Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right/Valentinian standing in military attire holding labarum and Victory on globe

Plain Cross in left field

Antioch

RCV19264, 4.32g, 22mm

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Laureate bust right/Jupiter seated left holding thunderbolt and sceptre

Probably referring to  Nero’s deliverance from the conspiracy of C. Calurnius Piso in AD 65

The Twelve (12) Caesars

Rome

RCV1930; 18mm, 7.09g

Found in Hampshire, England, 1998

Scuffs to both sides, consistent with being a field find.

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The last of the Julio Claudian  emperors Nero was born in AD 37 to Gnaeus Ahenobarbus and Agrippina the Younger. Agrippina later married Claudius and having done so campaigned for her son Nero to be recognised as successor to Claudius instead on Britannicus who was his natural son.. When Claudius is alleged to have been poisoned by Agrippina in AD 54 Britannicus was murdered and Nero was declared emperor.

Initially ruling with the help of his mother Agrippina and his tutor Seneca the Younger Nero promised to eliminate the ills of the previous regime and follow the Augustan principles. This made him initially popular as did his wish to abolish taxation by AD 58. However his cultural interests and increasingly bizarre  behaviour alienated the aristocracy as did his prolificacy on building works which included the construction of a massive new palace for himself. Alienated from his mother on account of his affair with Poppaea, who at that time was married to Otho, he arranged to have Agrippina killed.  In AD 62 his adviser Burrus died whilst his tutor Seneca also resigned. Nero further alienated Roman society by arranging a number of treason trials of those who had met with his disapproval. Abandoning all restraint Nero divorced and executed his first wife Octavia before kicking his second wife Poppaea to death whilst she was pregnant.

In AD 64 the Great Fire of Rome decimated much of the city. Nero was held to blame by much of the population and is claimed to have fiddled while Rome burned. In fact he organised various relief efforts and even arranged for the homeless to be accommodated in his various palaces. In AD 68 one of the governors, Vindex rebelled. Although Vindex was soon defeated Nero fled Rome although he later returned. Finding one night that his guard had disappeared he called for a gladiator to kill him. Whilst contemplating suicide Nero is alleged to of called out What an artist the world is losing before killing himself.

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Laureate bust  right/ Livia seated right. PONTIF MAXIM

The Twelve (12) Caesars

Lyon

RCV1763; 19mm, 3.62g

This coin comes with a previous collectors handwritten label.

A most pleasing example.

Tiberius was born in 42 BC to Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Druscilla. He was only three years old when his mother divorced and remarried the future Emperor Augustus. Tiberius had a military career proving himself to be a competent general who campaigned in various parts of the empire.
His relationship with his stepfather Augustus was always strained and this was not helped when his marriage to Augustus’ daughter Julia proven most unhappy. Nevertheless, upon the death of Augustus’ grandson Gaius Tiberius was reluctantly adopted as heir.
As emperor Tiberius proved to be a competent administrator however, he was suspicious by nature and became an increasing recluse retiring to his island retreat at Capreae and thereafter never returning to Rome. He died in AD 37 aged 78. Tiberius’ reign was overshadowed by a series of tragedies within the imperial family.
One of the most famous coins issued by Tiberius is the Tribute Penny which is referred to in the Bible in St Matthews gospel. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s: Render unto Christ what is Christ’s.

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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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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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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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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.

The post Mark Antony 30 BC Silver Denarius LEG XIX appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Laureate bust right/Triumphal quadriga

The Twelve Caesars

Rome

S2567; 20mm, 2.84g

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Draped bust right/Juno standing, sceptre

Rome

RCV4574; 18mm, 2.81g

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Conjoined heads / Venus standing holding scales

RCV440; 18mm, 2.93g

Comes with previous handwritten label

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