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Roman Imperial Coins (27 BC to 395 AD)

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Mounted page links go to PDF file about the coin.

Augustus
(43-31 BC)
denarius, Spanish mint, 3.86g, S 1602, RF 1-1, 19/18 B.C.

Obv.  Laureate head of Augustus right
Rev. CAESAR AVGVSTVS S P Q R. Two laurel trees on either side of shield inscribed CL V, die break on shield

Claudius
(41-54)

Agrippina Jr.

cistophorus, Ephesus mint, 11.3g, RIC 117, RF 4-1, ex Sternberg, 41 A.D.

Obv. TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG PM TR P X IMP, head r
Rev. AGRIPPINA AVGVSTA CAESARIS AVG, bust r

Domitian
(81-96)
denarius as Caesar, 3.2g, RIC 297, RF 11-1, ex Millennia, 76 A.D.

Obv. DOMITIANVS laureate head head of Domitian r
Rev. COS IIII Pegasus standing r, wings upright, foreleg lifted

Titus
(79-81)
denarius as Augustus, 3.53g, RIC 131, RF 10-1, January-June 80 A.D., ex A. Lynn

Obv. IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M, laureate head of Titus right / TR P IX IMP XV — COS VIII P P
Rev. Dolphin above struppus (crown formed from bundled sacred boughs) resting on cover set on handles of filleted tripod, partially occluded by two ravens standing back-to-back before.

Trajan
(98-117)
denarius, 3.5g, RIC 9, RF 13-1, 98/99 A.D.

Obv. IMP CAES NERVA TRAJAN AVG GERM (Trajan Augustus, conqueror of Germany) head of Trajan r
Rev. PM TRP COS II PP (Pontifex Maximus, Tribune, Consul 2 times, Father of his country [Pater Patraie]) Vesta, seated holding patera and torch

Trajan
(98-117)
denarius, 3.2g, RIC 38, RF 13-2, 100 A.D.

Obv. IMP CAES NERVA TRAJAN AVG GERM (Trajan Augustus, conqueror of Germany) head of Trajan r

Rev. PM TRP COS III PP (Pontifex Maximus, Tribune, Consul 3 times, Father of his country [Pater Patraie]) Pax standing holding branch and cornucopia

Hadrian
(117-138)
denarius, 3.5g, RIC 161, RF 14-1, 124/128 A.D.

Obv. HADRIANUS AVGVSTVS Laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder
Rev. COS III Roma standing left, holding Victory on globe and reversed spear

Hadrian
(117-138)
denarius, 3.32g, RIC 297, RF 14-2, 136 A.D., Rome mint

Obv. HADRIANUS AVG COS III PP > Bare head right
Rev. AEGYPTOS Egypt reclining left on basket, holding sistrum; to left, ibis standing right.

Hadrian went on an extended imperial tour of the provinces for a large portion of his years as emperor after the disquiet of Trajan's reign. He re-established Roman order and reconnected with local governments, ultimately ensuring the Pax Romana for another half-century.

Antonius Pius
(138-161)
denarius, 3.5g, RIC 95, RF 15-1, 140/141 A.D.

Obv. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP (Antoninus Augustus Pius) laureate head of Antoninus r
Rev. TR POT COS III (Tribune, Consul 3 times) Romulus suckling

Diva Faustina
Senior
denarius, 3.4g, RIC 360, RF 15A-2, after 141 A.D.

Obv. DIVA FAVSTINA (Divine Faustina) draped bust
Rev. AVGUSTA ceres (Aetemitas?) standing

Diva Faustina
Senior
denarius, 3.1g, RIC 377, RF 15A-1, after 141 A.D.

Obv. DIVA FAVSTINA (Divine Faustina) draped bust
Rev. AVGUSTA scepter and wreath on draped throne of Juno

Antonius Pius
(138-161)
denarius, 3.5g, RIC 441, RF 15-2, 161 A.D.

Obv. DIVVS ANTONINVS (Divine Antoninus) bare head of Antoninus r
Rev. DIVO PIO (divine & Pius) horned altar enclosure

Marcus
Aurelius

(161-180)
denarius, 3.2g, RIC 159, RF 16-1, 166 A.D. 

Obv. M ANTONINVS AVG PARTH MAX bare head of Marcus r
Rev. TR P  XX IMP IIII COS III PAX, Pax standing l. holding branch and cornucopia
Geta
(209-211)
denarius, 3.5g, RIC 18, RF 26-1, 200 A.D. 

Obv. P SEPT GETA CAES PONT (as Caesar) bare head of Geta r
Rev. PRINC IVVENTVTIS Geta standing l. holding baton and scepter, trophy behind
Septimius
Severus
(193-211)
denarius, 2.8g, RIC 274, RF 22-1, 206 A.D. ex Frank Kovacs

Obv. SEVERVS PIVS AVG laureate head r.
Rev. LAETITIA TEMPORVM ship in coliseum, quadriga, animals

Freeman & Sear: " When Severus and Caracalla celebrated the 10th anniversary of their joint reign in AD 206, they marked the occasion with a highly unusual public spectacle: A giant ship with collapsible sides was built in the Coliseum arena. At a given signal, the sides fell away releasing an array of exotic wild animals for the crowds entertainment. The event in commemorated on the reverse of this coin, which depicts the ship and several beasts. For added measure, four racing chariots are also shown."

 

Caracalla
(198-217)
denarius, 3.5g, RIC 157, RF 25-3, 206 A.D. 

Obv. ANTONINVS - PIVS AVG laureate head r.
Rev. LAETITIA TEMPORVM ship in coliseum, quadriga, animals

matching issue with above coin (see description above)

ex A. Lynn

 

Caracalla
(198-217)
denarius, 3.3g, RIC 238a, RF 25-1, 214 A.D. 

Obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, (Antoninus Pius Augustus, conqueror of Germany)
Rev. PM TR P XVII COS IIII PP (Pontifex Maximus, Tribune 17 times, Consul 4 times, Father of his country [Pater Patraie]), Apollo seated left holding branch & leaning on lyre set on tripod
Caracalla
(198-217)
denarius, 3.1g, RIC 254, RF 25-2, 215 A.D. 

Obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, (Antoninus Pius Augustus, conqueror of Germany), bust r
Rev. PM TR P XVIII COS IIII PP (Pontifex Maximus, Tribune 18 times, Consul 4 times, Father of his country [Pater Patraie]), Apollo standing l, wearing polos and holding scepter
Julia Domna denarius, 3.1g, RIC 391, RF 22A-1, 215 A.D.

Obv. IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG (Julia Pius and Blessed Augusta), Julia Domna facing right;
Rev. VESTA, Vesta seated left holding simpulum and scepter
Macrinus
(217-218)
denarius, 3.9g, RIC 76, RF 27-1, 217 A.D.

obv: IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG 
Bust laureate, cuirassed r., seen from front, beard short
Rev. IOVI CONSERVATORI (Jupiter Savior) Jupiter standing l holding in r hand thunderbolt over small figure of Macrinus and in l hand scepter

Julia Mamaea
 
denarius, 3.2g, RIC 360, RF 30A-1, 226 A.D.

obv: IVLIA MA MAEA AVG, diademed bust r
Rev.  FECVND AVGVSTAE, Fecunditas standing l, child before, cornucopia
Severus Alexander
(222-235)
denarius, 3.2g, RIC 250, RF 30-3, 231 A.D.

Obv: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, Laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder
Rev.  PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left, holding grain ears and cornucopia; modius at her feet
Severus Alexander
(222-235)
denarius, 3.1g, RIC 238, RF 30-2, 231 A.D.

Obv: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust r
Rev.  IOVI PROPVGNATORI, Jupiter standing front, head right, nude but for cloak flowing out to left, hurling thunderbolt & holding eagle
Severus Alexander
(222-235)
denarius, 2.8g, RIC 254, RF 30-4, 232 A.D.

Obv: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped bust right
Rev.  SPES PVBLICA, (hope of the populace) Spes walking l, holding flower and raising skirt
Severus Alexander
(222-235)
denarius, 3.2g, RIC 123,  RF 30-1, 234 A.D.

Obv: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped bust right
Rev. P M TR P XIII COS III P P, Sol advancing left raising hand & holding whip
Maximinus Thrax
(235-238)
denarius, 3.0g, RIC 12,  RF 31-1, 235 A.D.

Obv: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right 
Rev: PAX AVGVSTI, Pax standing left with branch & scepter
Maximinus Thrax
(235-238)
denarius, 2.4g, RIC 14,  RF 31-2, 235 A.D.

Obv: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right 
Rev: SALVS AVGVSTII Salus seated left extending patera to snake rising from altar
Maximinus Thrax
(235-238)
denarius, 2.9g, RIC 16,  RF 31-3, 235-36 A.D.

Obv: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right 
Rev: VICTORIA AVG, Victory advancing right holding branch and palm
Gordian III
(238-244)
denarius, 2.8g, RIC 81, RF 36-2, 240 A.D.

Obv.  IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped, & draped bust right 
Rev. P M TR P III COS P P, Gordian riding l on horseback, holding spear, r hand raised

Gordian III
(238-244)
denarius, 2.9g, RIC 114, RF 36-1, 249 A.D.

Obv.  IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped, & cuirassed bust right 
Rev. P M TR P III COS P P, Apollo seated left holding branch in right hand.

Philip I
(244-249)
antoninianus, 4.7g, RIC #27b (Eauze Hoard), RF 37-1, 247 A.D.

Obv. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG (Emperor Philip [the Arab] Augustus),  Philip I facing right Bust radiate, draped, ciurassed
Rev. AEQVITAS AVGG (Goddess in aspect of emperor), Goddess Aequitas (equity) standing left, hair gathered at top of head, holding scales in r. hand, r, forearm bent upwards, cornucopia in l., no drapery from l. arm.   

Philip II
antoninianus, 5.0g , RIC 216c, RF 37A-1, 248 A.D.

Obv. IVL PHILIPPVS CAES, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right
Rev. PRINCIPI IVVENT, Philip II, in military dress, standing r with globe & transverse spear.

Probus
(276-282)
silvered billion antoninianus, Siiscia mint, 3.6 , RIC 776, RF 71-1, 277 A.D.

Obv. IMP C M AVR PROBVS PF AVG radiate bust left in imperial mantle, holding eagle-tipped scepter
Rev. SOLI INVICTO XXIVI, Sol in unruly quadriga facing


Richard Frajola (May 2010)