Roman Women: Empresses & Augustae

Obverse: Carpentum, ornamented with Victories and other figures, drawn right by two mules, S P Q R IVLIAE AVGVST

History note: Livia Drusilla (59 BC - AD 29) was known as Empress Julia Augusta. She served as an influential confidant to Emperor Augustus and continued her political influence for her son, Tiberius when he became Emperor.

Reverse: Legend surrounding large S C, TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST PM TR POT XXIIII

Size: 32mm, 17.28g

Grade: AVF

Ref: RIC I Tiberius 51, Sear 1738

Prov: Ex Lockdales

£350 (P&P FREE to all locations) #272

Obverse: Bust of Sabina, diademed, wearing stephane with hair in queue, draped, right, SABINA AVGVSTA

History note: Vibia Sabina(AD 83 - 136/137) was an Empress, wife and second cousin once removed to Emperor Hadrian. Sabina is the first woman whose image features on a regular and continuous series of coins minted at Rome.

Reverse: Concordia standing left, resting on column, holding patera and double cornucopiae, CONCORDIA AVG

Size: 17mm, 3.12g

Grade: VF

Ref: RIC II.3 Hadrian 2571, BMCRE 929, RSC 3a

Prov: Ex Roma Numismatics, from a private UK collection

£120 (P&P FREE to all locations)

Obverse: Bust of Sabina, wearing double stephane with hair braided and piled, draped, right, SABINA AVGVSTA HADRIANI AVG P P

Reverse: Vesta seated left, holding palladium and sceptre, // S C (in exergue)

Size: 25.5mm, 8.19g

Grade: Fair

Ref: RIC II.3 Hadrian 2496

£50 (P&P FREE to all locations)

Obverse: Bust of Crispina, draped, hair in round coil at back, right, CRISPINA AVGVSTA

History note: Bruttia Crispina's (AD 164-191) marriage to Commodus elevated her to position of Empress. The marriage, however, was destined to be a brief and unhappy one with her being implicated in a plot against his life.

Reverse: Venus, draped, standing left, holding apple in right hand and drawing robe over her left shoulder with left hand, VENVS

Size: 18mm, 3.37g

Grade: VF

Ref: RIC III Commodus 286a, Sear 6002, RSC 35, BMCRE 44

£95 (P&P FREE to all locations)

Obverse: Bust of Julia Domna, hair waved and coiled at back, draped, right, IVLIA DOMNA AVG

History note: Julia Domna (AD 160-217) was the first Roman Empress of the Severan dynasty. As the wife of Emperor Septimius Severus, she was famous for her political, social and philosophical influence.

Reverse: Vesta, veiled and draped, seated left, holding palladium in extended right hand and sceptre in left, VESTA

Size: 18.5mm, 3.38g

Grade: AVF

Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 538, Sear 6611, RSC 221, BMC 56

Prov: Ex Bruun Rasmussen

£65 (P&P FREE to all locations)

Obverse: Bust of Julia Domna, hair waved and coiled at back, draped, right, IVLIA DOMNA AVG

Reverse: Vesta, veiled and draped, seated left, holding palladium in extended right hand and sceptre in left, VESTA

Size: 18mm, 3.10g

Grade: F

Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 538, Sear 6611, RSC 221, BMC 56

£55 (P&P FREE to all locations) #273

Obverse: Bust of Aquilia Severa, hair waved and fastened in plait, draped, right, IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG

History note: Aquilia Severa (d. after 222) was the second and fourth wife of Emperor Elagabalus. Severa was a Vestal Virgin, and, as such, her marriage was the cause of enormous controversy.

Reverse: Concordia, draped, standing left, sacrificing out of patera in right hand over lighted altar and holding double cornucopiae in left hand, in left field, star, CONCORDIA

Size: 19mm, 3.08g

Grade: VF/VF+

Ref: RIC IV Elagabalus 225, Sear 7679

£320 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1385

Obverse: Bust of Herennia Etruscilla, diademed, draped, on crescent, right, HER ETRVSCILLA AVG

History note: Herennia Cupressenia Etruscilla (d. 253) was the wife of Emperor Decius. She gained the title Augusta when Decius became emperor.

Reverse: Pudicitia, draped, veiled, seated left, drawing veil with right hand, holding sceptre in left hand, PVDICITIA AVG

Size: 22.5mm, 3.85g

Grade: VF/AVF

Ref: RIC IV Trajan Decius 65

£85 (P&P FREE to all locations) #679