Bust of Athena right / Owl standing left

Boldly struck with excellent detail, a fine example of Classical art at its best.

24mm, 17.23g

Obverse description: Head of Athena (goddess of wisdom) right, wearing earring, necklace and crested Attic helmet decorated with olive leaves.
Reverse description: Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers; olive sprig and crescent to left, AOE to right; all within incuse square.

Attica is a historical region of Greece that encompasses the city of Athens. It is a peninsula projecting into the Aegean Sea, bordering on Boeotia to the north and Megaris to the west.

The Athenian ‘owl’ silver tetradrachm is one of the most influential coins of all time. During the 5th Century BC, when Athens emerged as the greatest of all Greek cities ‘owls’ were the most widely used international coin and helped spread Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean world. The peak of Athens success, between 510-400 BC, witnessed the birth of democracy, construction of the Parthenon, pinnacle of Classical art and the origins of Western literature. Never before or since has one city contributed so much to human progress.

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Pointed Helmet type

Lincoln / Wulfwine

S1158; 19mm, 0.93g

This coin comes with a previous handwritten collectors label.

High grade and pleasing tone.

Cnut ‘The Great’ – 1016-1035: A prominent Scandinavian prince and junior member of the Danish royal house, Cnut spent much of the early 11th century as an active participant on raids directed at England. In 1013, his father Swein Forkbeard invaded England and became its king by dint of conquest – though died shortly afterwards. Cnut was forced to retreat back to Denmark, but returned to England in 1015. Defeating the English at Assandun in 1016 and forcing a settlement, Cnut eventually succeeded to the throne of all England. An outwardly pious man, he gave generously to religious houses during his reign and went on pilgrimage to Rome – despite being a murderous bigamist. During his near twenty-year long rule, he came to unite England, Denmark, Norway and part of Sweden into the powerful but short-lived ‘North Sea Empire.’

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Pointed Helmet type

Lincoln / Cross behind bust (Rare)

S1158; 19mm, 0.85g

This coin comes with a previous handwritten collectors label. ex Dean Rooke collection

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Cnut ‘The Great’ – 1016-1035: A prominent Scandinavian prince and junior member of the Danish royal house, Cnut spent much of the early 11th century as an active participant on raids directed at England. In 1013, his father Swein Forkbeard invaded England and became its king by dint of conquest – though died shortly afterwards. Cnut was forced to retreat back to Denmark, but returned to England in 1015. Defeating the English at Assandun in 1016 and forcing a settlement, Cnut eventually succeeded to the throne of all England. An outwardly pious man, he gave generously to religious houses during his reign and went on pilgrimage to Rome – despite being a murderous bigamist. During his near twenty-year long rule, he came to unite England, Denmark, Norway and part of Sweden into the powerful but short-lived ‘North Sea Empire.’

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Short Cross type

Dover / Boga

S1159; 18mm, 0.92g

This coin comes with two previous handwritten collectors labels.

High grade.

Cnut ‘The Great’ – 1016-1035: A prominent Scandinavian prince and junior member of the Danish royal house, Cnut spent much of the early 11th century as an active participant on raids directed at England. In 1013, his father Swein Forkbeard invaded England and became its king by dint of conquest – though died shortly afterwards. Cnut was forced to retreat back to Denmark, but returned to England in 1015. Defeating the English at Assandun in 1016 and forcing a settlement, Cnut eventually succeeded to the throne of all England. An outwardly pious man, he gave generously to religious houses during his reign and went on pilgrimage to Rome – despite being a murderous bigamist. During his near twenty-year long rule, he came to unite England, Denmark, Norway and part of Sweden into the powerful but short-lived ‘North Sea Empire.’

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Imitating Aethelred II

Long Cross type

Blundered legends

21mm, 1.67g

Æthelred II ‘The Unready’ – 978-1013/1014-1016: The eldest son of Eadgar, Æthelred became king at the mere age of 12 following the brutal murder of his half-brother Edward. Young and easy to manipulate, he came to depend on his councillors for their prudent advice – an aspect in which they badly let him down. Though his reign is noted for its economic reforms and a high standard for the English coinage, it was marred by Scandinavian raids, periods of acute social instability and famine. Initially adopting a policy of paying the invaders to go away, Æthelred abruptly U-turned in 1002 and massacred many ethnic Danes resident in England. This policy backfired spectacularly, actually causing more Scandinavians to take up arms against him. Displaced from the throne in 1013 by Swein Forkbeard, he briefly returned to rule for a second time in 1014 after the latter’s untimely death – only to die himself shortly afterwards.

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Imitating Aethelred II

Long Cross / Last Small Cross (Mule)

Blundered legends

20mm, 1.58g

Æthelred II ‘The Unready’ – 978-1013/1014-1016: The eldest son of Eadgar, Æthelred became king at the mere age of 12 following the brutal murder of his half-brother Edward. Young and easy to manipulate, he came to depend on his councillors for their prudent advice – an aspect in which they badly let him down. Though his reign is noted for its economic reforms and a high standard for the English coinage, it was marred by Scandinavian raids, periods of acute social instability and famine. Initially adopting a policy of paying the invaders to go away, Æthelred abruptly U-turned in 1002 and massacred many ethnic Danes resident in England. This policy backfired spectacularly, actually causing more Scandinavians to take up arms against him. Displaced from the throne in 1013 by Swein Forkbeard, he briefly returned to rule for a second time in 1014 after the latter’s untimely death – only to die himself shortly afterwards.

The post Anglo Scandinavian Silver Penny 11th Century AD Imitating Aethelred II Long Cross / Last Small Cross Mule * Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Cuirassed bust / 2 Victories with shield

Trier

18mm, 3.12g

The reign of Constantine marked one of the great turning points in Roman history. Born around AD 272 the son of Constantius Constantine claimed that he was descended from Claudius Gothicus (AD 268-270) although this is unlikely to be true.
Taking a military career Constantine was appointed a tribune to Diocletian following the elevation of his father to Augustus. Joining his father on a military expedition to Britain upon the sudden death of Constantius in York in AD 306 Constantine was proclaimed by his troops, as Caesar under Severus. Initially his position was he weak however after Severus fell he cemented his position with Maximian was strengthened through the marriage to Fausta who was the daughter of Maximian also sister to Maxentius.
Becoming Augustus, the high handed elevation of Licinius to Augustus by Galerius created a rift. Deciding it was time to eliminate his brother in law, Maxentius, he invaded Italy in AD 312 winning the Battle of Milivian Bridge where Maxentius was killed. It was on the evening before this battle that Constantine had his vision of the cross. Whether this is true Constantine’s religious policy was certainly revolutionized thereafter leading to a rapid demise of the old pagan gods and the rise of Christianity.
Although Constantine remained co emperor with Licinius for a further decade in AD 324 he invaded Thrace on the pretext of repelling Gothic invaders. Licinius moved to confront him but was defeated in 2 battles and forced to abdicate. Constantine then became the sole Augustus for the first time since Diocletian.
In AD 325 Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea where Christianity was formally declared to be the religion of the empire. Around this time Constantine decided to found a new imperial capital in the east where Constantinopolis was formally designated in AD 330. This city later became Constantinople and the capital of the Byzantine empire.
Constantine had four sons as well as two daughters. Crispus was probably the most able and although elevated to Caesar was found to be guilty of treason and was executed in AD 326. His three remaining sons were also elevated to Caesar and all later became Augustus in their own right. Constantine died suddenly and unexpectedly in AD 337.
The coinage of Constantine is complex with radical changes being made early in his reign when the gold aureus as replaced by the lighter gold solidus. Constantine also abandoned the silver argenteus replacing it with the siliqua. The bronze follis was also reduced in size with various fractions also being produced although these are mostly quite rare.

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Bust left / Eagle with Jupiter on back

Trier

RCV15144; 17mm, 2.91g

Licinius was born in Upper Moesia in around AD 260. He was a friend of Galerius under whom he served in the campaigns against the Persians in AD 298 where he became one of his closest advisors. After the death of Conastantius in AD 306 Licinius served as an envoy to the rebel regime in Rome. When Galerius convened a conference at Carnuntum Licinius was elevated to the western Augustus to replace the deceased Severus. This annoyed Constantine in the west and Maximinius in the east both of whom had been senior to Licinius. War between Licinius and Maximinus was not long delayed and in AD 313 Maximinus was defeated and shortly afterwards died.
Licinius was left as co emperor with Constantine. An uneasy partnership lasted for 10 years and despite brief uprisings it was until AD 324 that Constantine determined to rid himself of his co emperor. Entering Thrace on the pretext of confronting Gothic invaders Licinius was defeated by Constantine in 2 battles. Initially allowed to abdicate and retire Licinius was soon accused of plotting against Constantine and was then killed.

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Laureate bust right / Fortuna holding rudder

Rome

RCV4073; 17mm, 3.24g

Comes with previous printed collectors label

Praised by Romans and later by scholars of ancient history such as Edmund Gibbon as one of Rome’s great emperors Antoninus Pius was undoubtedly a skilled administrator. During his reign the empire, which was probably at its height, had ceased to expand and was largely at peace. Unlike Hadrian who travelled extensively throughout the empire Antoninus Pius never left Italy during his reign.

Born in AD 86 into a senatorial family Antoninus held various offices during Hadrian’s reign. He also married Hadrian’s niece, Faustina, so that when Hadrian’s heir Aelius died suddenly in AD 138 Antoninus was adopted as a son and named successor shortly before Hadrian died.

Antoninus, who had no military training, was renowned for building temples, theatres and other public works. He also promoted the arts and sciences and instigated a range of legal reforms which included measures to facilitate the enfranchisement of slaves. Financial help was giver to a number of cities which suffered disasters enabling them to rebuild and recover.

Whilst noted as a pious man he was tolerant of other religions including Christianity to whom he extended protection throughout the empire. He is even alleged to have converted to Christianity after a woman called Parakevi was charged with blasphemy and blamed for the evils that had befallen the empire. Despite being tortured she refused to renounce her faith even when Antoninus offered to marry her.

Antoninus led a modest lifestyle for an emperor and bequeathed substantial funds in the imperial treasury to his successors. Only 1 of his 4 children survived to adulthood and his wife Faustina died early in his reign in AD 141. He never remarried and was succeeded by Marcus Aurelius, a nephew of Faustina’s and Lucius Verus, who was a son of Aelius.

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Laureate bust right/ Sol radiate standing

Rome

RCV6777; 22mm, 4.63g

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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