Octavius

RR denarius of Crassus. next, more old toning...

Aes Rude found in hoard near Bologna, Italy - weight 465 Grams. Ae ax from central Italy c. 5th century BC.

Sestertius of Trajan with reverse referring to Alimentum Italiae - or food supply to the Italian people. next, another province or people...

Well, tomorrow it will be September, a time when I still get the cold sweats because of the beginning of school. For many, September is a welcomed month - a cool reprieve from the hot , sticky days of summer(excepting, of course our friends in Australia). But September has an interesting history. It was not always called September, or "the seventh month". As you know, The early Roman calendar year began in March. This probably made more sense due to the beginning of the agricultural season as well as the military campaigns. But this changed to January 1st and soon the 9th month was called the 7th month. There was precedent to change the names of the months ; Quintilis became Julius , or July and Sextilis became Augustus. September also had a name change albeit briefly. It became Mensis Germanicus, but strangely not in honor of the famous Germanicus, son of Drusus and Antonia, but in honor of Domitian. In AD 82-83 the Roman legions defeated German tribes, i.e. the Chatti, and Domitian was awarded the honorific title of Germanicus which he personally so rightly did NOT deserve. He further thought it would be a great idea to compound this honor by renaming September Mensis Germanicus, after himself. The senate did so , but this did not last very long and Germanicus reverted to September. About 100 years later, another megalomaniac , Commodus, would try to rename September again and call it Hercules. This also failed. In celebration of steadfast September, I thought it would be nice to recall the "original" Germanicus. Also, if you like , post anything relating to Domitian or the Fall.(Ceres included). Sestertius of Domitian depicting him on horseback fictitiously slaying fallen German. The title germanicus is seen on this sestertius. Dupondius of Germanicus commemorating regaining the standards. As of Germanicus struck by his brother, Emperor Claudius. another. As of Germanicus struck by his son, Caligula. Dupondius of Claudius with Ceres on reverse - celebrating Fall's harvest. Happy September, happy Fall.

Imperatorial denarius of Brutus. next... more imperatorial...

What a magnificent sight!

Agrippina senior - Mother of Caligula. next - her daughter...

I just started a book, Diocletian and the Roman Recovery, by Stephen Williams, 1997. It prompted me to purchase this follis of Diocletian just a few minutes ago from Odysseus in France - sort of an impulse buy to go along with my book. Struck c. AD 300-301 at Antioch , 11.4 gms.

Got it from a dealer - Kirk Davis - many years ago. He has always had very nice coins to offer. Here is another ADLOCVTIO of Nero - maybe not as nice as the first, but pretty nice , natural surfaces. I also got his one many years ago, I believe from CNG. Another scarcer issue of Nero was his platform sestertius (CONIVGARIVM). This was also from CNG years ago. (Gee, it's starting to feel like everything was "years ago"). I used to try and specialize in Nero at one time. My previous Caligula SPQR was from a Rauch auction ; my Caligula /Adlocutio was from Tom Cederland, (I miss him); The Titus was either from Harlan and Berk or CNG - can't remember offhand.

A group of earlier 1st century sestertii...

Aes Grave Triens of Roman Republic... next, a fish...

Denarius of civil war of AD 68-69 with Jupiter Capitolinus obverse...

These two emperors are probably the most difficult to obtain with "realistic" portraits. Here are two Antoniniani of Valerian and two of Gallienus. ...

Judaea Capta sestertii and denarius of his father, Vespasian. Also , an Aegypto Capta of Augustus...

I think you have a wonderful obsession, Maridvnvm, that all of us can certainly empathize with.

That's amazing! congratulations.

I would say he "played the part " exceptionally well. Not bad for ruling half the world at 19 years old! Some of his denarii...

Nice coin. I just might see you there at AAA. Here are a couple of sestertii of Antoninus , and an As ...

Three Antoniniani of father and his two sons... Carus , Carinus, and Numerian...

To be honest, I don't know if I actually have A favorite coin, but right up there would be this aes grave As of the Roman Republic. next... same theme..

Sestertius of Caligula with three sisters reverse - absolutely no regrets. same theme....

John, your story brought back lots of memories for me as well. I started collecting American coins when I was 8 , mostly pennies ,buffalo nickels , mercury dimes ect. that you could find in change. When I turned 13, I began Latin lessons in 1966 and was fascinated with ancient history - especially Roman History. One Saturday morning my dad took me to the local coin shop and the proprietor showed me a box that contained about two dozen or so ancient Roman and Byzantine coins. I was amazed and completely mesmerized. It was the first time I experienced that special connection with the past that we are all familiar with by holding one of these artifacts in our hands. I timidly asked him if they were for sale and how much they cost, thinking that they probably cost a fortune. To my surprise he said " the small ones are twenty-five cents and the large ones are fifty cents"! My father bought me a handful of them and I subsequently went back to this shop several more times with my allowance money to buy up all the rest. The coin that grabbed my attention first was a beautiful sestertius of Vespasian with the depiction of the Colosseum on the reverse which my dad got for me for fifty cents. Well, as your first coins, this turned out to be fake as well, but I still have it after all those years. Most of the coins were Antoniniani of Gallienus, Aurelian , Claudius Gothicus, and there were several very nice asses of Divus Augustus, Tiberius, Vespasian, and some third century sestertii of Decius, Alexander Severus and others. I think the entire group cost me about $15. Only the Colosseum coin was a fake. (I wish it were the other way around). From that time in 1966 I never lost interest in Roman coins and continued to collect them to this day. They enriched my interest in history and pushed me to continue to study Latin for 5 years even though my majors were in the sciences. I have no regrets.

Beautiful coin in my opinion.

A wonderful and very informative write up. Here is a Norbanus and a Censorinus...

Great and desirable coins! Silver denarius CAESAR IMP, minted in Rome by P. Sepullius Macer, January to February 44 BC.