Laureate bust right/Aequitas holding scales and cornucopiae

Rome

RCV5361; 18mm, 3.13g

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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L. Cornelius Sulla 82 BC Silver Denarius

Roma in helmet right / Sulla in quadriga right holding caduceus, crowned by Victory

RCV286; 17mm, 3.77g

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Radiate bust right/Valerian and Gallienus in military attire facing

Uncertain mint

RCV10414; 21mm, 3.73g

Gallienus was the son of Valerian and Mariniana and was born around AD 218. He was in his mid thirties by the time he was elevated to co emperor along with his father, Valerian.
Given responsibility to the Rhine and the northern frontier he enjoyed some success against the Franks and Alamanni. AD 260 proved to be a catastrophic year for the empire. Not only was Valerian captured and humiliated in the east in the west the usurper Postumus besieged Cologne and upon its capture put Gallienus’ younger son Salonius to death. Postumus then founded an independent Gallic empire which was to remain autonomous for 14 years.
After AD 260 Gallienus was sole emperor however he was not to see the empire reunited although he tried to hold the empire together. In AD 268 after putting down a rebellion in Greece Gallienus returned to Italy where he was faced with another rebellion. During the siege of Milan Gallienus was assassinated by his own troops.
Gallienus was a cultured man and oversaw a number of reforms of the military which included the exclusion of senators from military command. He also ended persecution of the Christians. His coinage however continued its decline in quality and minting of the sestertius, dupondius and as ceased. Milan also became a major mint due to Gallienus using the city as the main base for his army.

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Veiled bust right / Constantine in quadriga

Nicomedia mint

RCV17486; 15mm, 1.56g

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Laureate and cuirassed bust/VOT/X within wreath

Siscia mint

RCV16754; 19mm, 3.00g

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Laureate and cuirassed bust/VOT/X within wreath

Siscia mint

RCV16754; 18mm, 3.07g

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Laureate, and cuirassed bust left/Gateway of camp with 2 turrets

Trier mint

RCV 17215 var, 19mm, 2.84g

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Laureate and cuirassed bust left holding globe surmounted by Victory/Altar surmounted by globe

Trier mint

RCV17152, 20mm, 2.86g

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Laureate and cuirassed bust right/2 soldiers standing, facing with spears

Siscia mint

RCV17688; 18mm, 2.28g

Constantius II was the longest surviving son of Constantine the Great and Fausta. Upon the execution of his half brother, Crispus, in AD 326 Constantius temporarily moved to Gaul before moving tom the east which is where he made his imperial career. Appointed Augustus upon the death of Constantine in AD 337 he was implicated in the massacre of the descendants of Constantius Chlorus which included Delmatius and Hanniballianus. Partitioning the empire with his brothers Constantine II and Constans Constantius received most of the eastern provinces including Constantinople.
The early part of his reign saw a prolonged campaign against the Persians but otherwise it was reasonably settled. When his brother Constans was murdered in AD 350 Magentius, a field commander, was proclaimed emperor of the Western empire. Constantius decided to march against the usurper but before doing so appointed his general Constantius Gallus as Caesar. He also came to terms with Ventranio, a general in Illyricum, who had also been proclaimed emperor by his troops but who later remained loyal to Constantius.
Meeting Magentius in Pannonia he defeated him at the Battle of Mursa Major which was one of the largest and most costly battles to take place during the Roman empire. Magnentius however survived fleeing back to Italy before eventually being run down in Gaul. Here he was defeated at the Battle of Mons Selucius in AD 353 and committed suicide. Meanwhile fearing that Constantius Gallus was being disloyal Constantius summoned him to Milan, stripped of his rank and had him executed.
Constantius showed relative tolerance toward Paganism which by this time had been replaced by Christianity as the official religion of the empire. He was though intolerant of Judaism which he subjected to severe restrictions. To help administer the empire he appointed one of his last relatives, Julian Apostate, as Caesar in AD 355. When Julian was proclaimed emperor by his own troops in AD 361 Constantius marched west to face him but fell ill and died before confronting him.

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Radiate bust right/Pax standing with branch and sceptre

Rome

RCV9266; 22mm, 4.27g

Philip II was born around AD 237. Upon the accession of his father in AD 244 Philip II was immediately appointed as Caesar. He accompanied his father on the campaigns against the Quadi and Carpi. When Philip I returned to Rome in triumph his son was elevated to Augustus.
When Decius revolted in AD 249 both Philip’s marched against the usurper but were defeated at Verona and perished in the battle.
Philip II’s coinage can be divided into coinage issued whilst he was Caesar and coinage issued whilst he was Augustus. The former were all issued in Rome however as Augustus his coinage was also issued in Antioch as well as Rome.

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