DISCOVER HISTORICAL ANCIENT ROMAN COINS

Domitian AR Denarius. Rome, AD 86. First Issue 3.38g, 20mm, 5h Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P V, laureate head right Rev: IMP XI COS XII CENS P P P, Minerva advancing right, holding spear and shield. RIC 425.BMC 88, RSC 194 Roma Numismatics E-Sale 57. Thursday 30th May 2019 Lot 861 Here is a lovely rare coin. the toning is beautiful and the portrait is excellent. Struck before September of 86 CE, most of the coins of this issue are very scarce to rare. I loved the look of this one and I did not have one so naturally I bought it. Tracking down these rarities is a lot of fun and it forces one to become knowledgeable in terms of the relevant research books and references. It is almost as

Domitian AR Denarius. Rome, 88 CE. First Issue 3.25g, 19mm, 6h. Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERMAN PM TR P VII, laureate head right Rev: IMP XIIII COS XIIII CENS P P P, Minerva standing right with spear and shield. RIC 573 (R2) Ex: Roma Numismatics E-Sale 59 July 11, 2019 Lot 799 This lovely coin has a great portrait. However, what is most interesting is not the portrait but the obverse legend. Note that instead of GERM, the coin reads GERMAN. There are only 5 types of denarii listed in RIC that have GERMAN in the obverse legend and all of are at least R2 (very few examples known). This coin was attributed as RIC 572, a common coin. This coin is definitely not common. I had been looking for one

Domitian, 81-96. Denarius 85 CE Fourth Issue (Silver, 20 mm, 3.32 g, 6 h), Rome. Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P IIII Laureate head of Domitian to right, wearing aegis. Rev. IMP VIIII COS XI CENS POT P P Minerva standing front, head to left, holding thunderbolt in her right hand and a spear in her left; behind her, shield. BMC 79. Cohen 178 var. (without aegis). RIC 336 (R2). Leu Numismatic E-Auction 8 Lot 1038 June 30, 2019. I was absolutely thrilled to win this coin in an auction. There are 2 reasons I wanted it. First, it has CENS POT in the reverse legend. I am actively seeking out denarii with this legend. Secondly, have a close look at the bust on the obverse. Far down on the nec

Vespasian, 69-79 Denarius circa 73, AR 19.5mm., 3.25g. Obv: Laureate head r. ; IMP CAES VESP AVG CENS Rev:. Vespasian seated r. on curule chair, with feet on footstool, holding scepter and olive branch; PONTIF MAXIM RIC 546. C 387. Ex: E.E. Clain-Stefanelli collection Ex: Naville Numismatics Live auction 50 Lot 467 June 23, 2019 A common coin with an interesting portrait. The reverse has some mineral deposits, and the coin has a fair amount of wear. Sometimes it is the story behind the ownership of the coin that gets me interested in that coin. Collectors of ancient coins often say they wonder whose hands these coins passed through. Now usually what is meant is ancient hands, but more recen

Octavian as Augustus, 27 BC – 14 AD Denarius Lugdunum circa 13-14, 18mm., 3.56g. Obv: Laureate head r. Rev. Tiberius in triumphal quadriga r., holding laurel branch and eagle-tipped sceptre. RSC 301. RIC 224. Ex: Naville Numismatics Live auction 50 Lot 439 June 23, 2019 When I saw this come up for sale at auction i knew I wanted it. I have wanted one of these for a while. Why? It so happens i own a Tiberius denarius with the quadriga reverse. As soon as I realized one existed for Augustus I knew I had to have it. The reverse on the Augustus coin shows Tiberius as Caesar in the quadriga. Denarii featuring Tiberius are very scarce except for the ubiquitous 'Tribute Penny'. The other few types

Vespasian AR Denarius 77-78 Obv: Laureate head left: CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG Rev: CERES stg l with corn ears poppy and sceptre; CERES AVGVST Ric 970, BMC Page 425 add note to no. 300 left facing variant Colchester, RSC 54a (Colchester) Purchased from Ebay July 2019 Though I have no idea why the Flavians chose to issue left facing portraits, I do find them interesting. Both Titus and Vespasian use left facing portraits with some frequency on their denarii. Some are common and some are quite rare. On the other hand, left facing portraits on denarii of Domitian are all very rare. I like the portrait on this coin. Unfortunately, the figure of Ceres on the reverse is not very clear. The legends co

Vespasian AR Denarius 71 CE 18 mm 3.25 g Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG TR P; laureate head of Vespasian r Rev: TITVS ET DOMITIAN CAESARES PRIN IVEN; Titus and Domitian seated left on curule chairs, each holding a branch RIC 1124 (R) RSC 544 Purchased from Germania Inferior Numismatics on Vcoins June 14, 2019 Why did I want this very worn coin? It does not seem to have a lot to recommend it. I bought this coin for the reverse. It is a dynastic issue featuring Vespasian's sons Titus and Domitian. The coin has a dual message. First, it states that the Flavian dynasty is here to stay. Secondly, because of this continuity, stability is restored to the empire. There are other dynastic issues for

Domitian AR Denarius 88-89 CE 19mm., 2,83g. Obv: Head laureate r; IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM PM TR P VIII Rev:Minerva stg. L with spear; IMP XVIII COS XIII CENS PPP RIC 666 (R2) BMC—RSC-- Purchased from Savoca auctions June 23, 2019 In 88 CE Domitian was fighting a series of battles. As a result Imperial acclamations for Domitian changed rather rapidly. According to hoard evidence cited in RIC coins from IMP XVIII may have been struck for as few as 38 days. Elsewhere on this blog I posted RIC 655 which was IMP XVI and might have been struck for only 7-8 days. As a result this coin is rather rare. RIC cites it as R2-very few examples known. I know the coin is rather worn, but when a rarity appea

Vespasian 72-73 AR Denarius 3,24 g. Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG PM COS IIII; Head laureate right Rev: VICTORIA AVGVSTI; Victoria stg r ; crowning standard and holding palm. RIC 362 Cohen 618 RSC 618 Ex-Paul Schürer (1890-1976); Ex-Fritz Reusing (1874-1956) Purchased from Manfred Olding Munzenhandlung June 4, 2019 Vespasian 77-78 AR Denarius 3,19 g. Obv: Laureate head r; IMP CAESAR VESPASIANUS AVG Rev: Mars standing l with spear and trophy; COS - VIII RIC 937 Cohen 125 RSC 125 Ex-Paul Schürer (1890-1976); Ex-Fritz Reusing (1874-1956) Purchased from Manfred Olding Munzenhandlung June 4, 2019 Titus 80-81 For Divus Vespasianus. 3,10 g. Obv: Head laureate r; DIVVS AVGVSTVS VESPASIANVS Rev: Capr

Vespasian AR Denarius (70 CE Jan-June) Weight: 2.95 g17.5 mm Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head of Vespasian right Rev: COS ITER TR POT, Pax seated left, holding olive branch and caduceus RIC 29 RSC 94h Purchased from Germania Inferior Numismatics on Vcoins June 16, 2019 Believe it or not, the portrait on this coin is supposed to be Vespasian. To me this looks nothing like Vespasian. This has to be one of the very earliest coins struck for Vespasian. The story is that after Vespasian's acclamation as emperor he was nowhere near Rome. Still, coins had to be struck. The engravers would not have access to a model of Vespasian for some months after his acclamation. It look like they

Titus (79-81). AR Denarius, 79-80. 2.93 g 19.00mm Obv: Head right, laureate. IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG PM Rev: Bonus Eventus standing left, holding patera, corn-ears and poppy; BONVS EVENTVS AVGVSTI RIC 89 RSC 25 BMC 106. Toned. About VF. Artemide Aste E-Live auction 8 Lot 268 While this coin is rated as common in RIC, it does not come up for sale very often. I really like the unusual reverse with BONVS EVENTVS or "Good outcome". I also think the portrait has a lot of charm. The old cabinet toning is even and lovely. I like the denarii of Titus. I am currently trying to add a few more to my collection.