Twelve Caesars redux - now 75% complete

[lordmarcovan]

With the recent addition of Galba, my second Twelve Caesars set is now 75% towards completion.  I now need Julius Caesar, Caligula, and Vitellius.

https://www.colleconline.com/en/collection-items/21345/coins-ancient-to-romans-imperial-and-republican-twelve-caesars

[Salomons Cat]

@lordmarcovan, your Augustus, Claudius, Vespasian and Domitian are excellent and in very high grade; it's also nice that you have 2 aureii... 
Otho and Galba are great, too, with their complete names in the legends. It's a beautiful composition of coins that you have.

I find it particularly enjoyable to view entire collections. 
When I have a sense of the collection a coin belongs to, it alters my perception of each new acquisition. A collection, in my view, is usually more than the sum of it's parts. Regrettably, I haven't had the opportunity to create a comprehensive virtual overview of my collection yet.

As of now, I'm still missing Caligula. However, I've decided against purchasing coins featuring Galba, Otho, and Vitellius. I'm not sure if I will ever build a complete 12 caesars set. To provide some insight, I've captured a screenshot of the initial segment of my collection:

Edited April 20 by Salomons Cat

[John Conduitt]

Some really nice coins there. The reverses are interesting too - it's not just any old 12 Caesars.

I have 11 of the 12. The fact that I only collect Roman coins found in Britain has meant it was pretty cheap and easy to get 11 but impossible to get many in good condition. All of the coins from this era were brought over in trade or by soldiers and used for hundreds of years - in some cases the Romans hadn't even invaded yet - so are very worn. A few have interesting countermarks, though. I'm missing Julius Caesar, which I think I may never get. His 'invasion' didn't go very far and by the time Claudius arrived, Julius's coinage was nearly a century old. It's also very expensive, so it might only be possible to get a slug.

[Amarmur]

Here are a few in my set

Divus Julius Caesar and Octavian Macedon - I like the counter mark.

Augustus - Antioch I like this portrait of Augustus the best

Tiberius - Tribute penny classic

Nero - Dupondius Great portrait and Roma reverse 

Galba - Dupondius Felicilats worn circ cameo 

[Amarmur]

Continuing 

Caligula AS nice shape vesta

 Otho - great portrait denarius 

Vitellius - ugly

Claudius - more interesting reverse and expressive portrait Constantia reverse is neat

Domitian - It's ok has Minerva and owl on the reverse 

Titus - Judea Capta type neat

Vespasian Judea Capta denarius low grade

My set highlights: Tiberius, Caligula, Nero, (maybe Claudius if it wasn't for the scratches), Otho

Needs an upgrade: Domitian, Vespasian, Vitellius (idk I find him too boring) 

[Octavius]

My mouth waters every time I see your Claudius sestertius! Great collection.

[El Cazador]

2 hours ago, Salomons Cat said:

@lordmarcovan, your Augustus, Claudius, Vespasian and Domitian are excellent and in very high grade; it's also nice that you have 2 aureii... 
Otho and Galba are great, too, with their complete names in the legends. It's a beautiful composition of coins that you have.

I find it particularly enjoyable to view entire collections. 
When I have a sense of the collection a coin belongs to, it alters my perception of each new acquisition. A collection, in my view, is usually more than the sum of it's parts. Regrettably, I haven't had the opportunity to create a comprehensive virtual overview of my collection yet.

As of now, I'm still missing Caligula. However, I've decided against purchasing coins featuring Galba, Otho, and Vitellius. I'm not sure if I will ever build a complete 12 caesars set. To provide some insight, I've captured a screenshot of the initial segment of my collection:

Really cool Nerva!👍🏻

[ambr0zie]

That is a major milestone. I wrote about my version in the past - I completed the set, bending the rules. The major bend - I do not have a Julius Caesar coin. And I will probably never have a Julius Caesar lifetime coin with his portrait. But I have a few RR denarii from his dictatorship. Close enough. 

For the other 11 rulers, I have coins with their portraits. Provincial or Imperial, with some condition constrains caused by budget, but they are there. 

[JeandAcre]

The judiciousness with which you've pursued this so far is admirable, even (if not especially) for a second collection.  And I have to like it that your remaining Missing Persons are only Julius Caesar and two others who are arguably no less unsavory than they are scarce.  I'm rooting for you landing a solid denarius of JC, whatever type you like best.  Sure, it could be a project....

[lordmarcovan]

On 4/20/2024 at 5:45 PM, Salomons Cat said:

@lordmarcovan, your Augustus, Claudius, Vespasian and Domitian are excellent and in very high grade; it's also nice that you have 2 aureii... 
Otho and Galba are great, too, with their complete names in the legends. It's a beautiful composition of coins that you have.

I find it particularly enjoyable to view entire collections. 
When I have a sense of the collection a coin belongs to, it alters my perception of each new acquisition. A collection, in my view, is usually more than the sum of it's parts. Regrettably, I haven't had the opportunity to create a comprehensive virtual overview of my collection yet.

As of now, I'm still missing Caligula. However, I've decided against purchasing coins featuring Galba, Otho, and Vitellius. I'm not sure if I will ever build a complete 12 caesars set. To provide some insight, I've captured a screenshot of the initial segment of my collection:

Thank you for the detailed commentary!  You have quite an impressive array there.  The Claudius cistophorus... that razor-sharp Tribute penny... the big Nero tet... the Judaea Capta... wow.

On 4/20/2024 at 6:33 PM, John Conduitt said:

Some really nice coins there. The reverses are interesting too - it's not just any old 12 Caesars.

I have 11 of the 12. The fact that I only collect Roman coins found in Britain has meant it was pretty cheap and easy to get 11 but impossible to get many in good condition. All of the coins from this era were brought over in trade or by soldiers and used for hundreds of years - in some cases the Romans hadn't even invaded yet - so are very worn. A few have interesting countermarks, though. I'm missing Julius Caesar, which I think I may never get. His 'invasion' didn't go very far and by the time Claudius arrived, Julius's coinage was nearly a century old. It's also very expensive, so it might only be possible to get a slug.

Thanks!  I do try to go beyond the simple "someone standing there" reverses, sometimes (not that there's anything wrong with those basic personifications).  You too have a sharp Tribute Penny.  I also like the Nero denarius.  Is that Otho a fourree?  I'll bet any and all of those really made some detectorist or archaeologist's day when they popped up!  Pretty remarkable that they're all British finds.  (Or maybe not, on the other hand- Britain's a big place, after all- but I think it's an interesting theme, nonetheless.)

On 4/20/2024 at 7:43 PM, Octavius said:

My mouth waters every time I see your Claudius sestertius! Great collection.

Thanks.  I'd consider swapping it for your avatar. 😉

On 4/21/2024 at 3:19 PM, JeandAcre said:

The judiciousness with which you've pursued this so far is admirable, even (if not especially) for a second collection.  And I have to like it that your remaining Missing Persons are only Julius Caesar and two others who are arguably no less unsavory than they are scarce.  I'm rooting for you landing a solid denarius of JC, whatever type you like best.  Sure, it could be a project....

I appreciate it.  I'm bidding on a pretty nice JC (lifetime, portrait) denarius.  If I win, it's gonna cost me four figures.  But I knew I wasn't gonna get a lifetime portrait denarius of JC for under 500 bucks, like I did the first time I collected the Twelve Caesars, a decade ago.  It was an ugly duckling, but had its redeeming qualities, too...

 

 

 

[JeandAcre]

Best of luck on that one!

[Jims,Coins]

JULIUS CAESAR - NEED

AUGUSTUS

TIBERIUS

CALIGULA

CLAUDIUS

NERO

GALBA

OTHO

VITELLIUS

VESPASIAN

TITUS

DOMITIAN

 

 

Edited April 26 by Jims,Coins

[Curtisimo]

That is a wonderful set @lordmarcovan! The Aureii are nice cherries on top.

I’m 50% complete with my 12 Caesars in imperial silver collection. I’ve been waiting for specific reverse types on most of the 6 I don’t have. I suspect Claudius will be my most difficult and expensive. The ones I still need are: Tiberius, Claudius, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian and Domitian.

I need to take some time and photograph my two newest but here is my JC:

Roman Imperitorial
Julius Caesar, 49-44 BC. 
AR Denarius (Lifetime Portrait), P. Sepullius Macer (moneyer), Rome mint, struck first half of March 44 BC
(17 mm, 3.53 g, 4 h)
Obv.: CAESAR [DIC]T PERPETVO Laureate and veiled head of Julius Caesar to right. 
Rev.: P•SEPVLLIVS - MACER Venus standing front, head lowered to left, holding Victory in her right hand and long scepter adorned with star in her left; to right, round shield set on the ground. 
Ref.: Babelon (Julia) 49 and (Sepullia) 4, Crawford 480/11, CRI 107b, RBW 1684, Sydenham 1072
Ex Seaby’s Coin & Medal Bulletin (January 1976), lot A51; Ex Seaby’s Coin & Medal Bulletin (December 1976), lot C541; Ex Münzhandlung Ritter Lagerliste no. 19, lot 327 (November 1983); Ex Collection formed in the Rhineland, Leu Numismatik Web Auction 24, lot 496 (Dec. 3, 2022)

Congrats on a great addition to your collection, Rob.

Edited April 26 by Curtisimo

[lordmarcovan]

On 4/26/2024 at 2:19 PM, Curtisimo said:

here is my JC:

Roman Imperitorial
Julius Caesar, 49-44 BC. 
AR Denarius (Lifetime Portrait), P. Sepullius Macer (moneyer), Rome mint, struck first half of March 44 BC
(17 mm, 3.53 g, 4 h)
Obv.: CAESAR [DIC]T PERPETVO Laureate and veiled head of Julius Caesar to right. 
Rev.: P•SEPVLLIVS - MACER Venus standing front, head lowered to left, holding Victory in her right hand and long scepter adorned with star in her left; to right, round shield set on the ground. 
Ref.: Babelon (Julia) 49 and (Sepullia) 4, Crawford 480/11, CRI 107b, RBW 1684, Sydenham 1072
Ex Seaby’s Coin & Medal Bulletin (January 1976), lot A51; Ex Seaby’s Coin & Medal Bulletin (December 1976), lot C541; Ex Münzhandlung Ritter Lagerliste no. 19, lot 327 (November 1983); Ex Collection formed in the Rhineland, Leu Numismatik Web Auction 24, lot 496 (Dec. 3, 2022)

 

Color me jealous on that one!

Edited April 28 by lordmarcovan