Imperial Coinage

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

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.

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)

Trajan, Silver Denarius, Victory with Wreath and Palm, 98-111AD

Obverse: Laureate bust of Trajan looking right, IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM

Reverse: Victory draped, advancing left, holding wreath and palm, P M PR T COS IIII PP

18mm, 3.22g

Grade: AVF/GF

Prov: ex Naumann, comes with previous old ticket

£60 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations please ask first)

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

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, 11.31gg

Grade: Fine+, Sandy deposits

£85 (+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)

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)

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 (+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)

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