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Ancient Greek
Kroton (500 BC) - Delphic Tripod / Eagle
The Kroton stater with the Delphic tripod on the obverse and an incuse eagle flying right on the reverse is one of the most important and visually striking coins of Magna Graecia. It was struck in Kroton (Croton), Bruttium) around 500–480 BC.
Obverse: Delphic tripod with lion‑foot legs and the ethnic ϘΡΟΤΟΝ (Kroton)
Reverse: Eagle flying right, rendered in incuse (sunken)
The tripod is the sacred symbol of Apollo at Delphi, representing prophecy and divine sanctity Struck in incuse — meaning the design is sunken into the flan rather than raised This was the era when Kroton was a major power in Magna Graecia — famous for its athletes, philosophers (including Pythagoreans) and strong maritime connections. The tripod symbolised Kroton’s religious prestige and connection to Delphi. Currency Stater
Paid £340 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 10/6/2000
Reference S.257
Current value £450
Weight
Size
URL:https://www.ancienthistoriccoins.com/collection/greek
The Kroton stater with the Delphic tripod on the obverse and an incuse eagle flying right on the reverse is one of the most important and visually striking coins of Magna Graecia. It was struck in Kroton (Croton), Bruttium) around 500–480 BC.
Obverse: Delphic tripod with lion‑foot legs and the ethnic ϘΡΟΤΟΝ (Kroton)
Reverse: Eagle flying right, rendered in incuse (sunken)
The tripod is the sacred symbol of Apollo at Delphi, representing prophecy and divine sanctity Struck in incuse — meaning the design is sunken into the flan rather than raised This was the era when Kroton was a major power in Magna Graecia — famous for its athletes, philosophers (including Pythagoreans) and strong maritime connections. The tripod symbolised Kroton’s religious prestige and connection to Delphi. Currency Stater
Paid £340 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 10/6/2000
Reference S.257
Current value £450
Weight
Size
URL:https://www.ancienthistoriccoins.com/collection/greek
The Aegina Turtle Stater (c. 550–480 BC) - Incuse 'union jack' pattern.
The Aegina turtle coin is one of the most iconic and historically important coins of the ancient Greek world — in fact, it was the dominant trade currency of Greece before the Athenian owl.
The classic “turtle coin” is a silver stater minted on the island of Aegina, one of the earliest Greek coinages.It dates from around 550–480 BC, during the Archaic period.
It was so widely used that ancient Greeks joked: “Courage and wisdom are overcome by Turtles.”
The Obverse portrays a Sea Turtle seen from above. The shell has a line of raised pellets/dots running down the centre. The turtle symbolised Aegina’s maritime power and its dominance in Aegean trade. The Reverse has an The Incuse Punch - A deep incuse square divided into multiple triangular or geometric compartments. Earlier issues have an eight‑part “mill-sail” pattern, but this has the five part "Union Jack" pattern. This was created by the punch used to force the blank into the obverse die. This reverse is extremely distinctive — no inscription, just a punch
This coin was one of the first mass‑produced silver currencies in Greece. It was minted in huge quantities — estimated 10,000 coins per year for ~70 years and used widely across the Cyclades and Crete.
It pre‑dates the Athenian owl as a major trade currency. Currency Silver 'turtle' stater
Paid £90 - Coindex Exhibition
Date 7/10/2000
Reference S.1858
Current Value £400
Weight
Size
URL:https://www.ancienthistoriccoins.com/collection/greek
The Aegina turtle coin is one of the most iconic and historically important coins of the ancient Greek world — in fact, it was the dominant trade currency of Greece before the Athenian owl.
The classic “turtle coin” is a silver stater minted on the island of Aegina, one of the earliest Greek coinages.It dates from around 550–480 BC, during the Archaic period.
It was so widely used that ancient Greeks joked: “Courage and wisdom are overcome by Turtles.”
The Obverse portrays a Sea Turtle seen from above. The shell has a line of raised pellets/dots running down the centre. The turtle symbolised Aegina’s maritime power and its dominance in Aegean trade. The Reverse has an The Incuse Punch - A deep incuse square divided into multiple triangular or geometric compartments. Earlier issues have an eight‑part “mill-sail” pattern, but this has the five part "Union Jack" pattern. This was created by the punch used to force the blank into the obverse die. This reverse is extremely distinctive — no inscription, just a punch
This coin was one of the first mass‑produced silver currencies in Greece. It was minted in huge quantities — estimated 10,000 coins per year for ~70 years and used widely across the Cyclades and Crete.
It pre‑dates the Athenian owl as a major trade currency. Currency Silver 'turtle' stater
Paid £90 - Coindex Exhibition
Date 7/10/2000
Reference S.1858
Current Value £400
Weight
Size
URL:https://www.ancienthistoriccoins.com/collection/greek
The Aegina Turtle Stater (c. 550–480 BC) - Incuse 'union jack' pattern.
The Aegina turtle coin is one of the most iconic and historically important coins of the ancient Greek world — in fact, it was the dominant trade currency of Greece before the Athenian owl.
The classic “turtle coin” is a silver stater minted on the island of Aegina, one of the earliest Greek coinages.It dates from around 550–480 BC, during the Archaic period.
It was so widely used that ancient Greeks joked: “Courage and wisdom are overcome by Turtles.”
The Obverse portrays a Sea Turtle seen from above. The shell has a line of raised pellets/dots running down the centre.
The turtle symbolised Aegina’s maritime power and its dominance in Aegean trade.
The Reverse has an The Incuse Punch - A deep incuse square divided into multiple triangular or geometric compartments. Earlier issues have an eight‑part “mill-sail” pattern, but this has the five part "Union Jack" pattern. This was created by the punch used to force the blank into the obverse die. This reverse is extremely distinctive — no inscription, just a punch
This coin was one of the first mass‑produced silver currencies in Greece. It was minted in huge quantities — estimated 10,000 coins per year for ~70 years and used widely across the Cyclades and Crete. It pre‑dates the Athenian owl as a major trade currency.
Currency Silver 'turtle' stater
Paid £90 - Cumberland Coin Show
Date 3/6/2000
Reference S.1858
Current Value £400
Weight
Size
The classic “turtle coin” is a silver stater minted on the island of Aegina, one of the earliest Greek coinages.It dates from around 550–480 BC, during the Archaic period.
It was so widely used that ancient Greeks joked: “Courage and wisdom are overcome by Turtles.”
The Obverse portrays a Sea Turtle seen from above. The shell has a line of raised pellets/dots running down the centre.
The turtle symbolised Aegina’s maritime power and its dominance in Aegean trade.
The Reverse has an The Incuse Punch - A deep incuse square divided into multiple triangular or geometric compartments. Earlier issues have an eight‑part “mill-sail” pattern, but this has the five part "Union Jack" pattern. This was created by the punch used to force the blank into the obverse die. This reverse is extremely distinctive — no inscription, just a punch
This coin was one of the first mass‑produced silver currencies in Greece. It was minted in huge quantities — estimated 10,000 coins per year for ~70 years and used widely across the Cyclades and Crete. It pre‑dates the Athenian owl as a major trade currency.
Currency Silver 'turtle' stater
Paid £90 - Cumberland Coin Show
Date 3/6/2000
Reference S.1858
Current Value £400
Weight
Size
Athenian Incuse Owl/ Head of Athena
The obverse shows the head of Athena, the patron goddess of Athens. She faces right, wearing an Attic helmet decorated with olive leaves or floral/animal motifs.
The reverse shows the owl of Athena, standing right but looking forward. To the right of the owl is the inscription ΑΘΕ — the first three letters of “Athenians.”
A small crescent moon and olive sprig appear behind the owl. Early issues like this coin show the owl inside a deep incuse square.
The coin became the most widely used trade coin in the Mediterranean. Athens’ silver mines at Laurion allowed mass production.
Currency Tetradrachm
Paid £360 - Dave - Charing Cross
Date 25/3/2000
Reference s.2526
Current Value £900
Weight
Size
Athenian Incuse Owl / Head of Athena
The obverse shows the head of Athena, the patron goddess of Athens. She faces right, wearing an Attic helmet decorated with olive leaves or floral/animal motifs.
The reverse shows the owl of Athena, standing right but looking forward. To the right of the owl is the inscription ΑΘΕ — the first three letters of “Athenians.”
A small crescent moon and olive sprig appear behind the owl. Early issues like this coin show the owl inside a deep incuse square.
The coin became the most widely used trade coin in the Mediterranean. Athens’ silver mines at Laurion allowed mass production.
Currency Drachma
Paid £100 - Dave - Charing Cross
Date 26/02/2000
Reference s.2527
Current Value £900
Size
Weight
Athenian Incuse Owl / Head of Athena
The obverse shows the head of Athena, the patron goddess of Athens. She faces right, wearing an Attic helmet decorated with olive leaves or floral/animal motifs.
The reverse shows the owl of Athena, standing right but looking forward. To the right of the owl is the inscription ΑΘΕ — the first three letters of “Athenians.”
A small crescent moon and olive sprig appear behind the owl. Early issues like this coin show the owl inside a deep incuse square.
The coin became the most widely used trade coin in the Mediterranean. Athens’ silver mines at Laurion allowed mass production.
Currency Drachma
Paid £100 - Dave - Charing Cross
Date 26/02/2000
Reference s.2527
Current Value £900
Size
Weight
Roman Republic
Twelve Caesars
178
178. Head of Venus right, wearing diadem. Border of dots. Reverse; Aeneas left, carrying palladium in right hand and Anchises on left shoulder, on right, inscription
This classic ancient Roman silver denarius was issued by Julius Caesar andwas struck by a mobile military mint traveling with Caesar during his African campaign between 47 and 46 BCE(around the time of the Battle of Thapsus).
The coin features remarkable propaganda intended to legitimize Caesar's political power and divine lineage:
Obverse (Head of Venus right): The portrait represents the goddess Venus. The gens Julia (Julius Caesar's family) famously claimed direct descent from Venus through her grandson, Iulus (the son of Aeneas).
Reverse (Aeneas and Anchises): This side depicts the Trojan hero Aeneas fleeing the burning city of Troy. He is shown carrying his crippled father, Anchises, on his shoulder and the Palladium (a sacred statue of the goddess Athena/Minerva) in his outstretched right hand.
Inscription: The inscription on the right side reads CAESAR.
This specific mythology beautifully ties together Caesar's claimed divine grandmother (Venus) and his heroic ancestor (Aeneas). The reverse scene was later heavily popularized in Virgil's epic poem, the Aeneid.
This coin was minted in the middle of the civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey, albeit after the latter’s defeat and death. Already in 50 BCE, the Senate commanded Caesar to return to Rome because his term as governor was over. In answer to that, in 49 BCE, Caesar crossed the Rubicon River with only one legion. This act resulted in a civil war between Caesar and the optimates, who chose Pompey as their leader. Afterwards Caesar defeated Pompey's allies in Spain and returned to the East, to confront the latter in Illyria.
Later on, Caesar defeated Pompey at Pharsalus, in Greece, and pursued him to Egypt, arriving soon after the murder of the general. There, he supported Cleopatra VII against her younger brother Ptolemy XIV. Caesar decided to bestow the pharaoh's crown on the head of Cleopatra in 47 BCE, after having successfully defeated her opponents. After the defeat of the King of Pontus, who had sided with Pompey, by 46 BCE, Caesar advanced to Africa to deal with Cato, and others supporters of the optimates' rule.
Possibly the coin was minted on the spot to pay the soldiers who fought on African soil. At that time Julius Caesar had witnessed in person all the pageantry of the Hellenistic monarchy in Ptolemaic Egypt, as well as the Ptolemies’ claim to divinity. Contrary to the previous warlords such as Sulla, who claimed a close bond with Venus Felix, and to his rival Pompey, who claimed a close bond with Venus Victrix, but without pretending to descend from the goddess, Julius Caesar claimed much more. Perhaps drawing on the example of the Hellenistic monarchies of the Greek East, Caesar emphasized the divine ancestry of his family, the gens Iulia. They claimed descent from the goddess Venus and her son, the Trojan hero Aeneas, who saved his father from the fall of Troy and, according to the legend, fled to Italy. The Romans traced their history back to him. Caesar’s claim was accepted by his adopted son Octavian and it became one of the main vehicles of imperial propaganda.
The Aeneid, written by Virgil, as well as various coins minted by Octavian/Augustus, and his well-known portrait, the statue of Augustus of Prima Porta, convey the idea of a close relationship between the gens Iulia and Venus. This denarius suggests that the Roman Republic had to be identified with the personal power of Julius Caesar, by then also dictator, or supreme magistrate of the Roman Republic.
Finally, it is important to emphasize that this coin also forwards an ideal of pietas, by reffering to the pietas of Aeneas towards his father, as well as to the pietas of Julius Caesar towards his ancestors, the goddess Venus and Aeneas himself. The idea of pietas consisted in "fulfilling one's responsibilities to anyone or anything to whom one was bound in any way. The fulfillment of these responsibilities could be motivated by the requirements of duty or obligations, in which case pietas was often overlapped with the notion of officium, fides, or religio, or by the deeper sentiments of love and affection" (Noreña, Imperial Ideals in the Roman West, p. 71). Later on, in the early imperial period, according to Carlos Noreña, pietas was one of the most important virtues displayed on Roman imperial coinage.
Minted in Africa
Currency Denarius
Paid £150 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 18/12/1999
Reference s.1402 / s.2355
Current Value £2,500
Size 16mm
Weight 3.83g
112
112. Julius Caesar (100 - 44 BC) - Elephant Trampling Snake (* Contemporary Counterfeit *)
This is the first coin ever issued by Julius Caesar, struck in 49 BC at the very start of the civil war against Pompey. It shows:
> Obverse: An elephant advancing right, trampling a serpent
> Reverse: A collection of priestly symbols (simpulum, aspergillum, axe, and apex)
The message was pure propaganda: Caesar = the mighty elephant crushing evil / chaos / Pompey’s faction.
A contemporary counterfeit means:
It was made in antiquity, not modern.
Usually produced by criminals or local moneyers during Caesar’s lifetime.
Often silver‑plated bronze, or low‑grade silver.
Style is usually slightly “off”:
Elephant looks more cartoonish or stiff
Legends irregular
The weight is 1.75g as oposed to the heavier silver original of 3.8–4.0g.
These were made to pass in everyday circulation — essentially ancient fraud.
Currency Denarius
Paid £45 - Alan Cherry - Commonwealth Institute
Date 17th November 1999
Reference s.353
Current Value
Size 16mm
Weight 1.75g
241
241. Julius Caesar (100 - 44 BC) - Elephant Trampling Snake
This is the first coin ever issued by Julius Caesar, struck in 49 BC at the very start of the civil war against Pompey. It shows:
> Obverse: An elephant advancing right, trampling a serpent
> Reverse: A collection of priestly symbols (simpulum, aspergillum, axe, and apex)
The message was pure propaganda: Caesar = the mighty elephant crushing evil / chaos / Pompey’s faction.
Currency Denarius
Paid £120 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 12th August 2000
Reference s.353
Current Value
Size 19mm
Weight 3.25g
104
104. Julius Caesar (100 - 44 BC) - Trophy of Gallic Arms
Roman Republican/Imperatorial. Military mint moving with Caesar in Spain, 46-45 BCE.
Obv: Head of Venus to right, wearing stephane; Cupid behind shoulder
Rev: Trophy of Gallic arms, composed of helmet and cuirass, oval shield and two carnyxes. Two Gallic captives seated at base, to left, a female (Gallia) in posture of mourning, head resting in r. hand; to right, a bearded male (Vercingetorix) with hands bound behind him, looking l. CAESAR in exergue.
Reference: Crawford 468/1; CRI 58; RSC 13; Sydenham 1014.
Numismatic Notes: The figures on the reverse of this coin are traditionally identified as the same as those portrayed on the obverses of the pair of Hostilius Saserna AR Denarii, c. 48 BC, depicting Gallia (left) and Vercingetorix (right).
This coin became the archetype for Roman numismatic depictions of captives for the next 400 years. The trophy with two captives beneath was used frequently in the 3rd century (e.g., by Septimius Severus and Caracalla) and became a popular type on 4th century small bronze coinage (see, e.g., the Constantine AE3s). Even those depicting a single captive borrowed from this imagery; e.g., Judaea (under Vespasian et al.), Armenia (L. Verus et al.), and Dacia (Trajan et al.), among others, were depicted as female personifications in the same attitude of dejection/posture of mourning.
Currency Denarius
Paid £220 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 11th July 1999
Reference s.354
Current Value
Size 19mm
Weight 3.72g
122
122. Julius Caesar (100 - 44 BC) - Trophy of Gallic Arms
Roman Republican/Imperatorial. Military mint moving with Caesar in Spain, 46-45 BCE.
Obv: Head of Venus to right, wearing stephane; Cupid behind shoulder
Rev: Trophy of Gallic arms, composed of helmet and cuirass, oval shield and two carnyxes. Two Gallic captives seated at base, to left, a female (Gallia) in posture of mourning, head resting in r. hand; to right, a bearded male (Vercingetorix) with hands bound behind him, looking l. CAESAR in exergue.
Reference: Crawford 468/1; CRI 58; RSC 13; Sydenham 1014.
Numismatic Notes: The figures on the reverse of this coin are traditionally identified as the same as those portrayed on the obverses of the pair of Hostilius Saserna AR Denarii, c. 48 BC, depicting Gallia (left) and Vercingetorix (right).
This coin became the archetype for Roman numismatic depictions of captives for the next 400 years. The trophy with two captives beneath was used frequently in the 3rd century (e.g., by Septimius Severus and Caracalla) and became a popular type on 4th century small bronze coinage (see, e.g., the Constantine AE3s). Even those depicting a single captive borrowed from this imagery; e.g., Judaea (under Vespasian et al.), Armenia (L. Verus et al.), and Dacia (Trajan et al.), among others, were depicted as female personifications in the same attitude of dejection/posture of mourning.
Currency Denarius
Paid £120 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 7th August 1999
Reference s.357
Current Value
Size 18mm
Weight 3.88g
137
137. Agrippa (63 - 12 BC) - Neptune - Struck by Tiberius
Neptune standing, nude, with a cloak over his shoulders, holding a dolphin and a trident.
Agrippa is one of the greatest men of Ancient Rome. His lifetime accomplishments were spectacular and his heritage is incredibly rich even two thousand years after his death. However, only a few Roman coins issued during his lifetime bear his portrait or name. This is due to the role that money played at the time of the Roman Empire. In addition to being a means of payment, coins were also a form of propaganda. As this centered around the person of Octavian, and later his family, other subjects or persons, with rare exceptions, had no place on Rome’s coins.
Currency Sestertius
Paid £45 - Saive
Date 11th September 1999
Reference s.556 / s.1812
Current Value £350
Size 25mm
Weight 13.06 g
172
172. Agrippa (63 - 12 BC) - Neptune - Struck by Tiberius
Neptune standing, nude, with a cloak over his shoulders, holding a dolphin and a trident.
Agrippa is one of the greatest men of Ancient Rome. His lifetime accomplishments were spectacular and his heritage is incredibly rich even two thousand years after his death. However, only a few Roman coins issued during his lifetime bear his portrait or name. This is due to the role that money played at the time of the Roman Empire. In addition to being a means of payment, coins were also a form of propaganda. As this centered around the person of Octavian, and later his family, other subjects or persons, with rare exceptions, had no place on Rome’s coins.
Currency Sestertius
Paid £50 - Ziele
Date 13th November 1999
Reference s.556 / s.1812
Current Value £350
Size 27mm
Weight 13.67g
180
180. Heads of Augustus and Agrippa / Crocodile in chains
The obverse displays the heads of Augustus, laureate (on the right) and Agrippa, laureate and wearing a rostral crown (on the left), back to back.
On the reverse is featured a crocodile, right, in chains, with a palm-branch behind; behind the palm, a wreath with long ties.
Inscription: The obverse bears the inscription “IMP DIVI F,” indicating Augustus as the son of the deified Julius Caesar. The reverse field has the inscription “COL NEM,” referring to the colony of Nemausus (modern-day Nîmes, France).
Historical Significance: The crocodile represents Egypt, symbolizing the defeat of Cleopatra and the Roman victory at the Battle of Actium. It may also refer to the veterans of the Actium campaign settled in Nemausus by Octavian (Augustus).
Currency AE 25
Paid £40 - Saive
Date 6th November 1999
Reference s.1728
Current Value £450
Size 25mm
Weight 12.98g
196
196. Octavian (63 BC - 14 AD) - Head of Apollo / Octavian Plowing
This denarius was struck around 29–27 BC, just before Octavian received the title Augustus. It marks the moment he transitions from Civil war victor to founder of a new political order. This coin is essentially the numismatic birth certificate of the Augustan regime.
This is Octavian performing the ritual foundation ceremony of a city — the sulcus primigenius, the sacred first furrow. In Roman tradition, when founding a new city, the leader:
Wore a veil
Drove two oxen pulling a plow
Marked out the pomerium, the sacred boundary
Octavian used this imagery to claim he was refounding Rome after the civil wars, restoring peace, order, and tradition. It also illustrated that his rule was divinely sanctioned
This is one of the clearest pieces of propaganda showing Octavian presenting himself not as a conqueror, but as a founder and restorer.
Currency Denarius
Paid £120 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 4th December 1999
Reference s.460 / S.1560
Current Value £1,200
Size 19 mm
Weight 3.83 g
291
291. Octavian (63 BC - 14 AD) - Pax Standing Holding Olive Branch and cornucopia
This Octavian denarius (minted 32–29 BC) has an obverse featuring a bare head of Octavian, while the reverse depicts Pax (goddess of peace) standing left, holding an olive branch (symbolizing peace and victory) and a cornucopia (symbolizing prosperity and abundance).
Political Symbolism
Commissioned during the civil wars as Octavian fought Mark Antony and Cleopatra, this coin was a brilliant piece of propaganda. By placing Pax on the reverse, Octavian promised citizens that an end to the civil wars would bring the return of stability and wealth to Rome. It subtly framed his military campaigns as necessary to achieve this ultimate peace, subtly pointing to Cleopatra as the disruptor.
Reverse Legend: CAESAR DIVI F (Caesar, Son of the Divine)
Significance of Legend: This text was crucial for legitimizing Octavian's rule by visually and textually tying him to the legacy of Julius Caesar.
Currency Denarius
Paid £160 - CNG - eBay
Date 25th October 2000
Reference s.1551
Current Value £1,500
Size 19 mm
Weight 3.55 g
80
80. Octavian (63 BC - 14 AD) - Head of Apollo / Octavian Plowing
This denarius was struck around 29–27 BC, just before Octavian received the title Augustus. It marks the moment he transitions from Civil war victor to founder of a new political order. This coin is essentially the numismatic birth certificate of the Augustan regime.
This is Octavian performing the ritual foundation ceremony of a city — the sulcus primigenius, the sacred first furrow. In Roman tradition, when founding a new city, the leader:
Wore a veil
Drove two oxen pulling a plow
Marked out the pomerium, the sacred boundary
Octavian used this imagery to claim he was refounding Rome after the civil wars, restoring peace, order, and tradition. It also illustrated that his rule was divinely sanctioned
This is one of the clearest pieces of propaganda showing Octavian presenting himself not as a conqueror, but as a founder and restorer.
Currency Denarius
Paid £100 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 11th December 1999
Reference s.460 / S.1560
Current Value £1,000
Size 19 mm
Weight 3.83 g
185
185. Julius Caesar (100 - 44 BC) - Trophy of Gallic Arms
Roman Republican/Imperatorial. Military mint moving with Caesar in Spain, 46-45 BCE.
Obv: Head of Venus to right, wearing stephane; Cupid behind shoulder
Rev: Trophy of Gallic arms, composed of helmet and cuirass, oval shield and two carnyxes. Two Gallic captives seated at base, to left, a female (Gallia) in posture of mourning, head resting in r. hand; to right, a bearded male (Vercingetorix) with hands bound behind him, looking l. CAESAR in exergue.
Reference: Crawford 468/1; CRI 58; RSC 13; Sydenham 1014.
Numismatic Notes: The figures on the reverse of this coin are traditionally identified as the same as those portrayed on the obverses of the pair of Hostilius Saserna AR Denarii, c. 48 BC, depicting Gallia (left) and Vercingetorix (right).
This coin became the archetype for Roman numismatic depictions of captives for the next 400 years. The trophy with two captives beneath was used frequently in the 3rd century (e.g., by Septimius Severus and Caracalla) and became a popular type on 4th century small bronze coinage (see, e.g., the Constantine AE3s). Even those depicting a single captive borrowed from this imagery; e.g., Judaea (under Vespasian et al.), Armenia (L. Verus et al.), and Dacia (Trajan et al.), among others, were depicted as female personifications in the same attitude of dejection/posture of mourning.
Currency Denarius
Paid £100 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 18th December 1999
Reference s.1404
Current Value
Size 20mm
Weight 4.04g
190
190. Cnaes Pompey, Junior - Roma / Pompey Receives Palm (46 BC)
Minted in Cordoba, Spain in summer 46 BC to spring 45 BC, just before his defeat by Caesar.
M. Poblicius, legate pro praetore. Obv: helmeted head of Roma right; M•POBLICI•LEG PRO•PR around. Rev: female figure standing right, with shield slung on back, holding two spears and giving palm-branch to soldier (Pompey?) standing to left on prow of ship; CN•MAGNVS•IMP upwards to right.
Currency Denarius
Paid £80 - Kevin - Charing Crosss
Date 29th January 2000
Reference S.1384
Current Value £350
Size 20mm
Weight 3.91g
123
123. Livia - Wife of Augustus, Mother of Tiberius - Livia as Pietas
Rome mint, 80-81 AD
Obv: PIETAS; Bust of Livia as Pietas, draped r., with stephane
Rev: IMP T CAES DIVI VESP F AVG REST; S C in centre
RIC 426 (C2). BMC 291. BNC 305.
Titus struck an extensive restoration series of bronze coins of Flavian approved past emperors and imperial family members which reproduced the original coins in their entirety. While this veneration of past coinages was not a new idea (Vespasian copied past types on many reverses for the precious metal issues) it was quite an innovation to copy both the obverse and reverse of these past coinages. To do so likely had a dual purpose - one, to recoin types that were being recalled or falling out of circulation and to keep their memory alive, and secondly to link the Flavian house with those past revered personages. The meaning is quite clear on the reverse with Titus declaring he has restored (REST) this coin. H. Mattingly in BMCRE II described the series as a 'roll of honour of the early Empire, preserving all memories that deserved to be remembered.' This dupondius possibly features Augustus' wife Livia on the obverse as Pietas, although the identification is uncertain. Prototype, RIC 43 (Tiberius).
Currency AE Dupondius
Paid £150 - CNG
Date 7th August 1999
Reference s.547
Current Value £1,000
Size 30 mm
Weight 12.87g
382
382. Heads of Augustus and Agrippa / Crocodile in chains
The obverse displays the heads of Augustus, laureate (on the right) and Agrippa, laureate and wearing a rostral crown (on the left), back to back.
On the reverse is featured a crocodile, right, in chains, with a palm-branch behind; behind the palm, a wreath with long ties.
Inscription: The obverse bears the inscription “IMP DIVI F,” indicating Augustus as the son of the deified Julius Caesar. The reverse field has the inscription “COL NEM,” referring to the colony of Nemausus (modern-day Nîmes, France).
Historical Significance: The crocodile represents Egypt, symbolizing the defeat of Cleopatra and the Roman victory at the Battle of Actium. It may also refer to the veterans of the Actium campaign settled in Nemausus by Octavian (Augustus).
Currency AE 25
Paid £55 - Charing Cross
Date 2025
Reference s.1728
Current Value £450
Size 27 mm
Weight 12.63g
179
179. Octavian and Lepidus (42 BC)
The Octavian & Lepidus denarius of 42 BC is one of the clearest numismatic snapshots of the Second Triumvirate at the moment it was gearing up for the campaign against Brutus and Cassius. It’s catalogued as Crawford 495/2 and is part of the large imperatorial coinage struck in Italy in spring–summer 42 BC.
It’s a silver denarius showing Lepidus on one side and Octavian on the other, both identified as triumvirs for the re‑establishment of the Republic, struck to fund the military operations leading to Philippi.
Obverse
Bare head of Lepidus, right
Legend: LEPIDVS PONT MAX III VIR R P C
Pontifex Maximus — he inherited Caesar’s priesthood in 44 BC
III VIR R(ei) P(ublicae) C(onstituendae) — “Triumvir for the re‑establishment of the Republic”
Reverse
Bare head of Octavian, right
Legend: CAESAR IMP III VIR R P C
IMP — imperator, acknowledging his military victories
Same triumviral title as Lepidus
It was minted in Italy, moving with the triumviral forces in 42 BC, just before the campaign against Brutus & Cassius
After Caesar’s assassination, Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus formed a legally constituted three‑man dictatorship. All three struck coinage aggressively in 43–42 BC to fund armies.
Crawford notes these issues were funded by the proceeds of the proscriptions, the brutal confiscations and executions used to raise money for the coming war.
Lepidus was the least militarily dominant of the triumvirs. His coinage is less common and less varied than Antony’s or Octavian’s, reflecting his weaker political position.
Octavian’s portrait and IMP title show his growing military legitimacy. Within a year, after Philippi, he would eclipse Lepidus entirely
Currency Denarius
Paid £350 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 18th December 1999
Reference s.1523 / s.401
Current Value £1,800
Size 19 mm
Weight 3.93g
173
173. Octavian (32 BC) - Head of Pax / Octavian Walking
This coin is the Octavian “Pax / Adlocutio” denarius, struck Autumn 32 – Summer 31 BC, just before Actium.
The obverse displays the Diademed head of Pax right, with Cornucopia behind, Olive branch before
The message: Octavian is presenting himself as the bringer of peace and prosperity.
On the reverse, Octavian walking right, raising hand in adlocutio (addressing the troops), Spear over shoulder
The Message: Octavian as commander‑in‑chief, rallying the army before the decisive war with Antony.
The coin was struck immediately before the Battle of Actium (31 BC), when Octavian was consolidating political and military power. As part of a huge propaganda push presenting him as a bringer of peace (Pax), the leader of the legions (adlocutio) and protector of Rome
The imagery is deliberate: peace on the obverse, military authority on the reverse. It’s Octavian saying: I will bring peace, but only after victory.
This is one of the clearest “pre‑Augustus” coins showing the transition from Republican general to future emperor.
Currency Denarius
Paid £130 - Cumberland Coin Show
Date 6th November 1999
Reference s.1549
Current Value £2,000
Size 19 mm
Weight 3.79g
183
183. Octavian (29-27 BC) - Octavian driving a bigae / Victory on Prow of Ship
The obverse depicts Octavian driving a bigae (two‑horse chariot). He holds the reins and a sceptre, the horses are shown in motion. This is a triumphal chariot scene, not a portrait. Legend: IMP CAESAR
This is a rare and desirable type, struck just after Actium.
The reverse image shows Victory standing on a ship’s prow, holding a wreath. This is the classic Actium victory symbol
This coin celebrates Octavian’s naval victory at Actium (31 BC), his triumphal return to Rome and his status as Imperator Caesar. The biga obverse represents his triumphal procession. The prow reverse represents the naval victory that made him master of the Roman world.
It was minted during the transition period just before he becomes Augustus in 27 BC
Currency Denarius
Paid £180 - Mike Vosper - Charing Cross
Date 6th November 1999
Reference s.1555
Current Value £600
Size 19 mm
Weight 3.62g
188
188. Octavian (29-27 BC) - Octavian driving a bigae / Victory on Prow of Ship
The obverse depicts Octavian driving a bigae (two‑horse chariot). He holds the reins and a sceptre, the horses are shown in motion. This is a triumphal chariot scene, not a portrait. Legend: IMP CAESAR
This is a rare and desirable type, struck just after Actium.
The reverse image shows Victory standing on a ship’s prow, holding a wreath. This is the classic Actium victory symbol
This coin celebrates Octavian’s naval victory at Actium (31 BC), his triumphal return to Rome and his status as Imperator Caesar. The biga obverse represents his triumphal procession. The prow reverse represents the naval victory that made him master of the Roman world.
It was minted during the transition period just before he becomes Augustus in 27 BC
Currency Denarius
Paid £180 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 6th November 1999
Reference s.1555 / s.460
Current Value £600
Size 19 mm
Weight 3.59g
325
325. Octavian (34 - 37 AD) - Temple of Julius Caesar
The famous Octavian denarius depicting the Temple of Julius Caesar was actually minted in 36 BC (during his time as Triumvir, rather than 34–37 AD). It is a rare and highly sought-after piece of ancient Roman propaganda.
Key Coin Features
The Obverse features a bareheaded, bearded portrait of Octavian facing right, surrounded by the legend identifying him as the son of the divine Julius and a Triumvir.
The Reverse depicts the tetrastyle (four-columned) Temple of Divus Iulius. Inside the temple stands a veiled statue of Julius Caesar holding an augur's staff (lituus). A prominent six-pointed star, representing the Sidus Iulium (Caesar's Comet) is above the temple. A lighted altar is visible to the left of the temple.
Struck while the temple was actually still under construction in the Roman Forum, the coin was designed to legally and visually cement Octavian’s connection to the now-divine Julius Caesar. The bearded portrait was an expression of mourning for Caesar's assassination
Currency Denarius
Paid £70 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 2nd December 2000
Reference s.1545
Current Value £600
Size 20mm
Weight 3.37g
384
384. Octavian - Head of Venus / Octavian
The coin depicts Venus, shown facing right, wearing a stephane (diadem) - her hair in the classical Venus style: wavy, tied back, with a ribbon with a small knot behind the head
Why Venus?
Octavian is deliberately invoking Julius Caesar’s divine patroness. Caesar claimed descent from Venus Genetrix, and Octavian is hammering home the message:
“I am Caesar’s heir — therefore Venus is my divine protector.”
This is part of the Divi Filius (“son of the divine”) propaganda programme.
On the reverse is the figure of Octavian standing right wearing military dress and holding a spear. He is raising his right hand in a gesture of command or acclamation
The legend reads: CAESAR DIVI F (“Caesar, son of the divine”)
This is not a deity, not Virtus, not Mars — it is Octavian, asserting his authority as commander of Rome’s armies.
Because this coin was struck during the build‑up to the war with Antony and Cleopatra. Octavian needed to present himself as both the rightful heir of Caesar and divinely favoured leader, but also as the commander who would restore Rome.
Currency Denarius
Paid £270 - Tony - Charing Cross
Date 3rd September 2016
Reference s.1548
Current Value £600
Size 20mm
Weight 3.93g
161
161. Octavian (63 BC) - Victory standing on Cista Mystica flanked by Two Snakes
Minted in: Italy (Brundisium and Rome?). Rev. ASIA / RECEPTA Victory standing front on cista mistica, head to left, holding wreath in her right hand and palm frond in her left, flanked by two interlaced snakes with heads erect.
The Cista Mystica is a sacred box used in the Dionysiac mysteries, especially in Asia Minor (Pergamon, Ephesus, etc.). It symbolises Asia Minor - both its religious identity and its Hellenistic heritage
Augustus deliberately uses a symbol familiar to Greek‑speaking provinces.
The serpents are guardians of the cista in Dionysiac ritual.
They represent the mystical traditions of Asia, the “taming” of the East under Roman rule and the idea of Rome restoring order
So Victory stands ovber the cista, literally dominating Asia, her wreath and palm frond proclaim triumph.
This coin announces:
“Asia has been recovered for Rome after the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra.”
It is a political statement, not a religious one.
Currency Quinarius
Paid £35 - Commonwealth Institute
Date 23rd October 1999
Reference s.1568
Current Value £550
Size 12mm
Weight 1.90g
191
191 - Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Bull Butting
Bare head of Augustus right./Butting Bull left. IMP X in exergue (meaning Imperator for the tenth time)
Struck c. 27–26 BC Mint: Probably a Spanish military mint (Tarraco is the leading candidate)
This is Augustus in his early portrait style:
Bare head (not yet consistently laureate)
Youthful, idealised features
Short, neat hair in the early Augustan style
This portrait style is transitional — Augustus is no longer Octavian, but not yet the fully formalised imperial portrait of later issues.
This is not a random animal. The bull is one of the most ancient symbols of strength, Military power, Victory and Founding authority
Given the mint attribution (Spain) and the legend IMP X, the bull almost certainly references Augustus’ tenth acclamation as Imperator, awarded for victories in Spain.
Currency Denarius
Paid £80 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 19th January 2000
Reference s.1610 / RSC 137
Current Value £500
Size 16mm
Weight 3.03g
198
198 - Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Bull Butting
Bare head of Augustus right./Butting Bull left. IMP X in exergue (meaning Imperator for the tenth time)
Struck c. 27–26 BC Mint: Probably a Spanish military mint (Tarraco is the leading candidate)
This is Augustus in his early portrait style:
Bare head (not yet consistently laureate)
Youthful, idealised features
Short, neat hair in the early Augustan style
This portrait style is transitional — Augustus is no longer Octavian, but not yet the fully formalised imperial portrait of later issues.
This is not a random animal. The bull is one of the most ancient symbols of strength, Military power, Victory and Founding authority
Given the mint attribution (Spain) and the legend IMP X, the bull almost certainly references Augustus’ tenth acclamation as Imperator, awarded for victories in Spain.
Currency Denarius
Paid £120 - Dema - eBay
Date 11th March 2000
Reference s.1610 / RSC 137
Current Value £500
Size 17mm
Weight 3.74g
309
309. Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Capricorn holding Globus attached to Rudder
This is the classic Spanish mint type (likely Colonia Patricia), struck c. 17–16 BC.
Obverse: Bare head right; Reverse: Capricorn right, holding globus attached to rudder between front hooves; cornucopia above
The Capricorn is Augustus’ personal zodiac sign (he was born under Capricorn’s rising sign). But on coins, it carries much deeper political meaning.
The Capricorn (half‑goat, half‑fish): Represents mastery over land and sea — crucial after Augustus’ victory at Actium.
The Globus (world sphere): Symbolises world dominion — Rome’s universal rule.
The Rudder: Represents control over fate and direction of the empire.
The Cornucopia: Symbol of prosperity and abundance, signalling the peace Augustus brought after decades of civil war.
This coin is pure Augustan propaganda:
“Augustus guides the world, brings prosperity, and rules over land and sea.”
Currency Denarius
Paid £140 - Paul Murray - eBay
Date 8th October 2000
Reference s.1592
Current Value £650
Size 21mm
Weight 3.36g
78
78. Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Capricorn holding Globus attached to Rudder
This is the classic Spanish mint type (likely Colonia Patricia), struck c. 17–16 BC.
Obverse: Bare head right; Reverse: Capricorn right, holding globus attached to rudder between front hooves; cornucopia above
The Capricorn is Augustus’ personal zodiac sign (he was born under Capricorn’s rising sign). But on coins, it carries much deeper political meaning.
The Capricorn (half‑goat, half‑fish): Represents mastery over land and sea — crucial after Augustus’ victory at Actium.
The Globus (world sphere): Symbolises world dominion — Rome’s universal rule.
The Rudder: Represents control over fate and direction of the empire.
The Cornucopia: Symbol of prosperity and abundance, signalling the peace Augustus brought after decades of civil war.
This coin is pure Augustan propaganda:
“Augustus guides the world, brings prosperity, and rules over land and sea.”
Currency Denarius
Paid £175 - Mike Vosper - Charing Cross
Date 5th June 1999
Reference s.1592
Current Value £650
Size 20mm
Weight 3.75g
89.
89. Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Caius & Lucius Caesars
Obverse: Head of Augustus, laureate, right.
Legend: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE (Caesar Augustus, son of the divine, father of the nation)
Reverse: Gaius and Lucius Caesar standing, each, togate, resting hand on shield and spear, simpulum, right, and lituus, left, flanking, left and right respectively.
Reverse legend : C L CAESARES AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT (Gaius and Lucius, sons of Caesar Augustus, consuls elect, princes of the youth.)
Minted at Lugdunum, Gaul, modern-day Lyons, France (15 BC–AD 78)
Gaius (born 20 BC) and Lucius (born 17 BC) were the sons of Marcus Agrippa and Julia, Augustus’ daughter. Augustus adopted them as his own and groomed them as future emperors.
The reverse proclaims them Consuls‑designate and Princes of the Youth (Principes Iuventutis) — a formal honour marking them as heirs
These coins were struck in huge quantities at Lugdunum between 2 BC and AD 4, precisely when Augustus was promoting the boys as successors.
The sheer volume was deliberate:
Every Roman handling money would see the faces of Augustus’ intended heirs.
Above the boys is a Simpulum (priestly vessel) and a Lituus (augur’s staff)
These symbols emphasise their religious authority and their legitimacy as future leaders
Despite the propaganda, both heirs died young:
Lucius died in AD 2
Gaius died in AD 4
Their deaths forced Augustus to adopt Tiberius, reshaping Roman history. This makes the coin a poignant reminder of the succession that never happened.
Currency Denarius
Paid £75 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 12th June 1999
Reference s.479
Current Value £250
Size 18mm
Weight 3.70g
164
164. Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Caius & Lucius Caesars
Obverse: Head of Augustus, laureate, right.
Legend: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE (Caesar Augustus, son of the divine, father of the nation)
Reverse: Gaius and Lucius Caesar standing, each, togate, resting hand on shield and spear, simpulum, right, and lituus, left, flanking, left and right respectively.
Reverse legend : C L CAESARES AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT (Gaius and Lucius, sons of Caesar Augustus, consuls elect, princes of the youth.)
Minted at Lugdunum, Gaul, modern-day Lyons, France (15 BC–AD 78)
Gaius (born 20 BC) and Lucius (born 17 BC) were the sons of Marcus Agrippa and Julia, Augustus’ daughter. Augustus adopted them as his own and groomed them as future emperors.
The reverse proclaims them Consuls‑designate and Princes of the Youth (Principes Iuventutis) — a formal honour marking them as heirs
These coins were struck in huge quantities at Lugdunum between 2 BC and AD 4, precisely when Augustus was promoting the boys as successors.
The sheer volume was deliberate:
Every Roman handling money would see the faces of Augustus’ intended heirs.
Above the boys is a Simpulum (priestly vessel) and a Lituus (augur’s staff)
These symbols emphasise their religious authority and their legitimacy as future leaders
Despite the propaganda, both heirs died young:
Lucius died in AD 2
Gaius died in AD 4
Their deaths forced Augustus to adopt Tiberius, reshaping Roman history. This makes the coin a poignant reminder of the succession that never happened.
Currency Denarius
Paid £100 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 30th October 1999
Reference s.1579 / s.479
Current Value £ 250
Size 18mm
Weight 3.80g
36
36. Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Caius & Lucius Caesars
Obverse: Head of Augustus, laureate, right.
Legend: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE (Caesar Augustus, son of the divine, father of the nation)
Reverse: Gaius and Lucius Caesar standing, each, togate, resting hand on shield and spear, simpulum, right, and lituus, left, flanking, left and right respectively.
Reverse legend : C L CAESARES AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT (Gaius and Lucius, sons of Caesar Augustus, consuls elect, princes of the youth.)
Minted at Lugdunum, Gaul, modern-day Lyons, France (15 BC–AD 78)
Gaius (born 20 BC) and Lucius (born 17 BC) were the sons of Marcus Agrippa and Julia, Augustus’ daughter. Augustus adopted them as his own and groomed them as future emperors.
The reverse proclaims them Consuls‑designate and Princes of the Youth (Principes Iuventutis) — a formal honour marking them as heirs
These coins were struck in huge quantities at Lugdunum between 2 BC and AD 4, precisely when Augustus was promoting the boys as successors.
The sheer volume was deliberate:
Every Roman handling money would see the faces of Augustus’ intended heirs.
Above the boys is a Simpulum (priestly vessel) and a Lituus (augur’s staff)
These symbols emphasise their religious authority and their legitimacy as future leaders
Despite the propaganda, both heirs died young:
Lucius died in AD 2
Gaius died in AD 4
Their deaths forced Augustus to adopt Tiberius, reshaping Roman history. This makes the coin a poignant reminder of the succession that never happened.
Currency Denarius
Paid £120 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 3rd January 1999
Reference s.479
Current Value £ 250
Size 18mm
Weight 3.70g
152
152. Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Shield between Legionary Eagle & Standard
This is a SIGNIS RECEPTIS denarius, struck at Colonia Patricia (Córdoba, Spain) around 19–18 BC, celebrating one of Augustus’ most important diplomatic victories.
The obverse features CAESAR AVGVSTVS Bare head of Augustus right.
The reverse features a Round shield inscribed CL V, the legend around: S P Q R, a Legionary eagle (aquila) on left and legionary standard on right. SIGNIS above and RECEPTIS below
This is one of the most explicit military‑propaganda reverses of Augustus’ early reign. In 53 BC, Crassus was defeated at Carrhae, and the Parthians captured Roman legionary standards — a humiliation Rome never forgot. In 20 BC, Augustus negotiated their peaceful return from King Phraates IV. This was a massive propaganda win:
Augustus restored Roman honour without war — a victory greater than any battle.
The coin celebrates this event.
The reverse symbols mean:
CL V on the shield = Cl(a)ssis Vexillum or Classis Legionum Vexilla (interpreted as “the standards of the legions”)
S P Q R = “The Senate and People of Rome”
Aquila + standard = the actual military emblems returned by Parthia
SIGNIS RECEPTIS = “The standards have been recovered”
This is Augustus telling the Roman world:
“I restored Rome’s honour and avenged Carrhae.”
Currency Denarius
Paid £100 - Maison Platt - Coindex
Date 9th October 1999
Reference s.492
Current Value £700
Size 18mm
Weight 3.65g
57
57. Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Chariot in Temple
The reverse features a domed tetrastyle temple, inside: a triumphal chariot (quadriga) facing right. The chariot contains a legionary aquila (eagle standard) and four miniature horses. The legend is SPQR
This is the Temple of Mars Ultor (“Mars the Avenger”), built to house the Parthian standards recovered from King Phraates IV — one of Augustus’ greatest diplomatic victories. The standards had been lost by Crassus (53 BC) and Antony (36 BC). Their recovery was a propaganda triumph, and this coin advertises that success.
It was struck c.18 BC at Colonia Patricia, celebrating Augustus’ recovery of the Parthian standards. It is one of the most historically significant early imperial denarii, combining architecture, military symbolism, and Augustan propaganda in a single design.
Currency Denarius
Paid £65 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 14th April 1999
Reference s.492
Current Value £700
Size 20mm
Weight 3.37g
68
68. Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Augustus facing left /Chariot in Temple
The reverse features a domed tetrastyle temple, inside: a triumphal chariot (quadriga) facing right. The chariot contains a legionary aquila (eagle standard) and four miniature horses. The legend is SPQR
This is the Temple of Mars Ultor (“Mars the Avenger”), built to house the Parthian standards recovered from King Phraates IV — one of Augustus’ greatest diplomatic victories. The standards had been lost by Crassus (53 BC) and Antony (36 BC). Their recovery was a propaganda triumph, and this coin advertises that success.
It was struck c.18 BC at Colonia Patricia, celebrating Augustus’ recovery of the Parthian standards. It is one of the most historically significant early imperial denarii, combining architecture, military symbolism, and Augustan propaganda in a single design.
Currency Denarius
Paid £150 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 29th May 1999
Reference s.492
Current Value £700
Size 20mm
Weight 3.63g
175
175. Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Capricorn in Wreath
Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14. Cistophorus (Silver, 26 mm, 11.53 g, 12 h),
Minted in Pergamum (modern-day Bergama, Turkey) in 27-26 BC. IMP•CAESAR Bare head of Augustus to right; to right, lituus curved to right. Rev. AVGVSTVS Capricorn within laurel wreath to right, head turned to left, bearing cornucopiae on its back; all within laurel wreath.
Currency Cistophorus
Paid £240 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 20th November 1999
Reference s.1585
Current Value £1,300
Size 25mm
Weight 10.72g
136
136. Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Consular robe / Triumphal quadriga with horses
Minted c. 18 BC in Spain in 18 BC and depicts a consular robe (toga picta over tunica palmata) between a military eagle (aquila) and a wreath, accompanied by the inscription S P Q R PARENT CONS SVO
Slow triumphal quadriga right, its panels ornamented, surmounted by four miniature galloping horses.
The reverse features a slow or triumphal quadriga (a chariot drawn by four horses). Augustus is depicted inside a domed tetrastyle temple alongside military standards.
Historical Significance: This motif directly celebrated his victories—most notably the return of the Roman military standards lost by Crassus to the Parthians and his triple triumph celebrated in 29 BC
Currency Denarius
Paid £120 - Philippe Saive - Cumberland Coin Show
Date 11th September 1999
Reference s.1604
Current Value £2,500
Size 18mm
Weight 3.59g
284
284. Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Six Ears of Corn tied together in a bundle
Mint: Pergamum (Asia Minor), date: 27–26 BC
The obverse features the bare head of Augustus right - IMP CAESAR. The Style is early, idealised portrait typical of Asia Minor engravers
The reverse features six ears of grain tied together with the legend: AVGVSTVS
Symbolism: abundance, fertility, stability, and Augustus’ promise of prosperity after decades of civil war.
This type is part of Augustus’ propaganda programme in Asia Minor, emphasising renewal, agricultural wealth, and peace — a visual counterpart to the Ara Pacis themes in Rome.
Currency Cistopherus
Paid £250 - B.J.Dawson - Coindex
Date 8th October 2000
Reference s.1586
Current Value £2,500
Size 25mm
Weight 11.74g
300
300. Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Single Span Triumphal Arch surmounted by Large Statue of Augustus in Triumphal Quadriga
This is the Augustus “SIGNIS RECEPTIS” triumphal arch denarius, struck at Colonia Patricia (Córdoba) around 19–15 BC. It commemorates Augustus’ recovery of the legionary standards lost to the Parthians — one of the most important propaganda victories of his reign.
The obverse: Bare head of Augustus right, legend IMP IX TR POT (your coin’s inscription visible in the photo).
The reverse: Triumphal arch with quadriga (four‑horse chariot) carrying Augustus; inscription SIGNIS RECEPTIS and SPQR inside the arch.
This is part of the Parthian Standards series — one of the most politically charged issues of the early Principate.
SIGNIS RECEPTIS translates as “The standards recovered”
In 53 BC, Crassus lost the Roman standards to the Parthians at Carrhae. Their recovery decades later was a diplomatic triumph for Augustus, who presented it as a bloodless victory equal to a military conquest.
The arch depicted is the Arch of Augustus, voted by the Senate to commemorate the return of the standards. The quadriga on top shows Augustus in full triumphal regalia — a powerful message of restored Roman honour.
This coin is one of the clearest pieces of Augustan propaganda - Rome’s honour restored, Augustus as bringer of peace, Parthian humiliation without war and Consolidation of Augustus’ legitimacy as ruler
Currency Cistopherus
Paid £190 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 14th March 2000
Reference s.1590
Current Value £2,500
Size 25mm
Weight 11.42g
192
192. Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Apollo holding Plectrum & Lyre
Augustus Apollo Citharoedus denarius, struck at Lugdunum (modern Lyon) around 11–10 BC. The reverse shows Apollo standing left, holding a plectrum and lyre, with the legend IMP XII ACT. It celebrates Augustus’ victory at Actium and his association with Apollo as patron of harmony, music, prophecy, and the new Augustan order.
The obverse: Bare head of Augustus right, legend AVGVSTVS DIVI F (Augustus, son of the divine Julius)
The reverse: Apollo standing left, holding plectrum (right hand) and lyre (left hand). Reverse legend: IMP XII ACT (Imperator for the 12th time; Actium)
Currency Denarius
Paid £200 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 26th February 2000
Reference s.1611 / RSC 144
Current Value £900
Size 18mm
Weight 3.67g
383
383. Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD) - Eagle on Globe (Posthumous Issue under Tiberius)
This coin was struck after Augustus’ death in AD 14, when he was officially deified by the Senate.
The obverse legend: DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER
“Divine Augustus, Father of the Nation” This title emphasises his new status as a god.
On the reverse: Eagle on Globe, S‑C
The eagle is the symbol of apotheosis — carrying the emperor’s soul to heaven.
The globe represents world dominion.
S‑C shows the Senate authorised the issue.
This coin is essentially a public religious monument, minted to reinforce Augustus’ divine status, Tiberius’ legitimacy as “son of a god” and the stability of the new imperial system.
Currency Dupondius
Paid £30 - Lee - Charing Cross
Date 2025
Reference s.1790
Current Value £80
Size 27mm
Weight 10.47g
Twelve Caesars Tray 2
102
102. Tiberius (14-37) - Winged caduceus between two crossed cornucopias
Legend: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST IMP VII Meaning:
>TI CAESAR – Tiberius Caesar
>DIVI AVG F – Son of the Divine Augustus
>AVGVST – Augustus (imperial title)
>IMP VII – Imperator for the 7th time
This legend is Tiberius asserting his legitimacy through Augustus — a theme he never stopped emphasising.
Reverse
Legend: PONT MAXIM COS Meaning:
>PONT MAXIM – Pontifex Maximus (chief priest)
>COS – Consul
The reverse shows a Winged caduceus between two crossed cornucopias
This is a classic symbol of:
Mercury’s caduceus → peace, fair trade, diplomacy
Cornucopias → abundance, prosperity, agricultural plenty
Wings → divine favour and swiftness
Together, they form a visual message:
“The emperor brings peace and prosperity to Rome.”
This type was extremely popular and struck in large numbers at Lugdunum (modern Lyon).
This coin sits at the heart of Tiberius’ propaganda machine.
It emphasises continuity with Augustus, which Tiberius desperately needed because he was never popular with the Roman people.
It celebrates economic stability — important after the financial crisis of AD 33.
It was widely circulated across Gaul and the western provinces, making it one of the most recognisable bronze types of the early empire.
The caduceus and cornucopia pairing is inherited from earlier Republican symbolism, but under Tiberius it becomes a statement of imperial ideology:
Peace through authority, prosperity through stability.
Currency AE Dupondius
Paid £60 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 26th June 1999
Reference s.575
Current Value £100
Size 30 mm
Weight 14.60g
109
109. Tiberius (14-37) - Livia Seated
Minted AD 36-37. Lugdunum (modern Lyon).
'Tribute Penny' type. Obv: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head right. Rev: PONTIF MAXIM, Livia seated right on chair with ornamented legs, holding sceptre and branch; on singular exergual line.
This is the coin traditionally associated with the biblical “Render unto Caesar” passage. The AD 36–37 issue is the final Lugdunum emission of Tiberius’ reign, recognisable by:
The more refined portrait style
The single exergual line
The ornate chair legs
Slightly softer strike on the edges
Currency Denarius
Paid £190 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 11th July 1999
Reference s.1763 / s.567
Current Value £700
Size 18mm
Weight 3.51g
15
15. Tiberius (14-37) - Livia Seated
Minted AD 36-37. Lugdunum (modern Lyon).
'Tribute Penny' type. Obv: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head right. Rev: PONTIF MAXIM, Livia seated right on chair with ornamented legs, holding sceptre and branch; on singular exergual line.
This is the coin traditionally associated with the biblical “Render unto Caesar” passage. The AD 36–37 issue is the final Lugdunum emission of Tiberius’ reign, recognisable by:
The more refined portrait style
The single exergual line
The ornate chair legs
Slightly softer strike on the edges
Currency Denarius
Paid £45 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 6th March 1999
Reference s.1763 / s.567
Current Value £550
Size 18mm
Weight 3.68g
108
108. Tiberius (14-37) - Livia Seated
Minted AD 36-37. Lugdunum (modern Lyon).
'Tribute Penny' type. Obv: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head right. Rev: PONTIF MAXIM, Livia seated right on chair with ornamented legs, holding sceptre and branch; on singular exergual line.
This is the coin traditionally associated with the biblical “Render unto Caesar” passage. The AD 36–37 issue is the final Lugdunum emission of Tiberius’ reign, recognisable by:
The more refined portrait style
The single exergual line
The ornate chair legs
Slightly softer strike on the edges
Currency Denarius
Paid £140 - Harlaan Berk - Ebay auction
Date 11th July 1999
Reference s.1763 / s.567
Current Value £650
Size 18mm
Weight 3.66g
367
367. Tiberius (14-37) - Tiberius & Drusus (23 AD)
Issed by Tiberius in honour of his deceased son Drusus (AD 23). Minted in Caesarea in Cappadocia
This coin is part of a short-lived silver memorial series minted in Cappadocia. It marks the death of Drusus Julius Caesar, Tiberius’ son and intended heir. This was a rare occasion where a provincial mint produced silver portrait denarii for a Roman prince.
Politically, this was a significant turning point in history - after Drusus’ death, the succession shifted toward Caligula.
This is a scarce coin. Provincial silver from Caesarea is much less common than imperial denarii, and the Drusus portrait type is one of the rarest.
Currency Denarius
Paid £160 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 15th May 2001
Reference s.1792
Current Value £950
Size 18mm
Weight 3.63g
343
343. Tiberius (14-37) - Divus Augustus / Livia Seated
Minted under Tiberius to honour the deified Augustus
This is one of the most historically important bronzes of Tiberius’ reign. It’s part of the posthumous Divus Augustus series, struck to reinforce the legitimacy of Tiberius by linking him directly to his deified predecessor.
Obverse
DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER Laureate head of Augustus, facing left or right depending on the issue.
The title PATER (“Father”) emphasises Augustus as the founding father of the Roman Empire.
Reverse
Livia seated right, holding a sceptre or branch, flanked by S – C (Senatus Consulto — “by decree of the Senate”).
Livia is shown as Pax, the personification of peace, reinforcing the idea that Augustus’ legacy continues under Tiberius.
This coin is part of a coordinated propaganda programme:
1. Augustus is now a god
After Augustus’ death in AD 14, the Senate declared him Divus Augustus. Coins like this helped spread the message across the empire.
2. Tiberius legitimises his rule
Tiberius was never popular. By issuing coins honouring Augustus, he reminded the public that:
He was Augustus’ adopted son
He was the rightful successor
His rule continued Augustus’ divine mission
3. Livia’s political role
Livia (Tiberius’ mother) is shown as Pax, symbolising:
Stability
Prosperity
Continuity of the imperial household
This was important because Livia was extremely influential behind the scenes.
Currency Copper As
Paid £75 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 24th February 2001
Reference s.1788
Current Value £150
Size 28mm
Weight 10.78g
28
28. Tiberius (14-37) - Two Colonists Plowing
This is a colonial bronze minted at Philippi
The reverse shows two colonists ploughing with a yoke of oxen, representing the ritual founding of the Roman colony.
Obverse: Head of Tiberius right
Ploughing a sacred boundary line (the pomerium) symbolised:
Roman authority
The creation of a new civic identity
Agricultural prosperity
2. Loyalty to the Julio‑Claudian dynasty
Philippi had strong ties to Augustus, so issuing coins under Tiberius reinforced continuity.
3. Local civic pride
Colonial bronzes often highlight local identity rather than imperial propaganda.
Currency Bronze Quadrans
Paid £35 - Time Machine
Date 24th February 2001
Reference s.268
Current Value £60
Size 14mm
Weight 4.53g
386
386. Caligula (37-41) - Head of Caligula / Vesta Seated
On the reverse is Vesta, veiled and draped, seated on an ornamental throne. She holds a patera (a shallow ritual dish) in her right hand and a long transverse scepter in her left. The inscription is “S-C.
Obverse
Head of Caligula, bare, left.
Script: Latin
Lettering: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT
Unabridged legend: Caius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestate.
Translation: Gaius Caesar, emperor, conqueror of the Germans, high priest, holder of tribunician power.
Reverse
Vesta, veiled and draped, seated left on throne with ornamented back and legs, holding patera in right hand and long transverse sceptre in left.
Script: Latin
Lettering: VESTA S C
Unabridged legend: Vesta. Senatus Consultum
Translation: Vesta. Decree of the senate.
Mint Rome
Currency Sestertius
Paid £130 - Lee - Charing Cross
Date September 2025
Reference s.1803
Current Value £160
Size 25mm
Weight 8.43g
385
385. Caligula (37-41) - Head of Caligula / Vesta Seated
On the reverse is Vesta, veiled and draped, seated on an ornamental throne. She holds a patera (a shallow ritual dish) in her right hand and a long transverse scepter in her left. The inscription is “S-C.
Obverse
Head of Caligula, bare, left.
Script: Latin
Lettering: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT
Unabridged legend: Caius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestate.
Translation: Gaius Caesar, emperor, conqueror of the Germans, high priest, holder of tribunician power.
Reverse
Vesta, veiled and draped, seated left on throne with ornamented back and legs, holding patera in right hand and long transverse sceptre in left.
Script: Latin
Lettering: VESTA S C
Unabridged legend: Vesta. Senatus Consultum
Translation: Vesta. Decree of the senate.
Mint Rome
Currency Sestertius
Paid £40 - Charing Cross
Date 3rd September 2016
Reference s.1803
Current Value £160
Size 25mm
Weight 9.43g
105
105. Caligula (37-41) - Head of Caligula / Vesta Seated
On the reverse is Vesta, veiled and draped, seated on an ornamental throne. She holds a patera (a shallow ritual dish) in her right hand and a long transverse scepter in her left. The inscription is “S-C.
Obverse
Head of Caligula, bare, left.
Script: Latin
Lettering: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT
Unabridged legend: Caius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestate.
Translation: Gaius Caesar, emperor, conqueror of the Germans, high priest, holder of tribunician power.
Reverse
Vesta, veiled and draped, seated left on throne with ornamented back and legs, holding patera in right hand and long transverse sceptre in left.
Script: Latin
Lettering: VESTA S C
Unabridged legend: Vesta. Senatus Consultum
Translation: Vesta. Decree of the senate.
Mint Rome
Currency Sestertius
Paid £55 - Dave - Charing Cross
Date 1st February 1999
Reference s.1803
Current Value £160
Size 25mm
Weight 10.77g
336
336. Caligula (37-41) - Germanicus in Quadriga
Possibly re-tooled - affects the price.
This is a sestertius of Germanicus Caesar, issued under Caligula to honour his father, and it is one of the most historically important bronzes of the Julio‑Claudian dynasty.
Legend: GERMANICVS CAESAR Type: Germanicus standing in a biga (two‑horse chariot), holding reins and sceptre.
Reverse
Legend: SIGNIS RECEPTIS Type: Germanicus standing left, holding an eagle standard and a legionary standard. Below: S C (Senatus Consulto)
This reverse commemorates Germanicus recovering the legionary standards lost by Varus in the Teutoburg disaster — a huge propaganda moment.
Germanicus was:
Nephew of Tiberius
Father of Caligula
Rome’s most beloved general
The man who avenged the Teutoburg Forest disaster
A potential emperor who died mysteriously (likely poisoned)
Caligula issued these coins immediately upon becoming emperor to:
Legitimize his rule
Associate himself with his father’s immense popularity
Remind Rome of Germanicus’ military glory
Present himself as the rightful heir of a heroic lineage
The SIGNIS RECEPTIS reverse celebrates Germanicus recovering the legionary standards lost to Arminius — a huge symbolic victory.
This coin is essentially Caligula saying: “I am Germanicus’ son — I inherit his glory.”
Currency Sestertius
Paid £75 - Stacks - New York
Date 7th February 2001
Reference s.1820
Current Value £800
Size 30mm
Weight 15.7g
209
209. Caligula (37-41) - Agrippina the Elder (mother of Caligula)
Portrait of Agrippina the Elder, facing right Legend: AGRIPPINA MAT C CAESARIS (“Agrippina, mother of Gaius Caesar”)
Agrippina the Elder was:
Wife of Germanicus
Mother of Caligula
Granddaughter of Augustus
A powerful, popular Roman matron
Exiled and starved to death by Tiberius
Caligula issued this coin immediately upon becoming emperor to:
Honour his mother
Condemn Tiberius’ cruelty
Legitimize his own rule through maternal lineage
Present himself as the avenger of his family
This coin is essentially Caligula saying:
“Rome, remember my mother — and remember who wronged her.”
Currency Denarius
Paid £200 - Dave - Charing Cross
Date 8th April 2000
Reference s.1825
Current Value £550
Size 18mm
Weight 2.86g
395
395. Caligula (37-41) - R.C.C / Pileus
Legend: C CAESAR DIVI AVG PON MAX Meaning: Gaius Caesar (Caligula), son of the Divine Augustus, Pontifex Maximus
Reverse
Large pileus (freedom cap) between S C The pileus is the cap given to freed slaves — a powerful symbol of liberty.
This is one of the most symbolically loaded coins of Caligula’s reign.
The quadrans was the lowest denomination of Roman coinage — a tiny bronze coin used for everyday purchases (bread, fruit, lamps, street food).
Caligula used this humble coin to send a political message.
Why the pileus?
The pileus (freedom cap) symbolised:
Manumission (freeing slaves)
Libertas, the Roman personification of freedom
The moral virtue of the emperor as protector of the people
Caligula wanted to present himself as:
The liberator of Rome
The restorer of freedoms lost under Tiberius
A man of the people
This was propaganda aimed at the masses — the people who handled quadrantes every day.
S C = Senatus Consulto Meaning: “By decree of the Senate.”
This shows that the Senate authorised the issue — a gesture of unity between Caligula and the Senate early in his reign, before relations deteriorated
Currency Copper Quadrans
Paid £36 - Charing Cross
Date 8th October 2016
Reference s.1804
Current Value £200
Size 16mm
Weight 3.08g
279
279. Drusus (37-38) - Head of Germanicus - minted under Caligula
Portrait of Drusus, facing left Legend typically: DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N
Meaning: Drusus Caesar, son of Tiberius Augustus, grandson of the Divine Augustus.
Reverse
Large S C Legend around: CAESAR DIVI AVG PONTIF MAXIM
This is Caligula’s title — showing that the coin was issued by Caligula in honour of Drusus.
Drusus Julius Caesar was:
Son of Emperor Tiberius
Brother of the infamous “Castor”
Husband of Livilla
A popular and capable Roman noble
Murdered by Sejanus (poisoned)
Drusus’ death was one of the darkest political murders of the Julio‑Claudian era.
Caligula issued coins honouring:
His father Germanicus
His mother Agrippina Senior
His grandfather Drusus
His uncle Tiberius Gemellus
His brother Nero Caesar
His cousin Drusus Julius Caesar (this coin)
This was a dynastic restoration programme.
Caligula wanted to:
Rehabilitate victims of Tiberius and Sejanus
Present himself as the avenger of his murdered family
Strengthen his legitimacy by invoking his ancestry
Show Rome that he was restoring honour to the Julio‑Claudian line
This Drusus As is part of that political messaging.
Currency Copper As
Paid £10 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 22nd April 2000
Reference s.1822
Current Value £150
Size 25mm
Weight 10.01g
Twelve Caesars Tray 3
97
97. Claudius (41-54) - Minerva Advancing Right, Bandishing Javelin and Holding Shield
Struck at Rome around AD 50, with the reverse showing Minerva advancing right, brandishing a javelin and holding a shield.
Obverse
Bare head of Claudius left
Legend typically: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP
Reverse
Minerva, helmeted and draped
Advancing right
Brandishing javelin
Round shield on left arm
SC (“Senatus Consulto”) in the field
Mint: Rome
This coin comes from the early years of Claudius’ reign (AD 41–54), a period of consolidation after the assassination of Caligula. Claudius expanded the empire (notably the conquest of Britain in AD 43) and strengthened administrative systems.
Minerva on the reverse symbolises:
Military protection
Wisdom and strategy
Legitimacy of Claudius’ rule
The advancing pose with javelin and shield is a dynamic, assertive type — a message that Claudius was both capable and divinely supported in defending Rome.
These coins circulated widely across the empire and are common finds in Britain, reflecting Roman military presence and trade.
Currency AE As
Paid £15 - Charing Cross
Date 19th June 1999
Reference s.639
Current Value £50
Size 30mm
Weight 9.14g
40
40. Claudius (41-54) - Libertas Holding Pileus
The reverse shows Libertas, the personification of freedom, holding the pileus — the soft conical cap given to freed slaves.
Obverse legend
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP (Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, holder of Tribunician Power, Imperator)
Reverse legend
LIBERTAS AVGVSTA Libertas Augusta — “The Imperial Liberty”
Reverse type:
Libertas standing, holding pileus (cap of freedom), SC in the field (Senatus Consulto — minted by decree of the Senate)
This is one of the most politically meaningful coins of Claudius’ reign.
Claudius came to power in a bizarre moment:
Caligula was assassinated.
Claudius was found hiding behind a curtain in the palace.
The Praetorian Guard proclaimed him emperor.
This was not a smooth constitutional succession. Claudius needed to project legitimacy fast.
Libertas Holding the Pileus symbolised:
Restoration of lawful government after Caligula’s tyranny
Freedom from oppression
Return to stability
A message that Claudius’ rule was sanctioned by tradition and the Senate
The pileus itself was the cap given to slaves upon manumission. On coins, it became a powerful symbol of political freedom and lawful authority.
Currency AE As
Paid £25 - Frank Bakos Mail Order
Date 6th October 1999
Reference s.638
Current Value £60
Size 30mm
Weight 9.96g
106
106. Claudius (41-54) - Libertas Holding Pileus
The reverse shows Libertas, the personification of freedom, holding the pileus — the soft conical cap given to freed slaves.
Obverse legend
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP (Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, holder of Tribunician Power, Imperator)
Reverse legend
LIBERTAS AVGVSTA Libertas Augusta — “The Imperial Liberty”
Reverse type:
Libertas standing, holding pileus (cap of freedom), SC in the field (Senatus Consulto — minted by decree of the Senate)
This is one of the most politically meaningful coins of Claudius’ reign.
Claudius came to power in a bizarre moment:
Caligula was assassinated.
Claudius was found hiding behind a curtain in the palace.
The Praetorian Guard proclaimed him emperor.
This was not a smooth constitutional succession. Claudius needed to project legitimacy fast.
Libertas Holding the Pileus symbolised:
Restoration of lawful government after Caligula’s tyranny
Freedom from oppression
Return to stability
A message that Claudius’ rule was sanctioned by tradition and the Senate
The pileus itself was the cap given to slaves upon manumission. On coins, it became a powerful symbol of political freedom and lawful authority.
Currency AE As
Paid £55 - Frank Bakos Mail Order
Date 1st August 1999
Reference s.638
Current Value £60
Size 30mm
Weight 9.93g
115
115. Claudius (41-54) - Libertas Holding Pileus (smaller As)
The reverse shows Libertas, the personification of freedom, holding the pileus — the soft conical cap given to freed slaves.
Obverse legend
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP (Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, holder of Tribunician Power, Imperator)
Reverse legend
LIBERTAS AVGVSTA Libertas Augusta — “The Imperial Liberty”
Reverse type:
Libertas standing, holding pileus (cap of freedom), SC in the field (Senatus Consulto — minted by decree of the Senate)
This is one of the most politically meaningful coins of Claudius’ reign.
Claudius came to power in a bizarre moment:
Caligula was assassinated.
Claudius was found hiding behind a curtain in the palace.
The Praetorian Guard proclaimed him emperor.
This was not a smooth constitutional succession. Claudius needed to project legitimacy fast.
Libertas Holding the Pileus symbolised:
Restoration of lawful government after Caligula’s tyranny
Freedom from oppression
Return to stability
A message that Claudius’ rule was sanctioned by tradition and the Senate
The pileus itself was the cap given to slaves upon manumission. On coins, it became a powerful symbol of political freedom and lawful authority.
Note, that other As coins in my collection (40,106 etc) are flatter, wider and yet weigh the same....this is thicker and smaller. This is actually quite common for Claudius bronzes — they vary wildly because the mint was using recycled bronze, inconsistent flans, and hand‑struck dies.
Currency AE As
Paid £28 - Alan Cherry - Commonwealth Instutute
Date 17th July 1999
Reference s.1859 / S.638
Current Value £60
Size 25mm (smaller but heavier)
Weight 10.38g
71
71. Claudius (41-54) - Constantia Helmetted Standing Left, Right Hand Raised Holding Sceptre.
The reverse features the figure of Constantia standing, holding a long spear, SC in the field (Senatus Consulto), holding a sceptre
Constantia was the perfect message:“The emperor is steadfast, dependable, and will restore order.”
This coin circulated heavily in Italy and the western provinces, especially Gaul and Britain — areas where Claudius needed to project stability during the conquest of Britain (AD 43). The sceptre = authority exercised calmly, the upright posture = firmness and discipline and the SC = Senate approval (important after Caligula’s autocratic excesses)
Currency AE As
Paid £50 - Dave - Charing Cross
Date 27th March 1999
Reference S.1857 / S.637
Current Value £60
Size 30mm
Weight 11.93g
162
162. Claudius (41-54) - Constantia Helmetted Standing Left, Right Hand Raised Holding Sceptre.
The reverse features the figure of Constantia standing, holding a long spear, SC in the field (Senatus Consulto), holding a sceptre
Constantia was the perfect message:“The emperor is steadfast, dependable, and will restore order.”
This coin circulated heavily in Italy and the western provinces, especially Gaul and Britain — areas where Claudius needed to project stability during the conquest of Britain (AD 43). The sceptre = authority exercised calmly, the upright posture = firmness and discipline and the SC = Senate approval (important after Caligula’s autocratic excesses)
Currency AE As
Paid £40 - Ricky - Charing Cross
Date 10th June 2000
Reference S.1857 / S.637
Current Value £70
Size 30mm
Weight 9.98g
157
157. Claudius (41-54) - DE GERMANIS on architrave of triumphal arch
The “DE GERMANIS” type is not Claudius himself, but a posthumous denarius of Nero Claudius Drusus Claudius' father), struck under Claudius. This is a silver denarius, minted at Rome, AD 41–45.
The obverse legend is NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMANICVS IMP, with a portrait of Nero Claudius Drusus, laureate, left.
Drusus was father of Claudius, brother of Tiberius, a celebrated general who campaigned deep into Germania and was immensely popular with the legions. He led major campaigns across the Rhine and won victories that earned him the name “Germanicus”, He died young after falling from his horse and was mythologised as the ideal Roman general
Claudius revived his father’s memory to strengthen his own legitimacy.
The reverse legend: DE GERMANIS Meaning: “Conquered the Germans.”. A triumphal arch, surmounted by a statue of Drusus on horseback, galloping right, two trophies or military standards flanking the arch. The architrave inscription: DE GERMANIS
Currency Denarius
Paid £250 - Frank Bakos Mail Order
Date 10th June 2000
Reference S.1894
Current Value £800
Size 20mm
Weight 3.23g
197
197. Claudius (41-54) - Claudius and Messalina
Possible Claudius & Messalina family group - if so, very rare.
Messalina was:
Claudius’ third wife
Mother of Britannicus
Extremely influential in the early Claudian court
Later executed for conspiracy and scandal
Before her downfall, she was promoted heavily in imperial propaganda as:
Mother of the imperial heirs
Symbol of fertility and dynastic continuity
Augusta, equal partner to Claudius
These tiny quinarii were distributed in Rome and used for ceremonial or donative purposes - intended to promote the imperial family
After Messalina’s execution, her coins stopped being produced, making them scarcer than other Claudian issues.
Currency Brass Quinarius
Paid £10 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 11th March 2000
Reference S.
Current Value £80
Size 15mm
Weight 3.24g
163
163. Claudius (41-54)- Antonia (D.of M Antony/Mthr Claudius 41-54) - Claudius holding simpulum
Claudius honouring his mother Antonia.
Obverse - Antonia Minor, Mother of Claudius and Grandmother of Caligula, daughter of Mark Antony - Bare Headed. Her portrait is distinctive - Long neck, hair drawn back in a tight bun, matronly, serene expression.
This is one of the few coins ever struck with Antonia’s portrait.
Reverse - Claudius veiled and togate, standing left, holding a simpulum (a small ladle used in priestly rituals). Legend: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP SC in the field.
The simpulum is a priestly implement used in sacrifices. Claudius is shown veiled → performing a religious rite, togate → in formal civic dress and holding a simpulum → emphasising his role as Pontifex Maximus (chief priest)
This reverse proclaims Claudius’ piety, legitimacy, and continuity with Roman religious tradition.
Currency AE Dupondius
Paid £60 - Dave - Charing Cross
Date 30th October 1999
Reference S.1902 / S.596
Current Value £400
Size 28mm
Weight 11.94g
19 - Nero
19. Nero (54-68) - Nero (no beard) - Salus Seated
IMP NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS Laureate head of Nero right
No beard means this denarius is an early Nero SALVS seated denarius, struck AD 64, just before he adopted the beard.
SALVS Salus (the personification of health and well‑being) seated left on an ornate throne, holding a patera in her right hand and resting her left hand on the throne.
By AD 66–67, Nero’s regime was under strain:
The aftermath of the Great Fire of AD 64
The Pisonian conspiracy (AD 65)
Increasing political instability
Growing resentment in the Senate and army
The SALVS type is part of Nero’s late propaganda, projecting:
Health of the emperor
Stability of the state
Divine protection
Recovery after crisis
Salus was a reassuring symbol: Rome is safe, the emperor is well, the state endures.
This is similar to the messaging seen in other late Nero issues (e.g., VESTA temple types), which emphasise restoration and continuity.
Currency Denarius
Paid £80 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 3rd March 1999
Reference S.1945 / S.675
Current Value £350
Size 20mm
Weight 3.27g
236
236. Nero (54-68) - Nero - Salus Seated
IMP NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS Laureate head of Nero right
No beard means this denarius is an early Nero SALVS seated denarius, struck AD 64, just before he adopted the beard.
SALVS Salus (the personification of health and well‑being) seated left on an ornate throne, holding a patera in her right hand and resting her left hand on the throne.
By AD 66–67, Nero’s regime was under strain:
The aftermath of the Great Fire of AD 64
The Pisonian conspiracy (AD 65)
Increasing political instability
Growing resentment in the Senate and army
The SALVS type is part of Nero’s late propaganda, projecting:
Health of the emperor
Stability of the state
Divine protection
Recovery after crisis
Salus was a reassuring symbol: Rome is safe, the emperor is well, the state endures.
This is similar to the messaging seen in other late Nero issues (e.g., VESTA temple types), which emphasise restoration and continuity.
Currency Denarius
Paid £75 - Kevin - Charing Cross
Date 18rd December 1999
Reference S.1945 / S.675
Current Value £350
Size 20mm
Weight 3.06g
133
133. Nero (54-68) - Jupiter Seated
Minted in AD 64–65 (immediately after the Pisonian Conspiracy)
Clean‑shaven Nero
Laureate head right
Early post‑Fire portrait style (before he adopted the beard)
Reverse - IVPITER CVSTOS
Jupiter seated left on a high‑backed throne, holding:
Thunderbolt in right hand
Long sceptre in left
This is one of Nero’s most dramatic and politically charged reverses.
This denarius is directly tied to the Pisonian Conspiracy of AD 65, a major plot to assassinate Nero. After the conspiracy was uncovered, Nero issued coins proclaiming Jupiter Custos — Jupiter the Protector
The message was clear:
“Jupiter has protected me from treason.”
This coin is pure political theatre:
Nero presents himself as divinely protected
Jupiter is shown enthroned, powerful, vigilant
The legend IVPITER CVSTOS (“Jupiter the Guardian”) reinforces the idea that the gods favour Nero
It is one of the most important propaganda issues of Nero’s reign.
Currency Denarius
Paid £190 - Bob Unger - Luton Coin Fair
Date 5th September 1999 1999
Reference S.1943
Current Value £650
Size 20mm
Weight 3.15g
32
32. Nero (54-68) - Jupiter Seated
Minted in AD 64–65 (immediately after the Pisonian Conspiracy)
Clean‑shaven Nero
Laureate head right
Early post‑Fire portrait style (before he adopted the beard)
Reverse - IVPITER CVSTOS
Jupiter seated left on a high‑backed throne, holding:
Thunderbolt in right hand
Long sceptre in left
This is one of Nero’s most dramatic and politically charged reverses.
This denarius is directly tied to the Pisonian Conspiracy of AD 65, a major plot to assassinate Nero. After the conspiracy was uncovered, Nero issued coins proclaiming Jupiter Custos — Jupiter the Protector
The message was clear:
“Jupiter has protected me from treason.”
This coin is pure political theatre:
Nero presents himself as divinely protected
Jupiter is shown enthroned, powerful, vigilant
The legend IVPITER CVSTOS (“Jupiter the Guardian”) reinforces the idea that the gods favour Nero
It is one of the most important propaganda issues of Nero’s reign.
Currency Denarius
Paid £55 - Time Machine
Date 1st March 1999
Reference S.1943
Current Value £250
Size 20mm
Weight 3.07g
235
235. Nero (54-68) - Young Nero & Claudius
This is one of Nero’s earliest silver issues — struck while he was still a teenager and before he adopted the heavier portrait style.It is Very different from the later “fat Nero” portrait.
Reverse legend : TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM
The reverse features the laureate head of Divus Claudius — the deified emperor — because Nero had him deified immediately after his death.
It was minted in Caesarea, Cappadociae
Currency Didrachm
Paid £225 - Mike Vosper
Date 5th August 2000
Reference S.2054
Current Value £450
Size 20mm
Weight 7.38g
125
125. Nero (54-68) - Victory Alighting Left, Wings Spread, SPQR on Shield
Victory is shown in motion — not standing, not crowning, but flying — symbolising Swift triumph, Divine favour, Military success and the emperor’s unstoppable momentum
Victory carrying the SPQR shield means “Victory belongs to Rome itself — the Senate and the People.”
This was especially important during Nero’s later reign, when the Pisonian conspiracy (AD 65) had shaken confidence. Nero needed to show unity between emperor, Senate, and people
Currency Copper As
Paid £125 - Mike Vosper
Date 14th August 1999
Reference S.1976
Current Value £150
Size 30mm
Weight 10.70g
81
81. Nero (54-68) - Antioch - Eagle on Thunderbolt
The Antioch tetradrachms were the backbone of eastern Roman commerce. The eagle on thunderbolt is a long‑standing Seleucid and Syrian symbol adopted by Rome:
Eagle = Jupiter
Thunderbolt = divine authority
Standing proudly = stability of Roman rule in the East
Nero’s portrait on the obverse and the eagle on the reverse created a powerful message:
“Nero rules with the authority of Jupiter.”
These coins circulated widely in Syria, Judaea, and Asia Minor — including during the years leading up to the Jewish Revolt (AD 66).
Currency AR Tetradrachm
Paid £45 - Dave - Charing Cross
Date 5th June 1999
Reference S.2003 / S.700
Current Value £250
Size 20mm
Weight 14.51g
Twelve Caesars Tray 4
65 Galba
65. Galba (68-69) - SPQR / OB / C S within oak‑wreath
Reverse:
SPQR = Senatus Populusque Romanus
OB C S = Ob Cives Servatos → “For having saved the citizens”
The oak wreath (corona civica) was traditionally awarded to someone who saved Roman citizens’ lives. Galba used it as propaganda to legitimise his rule during the chaotic Year of the Four Emperors.
Currency Denarius
Paid £180 - Mike Vosper - Commonwealth Institute
Date 22nd May 1999
Reference S.2109
Current Value £550
Size 20mm
Weight 3.24g
165
165. Galba (68-69) - SPQR / OB / C S within Oak‑Wreath
Reverse:
SPQR = Senatus Populusque Romanus
OB C S = Ob Cives Servatos → “For having saved the citizens”
The oak wreath (corona civica) was traditionally awarded to someone who saved Roman citizens’ lives. Galba used it as propaganda to legitimise his rule during the chaotic Year of the Four Emperors.
Currency Denarius
Paid £75 - Stankov - Yahoo
Date 15th November 1999
Reference S.2109
Current Value £400
Size 20mm
Weight 3.25g
101
101. Galba (68-69) - Roma Standing, Foot on Globe
Mint: Tarraco, Hispania
Reference: RIC I 45
Obverse: GALBA IMPERATOR — laureate head of Galba right, globe at point of neck
Reverse: ROMA VICTRIX — Roma standing left, helmeted, in military dress, right foot on globe, holding branch in right hand and leaning on spear with left hand
Galba came to power after leading a revolt against Nero. By the time he reached Rome:
The empire was unstable
Legions were divided in loyalty
Provincial governors were plotting
The Praetorian Guard was restless
Nero’s financial mismanagement had left the treasury empty
Galba needed to prove legitimacy fast, especially because he had no dynastic claim. Coins were the quickest way to broadcast a message across the empire — every soldier, merchant, and citizen handled them daily.
This denarius was struck at Tarraco (Spain), one of the earliest mints to support Galba. It was part of his propaganda campaign to present himself as the restorer of Roman strength after Nero’s excesses.
🗡️ What the Imagery Means
ROMA VICTRIX — “Rome Victorious”
This inscription wasn’t casual. It was a statement:
Rome is still strong. Rome still dominates the world. And Galba is the man who restored that strength.
After Nero’s chaotic final years, this was exactly the reassurance the empire needed.
Roma Standing Left
Roma is the personification of the Roman state — not a goddess, but the embodiment of Roman military virtue. She appears:
Helmeted → ready for war
In military dress → emphasising discipline and strength
Holding a branch → symbolising peace through victory
Leaning on a spear → Rome is armed, but controlled
This is Rome at her best: powerful, calm, victorious.
Foot on Globe
This is the most important element.
The globe symbolises dominion over the entire known world. By placing Roma’s foot on it, the coin declares:
Rome rules the world. Galba has restored that rule. The empire is stable again.
In a time of civil war, this was a bold claim — almost defiant.
Obverse: GALBA IMPERATOR
Galba uses the title Imperator rather than Caesar or Augustus. This emphasises:
Military authority
Victory in battle
Legitimacy through the army
It’s a reminder that Galba came to power through revolt, not inheritance.
Currency Denarius
Paid £160 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 26th June 1999
Reference S. RSC. 221
Current Value £500
Size 15mm
Weight 3.33g
360
306. Galba (68-69) - Libertas standing between two ears of corn
Mint:Rome
Legend: LIBERTAS PVBLICA S C
The figure of Libertas standing left, draped and holding a pileus (freedom cap), flanked by two ears of corn (one on each side)
Galba’s revolt against Nero was framed as a restoration of liberty to Rome. Libertas was the ideological centrepiece of his propaganda.
The ears of corn introduce a second message: grain supply and food security. Rome’s grain supply had been dangerously unstable under Nero. By pairing Libertas with agricultural abundance, Galba was signalling freedom from tyranny, a return of stable grain supply and the restoration of public welfare
This combination is unique to Galba and appears only briefly during his reign. The message is essentially “Galba has restored liberty and secured Rome’s food supply.”
This was aimed at both the Senate and the urban plebs, who depended on the grain dole.
"PR" on a Galba reverse reading LIBERTAS PR means Libertas Publica — “Public Freedom.”
Currency Denarius
Paid £150 - Dave - Charing Cross
Date 10th June 2000
Reference S. 2105
Current Value £500
Size 15mm
Weight 3.32g
110
110. Galba (68-69) - Liberty Standing
Rome mint.
Legend: SER GALBA IMP CAES AVG TR P - meaning: “Servius Galba, Imperator, Caesar, Augustus, with tribunician power.”
The portrait is the laureate head of Galba, right — typically stern, aged, and realistic. Galba deliberately rejected Nero’s youthful idealism; his portraits show deep lines, sagging jowls, and a military austerity.
The reverse legend: LIBERTAS AVGVS S C - ("Libertas of the Emperor; by decree of the Senate.”). It shows a figure of Libertas, draped, standing left, Pileus (freedom cap) in right hand and rod (vindicta) in left hand
Libertas was the Roman personification of freedom from tyranny. Under Galba, this imagery was politically loaded: he had risen in revolt against Nero, promising the restoration of liberty to Rome. Even after becoming emperor, he continued to use this messaging.
Currency AE As
Paid £70 - Frank Bakos
Date 13th July 1999
Reference S.2134 / S.729
Current Value £500
Size 26mm
Weight 9.93g
Otho
1
1. Otho (69) - Pax holding Olive Branch and Sceptre
Legend: IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P (“Imperator Marcus Otho, Caesar Augustus, with tribunician power.”)
His portrait shows the bare head of Otho, right — distinctive for its carefully groomed hair (wig) and slightly idealised features.
The reverse features Pax standing left, in her right hand is an olive branch (symbol of peace). In her left hand is a caduceus or sceptre
Otho came to power during the chaotic Year of the Four Emperors.
This reverse proclaims that Otho would restore worldwide peace after Nero’s collapse and Galba’s assassination.
The olive branch is the standard Roman symbol of peace; the sceptre/caduceus represents authority and harmony.
Legend: PAX ORBIS TERRARVM - (“Peace of the World.”)
Otho ruled for only three months (January–April AD 69). His coinage is limited to a small number of types, all heavy with propaganda:
PAX ORBIS TERRARVM – world peace
SECVRITAS P R – security of the Roman people
VESTA – stability and tradition
The Securitas type is the second most common after Pax, but still scarce due to the brevity of his reign.
Currency Denarius
Paid £295 - Coincraft
Date 23rd January 1999
Reference S.2156 / S.743
Current Value £850
Size 24mm
Weight 3.31g
79
79. Otho (69) - Securitas Draped, standing left
Legend: IMP OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P
Otho’s portraits are distinctive: carefully groomed hair (wig), slightly idealised features, and a refined, almost Julio‑Claudian look.
The reverse legend: SECVRITAS P R - meaning “Security of the Roman People”, features Securitas, draped, standing left, right hand holding a wreath and in the left hand a sceptre
This type proclaims stability, safety, and calm during a moment of extreme political crisis. Otho had just seized power after Galba’s assassination; Vitellius was marching on Italy. The message is clear: Otho promises security to the Roman people despite the turmoil.
Otho ruled for only three months (January–April AD 69). His coinage is limited to a small number of types, all heavy with propaganda:
PAX ORBIS TERRARVM – world peace
SECVRITAS P R – security of the Roman people
VESTA – stability and tradition
The Securitas type is the second most common after Pax, but still scarce due to the brevity of his reign.
Currency Denarius
Paid £350 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 5th June 1999
Reference S.2162 / S.744
Current Value £1,200
Size 24mm
Weight 3.27g
Vitellius
99
99. Vitellius (69) - Tripod-Lebes surmounted by dolphin and Raven Beneath
Obverse Legend: A VITELLIVS GERMANICVS IMP, meaning: “Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, Imperator.”. The title Germanicus honours the German legions who proclaimed him emperor.
The reverse legend: XV VIR SACR FAC translates to “The Fifteen Men for Conducting Sacred Rites.”. A Tripod‑Lebes was a ceremonial tripod used in Roman religious rites. A dolphin Lies across the top of the tripod with a raven standing beneath.
This reverse refers directly to Vitellius’ membership in the Quindecimviri Sacris Faciundis, one of Rome’s most prestigious priestly colleges. Vitellius before his elevation had been a member of the college of quindecimviri sacris faciundis.
The tripod represents purification, sacrifice, and sacred consultation. The dolphin is associated with Apollo and prophecy and the raven is a bird of omens, linked to augury.
Together, they form a religious‑prophetic tableau, asserting Vitellius’ legitimacy through sacred authority rather than military conquest alone.
Vitellius was appointed commander in Lower Germany by Galba. His troops proclaimed him emperor in January AD 69. He defeated Otho at Bedriacum and entered Rome as Augustus. However, Vespasian’s forces later invaded Italy; Vitellius was captured and killed in December AD 69.
Vitellius’ coinage always includes the title Germanicus, honouring the legions who raised him to power. His religious office was one of the few respectable elements of his reputation, so he emphasised it heavily on his denarii.
Currency Denarius
Paid £115 - Harlaan Berk - Ebay Auction
Date 21st June 1999
Reference S.2201 / S.754
Current Value £700
Size 16mm
Weight 3.15g
64
64. Vitellius (69) - Tripod-Lebes surmounted by dolphin and Raven Beneath
Obverse Legend: A VITELLIVS GERMANICVS IMP, meaning: “Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, Imperator.”. The title Germanicus honours the German legions who proclaimed him emperor.
The reverse legend: XV VIR SACR FAC translates to “The Fifteen Men for Conducting Sacred Rites.”. A Tripod‑Lebes was a ceremonial tripod used in Roman religious rites. A dolphin Lies across the top of the tripod with a raven standing beneath.
This reverse refers directly to Vitellius’ membership in the Quindecimviri Sacris Faciundis, one of Rome’s most prestigious priestly colleges. Vitellius before his elevation had been a member of the college of quindecimviri sacris faciundis.
The tripod represents purification, sacrifice, and sacred consultation. The dolphin is associated with Apollo and prophecy and the raven is a bird of omens, linked to augury.
Together, they form a religious‑prophetic tableau, asserting Vitellius’ legitimacy through sacred authority rather than military conquest alone.
Vitellius was appointed commander in Lower Germany by Galba. His troops proclaimed him emperor in January AD 69. He defeated Otho at Bedriacum and entered Rome as Augustus. However, Vespasian’s forces later invaded Italy; Vitellius was captured and killed in December AD 69.
Vitellius’ coinage always includes the title Germanicus, honouring the legions who raised him to power. His religious office was one of the few respectable elements of his reputation, so he emphasised it heavily on his denarii.
Currency Denarius
Paid £130 - Mike Vosper - Commonwealth Institute
Date 22nd May1999
Reference S.2201 / S.754
Current Value £950
Size 16mm
Weight 3.23g
326
326. Vitellius (69) - Tripod-Lebes surmounted by dolphin and Raven Beneath
Obverse Legend: A VITELLIVS GERMANICVS IMP, meaning: “Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, Imperator.”. The title Germanicus honours the German legions who proclaimed him emperor.
The reverse legend: XV VIR SACR FAC translates to “The Fifteen Men for Conducting Sacred Rites.”. A Tripod‑Lebes was a ceremonial tripod used in Roman religious rites. A dolphin Lies across the top of the tripod with a raven standing beneath.
This reverse refers directly to Vitellius’ membership in the Quindecimviri Sacris Faciundis, one of Rome’s most prestigious priestly colleges. Vitellius before his elevation had been a member of the college of quindecimviri sacris faciundis.
The tripod represents purification, sacrifice, and sacred consultation. The dolphin is associated with Apollo and prophecy and the raven is a bird of omens, linked to augury.
Together, they form a religious‑prophetic tableau, asserting Vitellius’ legitimacy through sacred authority rather than military conquest alone.
Vitellius was appointed commander in Lower Germany by Galba. His troops proclaimed him emperor in January AD 69. He defeated Otho at Bedriacum and entered Rome as Augustus. However, Vespasian’s forces later invaded Italy; Vitellius was captured and killed in December AD 69.
Vitellius’ coinage always includes the title Germanicus, honouring the legions who raised him to power. His religious office was one of the few respectable elements of his reputation, so he emphasised it heavily on his denarii.
Currency Denarius
Paid £187 - Andy Bennetts - Mail Order
Date 3rd December 2000
Reference S.2201 / S.754
Current Value £950
Size 16mm
Weight 3.23g
118
118. Vitellius (69) - Jupiter seated, holding victory & sceptre
Obverse legend: A VITELLIVS GERMANICVS IMP (“Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, Imperator.”). The title Germanicus honours the German legions who proclaimed him emperor.
Reverse legend: IVPPITER VICTOR
The reverse features Jupiter seated left, naked to the waist. His right hand holds Victory (a winged figure), and in his left had is a Long sceptre
Jupiter Victor = Jupiter the bringer of victory. The Victory figure in Jupiter’s hand proclaims divine support for Vitellius’ military success and the sceptre reinforces Jupiter’s supreme authority
Vitellius had just defeated Otho at the First Battle of Bedriacum. This coin celebrates that victory and asserts that Jupiter himself favoured Vitellius’ rise.
Currency Denarius
Paid £100 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 24th July 1999
Reference S.2197
Current Value £950
Size 16mm
Weight 3.23g
362
362. Vitellius (69) - Libertas standing
Minted in Tarraco, Hispania (modern Tarragona, Spain)
Reverse legend: LIBERTAS RESTITVTA. The coin features Libertas standing front, head right, Draped. In her right hand is a pileus (freedom cap) and a Rod (vindicta) in her left.
“Liberty Restored.” This is one of Vitellius’ strongest political messages. After defeating Otho and entering Rome, Vitellius wanted to present himself as the restorer of traditional Roman freedoms and senatorial authority.
The pileus and rod are the classic symbols of manumission — freeing a slave — used metaphorically to claim that Vitellius freed Rome from tyranny.
Vitellius was commander in Lower Germany under Galba. His troops proclaimed him emperor in early AD 69. He defeated Otho at Bedriacum and entered Rome as Augustus. Later defeated by Vespasian’s forces and killed in December AD 69.
The Libertas Restituta type belongs to his earliest issues, minted at Tarraco, and reflects his attempt to legitimise his rule through constitutional and moral restoration.
Currency Denarius (Provincial series)
Paid £100 - Dave - Charing Cross
Date 7th April 2001
Reference S.2188
Current Value £950
Size 16mm
Weight 3.23g
387
387. Vitellius (69) - Concordia
Reverse legend: CONCORDIA AVG - meaning “Harmony of the Roman People.”
The coin features Concordia seated left, right hand holding a Patera (libation dish) and in the left hand a cornucopia (abundance)
This type proclaims unity and harmony between the emperor, the Senate and the Roman people
Vitellius had just defeated Otho and entered Rome as Augustus. With Vespasian rising in the East, Vitellius needed to project stability and legitimacy. Concordia was the perfect message: Rome is united under his rule.
The CONCORDIA type belongs to his Rome‑mint issues, struck during his brief hold on power
Currency Denarius
Paid £170 - Dave - Charing Cross
Date 7th April 2001
Reference S.2188
Current Value £700
Size 16mm
Weight 3.23g
Twelve Caesars Tray 5
Vespasian
21
21. Vespasian (69-79) - Sacrificial Instruments
This denarius shows on its reverse a set of sacrificial instruments — the simpulum (ladle), aspergillum (sprinkler), urceus (jug), and lituus (augural staff). These objects are the traditional emblems of Rome’s priestly colleges, especially the augurate and pontificate, and their appearance on Vespasian’s silver coinage is a deliberate assertion of religious legitimacy.
After the upheaval of AD 69, Vespasian emphasised his role as restorer of Rome’s sacred traditions, presenting himself as a pious guardian of the state’s ancient rites. This type fits neatly into his broader programme of stability, renewal, and the re‑anchoring of imperial authority in Rome’s traditional institutions.
On the denarius, the sacrificial instruments are sharply engraved and neatly arranged, making this one of the more elegant Flavian religious reverses. Vespasian’s portrait is typically rugged and realistic — heavy jaw, lined features, and a soldier’s bearing — reinforcing the image of a practical, dutiful emperor.
These denarii were struck in large numbers and circulated widely, helping to broadcast the message that the Flavian dynasty was restoring Rome’s moral and religious order.
Currency Denarius
Paid £60 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 13th March 1999
Reference S.2282 / S.770
Current Value £800
Size 16mm
Weight 3.34g
69
69. Vespasian (69-79) - Sacrificial Instruments
This denarius shows on its reverse a set of sacrificial instruments — the simpulum (ladle), aspergillum (sprinkler), urceus (jug), and lituus (augural staff). These objects are the traditional emblems of Rome’s priestly colleges, especially the augurate and pontificate, and their appearance on Vespasian’s silver coinage is a deliberate assertion of religious legitimacy.
After the upheaval of AD 69, Vespasian emphasised his role as restorer of Rome’s sacred traditions, presenting himself as a pious guardian of the state’s ancient rites. This type fits neatly into his broader programme of stability, renewal, and the re‑anchoring of imperial authority in Rome’s traditional institutions.
On the denarius, the sacrificial instruments are sharply engraved and neatly arranged, making this one of the more elegant Flavian religious reverses. Vespasian’s portrait is typically rugged and realistic — heavy jaw, lined features, and a soldier’s bearing — reinforcing the image of a practical, dutiful emperor.
These denarii were struck in large numbers and circulated widely, helping to broadcast the message that the Flavian dynasty was restoring Rome’s moral and religious order.
Currency Denarius
Paid £65 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 29th May 1999
Reference S.2282 / S.770
Current Value £550
Size 16mm
Weight 3.39g
29
29. Vespasian (69-79) - Winged Caduceus
The caduceus specifically symbolises Mercury (commerce, trade, safe travel), prosperity and economic revival, and a peaceful exchange after the Year of the Four Emperors
It’s essentially Vespasian saying: “Trade is open again; Rome is stable.”
Currency Denarius
Paid £42 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 20th March 1999
Reference S.2306
Current Value £250
Size 16mm
Weight 3.39g
67
67. Vespasian (69-79) - Nike advancing right. Judaea Capta commemorative
Mint: Caesarea Maritima (Judaea)
Date: AD 69–70 (immediately after the fall of Jerusalem)
Nike advancing right crowning a standard a signature Caesarea Maritima Judaea Capta type.
Caesarea was the provincial capital of Judaea and the base of the Roman legions during the Jewish War.
Currency Didrachm
Paid £60 - Bob Unger - Charing Cross
Date 25th May 1999
Reference S.2270
Current Value £550
Size 20mm
Weight 6.60g
27
27. Vespasian (69-79) - Simpulum, Sprinkler, Jug and Lituus
This reverse type is one of the classic Flavian religious issues, and it appears on denarii and provincial silver (including didrachms). The four instruments are:
Simpulum – the ladle used in sacrificial rites
Aspergillum (sprinkler) – used to sprinkle holy water
Urceus (jug) – vessel for libations
Lituus – the curved augural staff of the priesthood
Together, these symbols represent the emperor’s authority as Pontifex Maximus (chief priest) and his role in restoring Rome’s religious order after the chaos of AD 69. Vespasian used these designs heavily to project stability, piety, and legitimacy.
Currency Denarius
Paid £40 - Pick Bag - Charing Cross
Date 17th April 1999
Reference S.2282
Current Value £350
Size 16mm
Weight 3.16g
17
17. Vespasian (69-79) - Victory advancing, Placing Wreath on Standard and holding Palm
This denarius of Vespasian, struck at Rome between AD 69–79, carries one of the emperor’s most important propaganda messages.
The reverse shows Victory advancing to the right, placing a wreath upon a military standard while holding a palm branch, a dynamic scene celebrating the loyalty and triumph of the Roman legions who secured Vespasian’s rise after the turmoil of the Year of the Four Emperors.
By depicting Victory in motion, actively crowning the standard, the coin emphasises both ongoing military success and the restoration of stability under the new Flavian regime.
For contemporary Romans, this imagery reinforced Vespasian’s legitimacy and the renewed strength of the empire; for modern collectors, it represents one of the most expressive and historically charged Victory types of the period.
Currency Denarius
Paid £29 - Dave - Charing Cross
Date 6th March 1999
Reference S.2317
Current Value £150
Size 16mm
Weight 3.00g