Imperial Coinage

NEW - Visit the new Flavian page for coins from Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius & Titus

Visit the Provincial page for futher great Emperors such as Augustus & Tiberius.

The period between the outbreak of civil war between Caesar and Pompey at the beginning of the 49BC and Octavian becoming Augustus in 27BC, contains the 'Imperatorial' coinage.This was a transitional stage of coinage running alongside that produced by Rome and as yet only had the names of those in power and not their portraits. Julius Caesar was the first to make this innovative step, unfortunately he was assassinated only three months later, but the idea stuck and later issues all had the ruler's portraits on them and the Imperial coinage evolved. The Imperatorial coins of Pompey, Caesar, Octavian and Anthony etc will be added to this area for convenience, when available.

The Imperial Coinage of Rome covers over 500 years, from the establishment of Octavian (Augustus) to transformation and rise of Constantinople to Byzantinian coinage with Anastasius I. Those coins produced at provincial mints are separated, as are the Byzantine coins.

Hadrian, Silver Denarius, AD 117-138, Pax

Obverse: Laureate and draped bust, right, IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANAVS

Reverse: Pax standing left, holding olive-branch and sceptre, P M TR P COS III

2.74g, 17.89mm

Grade: Almost very fine

Ref: RIC 94

Prov: Ex Hanson's, previously Essex Coins

£95 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations please ask) #111

Hadrian Silver Denarius, AD 126-127, Virtus

Obverse: Laureate head to right, traces of drapery visible on shoulder, HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS

Reverse: Virtus, helmeted and draped, standing to right, left foot on helmet, holding spear in right and parazonium in left

3.11g, 18mm

Grade: Very fine, lovely portrait

Ref: RIC II.3 851

Prov: Ex Roma, previously a European collection

£110 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations please ask) #110

Hadrian, Silver Denarius, Hispania, Rome Mint, 136AD, Scarce

Obverse: Laureate and draped bust, right, HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P

Reverse: RESTITVTORI HISPANIAE Hadrian, togate, standing left, extending his right hand to grasp that of Hispania, who kneels left before him; between them a rabbit or helmet.

18mm, 3.41g, Ref: cf S3535

Grade: NEF

Prov: Ex Lockdales

£200 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations please ask)

Claudius, Bronze As, Rome, Constantia,41-41AD

Obverse: Bare head of Claudius, left, TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP

Reverse: Constantia helmeted, standing, holding long sceptre (or spear) and other hand raised

12g, 28.5mm

Grade: AVF/F

Prov: Ex DNW, previously from the Chris Rudd Collection, comes with ticket

Ref: S1857

£95 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations please ask first)

Nerva, Silver Denarius, Rome Mint, Aequitas Holding Scales, 96AD

Obverse: Laureate head, right, IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P

Reverse: Aequitas standing holding scales and cornucopia, AEQVITAS AVGVST

3.61g, 18mm

Grade: AEF/VF

Ref: S2019, RIC 1

£170 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations please ask first)

Geta as Caesar Under Caracalla, Silver Denarius, Laodicea Mint, 200AD

Obverse: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT, bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right

Reverse: VICT AETERN, Victory flying left, holding open wreath with both hands over shield set on base

Ref: S7205, RIC23

Grade: EF+

19mm, 2.9g

£250 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations please ask)

Nerva, SIlver Denarius, Rome Mint, Priestly Symbols, 97AD

Obverse: Laureate head right, IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR POT II

Reverse: COS III PATER PATRIAE

18mm, 2.85g

Ref: S3022, RIC 12

Prov: ex Lockdales

Grade: VF but weak in parts, sprinkler is only partly visible

£165 (+ P&P, non-UK locations please ask)

Philip I, Silver Antoninianus, Rome,

248AD, Mars

Obverse: IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right

Reverse: P M TR P V COS II P P, Mars standing left, holding branch & resting hand on shield, A in left field

23mm, 4.7g

Ref: S8949

Prov: ex Roma Numismatics

Grade: EF but slightly off centre as are many antoninianii.

£75 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations please ask first)

Volusian, As Co-Emperor with His Father, Silver Antoninianus, Felicitas, 252AD

Obverse: Radiate and draped bust of Volusian, right, IMP C C VIB VOLUSIANVS AVG

Reverse: FELICITAS PVBL, Felicitas standing holding long caduceus and cornucopia

22mm, 3.68g

Ref: S9746

Prov: Ex Roma Numismatics

£65 SOLD

Philip I, Silver Antoninianus, Rome,

AD 244-249, Roma Seated

Obverse: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right

Reverse: ROMAE AETERNAE, Roma seated left, holding Victory and sceptre

23mm, 3.33g

Ref: S8952

Prov: ex Roma Numismatics

Grade: VF/F

£55 SOLD

Imperatorial Coinage, Mark Antony, Quinarius, Portrait of His First Wife, Fulvia, 42BC, Lugdunum

This coin is famous on two counts. Firstly, as it was issued by Mark Antony and secondly, as it depicts his first wife Fulvia. Numimatically histroical, as it was the first time a living female had been depicted on coinage!

Obv: Winged bust of Fulvia, as Victory, right, III•VIR behind, R•P•C before

Rev: Lion walking right between A - XLI, ANTONI above, IMP in exergue

14mm, 1.67g

Grade: NVF, these coins are rarely seen and those that are are often in poor grade, this is a good example! There appears to be bankers test marks on both sides too!

Prov: ex Savoca Coins, Munich

Fulvia was Antony's first wife, but this was her third marriage. She was a courageous, forceful women in a time when this was seen as unfeminine. She gained riches from her previous two marriages to wealthy families and was the shrewd, yet loyal, woman behind the throne in her marriage to Antony. She was despised by many for her less than expected feminine ways and many unsavoury rumours were spread about her conduct. Her images were often defaced or obliterated, hence the rarity of her coins. She died in 40BC of natural causes, probably!

£360 (+P&P)

Drusus, Son of Tiberius, Restitution Issue Struck Under Titus, Rome Mint, As

Obverse: DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N, bare head of Drusus, left

Reverse: IMP T CAES DIVI VESP F AVG REST around large SC

Ref: RIC 437, S2594

24mm, 8.71g

Grade: Very Fine, SCARCE

£200 (+P&P)

Caracalla, Silver Denarius, Rome Mint, Virtus, 203AD

Obverse: bust of Caracalla, right, ANTONINVS PIVS AVG

Reverse: VIRTVS AVGG, Virtus standing holding Victory and spear

18mm, 2.71g

Ref: S6903

Prov: ex DNW

Grade: EF/NEF

£90 SOLD

Julia Domna, Denarius, 211-217AD,

Struck under Caracalla, Diana with Torch

Obv: IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, draped bust right

Reverse: DIANA LVCIFERA, Diana standing left holding long torch with both hands.

Reverse a little weak but the portrait is good.

VF+/VF

£65 (P&P free to UK)

Divus Lucius Verus (issued by Marcus Aurelius in his honour) Rome 169AD, Denarius

Obv: bare headed bust of Lucius Verus, DIVVS VERUS

A rare example as only two denominations were produced.

Rev: CONSECRATIO, eagle standing right, head left, wings open

Ref: S5204

3.17, 20mm

VF but a little ragged to edge

£60 (+P&P)

Diva Faustina Senior, Silver Denarius, Rome After 147AD, Peacock on Sceptre

Obv: Draped bust of Faustina Senior, right; DIVA FAUSTINA

Ref: RSC 32

Rev: Peacock standing r., head l., on sceptre with knobs on both ends.

EF/AEF, Good silver and toned

2.9g, 17mm

£120 (+P&P)

Divus Antoninus Pius, 161AD, Crematorium, Denarius

Head of deified Antoninus

Ref: RIC 436, Cohen 164

Rev: Pyre, CONSECRATIO

VF

3.12g, 18mm

£65 (+P&P)

Vespasian Denarius (Regular Series) Rome 72AD, Victory with Standard

Obv: laureate bust of Vespasian, right, IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS III

Rev: Victory advancing right, placing wreath on standard and holding palm

Ref: S2317

2.8g, 18mm

£120 SOLD

Claudius, AE As, Rome Mint, 41-50AD

Obverse: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP, bare head of Claudius, left

Reverse: CONSTANTIAE AVGVSTI S-C, Constantia in military dress standing left holding spear

Ref: S1857

28mm, 11.31g

Grade: Fine+, Sandy deposits

£85 SOLD

Trajan, Silver Denarius, Standards, 112-114AD, Rome Mint

Obverse: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P, bust of Trajan, laureate, draped, right

Reverse: Legionary eagle between vexillum and standard, sumounted respectively by wreath, eagle and hand.

16mm, 3.18g

Ref: RIC II 294

Grade: VF

Prov: ex Saint Paul Antiques

£120 SOLD

Tiberius, 'Tribute Penny' Silver Denarius, 14-37AD, Lyon Mint

Obverse: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG AVGVSTVS laureate head right.

Allegedly, this was the coin shown to Jesus when he uttered "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's" whilst in the temple.

Reverse: PONTIF MAXIM with Livia (his mother) as Pax seated right on throne, holding long sceptre and olive branch, chair legs ornamented, single line below.

3.7g, 20mm

Ref: S1763

Grade: Good very fine

£250 SOLD

Imperatorial Coinage, M. Junius Brutus (Julius Caesar's Assassin in 44BC), Silver Denarius, 54BC

Brutus was born M Junius Brutus but after being adopted took the name Q. Servilius Caepio Brutus, he later reverted to his birth name. As senator, he took a leading role amongst the plotters leading to the assassination of Julius Caesar, in the belief that it would save the Roman Republic. However, the death of Caesar in 44BC resulted in civil war and two years later he committed suicide after losing the battle of Philippi.

Obverse: bust of Libertas right, LIBERTAS behind

Reverse: Consul L. Junius Brutus (509BC), between two lictors, preceded by accensus, all walking left, BRVTVS in exergue.

Grade: VF

20mm, 3.50g

Prov: ex Savoca Coins

His name has become synonymous with betrayal. His coin types relate to his illustrious ancestry.

£230 (+P&P) SOLD

Augustus Bronze Dupondius, Minted After Death by Tiberius, A RARE Example

Obverse: DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER ratiate bust left

Reverse: large SC within wreath

14.34g, 28mm

Grade: Very fine, slight pitting to ob. RARE coin.

£160 SOLD

Imperial Coinage

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