|
Maximinus I 'Thrax'. Silver Denarius (3.41 g), AD 235-238. Rome, AD 235/6. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus I right. Reverse PROVIDE-NTIA AVG, Providentia standing facing, head left, holding wand over globe at feet to left and cornucopiae. RIC 13; BMC 15-6; RSC 77. Boldly struck on a huge flan and lustrous. Nearly Mint State.
Estimated Value $250 - 300.
Ex Helios 2 (25-26 November 2008), 360.
denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 |
|
|
Nerva. Silver Denarius (3.4 g), AD 96-98. Rome, AD 96. IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P, laureate head of Nerva right. Reverse CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM, clasped hands before aquila set on prow. RIC 3; BMC 8; RSC 25. Well struck and well centered. Well toned with hints of iridescense. Extremely Fine.
The Roman emperor Nerva came from a distinguished family that was connected to the Julio-Claudian dynasty through marriage. He served under Nero and was instrumental in uncovering the Pisonian conspiracy in AD 65, and subsequently served under each of the three Flavian emperors in turn. Upon Domitian's assassination in AD 96, the Senate proclaimed Nerva emperor solely on their own initiative, the first such instance of the Senate exercising this prerogative during imperial times.
Upon his accession Nerva attempted to appease the Senate by ending Domitian's proscriptions and promising a general amnesty to the conspirators, stating he would not have any senators put to death. Additionally, he paid a large donative amounting to 5000 denarii a head to the Praetorian Guard. However, the Praetorians were dissatisfied, and in October AD 97 they laid siege to the Imperial Palace and took Nerva hostage. They demanded that the emperor hand over those responsible for Domitian's death, who were swiftly executed, and then forced Nerva to give a speech publicly thanking them. This event damaged the emperor's authority beyond repair, and shortly thereafter Nerva adopted as heir the popular general of the German frontier, Marcus Ulpius Traianus. With this accomplished, Nerva all but abdicated the throne, dying only three months later (January AD 98).
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,300.
denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 |
|
|
Macrinus. Silver Denarius (3.5 g), AD 217-218. Rome. IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Macrinus right. Reverse FIDES MILITVM, Fides standing facing, head right, resting foot on globe, holding two standards. RIC 67; BMC 65; RSC 23f. Well struck and well centered on a large flan, lightly toned. Superb Extremely Fine.
The first equestrian to attain the throne of Rome, Macrinus was of Berber descent from Mauretania. He had been a notable jurist, served as an important bureaucrat under Septimius Severus, and under Caracalla became prefect of the Praetorian Guard. Suspecting that Caracalla would execute him because of a prophesy that told he would depose and succeed the emperor - and indeed, according to Dio Cassius, members of Macrinus' staff had been re-assigned by Caracalla - Macrinus feared for his life. He was thus perhaps involved in the murder of Caracalla in early April AD 217; he was certainly present during the event, although if he was involved he managed to deflect blame from himself. By April 11, Macrinus had proclaimed himself emperor and named his young son, Diadumenian, as Caesar.
Macrinus' short reign was marred by military incompetence and appeasement of Rome's enemies. The worst of these was his defeat by the historically inferior Parthians under Artabanos IV, and he forced to pay an enormous indemnity of 200 million sestertii in return for peace. This led to a loss of popularity with his legions, which was exploited by Caracalla's aunt, Julia Maesa, and his cousins, Julia Soaemias and Julia Mamaea. The Severan women had the soldiers of Legio III Gallica based at Raphana proclaim Soaemias's son, Elagabalus, emperor, and they marched on Macrinus' base at Antioch. Macrinus was soundly defeated after his troops deserted him, and he was subsequently captured and executed after fleeing towards Rome disguised as a courier.
Estimated Value $700 - 800.
denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 |
|
|
Vitellius. Silver Denarius (3.30 g), AD 69. Rome. A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate head of Vitellius right. Reverse PONT MAXIM, Vesta, veiled, seated on throne right, holding patera and scepter. RIC 107; BMC 34; RSC 72. Boldly struck and well centered. Lovely old cabinet toning. Superb Extremely Fine.
Vitellius was made Governor of Lower Germany by Galba. When the legions became disaffected from Galba's austere and strict rule, they renounced their allegiance to him and hailed Vitellius as emperor. Vitellius at first refused the imperial title, but he did take the name Germanicus and pledged to lead the revolt. Shortly thereafter the provinces of Britain, Gaul and Spain defected to him. Meanwhile in Rome Galba had been murdered and Otho installed as the new emperor by the Praetorian Guard.
Otho offered to share the emperorship with Vitellius, but the latter, whose forces were already marching on Rome, refused. A decisive engagement, the Battle of Bedriacum, was fought between the two sides in the vicinity between Cremona and Verona, and Vitellius's forces were victorious. Despite losing at Bedriacum, Otho perhaps could still have won the war - he had the support of the formidable legions of Dalmatia, Moesia and Pannonia, as well as both the Praetorian Guard and the Roman fleet - but instead chose to avoid civil war by committing suicide.
Once in Rome the Senate decreed Vitellius the usual imperial honors. The historians Suetonius, Tacitus and Dio Cassius do not record much positive about Vitellius's short reign, but he did implement some worthwhile and lasting changes (for instance, he accepted equites into the offices of imperial administration whereas before they had been open only to freedmen). Overall, though, his reign was irresolute, and Vitellius himself is described as lazy and self-indulgent.
Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000.
denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 |
|
|
Gordian III. Silver Denarius (2.94 g), as Caesar, AD 238. Rome, under Balbinus and Pupienus, AD 238. M ANT GORDIANVS CAES, bare-headed and draped bust of Gordian III right. Reverse PIETAS A-VGG, priestly emblems: lituus, knife, jug, simpulum and sprinkler. RIC 1; BMC 62-3; RSC 182. Rare. Virtually as struck on a huge flan with intricate detail on both sides. Lustrous and lightly toned. Nearly Mint State.
Gordian III was the grandson and nephew of the respective emperors Gordian I and Gordian II. After their deaths, the Roman Senate elevated the elderly senators Balbinus and Pupienus as co-rulers, but their rule was not popular. To appease the discontent caused by this senatorial appointment, the Senate raised the young Gordian to the rank of Caesar and had coins with his likeness struck. A short time later the co-emperors Balbinus and Pupienus were murdered by the Praetorian Guard, and Gordian became sole rule. Because of his tender age, management of the affairs of state were left in the hands of Rome's aristocratic families.
Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000.
Private purchase from Ed Waddell.
denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 |
|
|
Pertinax. Silver Denarius (3.46 g), AD 193. Rome. IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG, laureate head of Pertinax right. Reverse LAETITIA TEMPOR COS II, Laetitia standing facing, head left, holding wreath and scepter. RIC 4a; BMC 8-9; RSC 20. Lovely old cabinet toning with hints of iridescense. A fantastic needle sharp portrait! An incredible example of this important raritiy and certainly one of the finest extant. Superb Extremely Fine.
Pertinax rose from humble beginnings to the highest echelons of administration, having served as a successful general and subsequently governor of several important provinces. At the time of Commodus' murder, he was Prefect of Rome. Upon his elevation on 1 January AD 193, Pertinax immediately began a series of legal and fiscal reforms, which although sound were unpopular with the corrupt officials then serving in the highest administrative posts in the Empire. This quickly led to an attempted coup, led by his co-consul Sosius Falco just two days after his accession. While the first coup was put down, a second was just beginning, and it came to a head on 28 March when the praetorians stormed the imperial palace and murdered the 66-year-old Pertinax. His reign had lasted a mere 86 days. The guardsmen paraded his decapitated head on a lance through the streets of Rome, but this heinous deed would shortly condemn them as when Septimius Severus arrived in Rome he tricked the Praetorians into assembling unarmed, then dismissed and banished the entire Guard under threat from his Illyrian troops.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000.
Ex MMAG 92 (25 November 2002), 119; Sternberg XXIX (30 October 1995), 478; Bank Leu 28 (5 May 1981), 479.
denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 |
|
|
Maximinus I 'Thrax'. Silver Denarius (3.3 g), AD 235-238. Rome, AD 235/6. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus I right. Reverse S-ALVS AVGVSTI, Salus seated left, feeding from patera serpent coiled around altar, resting elbow on side of throne. RIC 14; BMC 21-2; RSC 85. Needle sharp with a deep reddish tone. Superb Extremely Fine.
This denarius utilizes an early, idealized portrait of Maximinus that resembles Severus Alexander. His later coin portraits are more true-to-life, showing his large chin and and other heavy facial features. According to the ancient author and contemporary, Herodian, Maximinus was "of such frightening appearance and colossal size that there is no obvious comparison to be drawn with any of the best-trained Greek athletes or warrior elite of the barbarians" (Herodian vii.1.2). This has lead some modern researchers to suspect that Maximinus suffered from some form of growth disorder, such as gigantism or acromegaly.
Estimated Value $250 - 300.
denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 |
|
|
Trajan. Silver Denarius (3.6 g), AD 98-117. Rome, AD 101/2. IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM, laureate head of Trajan right. Reverse P M TR P COS IIII P P, statue of Hercules standing facing on small base, holding club and lion's skin. RIC 49; Woytek 100a; BMC 86; RSC 234. Boldly struck and well centered with lustrous surfaces. Nearly Mint State.
The statue of Hercules on this coin honors Hercules of Gades, the patron of Trajan's native country. The Pillars of Hercules - the Rock of Gibraltar on the European flank, and an undetermined summit on the North African coast opposite - served as the westernmost extent of Hercules' labors, where he was sent to capture the Cattle of Geryon and bring them back to Eurystheus. For the ancients, the sea beyond the Pillars represented the great Unknown.
Estimated Value $800 - 900.
denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 |
|
|
Diadumenian. Silver Denarius (2.80 g), as Caesar, AD 217-218. Rome, under Macrinus, AD 217. M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES, bare-headed and draped bust of Diadumenian right. Reverse PRINC IVVENTVTIS, Diadumenian, in military attire, standing left, head right, holding standard and scepter; behind him, two standards. RIC 102; BMC 87-91; RSC 3. Virtually as struck, lustrous. Outstanding portraiture. Nearly Mint State.
This attractive silver denarius was struck in Rome soon after Diadumenian's elevation to the rank of Caesar, perhaps in celebration of his ninth birthday in September, AD 217. The obverse displays the Roman master of coin portraiture during the Severan era and wonderfully conveys the subject's youth and innocence. The reverse depicts Diadumenian standing amid Roman military standards in his role as 'Prince of Youth,' a title traditionally given to the heir to the imperial throne.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500.
Ex Goldberg 72 (5 February 2013), 4177; NAC 62 (16 June 2011), 2409; Gorny & Mosch 142 (10 October 2005), 2762.
denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 |
|
|
Vespasian. Silver Denarius (3.09 g), AD 69-79. Rome, AD 76. IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head of Vespasian right. Reverse COS VII, eagle standing facing on garlanded cippus, head left. RIC 847; BMC 180; RSC 121. Boldly struck in high relief on a large flan and perfectly centered. The surfaces are lustrous and delicately toned. Nearly Mint State.
The principate of Vespasian brought much needed stability to the Empire after Nero's reign and the subsequent civil wars of AD 68-69. Vespasian settled disturbances in Judaea and in Britain, as well as smaller uprisings in Cyprus and Egypt. He rebuilt much of Rome, still largely ruined from the devastating fire that swept the city in AD 64, and he extended the citizenship of the Empire. The reverse of this coin is a stock type which alludes to this Flavian peace and prosperity, and perhaps implies the hand of Jupiter Optimus Maximus (Jupiter, Best and Greatest) to whom Vespasian had paid particular attention, re-consecrating his temple in AD 70.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500.
denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 |
|
