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Kapphnwn's Top 10 Roman Coins


kapphnwn

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This year was a decent year for Roman coins. Again these are in no particular order

1.  Vespasian Ar Denarius  Tarraco 69-70 AD Obv Head left laureate. Rv Libertas standing left holding pileus RIC 1339 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen

vespd28.jpg.2315bc796c2f980cb7af76c0a565ceb5.jpg

Even though I won the coin in December 2021 it was not until late February that i actually got the coin. 

2.  Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Ar Denarius  North Italian Mint 80 BC Obv Head of Pietas right Rv Elephant advancing left Crawford 374/1 RBW 1396 This coin illustrated 3.90 grms 19 mm Photo by W. Hansen

374-a.jpg.6c6f6440e2f83f5749473aa33318abbc.jpg

3. Plotina Wife of Trajan Ar denarius 112-114 AD Obv Bust right draped  wearing stephane  Rv Vesta seated left RIC 730 Woytek 705-1 3.36 grms 20 mm Photo by W. Hansen

plotina1.jpg.fb390c0596a8bfd7fe50bd950d5553ee.jpg

This woman actually is a key player in the history of the Roman Empire during this period. She was very instrumental in setting up the "adoptive" system by her support of Hadrian. 

4. Titus Ar Denarius 80 AD Obv, Head right laureate Rv Wreath above curule chair RIC 108  3.48 grms 19 mm Photo by W. Hansen

titusd15.jpg.24834c5bc6aff6bfc11568a6286b9d00.jpg

5. Nerva Ar Cistophorus 97 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv Cult statue of Diana of Perga within a distyle shrine. RIC 116 RPC 1301 10.76 grms 25 mm Photo by W. Hansen

cistopnerva1.jpg.96d53e66e2865f2cb0f468553f211809.jpg

Now we come to a mob of sestertii

6. Severus Alexander Ae Sestertius 230 AD eleventh emission Obv Head right laureate Rv Justitia seated left RIC 563 22,42 grms 28 mm Photo by W. Hansen

sevalexs3.jpg.0478a73a22844b77515e08f44026bf69.jpg

7. Trajan Ae Sestertius 111 AD Head right laureate. Rv Arabia standing left holding branch and cinnamon sticks (absolutely essential for French Toast) camel standing in front. RIC466 Woytek 363a 24.14 grms 32 mm Photo by W. Hansen 

trajans36.jpg.d3869f7430fe3a033f47408db3ef62ea.jpg

8. Titus Ae Sestertius Unknown Thracian Mint. 79-81 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv Pax standing left holding branch RIC 498 RPC 501 26.63 grms 33 mm Photo by W. Hansen

tituss5.jpg.46f38f14aed3b2d369e3549f7cc4abb0.jpg

9. Antoninus Pius as Divus Ae Sestertius Struck after 161 AD Head right bare Rv Fuberal pyre of four tiers decorated with hangings and garlands surmounted by a facing quadriga.  PIC 1266 26.60 grms 33 mm Photo by W. Hansen

piuss15.jpg.0d0e1bb691d8a6da373e53cac69267f7.jpg

10, Last but not least Trajan Ae Sestertius 116-117 AD Obv Bust right laureate and draped Rv, Trajan seated on a dias  offering diadem to Parthamaspates who kneels before him. Behind Trajan stands an officer. Before Trajan a suggestus. RIC 667 Woytek  594 v-25 This coin illustrated 28.78 grms 33 mm Photo by W. Hansen

trajans37.jpg.6a09c3a67b5a722d84e3db6bced61afb.jpg

 

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An out and out assault on the senses is what you given us here my friend!

That Vespasian is a show stopper. Here's my best from the other end of the empire:

2208556_1632938350.l-removebg-preview.png.8724c61bb81a9c1df9867f2dd9a9764d.png

What a lovely Pietas and stork on your Metelli!

I just can't thank them enough for perpetuating the Macedonian shield:

IMG_3914(1)(1).JPG.46dcd25c1da1315e48325cfacff10adc.JPG1782004_1616695606.l-removebg-preview.png.053ed45b3b9d94113d2e266c52293bac.pngIMG_2833(1).jpg.046b013620c1cc5925001d57cbf28439.jpg

Always intriguing that Caesar used an elephant in his most plentiful coin. Leading some to speculate that he is the serpent getting the drop in the Metelli... but while he was in Gaul? I still think Caesar is the elephant crushing the Gallic serpent (but that's with modern sensibilities)

Screenshot_20210407-161015_PicCollage-removebg-preview.png.11b0d50b3c76a1490b66898b54a07986.png

And excellent observation on just how dang instrumental Plotina was. She stalled to make sure Hadrian was able to have a seemless transition to power, despite him never being designated heir apparent until after The greatests death!

2025294_1625039576.l-removebg-preview.png.5a39cbb2f445ba165be4b3d3dfdfd238.png

And I'll end my appreciation post with my forger's die of the reverse of your Auntie Pie-baker:

366_2.jpg.40715c384b99e52be112f521f54f58ec.jpg

366_1.jpg.969bd0baa458020c144a1ec7aa59fca8.jpg

Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Forger’s PB impression or die for a sestertius (35mm, 53.60 g, 12h). Copying a Rome mint issue of AD 161. CONSECRATIO, four-tiered funeral pyre topped by facing quadriga; S C in exergue; all in incuse and retrograde. Cf. RIC III 1266; cf. Banti 75 (for official strike). A few scratches on reverse, spot of roughness. VF.

 

From the WD Collection, purchased from David Vagi, January 2007. Ex New York Sale XI (11 January 2006), lot 374.

 

When a counterfeiter prepared his dies, he could either engrave them himself, in a style easily to be distinguished from official mint issues, or he could use a genuine, mint-issued host coin. He would then impress this design into a piece of piece of metal and affix it to the iron die-shaft. This object may represent a counterfeiter’s first attempt, a practice strike in lead, as lead is generally too soft a metal for striking coins. Purchased from CNG July 2021

 

Thanks again so much for sharing your amazing year!

Edited by Ryro
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Great coins! All those sestertii stand out great portrait, lovely round flans, good strikes, etc. Also that early Vespasian denarius is very attractive and interesting too. And do I see a hint of iridescent toning? Also wondering, are these 10 your only Romans this year, or did you manage to acquire others too?

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21 hours ago, kapphnwn said:

This year was a decent year for Roman coins. Again these are in no particular order

1.  Vespasian Ar Denarius  Tarraco 69-70 AD Obv Head left laureate. Rv Libertas standing left holding pileus RIC 1339 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen

vespd28.jpg.2315bc796c2f980cb7af76c0a565ceb5.jpg

Even though I won the coin in December 2021 it was not until late February that i actually got the coin. 

2.  Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Ar Denarius  North Italian Mint 80 BC Obv Head of Pietas right Rv Elephant advancing left Crawford 374/1 RBW 1396 This coin illustrated 3.90 grms 19 mm Photo by W. Hansen

374-a.jpg.6c6f6440e2f83f5749473aa33318abbc.jpg

3. Plotina Wife of Trajan Ar denarius 112-114 AD Obv Bust right draped  wearing stephane  Rv Vesta seated left RIC 730 Woytek 705-1 3.36 grms 20 mm Photo by W. Hansen

plotina1.jpg.fb390c0596a8bfd7fe50bd950d5553ee.jpg

This woman actually is a key player in the history of the Roman Empire during this period. She was very instrumental in setting up the "adoptive" system by her support of Hadrian. 

4. Titus Ar Denarius 80 AD Obv, Head right laureate Rv Wreath above curule chair RIC 108  3.48 grms 19 mm Photo by W. Hansen

titusd15.jpg.24834c5bc6aff6bfc11568a6286b9d00.jpg

5. Nerva Ar Cistophorus 97 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv Cult statue of Diana of Perga within a distyle shrine. RIC 116 RPC 1301 10.76 grms 25 mm Photo by W. Hansen

cistopnerva1.jpg.96d53e66e2865f2cb0f468553f211809.jpg

Now we come to a mob of sestertii

6. Severus Alexander Ae Sestertius 230 AD eleventh emission Obv Head right laureate Rv Justitia seated left RIC 563 22,42 grms 28 mm Photo by W. Hansen

sevalexs3.jpg.0478a73a22844b77515e08f44026bf69.jpg

7. Trajan Ae Sestertius 111 AD Head right laureate. Rv Arabia standing left holding branch and cinnamon sticks (absolutely essential for French Toast) camel standing in front. RIC466 Woytek 363a 24.14 grms 32 mm Photo by W. Hansen 

trajans36.jpg.d3869f7430fe3a033f47408db3ef62ea.jpg

8. Titus Ae Sestertius Unknown Thracian Mint. 79-81 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv Pax standing left holding branch RIC 498 RPC 501 26.63 grms 33 mm Photo by W. Hansen

tituss5.jpg.46f38f14aed3b2d369e3549f7cc4abb0.jpg

9. Antoninus Pius as Divus Ae Sestertius Struck after 161 AD Head right bare Rv Fuberal pyre of four tiers decorated with hangings and garlands surmounted by a facing quadriga.  PIC 1266 26.60 grms 33 mm Photo by W. Hansen

piuss15.jpg.0d0e1bb691d8a6da373e53cac69267f7.jpg

10, Last but not least Trajan Ae Sestertius 116-117 AD Obv Bust right laureate and draped Rv, Trajan seated on a dias  offering diadem to Parthamaspates who kneels before him. Behind Trajan stands an officer. Before Trajan a suggestus. RIC 667 Woytek  594 v-25 This coin illustrated 28.78 grms 33 mm Photo by W. Hansen

trajans37.jpg.6a09c3a67b5a722d84e3db6bced61afb.jpg

 

Kapphnwn, those are sensational acquisitions for the year 😊! The five sestertii are my favorites, especially the two of Trajan 😍.

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On 12/16/2022 at 2:48 AM, Shea19 said:

Great group!  My favorites are the Plotina, Nerva, and the Titus…beautiful coins as always.

Same here !

I have to say though, that while scrolling down, every new coin has given the impression it would be my choice, and then the next, and so on !!

Q

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I want to thank everyone for their kind comments. @Limes asked if I have some more and I do. These are them 

1. Nerva Billon Tetradrachm of Alexandria  96-97 AD  Obv Head right laureate Rv Eagle standing right wings folded RPC 4113 13. 42 grms 26 mm Photo by W. Hansen

alextdnerva1.jpg.b09a5d84195a677df6f986236f27e887.jpg

This coin was picked up at NYINC along with the Nerva Cistophoros. I discovered later that the two coins were featured in an auction back in 2001

2, Augustus Ar Tetradrachm Antioch 2 BC Obv, Head right laureate Rv Tyche of Antioch seated left holding palm branch River god swimming before. RPC 4155 15.11 grms 26 mm Photo by W. Hansen

antaug1.jpg.6340ce95ee0c5203cd13c85c8db4db2a.jpg

3 Severina Billon Aurelianus Antioch 275 AD Obv  Bust right draped placed on crescent Rv  Concordia standing facing head left between 2 standards  RIC 20 MIR 383a2 This coin illustrated 3.37 grms 24 mm Photo by W. Hansen

severina1.jpg.fb4ac312607f61e9ad9cd9dcb9008d77.jpg

This coin is not only illustrated in MIR but in two other articles a well the earliest in 1964

4. Carausius Ae Aurelianus London 286-293 AD Obv Bust right radiate draped and cuirassed. Rv Pax standing left RIC 101  3.48 grms  23 mm Photo by W. Hansen

carausius1.jpg.abb40b476d8261e1187c89a1e07f4d30.jpg

5. Vespasian Ar Denarius Antioch 72-73 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv  Palm tree flanked by soldier to the left and mourning Jewess to the right. RIC 1558 RPC 1930 3.43 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen

vespd23.jpg.f88b903a7c198a1d4daee0dfc8718bf6.jpg

 

This is a coin from the Jay Galst collection. Back at the NYINC in January I was bidding stupidly to acquire one of his coins. I cost some people a lot of money. But I did get the very last one that was available. 

6. Constantine II As Caesar Ae Follis 324-325 AD Sirmium Obv Bust right laureate draped and cuirassed Rv Victory advancing right holding trophy and spurning captive RIC 50 3.00 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen

conjnr1.jpeg.a2ee7b87dafa9257f0f190a3968b540f.jpeg

This coin celebrates the defeat over the Alamanni. This has to be one of the last references to a specific military campaign in the Roman coinage, 

 

 

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