pius’ (which means dutiful or respectful) for two reasons. Firstly, by threatening the Senate with resignation if they did not deify Hadrian. Secondly, as Hadrian had wanted, he adopted young Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius at the start of his reign. What makes him so unusual is that he presided over the most peaceful reign of any emperor, governing well and wisely as a compassionate ruler. He set up charities, built public works for his people, and brought in laws such as ‘innocent until proven guilty’; some historians have argued it could be the greatest collective human happiness in a period of time in history. In Britain, he caused the ‘Antonine Wall’ to be built from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Clyde, north of Hadrian’s Wall, to keep the Picts out. We offer Silver Denarius of Antoninus Pius in a Very Fine condition, showing his laureate head on the obverse and various reverses.

Born of humble origin around A.D. 245 in Dalmatia near Split, Diocletian bought order to the Roman world after nearly 60 years of chaos. Like many of his predecessors, he had a military career, rising through the ranks to high command. Following the murder of the emperor Numerian, Diocletian was proclaimed emperor by his troops. Then the defeat of Carinus (brother of Numerian) left Diocletian in undisputed control of the Empire. Having realised the empire was too big for one person alone he quickly appointed an old army colleague, Maximian, as co-emperor. He also settled the problem of succession by the appointment of two junior Caesars, one for himself and Maximian. Diocletian spent much of his reign campaigning against Rome’s enemies on the Danube frontier, in North Africa, Egypt and Syria. Although there were Christians at all levels of society at this time, Diocletian worshipped the old Roman gods and was responsible for A savage persecution of Christians. Diocletian was a prolific builder and did much to overhaul the tax system and reform the coinage in an attempt to counter inflation. He abdicated in A.D. 305 and retired to his palace in Split. He died there in A.D. 311 a broken man, having watched his reforms trampled to death by the likes of Constantine the Great and Licinius. The coins we offer here are Billon Antoninianus in Extremely Fine condition with various reverses

Constantius II. A.D. 337-361. Arles - A.D. 357-361. AR Siliqua. Diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right / 'VOTIS XXX MVLTIS XXXX' in four lines within wreath; 'P CON' in ex. About Extremely Fine & Scarce. With this coin the emperor is celebrating his 30th anniversary & hoping for a 40th.

Diocletian was born of humble origin around A.D. 245 in Dalmatia near Split and rose through the ranks of the military to high command. He likely manoeuvred the murder of the emperor Numerian and defeated Carinus leaving Diocletian in undisputed control of the Empire. Realising it was too big for one person he appointed an old army colleague, Maximian, as co-emperor and settled the problem of succession by appointing two junior Caesars, bringing stability after 60 years of chaos. Diocletian spent much of his reign campaigning and did much to overhaul the tax system, reforming the coinage in an attempt to counter inflation. Unlike any emperor before or since he voluntarily abdicated in A.D. 305 and retired to his palace in Split. He died there in A.D. 311 a broken man, having watched his reforms trampled to death by the likes of Constantine the Great and Licinius. We recently bought a small group of high-grade Billon Silver Follis from a trusted dealer who had been slowly putting them aside for many years. Part of this group were 24 Follis of Diocletian in About Extremely Fine condition with various reverses. They are big, beautiful and they all have at least some of the ancient silvering showing on the surfaces.

Faustina Junior was the daughter of Antoninus Pius and Faustina Senior. She was married to Marcus Aurelius and made Augusta in A.D. 147. They had 14 children over their 30-years marriage with 5 surviving to adulthood, including Commodus. Some ancient writers report adultery and worse but Aurelius gave her the title ‘Mother of the Camp’ for accompanying him in his wars and being beloved of the soldiers so this seems just rumours. She died in mysterious circumstances in A.D. 175 when Aurelius was very ill, possibly dying, and she helped persuade Avidius Cassius to declare himself emperor, likely to protect young Commodus. Aurelius recovered, Cassius was executed and she died around that time with Aurelius apparently devastated, having her deified and coins minted. Faustina Junior is a little scarcer than her mother, Faustina Senior, with more reverse types. We have a group of her silver Denarius in Very Fine with various reverses which we offer to you. She makes a lovely accompaniment to her husband in your collection or on her own merit!

In A.D. 293 the high-ranking soldier Galerius was adopted and made Caesar by Diocletian, marrying his daughter Valeria (Galeria Valeria) to cement the position. Galerius fought Rome’s enemies in the east, his main focus being the Sassanians who he finally defeated in A.D. 299 with the help of Diocletian. When Diocletian and Maximian abdicated in A.D. 305 Galerius made sure both new Caesars were his allies, meaning he as emperor was in control of ¾ of the empire. But his arrogant blundering meant that shortly, for the only time in history, six Roman emperors ruled at once as people refused to do what he wanted! He gave up in A.D. 309, focusing on fun and building. He died in A.D. 311 of a gruesome illness that Christian writers gleefully claimed came from their god for his persecutions. The coins we offer here are Billon Follis in About Extremely Fine condition showing his laureate bust on the obverse and with various reverses. They are from the same small group as the Diocletian & Maximian Follis also available on our website. Meaning they are big and beautiful and there are few of them so do not miss out…

Gallienus. A.D. 253-268. Roman Egypt - A.D. 265. Billon Tetradrachm. Laureate head right / Tyche seated left holding rudder & cornucopiae; palm behind. Extremely Fine & Rare in this grade. Roman Egyptian coins don't get much better than this.

Geta as Caesar. A.D. 198-209. Rome AD 208. AR Denarius. Obverse: Bare-headed bust right. Reverse: PONTIF COS II. Genius standing left holding grain ears & sacrificing from a patera over lighted altar. About Extremely Fine & Scarce, slightly ragged flan.

Gordian III. A.D. 238-244. AR Antoninianus. Uncertain Eastern Mint, possibly Antioch, AD 242-4. Obverse. Radiate bust right. Rev. 'SAECVLI FELICITAS' Gordian standing right in military attire holding spear & globe. Extremely Fine. (Sear 8659, RIC 216)

Hadrian was one of the ablest and conscientious of the Roman Emperors. He spent his reign visiting the vast majority of his provinces, consolidating and strengthening the Empire’s defenses after the expansion by his predecessor, Trajan. The most famous example of his work was Hadrian’s Wall! Sprawling from the River Tyne in the East, to the River Solway in the West: at 73 miles (117.5 kilometres) it is the largest Roman monument anywhere in the world! We offer a Silver Denarius of Hadrian in an About Very Fine condition showing his bust on the obverse with various reverses. Everyone has heard of Hadrian, and he is one of the five good emperors. You can now add a silver Denarius to your collection for a very reasonable price. Act quickly supplies are limited...

Lucius Verus was born Lucius Ceionius Commodus in A.D. 130 to Aelius Commodus, Hadrian’s first Caesar who died two months before Hadrian himself. As a condition of Antoninus Pius’ adoption, he had to adopt young Lucius but preferred the older Marcus Aurelius so adopted both! Ultimately Lucius was more interested in pleasure (like his father) so Marcus Aurelius was the clear successor. But when Pius died in A.D. 161 Marcus refused to rule without Lucius, who took Marcus’ family name, Verus, in tribute. They were the first co-emperors in the Roman Empire! To force Lucius Verus to grow up he was sent East to fight the Parthians who were stirring up trouble. Though the Romans won the troops bought back ‘The Antonine Plague’ (likely smallpox) that decimated Rome. Lucius Verus likely died of this in A.D. 169 in Rome. This group of Lucius Verus coins is very scarce! A dealer sold us a small group in Very Fine that he had been putting by for a number of years. The obverse has the bust of Verus with various reverses. This will be a gap for many people so do not miss out!

Macrinus, AD 217-218, AR Denarius, Rome AD 217. Obverse. Laureate and cuirassed bust of Macrinus facing to right. Reverse: SECVRITAS TEMPORVM, Securitas standing facing to left holding a sceptre and leaning on a column [Sear 7365] Extremely Fine and Scarce.

Nero (A.D. 54-68) is one of the most famous Roman Emperors. His mother married Claudius (A.D. 41-54) and manoeuvred Nero as his successor. He was under better influences at the start of his reign but as he managed to rid himself of these he devolved into the tyrant famous today! Eventually, after repeated revolts, Nero committed suicide but legends of his survival persisted for hundreds of years! We offer a billon silver Tetradrachm of Nero from Alexandria in Egypt, there are various reverses which will come described on the ticket with each coin. They grade Good Fine meaning they have circulated but you can see the design. A famous and Scarce emperor’s coin from Egypt, an unusual province; this bargain will sell fast!

Philip II, AD 247-249, Silver Antoninianus, Antioch AD 247. Obv. Radiate draped and cuirassed bust right, Rev. AEQVITAS AVGG, Aequitas standing left holding scales and cornucopiae [S.9259 / RIC 240a] Virtually as struck, with lovely bright tone.

Postumus was the governor of Germany in A.D. 260 when the emperor Valerian was captured in the East. With the Roman world in crisis barbarian raiding parties were crossing the borders but his defeat of one group, the Juthungians, led to him being proclaimed emperor by his troops. He then managed to push the others out of the western provinces and re-established the old Rhine frontier, making him very popular! Gallienus failed multiple times to defeat him so the rebel Postumus was left in control of Britain, Gaul, Spain and parts of Germany, forming what was called the ‘Gallic Empire’. In A.D. 269, Laelianus, the governor of Germany, rebelled against him and was defeated at the siege of Mainz. Sadly, Postumus was then murdered by his own troops for refusing to allow them to plunder the city! Postumus minted coins that had at least twice as much silver in than the coins being made by Gallienus’ central government in Rome. We offer these Billon Silver Antoninianus of Postumus with various reverses in Extremely Fine condition, meaning very limited wear since they were struck. Due to the crisis at the time that striking can be a little weak so first to order will get the best! It has been a while since we have been able to get a group of these, we have priced them to please for this run, and we cannot guarantee the price will not have to go up in the future….

In A.D. 208 Septimius Severus set off for Britannia to conquer the island but he would never see Rome again! The people and the landscape of Caledonia (Scotland) proved too much and Septimius Severus, exhausted by his efforts, fell ill and died in York in early A.D. 211. His dying words to his sons were ‘stay friends, be generous to the soldiers and no one else matters’. In his reign he had increased a soldiers pay from 375 to 500 silver Denari a year, a good wage in those days! This meant he created over 1000 different denarius reverse types. We offer you these silver Denari with the head of Septimius Severus on the obverse and various reverses from the Roman Emperor who died in York. Offered here in Fine grading.

Septimius Severus. A.D. 193-211. AR Denarius, Rome - A.D. 201. Obverse: Laureate head right,.Rev. 'FVNDATOR PACIS' Severus togate standing left holding branch and scroll. Good Very Fine, ragged edges (Sear 6282, RIC 265)

Severus Alexander, AD 222-235. AR Denarius, Rome AD 227. Obverse. Laureate bust of Severus Alexander facing to right. Reverse. PM TR P VI COS II P P. Pax advancing to left holding an olive branch and a sceptre. Near Extremely Fine, excellent portrait on a wide flan. (Sear 7904, RIC 67)

Severus Alexander. A.D. 222-235. Alexandria, Roman Egypt - A.D. 228. Billon Tetradrachm. Laureate bust right / Helmeted bust of Athena Parthenos right. Good Very Fine & Scarce. This has particularly refined detail for Egyptian coins, pleasing bust of Athena.

Pearl-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right / 'VOT / X / MVL / XX' in four lines; all within wreath; 'ANT' in ex. Flan crack, About Extremely Fine & Scarce. Valens was annihilated by the Goths at Hadrianopolis.