The 5 Good Emperors Collection

[Roman Collector]

My entire collection is rather heavy in the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, so I'll just pick one of each. Personally, I think Lucius Verus was unfairly left off the list. I'm rectifying that situation.

Denarii of the Five Good Emperors and Lucius Verus. I'll just show one of each.

Nerva, AD 96-98.
Roman AR denarius, 3.18 g, 17.5 mm, 7 h.
Rome, AD 96, shortly after 18 September.
Obv: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P, laureate head, right.
Rev: FORTVNA AVGVST, Fortuna, draped, standing left, holding rudder in right hand and cornucopia in left hand.
Refs: RIC 4; BMCRE 10-11; RSC/Cohen 59; RCV --; CBN --.


Trajan, AD 98-117.
Roman AR denarius, 2.92 gm, 20.1 mm, 7 h.
Rome, AD 114-117.
Obv: IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC, laureate and draped bust, right.
Rev: P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, Mars walking right with spear and trophy.
Refs: RIC 337; BMCRE 536; Cohen 270; RCV --; Woytek 520v; Strack 230; BN 819.


Hadrian, AD 117-138.
Roman AR denarius, 3.44 g, 17.5 mm, 7:00.
Rome, AD 121.
Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder.
Rev: P M TR P COS III, Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae and resting on column.
Refs: RIC 86b; BMCRE 170; RSC 1155; UCR 206; RCV 3521.


Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161.
Roman AR denarius, 3.15 g, 18.1 mm, 11 h.
Rome, December, AD 160- March, AD 161.
Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XXIIII, laureate head, right.
Rev: PIETATI AVG COS IIII, Faustina II (as Pietas) standing left, holding a child on each arm; at each side of her, a child standing looking towards her and raising hand.
Refs: RIC 313c; BMCRE 1013-14; Cohen 631; Strack 384; RCV 4098.
Note: Demonstrates the "all-round" legends used on Antonine aurei and denarii issued AD 160-163.


Marcus Aurelius, AD 161-180.
Roman AR denarius, 3.53 g, 17.4 mm, 1 h.
Rome, AD 169.
Obv: M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXIII, laureate head right.
Rev: LIBERAL AVG V COS III, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus and cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 206; BMCRE 492; Cohen 412; RCV 4914; MIR 181.


Lucius Verus, AD 161-169.
Roman AR denarius, 3.17 g, 18.2 mm, 6 h.
Rome, December 161-December 162.
Obv: IMP L AVREL VERVS AVG, bare head, right.
Rev: PROV DEOR TR P II COS II, Providentia standing left, holding globe in right hand and cornucopia in left hand.
Refs: RIC 482; BMCRE 202-204; RSC 155; RCV --; MIR 37-14/10.
Note: Demonstrates the "all-round" legends used on Antonine aurei and denarii issued AD 160-163.

 

 

 

[LONGINUS]

19 hours ago, Restitutor said:

Do you ever look at your collection and all of a sudden think, oh wow, I have a category of coins!

Great topic. Yes, in fact that happened to me after I read this post. I was aware that I had the Five Good Emperors in AR Denarii but I was a bit surprised to discover that I have them in Seleucus & Pieria bronze also. 

 

Edited June 13, 2022 by LONGINUS

[kapphnwn]

Trajan Ar Denarius 112-113 AD Onv  Bust right laureate and draped Rv  Divus Trajan Pater seated left holding patera and scepter. RIC 252 Woytek 406b  3.21 grms 18 mm Phot by W. HansenBesides honoring his adoptive father Nerva, Trajan also honored his biological father Trajan Pater as well. Trajan Pater had a distinguished military career eventually becoming governor of Cappadocia and then later Syria. 

[expat]

My first ancient coin, which I won in a competition 2 days ago and can't wait for it's arrival.

Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161.
Æ dupondius, 28mm, 12.7g, 6h; Rome mint, AD 157.
Obv.: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP IMP II; Radiate head right.
Rev.: TR POT XX COS IIII, S-C; Annona standing right, foot on prow, holding rudder and modius set on knee.
Ref.: RIC 969.
From the Sulla80 Collection

 

[dougsmit]

On 6/12/2022 at 7:59 PM, Restitutor said:

Being a Domitian fan I purposefully replaced Nerva with him to make the “5 Good Emperors”

I'm not sure which offends me more:

1. The whole idea that we need to collect in sets

2. Defining a set with a value judgement like 'good'  -  There were very few Roman emperors who could not be convicted of high crimes and misdemeanors using current standards.  Who were the five bad emperors - or is it the dirty dozen? 

3.  The idea that we need to approve of the personality or actions of someone to find them interesting.  I can listen to music by drug addled hotel trashing serial polygamists without any problem at all but that does not mean I want to be like them.  

4. Adding Domitian, deleting Nerva and ignoring the wishy washy Lucius Verus 

For the record, I am not immune to the set concept because I have hung around some of you too long.  I do not have a Provincial coin of Nerva, Pertinax or Pescennius.  I also lack a fourree or either Caligula or Galba for my my 12 Cheaters set. 

Suggestion: the xx (fill in number) rulers who 'meant well'  or 'should have been sterilized so Rome would be spared their kid'.   What would be the count for emperors who were actually benefitted Rome and civilization in a significant manner?

I included here not only Verus but also that not at all good Commodus who really was part of the dynasty in a completely serious manner.  Should we blame Vespasian for Domitian, Aurelius for Commodus, Septimius for Caracalla???  

 

[CPK]

10 hours ago, dougsmit said:

I'm not sure which offends me more:

1. The whole idea that we need to collect in sets

2. Defining a set with a value judgement like 'good'  -  There were very few Roman emperors who could not be convicted of high crimes and misdemeanors using current standards.  Who were the five bad emperors - or is it the dirty dozen? 

3.  The idea that we need to approve of the personality or actions of someone to find them interesting.  I can listen to music by drug addled hotel trashing serial polygamists without any problem at all but that does not mean I want to be like them.  

4. Adding Domitian, deleting Nerva and ignoring the wishy washy Lucius Verus 

For the record, I am not immune to the set concept because I have hung around some of you too long.  I do not have a Provincial coin of Nerva, Pertinax or Pescennius.  I also lack a fourree or either Caligula or Galba for my my 12 Cheaters set. 

Suggestion: the xx (fill in number) rulers who 'meant well'  or 'should have been sterilized so Rome would be spared their kid'.   What would be the count for emperors who were actually benefitted Rome and civilization in a significant manner?

I included here not only Verus but also that not at all good Commodus who really was part of the dynasty in a completely serious manner.  Should we blame Vespasian for Domitian, Aurelius for Commodus, Septimius for Caracalla???  

 

 

Nice coins and photos!

You may be taking things a little too seriously, though. Those are rather small things to be offended by.

[Jims,Coins]

Let's Add the Wifes

 

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome during the reign of NERVA in 97 A.D. Obv. IMP.NERVA.CAES.AVG.TR.P.COS.III.P.P.: laur, hd. r. Rev. FORTVNA.AVGVST.: Fortuna stg. l., holding rudder and cornucopia. RCS #953. RSCII #66 pg. 79. RICII #16 pg. 224. DVM #8. RCVSII #3025

 

- Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted during the reign of TRAJAN between 112 - 114 A.D. Obv. IMP.TRAIANO.AVG.GER.DAC.P.M.TR.P.COS.VI.P.P.: dr. and laur. bust r. Rev. S.P.Q.R.OPTIMO.PRINCIPI.: Genius stg. l., holding patera and grain ears. RCS #989. RSCII #398 pg. 97. RICII #275 pg.263. DVM #32/7.

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome during the reign of TRAJAN in 108 A.D. Obv. IMP.TRAIANO.AVG.GER.DAC.P.M.TR.P.:  laur. hd. r. Rev. COS.V.P.P.S.P.Q.R.OPTIMO.PRINCIP.: Aequitas stg. l., holding scales and cornucopia. RCS #978. RSCII #85a. RICII #119 pg. 252. RCVSII #3122. (nearly centered, legends complete, good metal with light golden-grey tone, a pleasant coin

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome during the reign of HADRIAN between 134 - 138 A.D. Obv. HADRIANVS.AVG.COS.III.P.P.: bare hd. r. Rev. FELICITAS.AVG.: Felicitas stg l., holding caduceus and branch. RSCII #614. RICII #234 pg.367. DVM #18.

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome for AELIUS, as Caesar, in 137 A.D. Obv. L.AELIVS.CAESAR.: bare hd. r. Rev. TR.POT.COS.II.: Pietas stg. l., by altar, raising r. hand and laying l. on breast. RCS #1211. RSCII #53 pg.164. RICII #432 pg.392. DVM #5/3 pg.133. (Caesar. F+ slightly off-center but legends all there, small edge split obv. bottom/rev. top, pleasant light grey tone, nice strong portrait).

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome for SABINA, wife of HADRIAN, in 136 A.D. Obv. SABINA.AVGVSTA.: dr. and diad. bust r. Rev. VENERI.GENETRICI.: Venus stg. r., with r. hand drawing up robe on shoulder, in l. holding apple. RCS #1189. RSCII #73. RICII #396 pg.387. DVM #7. RCVSII #3924.

 

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted during the reign of ANTONINUS PIUS and MARCUS AURELIUS as Caesar, in 141 A.D. Obv. ANTONINVS.AVG.PIVS.P.P.TR.P.COS.III.:  head laur. r., drapery on far shoulder. Rev. AVRELIVS.CAESAR.AVG.PII.F.COS.: bare hd. r. RCS #1333. RSCII #14a. RICIII #417a pg.78.  DVM #4.

- Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome for FAUSTINA I, Wife of ANTONINUS PIUS, in 141 A.D. Obv. DIVA.FAVSTINA.: dr. bust r. Rev. AETERNITAS.: Juno stg., front, hd. l., raising r. hand and holding sceptre. RCS #1348. RSCII #27 pg.191. RICIII # 345 pg.69. DVM #4/3.

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome for FAUSTINA Jr., Wife of MARCUS AURELIUS, between 161 - 175 A.D. Obv. FAVSTINA.AVGVSTA.: dr. bust r. with double circlet of pearls around head.  Rev. FECVNDITAS.: Fecunditas standing front, head r., holding sceptre and child. RCS #1495. RSCII #99c pg.223. RICIII #M677 pg.269. DVM #13.

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome during the reign of LUCIUS VERUS in 164 A.D. Obv. L.VERVS.AVG.ARMENIACVS.: bare hd. r. Rev. TR.P.IIII.IMP.II.COS.II.: Mars, in military dress, stg. r., holding spear and resting l. hand on shield. RCS #1540. RSCII #229 pg.231. RICIII #515 pg.255. BMC #282. DVM #15/1. RCSVII #5355.

Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome for LUCILLA, Wife of LUCIUS VERUS between 166 - 169 A.D. Obv. LVCILLA.AVGVSTA.: dr. bust r. Rev. VENVS.VICTRIX.: Venus, with breast bare, stg. front, head l., holding Victory and resting l. hand on shield. RCS #1575. RSCII #89 pg.234. RIC #786. BMC #353. DVM #15. RCSVII #5492. AVF, sl. grainy deep gray.

 

Edited July 17, 2022 by Jims,Coins