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I’m pretty sure that I started as a #1 about 40 years ago. I picked a pretty narrow time frame, Imperatorial, consisting of only about 400 types (according to Sear). No provincials so the targets would be less numerous. After all, how hard could it be to get 1 example of each? Well, I know now! So I think I’m pretty solidly a #3 with some #9 thrown in.

One thing that attracted me to collecting coins from this period is the rich imagery. How can you only pick a few? But here are some of my faves. Sulla’s Dream (?) Sphinx Belligerent owl Cupid riding a dolphin Bestiarii Wolf building fire with eagle fanning the flames Triskeles Of course, my all-time favorite is from this period and involves a pair of daggers (I think I’ve already posted it too many times!)

Not sure what’s going on with these eyes!

Here are some Imperatorial period birds

This was one of my first Imperatorials. Thanks for the write up @Curtisimo!

Another Temple of Jupiter, Petillius Capitolinus, 43 BC, denarius Temple of Divus Julius, Octavian, 36 BC, denarius

Here are 2 that I picked up last month: Octavian, 30-29 BC, denarius Marc Antony, 40-35 BC, fleet coinage, bronze As, light series I’ve been unsuccessfully chasing fleet coinage for several years, consistently losing out even though I was bidding what I thought was outrageous amounts. But, finally, I got one!

@Dafydd - Wish I could take credit for the photos but they were taken by a professional - Tom Mulvaney of Lexington, KY. Super talented and a great guy!

Out of 95 Imperatorial coins, I only have 3 1/2 facing left Sicinius and Coponius, 49 BC, denarius Julius Caesar, 46-45 BC, denarius Octavian, 32-29 BC And the 1/2: Sextus Pompey, 43-35 BC, As

Everyone’s favorite elephant - Julius Caesar, denarius, 49 BC Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio, denarius, 47-46 BC Elephant headdress, Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio, denarius, 47-46 BC Another headdress, L Cestius and C Norbanus, aureus, 43 BC

Here’s another example of @ambr0zie’s Imperatorial coin

Numonius Vaala, 41 BC, denarius The reverse shows one warrior armed with a shield and sword attacking a vallum (rampart) with 2 soldiers defending. The first Roman soldier to breach a defense was awarded the corona vallaris or “wall crown”.

L Livineius Regulus, 42 BC, denarius

Mn. Cordius Rufus, 46 BC, denarius, Cupid riding dolphin

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Here are several Imperatorial Victories

I’ve shown this before, but I just love this imagery - L Valerius Asisculus, 45 BC NEXT - Dolphin

Octavian, 40 BC, moneyer - Q Salvius NEXT - lighthouse

T Carisius, 45 BC NEXT: Another mythical creature

I’ve got nothing with Pegasus, but here’s Medusa on the reverse. Mn Cordius Rufus, denarius, 46 BC, obverse - owl on Corinthian helmet reverse - aegis of Minerva w/head of Medusa in center

This has always been one of my favorite portraits. It’s a denarius of Hostilius Saserna, 48 BC, with a Gallic warrior on the obverse and a Gallic war chariot in action on the reverse. There is speculation that the portrait is Vercingetorix, but the is no consensus. While it seems unlikely that an enemy of Rome would be portrayed on a coin, Caesar had a great deal of respect for the Gallic warriors. I’ll personally stick with the idea that it is Vercingetorix as it makes for a more intriguing story.

Here are a couple of Imperatorials with triskeles: Lentulus and Marcellus, 49 BC A Allienus, 47 BC

Appropriate for today - I bought this coin in 1984, not knowing the provenance. But thanks to Dave Vagi, I learned that it had an auction history back to 1919. It had passed through several significant collections - Johann Horsky, Spencer-Churchill, John Balderston and was published by Cahn in his treatise on the EID MAR as example 9b. I decided to try to acquire the actual publications that it had appeared in and thanks to the generous assistance of Vicken at Stacks, I was able to complete the set this year. I know you said extra credit for the plates, but hopefully I get extra, extra credit for the books themselves!

OK, since you asked, here are a few - Julius Caesar in gold, with Octavian, 43 BC Julius Caesar in silver, early 44 BC Brutus, 42 BC

Here are several Imperatorials Antony/Cleopatra - 32 BC Marc Antony/Lucius Antony - 41 BC Octavian/Antony - 41 BC Octavian/Antony - 41 BC Julius Caesar/Octavian - 43 BC

The ever-popular snake biga! Ceres riding in the biga, torch in left hand, reins in right hand. Liber on obverse. C Vibius Pansa Caetronianus, 48 BC, Cr 449/3b