Octavius

1. Denarius during civil war with Jupiter Capitolinus obverse and Vesta reverse. According to Sear, this was issued by the pro Vitellian camp in southern Germany... 2. Galba denarius with Diva Augusta reverse , probably referring to Livia, with whom Galba was good friends. 3. Galba sestertius with reverse of ROMA... 4. Galba sestertius with Libertas reverse... 5. denarius of Otho with Securitas reverse.. 6. denarius of Vitellius with SPQR reverse 7. sestertius of Vitellius with reverse of PAX...

More decades than I care to count!

A selection of varied sestertii issued by Nero... Sestertius celebrating the grain supply to Rome , secured by Nero with Ceres and Annona on reverse... sestertius commemorating the renovation of the Port of Ostia under Nero - ( I apologize for my one attempt at photography ; I think I'll keep my day job. )... sestertius with ROMA reverse honoring the goddess Roma and ROMA RESURGENS after the devastating fire... Sestertius with Temple of Janus reverse with closed doors signifying "peace" , even if not totally true... Decursio Reverse , my favorite design of his sestertii.... sestertii with ADLOCVTIO reverse Nero standing addressing the troops with the Praetorian prefect next to him. The Praetorian was likely Ofonius Tigellinus.... sestertius depicting Nero at Coniugarium...

A collection of varied small bronzes of Nero Asses and Dupondii... Dupondius with Macellum market reverse. Dupondius with Roma reverse... Dupondius with Victory flying holding wreath... Dupondius with Securitas reverse... Asses.... probably the most iconic of all depicting Nero on the reverse playing his lyre... As with Genio Augusti sacrificing over altar... Asses with reverse of Victory flying holing globe inscribed with SPQR... As with reverse depicting the ARA PACIS... As with reverse of Temple of Janus with closed doors....

A couple of aurei of Nero as an adult as well as several denarii... aureus of a rather chubby Nero with reverse of Salus... a silver denarius with same reverse theme... Aureus of nero with reverse of himself as Augustus and his wife ( I believe this is Statilia Messalina) as Augusta... Denarius of adult Nero with ROMA reverse... This is a rather famous depiction of Nero as the colossus SOL , which stood next to the future Colosseum... denarius with reverse of Roman eagle between two standards...

Nero is by far my favorite emperor to collect. He issued an enormous variety of coins and in my opinion , they were Rome's pinnacle of numismatic excellence. Here is a selection of coinage when Nero was still a boy some issued under Claudius... Aureus of the boy Nero with reverse displaying priestly implements... silver denarius with same reverse theme... Nero as just a boy named PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS and shield reverse... Denarius of young Nero with his mother before he killed her , wreath reverse , SC... denarius of a young Nero with Vitus reverse...

Claudius issued a sestertius for his sister in law Agrippina the elder with simple SC reverse... For his brother , he had Asses struck with Germanicus facing right and SC reverse. In honor of his mother , Antonia, he struck dupondii with reverse depicting himself as priest or Augur...

For Claudius, who played the fool , but in reality was much more astute... An aureus with reverse depicting the Praetorian camp. According to Suetonius, Claudius was found cowering behind a curtain immediately after Caligula's murder. I have read some authors' opinion that he may well have been involved in the assassination plot. I don't believe so, since he had Cassius Chaerea , the lead assassin, put to death afterwards. I think that would have been too risky for Claudius if were among the plotters. I guess like many things, the truth lies somewhere in the middle... denarius with same reverse theme... Denarius celebrating his marriage to his niece , Agrippina the younger... Aureus announcing young Nero as his successor. sestertii with SPQR OB CIVES SERVATOS reverse. Probably a more credible claim than when Caligula employed the same... sestertius with Spes reverse... Orichalcum dupondius with Ceres reverse... Asses with reverses depicting Minerva brandishing a spear , Constantia standing left holding a spear , and Libertas...

Don't like the style nor the reverse. Looks off to me. I would play it safe and stay away.

Caligula had several other coins struck to honor family members... sestertius of his mother Agrippina the elder with carpentum reverse / mules... dupondius for his father Germanicus... As for his father germanicus... Dupondius for great grandfather Augustus with Caius himself seated on curule chair on reverse. This is the only imperial coin I can think of off hand that has SC on the obverse... As with Neptune on reverse...

For Caius Caligula Caligula honored many of his relatives , especially his parents, which must have made Tiberius' ashes roll in their urn. He struck a series of three denarii with portraits of his mother(Agrippina), father (Germanicus), and great grandfather (Augustus) on the reverses. Mother ,Agrippina the elder... father, Germanicus... great grandfather, Augustus... several sestertii... reverse with his three sisters... reverse with OB CIVES SERVATOS... roughly translated this is commemorating the lives of the citizens whom he saved. Rather ironic since Caligula was not exactly known for his humanitarianism. Adlocutio... Caligula paid off the Praetorians upon his accession... his famous Vesta asses... small quadrans with cap of Liberty reverse.

I'll post Drusus if for no other reason than I've always had a soft spot for him (as well as Britannicus) in history...

For Tiberius I feel like i'm stretching the phrase "interesting reverse". Here are two asses one with globe and rudder and the other with caduceus. I'm including the banal reverse of SC, not so much because of the "excitement" factor , but because it was important in demonstrating senatorial influence. And lastly, the "tribute Penny", possibly the most well known of Tiberius' coinage. It has been suggested that it is his mother, Livia, seated on the reverse.

Very handsome otho. That Agrippina and Claudius I see in the background look really neat as well. Two Otho denarii...

Thank you so much Donna, that was fascinating! As usual, I learned a lot from your write ups.

Delection of coins of Augustus... Signis Receptis commemorating the negotiated return of the Roman Standards. Denarius of Augustus with Capricorn reverse. He was born on Sept. 23; wouldn't that make him a Virgo? I don't really know anything about astrology though. denarius with bull reverse... Denarius with Diana reverse shooting her bow and arrow.... denarius with corona civica / clipeus reverse... a dupondius of Divus Augustus , though struck under Tiberius, with altar reverse...

A selection of coins of Octavian, c. 44 BCE 27 BCE. This first denarius has a great reverse of a legionary Roman Eagle, rudder , and standard. What appeals to me most, however, is Octavian has a "mourning beard" in commemoration of his adoptive father's recent murder. This next denarius has the iconic reverse of a crocodile to commemorate Octavian's final defeat of Marc Antony and Cleopatra and the incorporation of Egypt as a Roman province. Here is a dupondius of Octavian's with none other than his adoptive father , Julius Caesar, on the reverse. A denarius of Octavian with Pax holding olive branch and cornucopia. Denarius of Octavian with quadriga on top of triumphant arch. Denarius of Octavius with Temple reverse. Denarius with reverse of Apollo sitting on the "rock of Actium" playing the lyre; nice imagery. denarius of Octavian with reverse of Victory standing on globe holding wreath.

Well, with Julius Caesar inevitably come several other characters... Brutus, his "friend" and we have Cassius / Lentulus. The obverse of Cassius/Lentulus has a portrait of Libertas... To me she has "a lean and hungry look!"

C. Julius Caesar , c. 44 BCE. Portrait of Caesar with star behind. reverse Venus holding Victory. Sepulis Macer. The reverse of Venus gives reference to Caesar's claim of being a descendant of Venus himself. Anchises according to the legend, had a child with Venus who was Aeneas. He in turn had a son, Iulus, the founder of the Julian line in Italy shortly after the Trojan War.

Lollius Palicanus , c. 45 BCE. Libertas / Rostra with prows of enemy ships destroyed. This is where many important speeches were delivered to the crowds. The Rostrum is still there in Rome , though the prows of the ships are long gone...

In this next time period is my all time favorite reverse of Roman coins ... Plautius Plancus, c. 47 BCE with Medusa on obverse and The Aurora on the reverse. Just the name "Aurora" conjures up the image of a vivid, fiery sun bursting through the crisp dawn. This is depicted as the Dawn with four horses riding straight at the viewer. Here are a couple more of the same since I think this reverse image is so beautiful... Hostilius Saserna denarius , c 48 BCE with Gallic warrior, possibly Vercingetorix, and reverse has Gallic warrior , nude, in biga brandishing spear. I think this reverse is especially important because it gives us timely and direct insight upon how the Gauls or Celts fought. Aulus Licinius Nerva, c. 48 BCE. Reverse of this one depicts Roman horseman, probable ancestor to Licinius, with only one arm, yet dragging fallen foe by his hair. I can only imagine all the stories told over dinner at that family's home!

There is a great deal of variation in this particular issue, many with poor strikes and flat areas as well. Unfortunately this is a rather poor photo of my coin; it does not look as "harsh" in hand. The reverse very much resembles the example in Wildwind for Plaetoria gens. Mine weighs 3.9 gms and was purchased from Artemide auctions in San Marino( very reputable). Upon close exam, it is definitely struck. this is from wildwind and to me resembles my coin in hand,in spite of my poor photo.

Lepidus c.61 BCE, with reverse of horseman with trophy.

Cestianus denarius with Vacuna and reverse of Roman Eagle, c. 9 BCE...

P. Licinius Crassus M.F. Ar denarius, 55 BC, Rome mint. Diademed and draped bust of Venus r., S.C behind, rev., P. CRASSVS M.F. Soldier standing l., holding spear and leading horse by bridle; cuirass and shield below I love this reverse , but for the life of me I can't figure out what the "M.F." stands for! Be nice!