Laureate bust right/Pegasus stepping right

Rome

RCV2637; 19mm, 3.05g

This coin comes with a previous dealers printed label

The younger son of Vespasian, Domitian has gone down in history as a tyrant. He was lucky to have escaped when he was besieged on the Capitol during the final days of Vitellius.
Although he was created Caesar by his father Domitian remained in the background. This led to resentment and resulted in his highly autocratic behaviour when he became emperor. Although later vilified Domitian did show some aptitude as a military commander. Many temples were restored during Domitian’s reign. He also showed respect for religious rituals and maintained high standards in public performances. He could however be cruel and vindictive to those he considered to be his enemies having at least twelve ex consuls murdered. This resulted in further conspiracies and led to his assassination in AD 96.
Domitian improved the weight and quality of the coinage and also raised military pay which made him popular with the army. During his reign Agricola campaigned in northern Britain and attempted to incorporate Scotland into the Roman Empire.

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Laureate bust right/Triumphal quadriga

The Twelve Caesars

Rome

S2567; 20mm, 2.84g

The post Divvs Vespasian under Titus AD 69-79 Silver Denarius Rome Triumphal quadriga appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Mark Antony 30 BC Silver Denarius

Galley / Eagle between Standards

LEG XV?

RCV1479; 17mm, 3.22g

This coin comes with a previous dealers printed label

Mark Antony was born around 83BC. After a somewhat dissolute childhood he joined the army where he distinguished himself as a cavalry commander in the East. He returned and joined Julius Caesar in Gaul where he became a trusted lieutenant. Appointed a tribune he defended Caesar in a hostile Senate. After Caesar’s invasion of Italy Antony was appointed supreme commander in Italy whilst Caesar campaigned and defeated Pompey in Spain. The following year he commanded Caesar’s left wing at the battle of Pharsalus which resulted in Pompey’s final defeat.
Problems in Italy over the next few years resulted in a rift with Caesar although following Caesar’s assassination on the Ides of March AD44 Antony became leader of Caesar’s supporters. Mark Antony’s initial aim was to exact revenge on the Republican conspirators which were led by Brutus and Cassius. After defeating the Republicans at the Battle of Philippi in AD 42 Antony, and his supporters Octavian and Lepidus, formed the Second Triumvirate and exercised supreme power. Over the next decade the more astute Octavian eliminated Lepidus whilst Antony undermined his support by repudiating his wife Octavia, sister of Octavian and also by his increasingly close relationship with Cleopatra Queen of Egypt.
The final trial of strength came at the naval Battle of Actium in 31BC where Octavian was victorious. Fleeing back to Egypt Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide when Octavian invaded Egypt the following year.

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Mark Antony 30 BC Silver Denarius

Galley / Eagle between Standards

LEG II

RCV1479; 16mm, 2.99g

This coin comes with a previous dealers printed label

Mark Antony was born around 83BC. After a somewhat dissolute childhood he joined the army where he distinguished himself as a cavalry commander in the East. He returned and joined Julius Caesar in Gaul where he became a trusted lieutenant. Appointed a tribune he defended Caesar in a hostile Senate. After Caesar’s invasion of Italy Antony was appointed supreme commander in Italy whilst Caesar campaigned and defeated Pompey in Spain. The following year he commanded Caesar’s left wing at the battle of Pharsalus which resulted in Pompey’s final defeat.
Problems in Italy over the next few years resulted in a rift with Caesar although following Caesar’s assassination on the Ides of March AD44 Antony became leader of Caesar’s supporters. Mark Antony’s initial aim was to exact revenge on the Republican conspirators which were led by Brutus and Cassius. After defeating the Republicans at the Battle of Philippi in AD 42 Antony, and his supporters Octavian and Lepidus, formed the Second Triumvirate and exercised supreme power. Over the next decade the more astute Octavian eliminated Lepidus whilst Antony undermined his support by repudiating his wife Octavia, sister of Octavian and also by his increasingly close relationship with Cleopatra Queen of Egypt.
The final trial of strength came at the naval Battle of Actium in 31BC where Octavian was victorious. Fleeing back to Egypt Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide when Octavian invaded Egypt the following year.

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Mark Antony 30 BC Silver Denarius

Galley / Eagle between Standards

LEG XIX

RCV1479; 18mm, 3.03g

This coin comes with a previous dealers printed label

Mark Antony was born around 83BC. After a somewhat dissolute childhood he joined the army where he distinguished himself as a cavalry commander in the East. He returned and joined Julius Caesar in Gaul where he became a trusted lieutenant. Appointed a tribune he defended Caesar in a hostile Senate. After Caesar’s invasion of Italy Antony was appointed supreme commander in Italy whilst Caesar campaigned and defeated Pompey in Spain. The following year he commanded Caesar’s left wing at the battle of Pharsalus which resulted in Pompey’s final defeat.
Problems in Italy over the next few years resulted in a rift with Caesar although following Caesar’s assassination on the Ides of March AD44 Antony became leader of Caesar’s supporters. Mark Antony’s initial aim was to exact revenge on the Republican conspirators which were led by Brutus and Cassius. After defeating the Republicans at the Battle of Philippi in AD 42 Antony, and his supporters Octavian and Lepidus, formed the Second Triumvirate and exercised supreme power. Over the next decade the more astute Octavian eliminated Lepidus whilst Antony undermined his support by repudiating his wife Octavia, sister of Octavian and also by his increasingly close relationship with Cleopatra Queen of Egypt.
The final trial of strength came at the naval Battle of Actium in 31BC where Octavian was victorious. Fleeing back to Egypt Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide when Octavian invaded Egypt the following year.

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Laureate bust right / Roma seated left

Rome

RCV3536; 18mm, 3.02g

Like his predecessor, Trajan, Hadrian was born in Spain around AD76. He entered Trajan’s household by marrying Sabina who was daughter of Trajan’s favourite niece Matidia. As a young man he had a military career and by the time of Trajan’s death in AD 117 Hadrian was governor of Syria. As Trajan was childless Hadrian was strongly backed as heir by the army as well as Trajan’s empress Plotina.
Hadrian was keen to experience the diverse peoples of his massive empire and as a result much of his reign was spent travelling. Unlike Trajan who pursued an expansionist policy Hadrian thought that the empire needed to be consolidated and as a result initiated the construction of an elaborate frontier system. In Britain this took the form of the construction of Hadrian’s Wall and the withdrawal of troops from Southern Scotland.
Hadrian was an able administrator and initiated several major building works which included the construction of the Pantheon in Rome. Whilst considered to be one of Rome’s great emperors he could at times be cruel and vindictive. Hadrian was particularly fond of Greek culture and it was while touring his eastern provinces that he met Antinous, a youth who became a favourite. Accompanying Hadrian on many of his tours Antinous was greatly mourned when he accidentally drowned in the Nile. The great Jewish revolt which was a major event took place towards the end of Hadrian’s reign. The revolt resulted in great loss of life and destruction. Jews were excluded from Jerusalem which was rebuilt as a pagan city.
The coinage of Hadrian is particularly diverse with many reverse types commemorating the Empires provinces and the interest taken in them by the emperor. Hadrian also produced posthumous issues honouring Trajan and Plotina as well as his own wife Sabina and his favourite Antinous.

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Laureate bust right / Pegasus right

Rome

RCV3660; 25mm, 13.31g

The coin comes with a previous printed dealers label

Like his predecessor, Trajan, Hadrian was born in Spain around AD76. He entered Trajan’s household by marrying Sabina who was daughter of Trajan’s favourite niece Matidia. As a young man he had a military career and by the time of Trajan’s death in AD 117 Hadrian was governor of Syria. As Trajan was childless Hadrian was strongly backed as heir by the army as well as Trajan’s empress Plotina.
Hadrian was keen to experience the diverse peoples of his massive empire and as a result much of his reign was spent travelling. Unlike Trajan who pursued an expansionist policy Hadrian thought that the empire needed to be consolidated and as a result initiated the construction of an elaborate frontier system. In Britain this took the form of the construction of Hadrian’s Wall and the withdrawal of troops from Southern Scotland.
Hadrian was an able administrator and initiated several major building works which included the construction of the Pantheon in Rome. Whilst considered to be one of Rome’s great emperors he could at times be cruel and vindictive. Hadrian was particularly fond of Greek culture and it was while touring his eastern provinces that he met Antinous, a youth who became a favourite. Accompanying Hadrian on many of his tours Antinous was greatly mourned when he accidentally drowned in the Nile. The great Jewish revolt which was a major event took place towards the end of Hadrian’s reign. The revolt resulted in great loss of life and destruction. Jews were excluded from Jerusalem which was rebuilt as a pagan city.
The coinage of Hadrian is particularly diverse with many reverse types commemorating the Empires provinces and the interest taken in them by the emperor. Hadrian also produced posthumous issues honouring Trajan and Plotina as well as his own wife Sabina and his favourite Antinous.

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Bare head right/Concordia enthroned left

Rome

RCV3967; 17mm, 2.97g

Lucius Ceionius Commodus, son and grandson of the consuls of AD 106 and 78, was born around AD 104. For reasons which are not clear Hadrian regarded him as a suitable candidate as his successor. He was a praetor in AD 130 and his first consulship was in AD 136. Later that same year he was adopted by Hadrian as his heir whereupon he took the name Aelius.
To gain administrative and military experience he was sent to govern the two Pannonias. He celebrated his second consulship in AD 137 and was now permitted a share of the Imperial coinage. This was issued in all denominations. Unfortunately Aelius died suddenly on New Years Day AD 138 creating a constitutional crisis as Hadrian was by then in declining health.

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Laureate bust right/Providentia standing holding globe and cornucopiae

Rome

RCV4925; 17mm, 2.68g

Born in AD 121 as the nephew of the Empress Faustina Senior Hadrian recognised qualities and arranged for his marriage to the daughter of Aelius who had been appointed as Hadrian’s heir. When Aelius died prematurely Hadrian stipulated that his new heir, Antoninus Pius, adopt Marcus Aurelius together with his brother Lucius Verus as joint heirs.
When Antoninus Pius succeeded in AD138 Marcus’ career progressed rapidly and he was appointed Caesar in AD139. Marcus’ betrothal to Aelius’ daughter was annulled in favour of marrying the emperors youngest daughter Faustina Junior which he did in AD145.
Granted tribunician powers in AD147 Marcus became emperor in AD161.

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Laureate bust right/ Galley left

Rome

RCV6790; 19mm, 2.73g

Comes with previous printed dealers printed label

Caracalla was the eldest son of Septimius Severus. His name was a nick name taken from the long Gallic cloak which he made fashionable in Rome. His actual name was Julius Bassianus although he changed this to Marcus Aurelius Antoninus when he became Caesar in AD 195. Later in AD 198 he was elevated to Augustus along with his father Septimius Severus.

Caracalla accompanied his family to Britain in AD 208 where he led the last Caledonian campaign in person. When his father died in York in AD 211 his younger brother Geta was created co emperor. Unfortunately the brothers disliked each other intensely and shortly after they returned to Rome Geta was assassinated.

Caracalla took great care to gain the goodwill of the army by increasing the pay and rations of his soldiers. There were also changes in the High Command and any supporters of Geta were removed. Carcalla also took care to ensure that none of his governors controlled sufficient forces to instigate a rebellion. In AD 213 Caracalla campaigned in Germany where he claimed to have defeated the Alamanni although his critics claimed that he brought them off.

Caracalla had a taste for non Roman fashion and this resulted in a breakdown of Roman exclusiveness. This was symbolised by one of the most famous legal measures the Constitutio Antoniniana whereby virtually all peoples within the empire, excepting slaves, became Roman citizens. This had the benefit of greatly expanding the tax base which until then had fallen almost exclusively on Roman citizens. Finances became increasingly tight Caracalla reign saw the introduction of a new coin, the antoninianus. By introducing the antoninianus Caracalla was in fact debasing the currency as although the antoninianus was valued at 2 denarius it was only the weight in silver of 11/2 denarii.

Caracalla oversaw the opening of new Baths at Rome soon to be known as the Baths of Caracalla. These provided not just baths but also gardens, open air gymnasiums and art collections which were open to the general population and designed to accommodate thousands of people at any one time.

Caracalla great aim was to conquer the Parthians and a great army was assembled and went east in AD 216. After invading Media one of his praetorian prefects took fright and when Carcalla dismounted to relieve himself he was assassinated.

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