Julius Germanicus

Of the coins I sold so far, my avatar Sestertius is the one I miss most. Alas, I got good money for it, so I can´t complain...

Obverse: IMP CAES M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust of Macrinus right, with beard of intermediate length.
Reverse: PONTIF MAX TR P COS P [P] around, S — C in field, Felicitas standing left, holding long caduceus and cornucopiae.
Orichalcum Sestertius, Rome, 1.Oct.-31.Dec.217
20,51 grams / 33,10 mm
Clay obv. die 2, rev. die 42 (this coin cited), RIC 139; BMC 120, note; Cohen 66; Sear  7386.
ex collection of Friedrich Karl August, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont, 1763-1812 (Münzhandlung Basel Auction 3, 1935, lot 730)

Here are my (ex-) Sestertii of Maximinus Thrax, his wife Paulina, and their son Maximus. Note how the deified Paulina´s portrait was modelled after that of her husband, as the celators at Rome seemingly had no statues available of the deceased wife of a soldier far away in Germania.

On 2/20/2024 at 1:05 AM, Nerosmyfavorite68 said:

Domitian, 81-96. Æ Sestertius (35 mm, 21.16 g), Rome, 90-91. Obv. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XV CENS PER P P Laureate head of Domitian right. Rev. IOVI VICTORI / S C Jupiter seated left on throne, holding Victory and sceptre. RIC 702; BMCRE II, p.398, 439; Cohen 314

When did sestertii lose the brass look?

 

As for the composition of Sestertii, an X-rayfluorescence analysis of my Domitian Germania Capta Sestertius revealed it to include 83% copper, 15 % zinc, and small traces of tin and lead. This should roughly apply to your Domitian as well and without patina it should apear in an almost gold-like yellow like mine.

Sestertii lost their brassy look in the mid 160s AD and turned reddish when the expensive zinc component was reduced to save funds during the critical wars under Marcus Aurelius.

They regained a higher zinc component in the early years of Septimius Severus´rule (mid 190s), only to lose it again towards the end of the rule of Elagabalus.

The family in Sestertius format:

Late to the party, but here is my Decius portrait - unusual but oddly lifelike looking:

Thank you all for the good ideas (even though there does not seem to be a consensus).

I guess I´ll play it safe again and spend an hour at the customs office once more and register them for re-entry even though five of my most beloved Sestertii were stolen on the way to the PO box by some USPS employee.

On 2/2/2024 at 11:44 PM, AncientJoe said:

I'd also question the need to slab $200 coins. The slabbing costs will amount to >20% of the value of each coin: would it be better to just put them in holders which could be re-opened? Further, if you're looking to sell, slabbing bronze often doesn't help the coins as NGC will point out the issues (it's rare that bronze doesn't have at least some smoothing). I'd sooner sell to another collector or dealer rather than deal with the gamble of traveling to have coins graded which could ultimately hurt their value.

And more importantly: bronze coins are simply too fun to hold to be encapsulated in plastic.

No, I will not get them slabbed, but submit them to David Sear for certification as I did with nearly all of my Sestertii because I like his detailed description and historic background write-ups no matter how little a coin has cost me and not even depending  on if I keep the particular coin.

This way I keep a "virtual" version of my (formerly) complete Sestertius portrait gallery which I plan to work into a printed catalogue one day. 

I would like to take some (lets say, five) Sestertii (nothing fancy, let´s say 200 USD value each) with me by airplane from Germany to the US (for certification). Let´s say, in my wallet.

Do I have to expect hassle from the customs? I am fed up by sending them via mail because of the rising theft rate and the hour-long visits to the customs office for pre-declaration.

Any advice?

No Sestertii here yet?

Here are Valerian, his wife Mariniana, his son Gallienus, and his daughter in law Salonina:

Ahhhh, Octavius´ collection puts my Caligula Sestertius to shame 😅. Here it is anyway:

C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT - Laureate head of Caligula right

SPQR / PP / OB CIVES / SERVATOS in four lines within laurel wreath

Sestertius, Rome, 18.03.37 - 17.03.38 A.D.

34,65 mm / 24,22 gr

RIC 37, BMCRE 38 and pl. 28,5, CBN 50 and pl. xiii, Cohen 24, Sear 1801 var., Pangerl "Portraits - 500 years of Roman Coin Portraits" Nr.92+93 (same obverse die)

Nevertheless a beautiful coin! The yellow tone is just a biased personal preference of mine 😏

Thank you for the great writeup!!!

Agrippina the younger was the first roman woman to issue coins in her own name and with her portrait on the obverse, as seen on my Sestertius:

AGRIPPINA AVG GERMANICI F CAESARIS AVG - Draped bust of Agrippina Junior right /

(no legend) – Carpentum left, drawn by two mules, the cover supported by standing figures.

Brass Sestertius, Perinthus (?) mint, AD 51-54 (struck under Claudius)

32 mm / 26.99 g / 6h

Cohen -, BMCRE Claudius p. 195 note and plate 37.3, RIC I (Claudius) 103 (R3), H.-M. von Kaenel, “Britannicus, Agrippina Minor und Nero in Thrakien”, SNR 63 (1984), p. 130 ff, Type A (7 specimens) and plate 24, 30 (same obverse die), Cayon “Los Sestercios del Imperio Romano” Vol. 1 (1984), 1 (80.000 SFR) and plate p.74 (same reverse die), Sear RCV I, 1910

I used to have this high relief, heavy, and well-pedigreed Sestertius (and I doubt i will ever have a better one 🥲😞

IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P - laureate head of Nerva right

FORTVNA AVGVST S C - Fortuna standing left, holding rudder resting on ground in right hand and cornucopiae at her side in left.

Sestertius, Rome 01 January – 18 September 97 aD (3rd emission of Nerva)

35,12 mm / 31,20 gr

RIC 83; BMCRE 107-9 and pl. 5, 6; Cohen 67; Sear -, Banti 21 (18 specimens)

From the collections of Arthur Löbbecke (1850-1932), Fritz Reusing (1874-1956), and Paul Schürer (1890-1976);

Auction Hess Nr. 182 (06.01.1926), lot 1115 a, Manfred Olding fixed price list 96 (March 2019), Nr.200, Roma E-sale 113, Lot 775 (28.09.2023)

The Banti No.101 plate coin, ex William James Conte collection (Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 52, lot 505, 07.10.2009),  ex Michael Weller Collection collection (Triton VIII, lot 1040, 2005), ex Friends of the Romans collection (Münzen & Medaillen 92, lot 127, 2002), ex Dr. Meyer-Coloniensis III (Münz Zentrum 64, lot 378, 1988) and ex Münzen und Medaillen 52, lot 695, 1975 shows the quality of the obverse die:

Here is my second purchase for my new "Yellow Orichalcum Sestertius collection" 🙂

This coin has obviously been harshly cleaned and the reverse is sub-par, but I could not resist simply because

- it was struck on a full size 34 mm flan while most contemporary Sestertii only reach an average 28-30 mm, and

- it almost reaches the full nominal weight of a Sestertius of one roman ounce (27,2 gr) while the average Severan piece is just 20-21 gr, plus

- it was struck in pure yellow Orichalcum with a high Zinc component while most Sestertii of the late 2nd century were made of a reddish alloy with a high copper content, and last but not least 

- it features a warrior-like cuirassed bust, a prototype of the soldier emperors that were to follow in the later third century, in the finest style of the period

L SEPT SEV PE-RT AVG IMP VIII - Laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind

P M TR P IIII COS II P P S C - Victory, draped right breast bare, advancing left, holding wreath upward in outstretched right hand and cradling palm branch in left arm

Sestertius, Rome 196 A.D.

RIC 725; BMCRE 591 var (PERT); Cohen 420; Sear 6424; Banti 101 (14 specimens, same obverse die as illustrated)

While the Victory reverse is neither well preserved nor special in itself, it is tempting to see a promotion of the victory over Clodius Albinus achieved at the battle of Lugdunum in February of the year it was struck.

Please share your thoughts and Sestertii of Septimius Severus!

The Coin is also unlisted in Cayon, "Los Sestercios del Imperio Romano", Vol 1, and Suarez, ERIC II.

There are Sestertii with the exact same obverse legend AND laureate head left and globe, albeit with different reverse types. 

It could be a mule or a new combination.  I would advise looking for die matches to genuine coins.

Unlisted 1st century Sestertii do exist - I have one of Vitellius.

On 11/30/2023 at 4:37 AM, CPK said:

A wonderfully expressive portrait!

Thanks! 
I must say that in terms of portrait style I did not find a single Sestertius of Faustina I on AC Search or VCoins that I would prefer over this one ☺️. 

12 hours ago, Roman Collector said:

That's a lovely coin, @Julius Germanicus! I like the reverse detail, too. Here's the specimen in my collection. I like a dark green patina.

The identity of many of the figures on the reverses of the AETERNITAS and AVGVSTA types are not clear and we are forced to rely upon the attributes borne by the individual figures to determine whom they represent. In this particular case, the figure has been identified as "Juno(?)" by RIC, as "Juno" by BMCRE, "Aeternitas (or Juno)" by Cohen, "Aeternitas" by Strack, and "Juno" by David Sear. But the deities assigned by these various references are not based upon a comprehensive study of the attributes of Aeternitas or Juno.

Such a study of the Antonine coinage reveals that there are four main attributes that appear ONLY on coins with the legend AETERNITAS, and can therefore be said to be determinative of the personification of Aeternitas. These are the Phoenix, the large circular hoop of the Zodiac, the large starry globe on which the figure is seated, and the starry veil billowing around head of the figure. In the absence of any of these four attributes, identifying the reverse figure on this coin as Aeternitas is untenable.

On coins of Faustina I with the rev. legend IVNO or IVNONI REGINAE, Juno is usually portrayed holding an outstretched patera and scepter. Neither attribute by itself is determinative of type, and either may appear in combination with other attributes (such as a peacock), and the two attributes together can be taken to indicate that it is Juno who is being depicted. The related figure raising an empty right hand, instead of a patera, and holding a scepter is also best seen as representing Juno. Therefore, I concur with Mattingly (BMCRE) and Sear (RCV) in calling the figure "Juno."

The AETERNITAS coins paired with the DIVA FAVSTINA legend were issued in 150 CE (and possibly a few years after) as part of the 10th death anniversary celebrations for Faustina.

Thank you very much for the dating and expertise!

I just found another view of the Aeternitas / Juno question:

Franziska Schmidt-Dick in Vol.1 of her „Typenatlas der römischen Reichsprägung von Augustus bis Aemilianus“ (Vienna, 2002, my translation into English):

“AETERNITAS appears as a personification (numen) on coins from Vespasianus onwards. Most of the time, Aeternitas is related to the divinization of a female member of the imperial family. Especially on the occasion of the Consecratio of Faustina the Elder, a rich variety of types sets in, which often evades clear interpretation, since many depictions show aspects of other numina such as Ceres, Diana, Fortuna, Juno, Luna, Mater castrorum, Pietas, Providentia, Pudicitia, Spes, or Vesta."

She then lists no less than 50 varieties of AETERNITAS on the coinage, with our type, RIC 1102, being

" AETERNITAS  f1E/02:

Diadem, veil, tunic, palla (sinus), right hand raised, left (lowered) holding scepter across (in the right field); referred to in the literature as Juno, but according to Strack 1937, 103 it is Aeternitas because of the raised hand; for the position of the scepter, compare some depictions of the genius."

The only AETERNITAS variety she lists as depicting Juno is restricted to Aurei, Dupondii and Asses:

“AETERNITAS type f1A/07 = IUNO f1A/3:

Diadem, tunica, palla (sinus), right hand raised, left hand (lowered) holds scepter slightly at an angle (does not touch the ground)

No explanatory legend, interpretation questionable.”

My Aeternitas is veiled indeed but I am not sure on how to interpret the position of the sceptre.

17 hours ago, ambr0zie said:

Very nice sestertius and very nice goal. And yes, on some characters it would be very difficult to acquire coins (especially if you want to keep the same level of condition). Great portrait on your coin and the orichalcum color is spectacular. 

Regarding your questions - dating - OCRE states it is struck in 141 but I am not sure if this is correct. @Roman Collector might shed some light. 
The reverse deity is listed as Juno with a question mark in RIC 

Without being a specialist, I doubt it (again @Roman Collector is qualified to confirm) - again as a personal note, I doubt it's Juno, as all the imperial coins with Juno I can think of depict this deity with a patera and most of them also with a peacock. Just the sceptre as the attribute - I am not sure, but I doubt it's Juno. 

Here is my only Faustina sestertius, also bought because I really like this coin. Mine also has a spectacular color - but green. Dating (I think this was suggested by the same Faustina specialist) is 155-161. I suspect your coin has similar dating as they are close in RIC. 

32,15 mm, 26,39 g.
Diva Faustina I. Died 140-141. Ӕ sestertius. Rome. 155-161.
DIVA FAVSTINA, bust of Faustina I, draped, right, hair elaborately waved and coiled in bands across head and drawn up at back and piled in a round coil on top / AETERNITAS SC, Aeternitas standing left, holding phoenix on globe and lifting fold of skirt.
RIC III Antoninus Pius 1105a; BMC 1490; RCV 4607; Cohen 12.

Thank you so much! And that is a beautiful green Faustina!

After selling most of my collection last year I have only recently started to buy some new coins, but on a much smaller scale and concentrating not on my old goal of finding one Sestertius of each and every Augustus, Caesar and Empress available (which got a little out of hand and expensive to achieve maximum completeness) , but on what brought me to the hobby on the first place:

Big Sestertii in their original yellow Orichalcum colour with neat portraits 🙂

DIVA FAVSTINA - Bust of Faustina the Elder right, wearing paludamentum and tutulus of pearls

AETERNITAS  S C - Aeternitas standing facing, head left, extending right hand and holding long sceptre in left

Sestertius, Rome after 147 A.D.

32 mm / 25,84 gr

RIC (Antoninus Pius) 1102; BMCRE 1480; Cohen 28; Sear 4605; Banti 14 (16 specimens)

I hope you like it and maybe the expert(s) here can help me a little with the exact dating of this coin, let me know if this is really Juno on the reverse, or add anything interesting.

Please share you Sestertii of Faustina Senior!

Elagabalus had more wives than any other Emperor, so for me he will always be a man.

Here are my (former) bronzes of the five important women in his life: grandmother Julia Maesa, mother Julia Soaemias, first wife Julia Paula, second and fourth wife Julia Aquilia Severa, and third wife Annia Faustina:

IMP CAES DIVI TRAIAN AVG F TRAIAN HADRIAN OPT AVG GER - Laureate bust right (three-quarter-view), slight drapery over left shoulder/

DAC PARTHICO P M TR P COS P P, Trajan and Hadrian, both laureate and togate, standing facing one another, Trajan (on right) holding roll and handing heavenly globe with equatorial band to Hadrian (on left), SC in exergue

Sestertius, Rome 117 A.D.

38,0 mm / 29,07 g

RIC 30 R; BMCRE 1101 (note); Banti 232 (3 Specimens); Cayon 206; Sear 3589

This Sestertius, struck on an almost medallic flan, is part of Hadrian's historically important accession issue, the first Sestertius type struck for him at the Rome mint.

Showing an unusual early portrait, he still bears the titles of Trajan, Optimus, Germanicus, Dacicus, Parthicus, and Pater Patriae, which the Senate had decreed to him but which he did not want and would omit from his second issue. 

Hadrian's assumption of the throne upon Trajan's death was not without controversy. Many believed he was not adopted by Trajan, nor named heir before the latter's death. As a result, the first issues of Hadrian contain a variety of types dedicated to espousing his legitimacy, as on the present specimen.

On this Sestertius and its related issues, Trajan passes a globe, representing the Roman world, to Hadrian. Both are depicted as togatus with a laurel wreath and hold a scroll in their left hand.  

One research approach is that the handover of the globe shows not Trajan himself, but a senator and Hadrian and thus establishes the legitimacy of his rule not only through adoption, but also through the Senate, which, however, had little influence in his appointment as the new emperor.

Similar to this representation are the Aurei and Denarii which also depict Hadrian and Trajan, but with a handshake instead of the globe. The person on the left is holding a scroll again. In the case of the person on the right, however, it is not clear whether he is holding something in his hand. In some cases this holds a fold of the toga in the left hand. The biggest difference is the addition of the legend ADOPTIO, which makes the identification of the second person as Trajan clear.

On 11/13/2023 at 3:06 AM, David Atherton said:

Could be either RIC 77 (COS VII DES VIII) or RIC 104 (COS VIII DES VIIII). I can't read the reverse legend from the photo, perhaps in hand you can see a bit more to figure out which RIC number it is?

Thank you David!

My coin seems to be indeed RIC 104, as it is a die match to the specimen in the British Museum which shows a clear DES VIIII::

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_R-11288

Here is a rare left facing Sestertius. Could someone give me the new RIC number of this (I am no Flavian expert):

4 hours ago, David Atherton said:

I've always wanted one of those, but the daunting assembly frightened me off!

Note that these are both not the Lego set you can buy , but my own designs (in different scales).

Congratulations to a once-in-a-lifetime coin!

Celebrating with not just one, but TWO Lego Colosseums 😀