Latest Roman imperial silver pick ups Part II

[Gumrum]

Happy Saturday all!

I've really enjoyed sharing the latest additions to my collection of Ancient Roman imperial silver here on the forum in the past. So, I'm back with a 2nd part of what's fast becoming a regular series!

We'll start of today's latest update with a staple of many collections, Marcus Aurelius:

Denarius of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, from the mint of Rome, c. 172-173 CE, RIC III Marcus Aurelius 282
Obv: Head of Marcus Aurelius, laureate, right | M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXVII Marcus Antoninus Augustus, Tribunicia Potestate Septima Vicesima [Marcus [Aurelius] Antoninus emperor, holder of tribunician power for the 27th time]
Rev: Marcus Aurelius, togate, standing front, head left, holding branch up in right hand and short transverse sceptre in left hand | IMP VI COS III Imperator Sextum, Consul Tertium. [Supreme commander (Imperator) for the sixth time, consul for the third time]

I shared my new Commodus on my previous collection update, which I felt had a really stand out portrait and so, I had to be sure that my Marcus Aurelius had a similarly nice portrait, which I feel this example provides!

Next we have another fan favourite, the Optimus Princeps himself, Trajan:

Denarius of Emperor Trajan, from the mint of Rome, c. 103-111 CE, RIC II Trajan 193
Obv: Bust of Trajan, laureate, draped, right | IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P Imperator Traiano Augustus, Germanicus, Dacicus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestate, Consul Quintum, Pater Patriae [Supreme commander (Imperator), of Trajan, emperor, conqueror of the Germans, conqueror of the Dacians, high priest, holder of tribunician power, consul for the fifth time, father of the nation]
Rev: Victory, winged, naked to waist, standing left, holding up wreath in right hand and palm in left | S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI Senatus Populusque Romanus Optimo Principi [The senate and the Roman people to the best of princes]

I wanted to make sure the Trajan I added to my collection featured the long titles Trajan is known for, which this coin certainly has!

Quickly shifting gears to the third century, we have a fan favourite, Aurelian:

Antoninianus of Emperor Aurelian, from the mint of Mediolanum, c. 270-275 CE, RIC V Aurelian 142
Obv: Bust of Aurelian, radiate, draped, right | IMP AVRELIANVS AVG Imperator Aurelianus Augustus Supreme commander (Imperator), Aurelian, emperor
Rev: Aurelian, standing right before Roma, helmeted, draped, seated left on shield, holding spear in right hand and Victory in left hand ROMAE AETERNAE Romae Aeternae [Everlasting Rome]

I'm particularly fond of the more realistic proportions depicted on this coin, whereas most of Aurelian's portraits suffer from having either a very wide or very long neck!

Next, we have another familiar third century emperor, Claudius II:

Antoninianus of Emperor Claudius II 'Gothicus', from the mint of Mediolanum, c. 268-270 CE, RIC V Claudius Gothicus 171
Obv: Bust of Claudius Gothicus, radiate, draped, right | IMP CLAVDIVS P F AVG Imperator Claudius Pius Felix Augustus [Supreme commander (Imperator), Claudius, the pious, the fortunate, emperor]
Rev: Victory, winged, draped, running right, holding wreath in right hand and palm in left hand. Officina mark in exergue | VICTORIA AVG Victoria Augusti [Victory of the emperor]

Trying to keep up the high standard of portraits I'm trying to maintain with my collection was challenging with Claudius II... However, when this particular coin came along, I jumped on it!

Last but not least, we have the very unfortunate third century emperor, Valerian:

Antoninianus of Emperor Valerian, from the mint of Rome, c. 256-257 CE, RIC V Valerian 117A
Obv: Bust of Valerian, radiate, draped, right | IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG Imperator Caesar Publius Licinius Valerianus Pius Felix Augustus [Supreme commander (Imperator), Caesar Publius Licinius Valerian, the pious, the fortunate, emperor]
Rev: Valerian, in military attire, standing left, raising kneeling woman with right hand and holding spear in left | RESTITVTOR ORBIS [Restorer of the World]

I really liked the centring of this coin and the portrait stood out as well, it makes for a nice partner to my Gallienus example.

That's all for this installment, thanks for taking the time to look at my pieces! I definitely hope to hear your thoughts!

[Helvius Pertinax]

Thanks for sharing, the obverses of the Marcus Aurelius and Claudius II are amazing!

My own Marcus has toned quite nicely the last few months

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Nice new additions to the collection @Gumrum!

[CPK]

Nice coins! 👍

[Helvius Pertinax]

8 hours ago, Helvius Pertinax said:

Thanks for sharing, the obverses of the Marcus Aurelius and Claudius II are amazing!

My own Marcus has toned quite nicely the last few months

Expanding on this, here's another small (big) Marcus Aurelius I won this evening at 14€. Which is a nice treat but doesn't get close to your Denarius' engraving quality 😅 Love the small Marcus on the reverse of it!

[Amarmur]

Style and quality is very important behold cartoon Marcus Aurelius. The engravers really did a number on him. I really only got it because it's a Vic Par so it's okay. I'll eventually find a denarius with a decent portrait of him. 

[Octavius]

One of the very best portraits of Claudius II  I've ever seen.