PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS (Princeps Iuventutis)

[Al Kowsky]

Princeps Iuventutis (Prince of Youth) was an honorary title given to young men who were presumptive heirs to the throne. It was a tradition begun by Augustus Caesar, & was not connected to any imperial powers. If the recipient of this title also held the title of Caesar, he could correctly be referred to as "crown prince". The coin pictured below is the only example I have of the PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS type. Hopefully other members of the NVMIS FORVMS can post their examples of this coin type 😊.

Gaius Julius Verus Maximus as Caesar (son of Maximinus I Thrax), AD 236-238. Rome Mint. AE Sestertius: 26.39 gm, 31 mm, 12 h. Obverse: Maximus draped & facing right, MAXIMVS CAES GERM. Reverse: Maximus holding a baton & transverse spear, two standards behind him, PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS S-C. RIC 13. EX CNG Auction 70, lot 1044, 2005; Ex Munzen & Medaillen GmbH, Auction 9, lot 638, 2001.

[Roman Collector]

Nice!! I have a Maximus, too. So for something different, here's a Hostilian.

Hostilian as Caesar, AD 250-251.
Roman AR antoninianus, 4.32 g, 20.5 mm, 5 h.
Rome mint, 5th officina. 5th emission, early AD 251.
Obv: C VALENS HOSTIL MES QVINTVS N C, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.
Rev: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Hostilian standing slightly left, holding signum and reversed spear.
RIC 181d; RSC 34; RCV 9561; Hunter 4.

[Victor_Clark]

here's three from London for Constantine I

 

 

 

Constantine I
A.D. 307- 310
24mm 6.1g
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS; Prince standing facing head left, in military dress, holding standard in each hand.
In ex. PLN
RIC VI London 111; LMCC 5.04.011

 

Constantine I
A.D. 310- 312
21x22mm 4.3g
CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS; Prince standing facing head left, in military dress with spread cloak, holding globe in right, reversed spear in left; ✶ in right field.
In ex. PLN
RIC VI London 222 var; LMCC 7.07.003

 

 

Constantine I
A.D. 317- 318
18mm 3.4g
IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
PRINCIPIA I-VVENTTVTIS; Constantine in military dress standing right, head right, cloak spread, reversed spear in right and left resting on shield; crescent in left field.
In ex. PLN
RIC VII London --; LMCC 8.11.013

should come after RIC VII London 132

ex Bourton-on-the-Water Hoard (scattered).

 

[Severus Alexander]

Wow, that's a sweet Maximus... hard to get better than that❗

I have quite a few of these.  I do have a Maximus denarius, to start:

My only such sestertius is a Philip II:

It's hard to avoid these for the Decian dynasty, lol!  Etruscus and Hostilian, respectively:

(Worn reverse dies.  I was more interested in the portraits when I bought these.)

Moving on to the Valerian dynasty, here's a sloppy Saloninus from Milan:

And finally a very early Crispus from Thessalonica, from just after he was named Caesar:

 

Jumping back to earlier in the empire, here's a IVVENTAS Marcus Aurelius As.  Do you know if this type served something of the same representational purpose as the later Principi types?

 

 

[kapphnwn]

Diaduminian as Caesar Ar Denarius 217-218 AD Obv bare headed bust right draped and cuirassed Rv. Caesar standing facing head right holding a military standard in each hand to right second military standard 3.10 grms 19 mm Photo by W. Hansen

This coin is another example of a "Hidden pedigree" found while looking through the RNumis site. It was at one time part of the HC Levis collection which was auctioned off by the firm of Ars Classica & Cie Auction 11 Lot 775 June 19 1925. Prior to that discover I was aware of this coin being part of the Jack A. Frazer Collection. I purchased it at a CNG E Auction 456 Lot 421. I do now own a number of "Frazer's" though this is only my second "Levis"

[Al Kowsky]

1 hour ago, Roman Collector said:

Nice!! I have a Maximus, too. So for something different, here's a Hostilian.

Hostilian as Caesar, AD 250-251.
Roman AR antoninianus, 4.32 g, 20.5 mm, 5 h.
Rome mint, 5th officina. 5th emission, early AD 251.
Obv: C VALENS HOSTIL MES QVINTVS N C, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.
Rev: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Hostilian standing slightly left, holding signum and reversed spear.
RIC 181d; RSC 34; RCV 9561; Hunter 4.

R.C., Excellent example ☺️. Unlike his older brother Herernnius Etrucus, the coins of Hostilian are rare & pricey 🤑.

[Al Kowsky]

1 hour ago, Victor_Clark said:

here's three from London for Constantine I

 

 

 

Constantine I
A.D. 307- 310
24mm 6.1g
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS; Prince standing facing head left, in military dress, holding standard in each hand.
In ex. PLN
RIC VI London 111; LMCC 5.04.011

 

Constantine I
A.D. 310- 312
21x22mm 4.3g
CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS; Prince standing facing head left, in military dress with spread cloak, holding globe in right, reversed spear in left; ✶ in right field.
In ex. PLN
RIC VI London 222 var; LMCC 7.07.003

 

 

Constantine I
A.D. 317- 318
18mm 3.4g
IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
PRINCIPIA I-VVENTTVTIS; Constantine in military dress standing right, head right, cloak spread, reversed spear in right and left resting on shield; crescent in left field.
In ex. PLN
RIC VII London --; LMCC 8.11.013

should come after RIC VII London 132

ex Bourton-on-the-Water Hoard (scattered).

 

V.C. Wow, three rare examples from the London Mint, thanks for posting 😊.

[Prieure de Sion]

 

Marcus Opellius Antoninus Diadumenianus * Silver Denarius Rome 217/218 n.Chr. RIC 102a (Variant without laurel wreath)* Av: M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES * Rv: PRINC IVVENTVTIS

[Al Kowsky]

1 hour ago, Severus Alexander said:

Wow, that's a sweet Maximus... hard to get better than that❗

I have quite a few of these.  I do have a Maximus denarius, to start:

My only such sestertius is a Philip II:

It's hard to avoid these for the Decian dynasty, lol!  Etruscus and Hostilian, respectively:

(Worn reverse dies.  I was more interested in the portraits when I bought these.)

Moving on to the Valerian dynasty, here's a sloppy Saloninus from Milan:

And finally a very early Crispus from Thessalonica, from just after he was named Caesar:

 

Jumping back to earlier in the empire, here's a IVVENTAS Marcus Aurelius As.  Do you know if this type served something of the same representational purpose as the later Principi types?

 

 

S.A., Thanks for posting this wonderful group 😊. Your example of Crispus is the first one I've seen 😉. It's my understanding that the nature of this title changed with the reign of Septimius Severus. Under Augustus young men of the Princeps Iuventutis were members of a fraternity who were trained in equestrian warfare.

[Al Kowsky]

35 minutes ago, kapphnwn said:

Diaduminian as Caesar Ar Denarius 217-218 AD Obv bare headed bust right draped and cuirassed Rv. Caesar standing facing head right holding a military standard in each hand to right second military standard 3.10 grms 19 mm Photo by W. Hansen

This coin is another example of a "Hidden pedigree" found while looking through the RNumis site. It was at one time part of the HC Levis collection which was auctioned off by the firm of Ars Classica & Cie Auction 11 Lot 775 June 19 1925. Prior to that discover I was aware of this coin being part of the Jack A. Frazer Collection. I purchased it at a CNG E Auction 456 Lot 421. I do now own a number of "Frazer's" though this is only my second "Levis"

kapphnwn, The die work on this coin is exquisite 😲! It appears to be in mint state too 😉. Thanks for posting.

[Al Kowsky]

14 minutes ago, Prieure de Sion said:

 

Marcus Opellius Antoninus Diadumenianus * Silver Denarius Rome 217/218 n.Chr. RIC 102a (Variant without laurel wreath)* Av: M OPEL ANT DIADVMENIAN CAES * Rv: PRINC IVVENTVTIS

P. de Sion, Thanks for posting this lovely example 😊. For years I've been on the lookout for a nice looking provincial Tet of Diadumenian, but haven't found the right one yet 😢.

[Molag Bal]

 

Seems to be an unlucky title, not many of our princes of youth lived to see old age! Here's a recent buy, from Roma's latest E-Sale.

 

Valerian II, as Caesar, BI Antoninianus. Samosata, AD 254-255. VALERIANVS NOBIL CAES, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / PRINC IVVENTVTIS, Prince standing to left, crowning trophy and holding spear and shield. RIC V.1 49 (Antioch); MIR 1694b; RSC 67a. 4.25g, 22mm, 6h.

Edited June 27, 2022 by Molag Bal

[Octavius]

 A selection of Principes Iuventutum coins....

1. Nero -  two aurei, first with priestly implements on reverse,  and the second aureus of Claudius proclaiming young Nero his successor oan the "prince of youth".

two denarii of young Nero with first similar to aureus , and second Equester Ordo with princeps iuventutis reverse.

2. three denarii of Domitian with Princeps iuventutis reverses, first struck under his father Vespasian, the last two struck under his brother , Titus.

 

[ambr0zie]

I have only 2 - one for Caracalla (I'm surprised nobody posted one)

Good details, nice portrait (too bad the actual person wasn't as nice as he looked)

RIC IV Caracalla 13A (denarius) C
Caracalla as Caesar, AR Denarius, Rome mint, 197 AD
Obv: M AVR ANTON CAES PONTIF, bust of Caracalla, bare-headed, draped, right
Rev: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Caracalla, in military attire, standing left, holding baton in right hand and spear in left hand; to right, trophy
3.01 gr. 18 mm

.... a coin I won believing the wrong attribution from the house that sold it as a Geta with obverse legend P SEPT GETA CAES PONT  😐

 

I have this very modest Philip II sestertius

RIC IV Philip I 255

[Al Kowsky]

6 hours ago, Molag Bal said:

 

Seems to be an unlucky title, not many of our princes of youth lived to see old age! Here's a recent buy, from Roma's latest E-Sale.

 

Valerian II, as Caesar, BI Antoninianus. Samosata, AD 254-255. VALERIANVS NOBIL CAES, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / PRINC IVVENTVTIS, Prince standing to left, crowning trophy and holding spear and shield. RIC V.1 49 (Antioch); MIR 1694b; RSC 67a. 4.25g, 22mm, 6h.

M. Bal, Thanks for posting this excellent example from the Antioch Mint 😊.

[Prieure de Sion]

Oh, I miss an Geta coin?

Publius Lucius Septimius Geta * Silver Denarius Rome 200/202 n.Chr. RIC 18 * Av: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT * Rv: PRINC IVVENTVTIS

 

[Al Kowsky]

5 hours ago, Octavius said:

 A selection of Principes Iuventutum coins....

1. Nero -  two aurei, first with priestly implements on reverse,  and the second aureus of Claudius proclaiming young Nero his successor oan the "prince of youth".

two denarii of young Nero with first similar to aureus , and second Equester Ordo with princeps iuventutis reverse.

2. three denarii of Domitian with Princeps iuventutis reverses, first struck under his father Vespasian, the last two struck under his brother , Titus.

 

Octavius, Thanks for posting this impressive group of rarities 😲! I'm awe-struck by the 4 coins of young Nero 🤩. The 2 aurei of Nero are rarely seen in the auction menus. The Domitian denarius with the goat reverse is fascinating, could this be his astrological sign 🤔?

[Al Kowsky]

1 hour ago, ambr0zie said:

I have only 2 - one for Caracalla (I'm surprised nobody posted one)

Good details, nice portrait (too bad the actual person wasn't as nice as he looked)

RIC IV Caracalla 13A (denarius) C
Caracalla as Caesar, AR Denarius, Rome mint, 197 AD
Obv: M AVR ANTON CAES PONTIF, bust of Caracalla, bare-headed, draped, right
Rev: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Caracalla, in military attire, standing left, holding baton in right hand and spear in left hand; to right, trophy
3.01 gr. 18 mm

.... a coin I won believing the wrong attribution from the house that sold it as a Geta with obverse legend P SEPT GETA CAES PONT  😐

 

I have this very modest Philip II sestertius

RIC IV Philip I 255

Ozie, Thanks for posting these 2 charming coins 😊. In the case of Caracalla, the innocent portrait of youth evolved into a grotesque mature portrait of a madman 😖.

[Al Kowsky]

18 minutes ago, Prieure de Sion said:

Oh, I miss an Geta coin?

Publius Lucius Septimius Geta * Silver Denarius Rome 200/202 n.Chr. RIC 18 * Av: P SEPT GETA CAES PONT * Rv: PRINC IVVENTVTIS

 

P. de Sion, Thanks for posting this charming denarius of Geta, now we can see the two brothers on one thread 😊. The reverse composition is unusually well done 😉.

For comparison is a mature bust of Geta, as seen on a Tet from Antioch, Syria.

 

[Prieure de Sion]

3 minutes ago, Al Kowsky said:

For comparison is a mature bust of Geta, as seen on a Tet from Antioch, Syria.

... i hate you. 👹😜

[Al Kowsky]

6 minutes ago, Prieure de Sion said:

... i hate you. 👹😜

My relationship with my late brother Henry was very ugly at times, fortunately it didn't end in fratricide 🤣....

[Qcumbor]

 

My example, similar to the OP

 

Maximus, Sestertius - Rome mint 236-238 AD
MAXIMVS CAES GERM, Draped bust of Maximus right
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Maximus standing left with two standards behind him, SC in field
18.64 gr
Ref : RCV #8411, Cohen #14

 

Q

[DonnaML]

Geat thread! I have a few, beginning with Augustus's grandsons.

Augustus AR Denarius, 2 BCE- 2 AD Lugdunum [Lyons] Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE/ Rev. Gaius (d. AD 4) & Lucius (d. AD 2) standing front, each with a hand resting on a round shield, a spear, & in field above, a lituus [curved augural staff] right & simpulum [ladle] left [in "b9"-like formation], AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT (beginning at 4:00);  C L CAESARES below. RIC I 207, RSC I 43, Sear RCV I 1597, BMCRE 533. 18 mm., 3.9 g.

Geta Caesar (son of Septimius Severus) AR Denarius 200 AD. Obv. As young boy, bare-headed and draped bust right, P SEPT GETA CAES PONT / Rev. Geta in military dress standing facing, head left, holding baton with right hand and long sceptre with left hand, trophy of arms behind him to right, PRINC IV-VENTVTIS. RIC IV-1 18, RSC III Geta 157b (ill. p. 97), Sear RCV II 7196. Purchased on Jan. 14, 2022 from Keith Candiotti (Miami, FL) at NYINC 2022. 19 mm., 3.2 g.

Philip II, Caesar (son of Philip I) AR Antoninianus, 247 AD, Obv. Radiate head right, M IVL PHILIPPVS CAES/ Philip II standing left holding a globe and scepter, captive at his feet, PRINCIPI IVVENT.  RIC IV-3 219, RSC IV 57. 23 mm., 4.42 g.

[Al Kowsky]

2 hours ago, Qcumbor said:

 

My example, similar to the OP

 

Maximus, Sestertius - Rome mint 236-238 AD
MAXIMVS CAES GERM, Draped bust of Maximus right
PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Maximus standing left with two standards behind him, SC in field
18.64 gr
Ref : RCV #8411, Cohen #14

 

Q

Q, This is a very attractive example despite the slight roughness on the portrait 😊. The reverse looks much better than my example 😉.

[Al Kowsky]

11 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

Geat thread! I have a few, beginning with Augustus's grandsons.

Augustus AR Denarius, 2 BCE- 2 AD Lugdunum [Lyons] Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE/ Rev. Gaius (d. AD 4) & Lucius (d. AD 2) standing front, each with a hand resting on a round shield, a spear, & in field above, a lituus [curved augural staff] right & simpulum [ladle] left [in "b9"-like formation], AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT (beginning at 4:00);  C L CAESARES below. RIC I 207, RSC I 43, Sear RCV I 1597, BMCRE 533. 18 mm., 3.9 g.

Geta Caesar (son of Septimius Severus) AR Denarius 200 AD. Obv. As young boy, bare-headed and draped bust right, P SEPT GETA CAES PONT / Rev. Geta in military dress standing facing, head left, holding baton with right hand and long sceptre with left hand, trophy of arms behind him to right, PRINC IV-VENTVTIS. RIC IV-1 18, RSC III Geta 157b (ill. p. 97), Sear RCV II 7196. Purchased on Jan. 14, 2022 from Keith Candiotti (Miami, FL) at NYINC 2022. 19 mm., 3.2 g.

Philip II, Caesar (son of Philip I) AR Antoninianus, 247 AD, Obv. Radiate head right, M IVL PHILIPPVS CAES/ Philip II standing left holding a globe and scepter, captive at his feet, PRINCIPI IVVENT.  RIC IV-3 219, RSC IV 57. 23 mm., 4.42 g.

Donna, Those are 3 handsome coins 😊. I love the Philip Jr double denarius 😍! The reverse makes this coin a real gem with the kid holding the world in his hand & the tiny captive mourning at his knee 🤣.