The Twelve Caesars

RCV1900; 18mm, 3.37g

Comes with rough find area provenance

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Laureate bust right/Libertas standing holding pileus

The Twelve Caesars

Tarraco mint

Rare

18mm, 3.62g

This coin comes with a rough find area provenance (Hollingbourne, Kent) and is recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme

Galba was born to a wealthy family around 3 BC.  He held various public offices including consul, praetor and governor of various provinces before resigning during the reign of the Emperor Claudius. Reinstated by Nero he was appointed governor of Hispania. When Nero committed suicide in AD 68 he took advantage of Vindex’s rebellion to be declared emperor with the support of the Praetorian guard. Although not related to any of the previous emperors he claimed to be a relative of Livia, wife of Augustus, who left him an inheritance although this was later denied to him by Tiberius.

Galba was a sickly man who suffered severely from gout by the time he became emperor. Also noted for his avarice and cruelty he was notoriously mean and quickly upset the army by refusing to pay the soldiers who had fought against Vindex. He also tried to disband the German legions and seize their property.  Upon taking office as consul on 1st January 69 the German the 4th and 22nd legions of Germania Superior refused to swear loyalty to him. On the following day the legions of Germania Inferior under Vitellus also refused to swear loyalty and on 15th January 69 Galba was killed by his Praetorian guard.

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De Britanni triumphal arch

18mm, 2.52g

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One of the finest examples from the Waverley valley hoard, selected and kept back as such by the finder but then released for sale.

Provenance

This coin is from The London Collection of Ancient British Coins. For more information click here: The London Collection – Silbury Coins : Silbury Coins.

M Vosper PT 1997, ex Waveney Valley Hoard, S469

Part of the famous Waverley valley hoard found in 1996. 110 plated denarii to Claudius I were found in three main groups, spread over a considerable area, and at depths of up to 3 feet. No pottery or artefacts were associated with the coins. All of the coins are plated copies of Claudian denarii, with the exception of two copies of Augustus and Tiberius denarii. The British Museum has acquired 28 coins. A further 62 plated denarii were discovered in 1996 with the aid of a metal detector, on the same site, in a field near the village of Wortham, about 3 miles south-west of Diss.

This coin comes with a previous label.

Tiberius Claudius Drusus was born in Lugdunum on the same day that Augustus dedicated the Great Altar of Lugdunum in 10 BC. The younger son of Nero Claudius Drusus, brother of Tiberius, and Antonia who was the daughter of Mark Antony.
He was seriously ill as a child and as a result suffered some form of paralysis. Despite his uncouth manner he was a surprisingly good horseman. Claudius was also intelligent and devoted himself to scholarship authoring histories on Carthage and Etruria. Upon the assassination of Caligula he was proclaimed emperor. Claudius proved himself to be a competent ruler and added to the empire through the invasion and partial conquest of Britain in AD 43.
His martial affairs were turbulent and he was responsible for the execution of his third wife Valeria Messallina. He then married Agrippina Junior adopting her son Nero as heir in preference to his own son Britannicus who was later murdered.
Claudius died in AD 54 allegedly from a surfeit of mushrooms although it is thought that these had been poisoned by his wife Agrippina ensuring that the succession went to her son Nero.

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Laureate bust right / Clasped hands, legionary eagle set on prow

Rome

RCV3021; 17mm, 3.19g

This coin comes with a previous printed collector’s label.

Nerva was born around AD 30 in the Umbrian hill town of Narnia. He became a distinguished lawyer as well as being a close friend to the emperor Nero. He was fortunate that this was not detrimental to his future career and he went on to hold 2 consulships under the Flavian emperors. Although he was implicated in the plot to assassinate Domitian he was immediately elevated to the throne.
Nerva made an inspired choice in appointing the most general of the day, Trajan, as his heir. Although Nerva only reigned for sixteen months he instigated a number of popular reforms and brought stability back to the administration. His coinage is of interest as some of his reforms are commemorated especially on the sestertius.
Nerva was considered to be the first of the five good emperors who ruled during the period when the empire was at the zenith of its power.

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Laureate bust right /Bull butting right, IMP X

The Twelve (12) Caesars

Lyon

RCV1610; 19mm, 3.70g

Born in 63BC as Octavian he was adopted as heir by his great uncle Julius Caesar. When Caesar was assassinated in 44BC he showed sufficient acumen to hold his own against his main rival, Mark Antony with whom he formed a political alliance which was known as the Second Triumvirate. Defeating the Republicans Brutus and Cassius at the battle of Philippi in 42BC. By astute manoeuvring Octavian succeeded in becoming the dominant partner and in 36BC he succeeded in removing his 2 great rivals Sextus Pompey and Lepidus. His final confrontation with Mark Antony, who by this time was allied to Cleopatra, took place at the Battle of Actium in 31BC.
Consolidating his power over the next few years Octavian guided the transition of the Republic back to a monarchy. Obtaining a lifetime grant of tribunician powers Octavian, who took the name Augustus, was proclaimed as emperor in 27BC. Under his enlightened administration the empire prospered and stability was restored to the finances and economy. The Augustan currency system was to last for nearly 300 years. Augustus is associated with a number of major building works which include the construction of temples as well as the provision of a new water supply into the City of Rome. Upon his death bed Augustus is alleged to have said that he found Rome built in brick but left it in marble.
Augustus, who lived for 77 years, became increasingly concerned on the succession especially when his great friend Agrippa died in 12BC followed by Agrippa’s sons Gaius and Lucius. This left Augustus little choice but to designate Tiberius who was married to his only child Julia. Tiberius was also the empress Livia’s son by an earlier marriage, as heir.

The post Augustus 27 BC – AD 14 Silver Denarius Lyon appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Laureate bust  right/ Livia seated right. PONTIF MAXIM

The Twelve (12) Caesars

Lyon

RCV1763; 17mm, 3.73g

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/ Livia seated right. PONTIF MAXIM

The Twelve (12) Caesars

Lyon

RCV1763; 18mm, 3.60g

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.

The post Tiberius AD 14-37 Silver Denarius Lyon Tribute Penny appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Laureate bust Caligula / Bare head Germanicus

The Twelve (12) Caesars

Lyon

RCV1816; 19mm, 3.60g

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Small scratch running across portrait, otherwise a very decent example stuck in good silver.

Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus was the great grandson of both Augustus and Mark Antony. The youngest son of Germanicus and Agrippina Senior he acquired the name Caligula from the tiny military boots or caligae that he wore as a young child during his father’s campaigns in Germany.
Caligula’s youth saved him from purges which claimed his mother and elder brothers. In AD 32 he moved in with his great uncle the Emperor Tiberius. When Tiberius died childless he was proclaimed emperor in AD 37. Initially he showed promise however after an illness and under the influence of his grandmother Antonia he became increasingly deranged. The excesses and debaucheries of his reign are well documented. Famously he made his horse a consul.
Eventually a plot was formed by the praetorian guard who had him murdered in AD 41.
In contrast to Caligula the coinage minted during his reign was conservative in character with many types honouring his relatives both living and deceased.

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Bare headed bust right/Bull butting right

The Twelve (12) Caesars

Lyon

RCV1610; 18mm, 2.96g

Born in 63BC as Octavian he was adopted as heir by his great uncle Julius Caesar. When Caesar was assassinated in 44BC he showed sufficient acumen to hold his own against his main rival, Mark Antony with whom he formed a political alliance which was known as the Second Triumvirate. Defeating the Republicans Brutus and Cassius at the battle of Philippi in 42BC. By astute manoeuvring Octavian succeeded in becoming the dominant partner and in 36BC he succeeded in removing his 2 great rivals Sextus Pompey and Lepidus. His final confrontation with Mark Antony, who by this time was allied to Cleopatra, took place at the Battle of Actium in 31BC.
Consolidating his power over the next few years Octavian guided the transition of the Republic back to a monarchy. Obtaining a lifetime grant of tribunician powers Octavian, who took the name Augustus, was proclaimed as emperor in 27BC. Under his enlightened administration the empire prospered and stability was restored to the finances and economy. The Augustan currency system was to last for nearly 300 years. Augustus is associated with a number of major building works which include the construction of temples as well as the provision of a new water supply into the City of Rome. Upon his death bed Augustus is alleged to have said that he found Rome built in brick but left it in marble.
Augustus, who lived for 77 years, became increasingly concerned on the succession especially when his great friend Agrippa died in 12BC followed by Agrippa’s sons Gaius and Lucius. This left Augustus little choice but to designate Tiberius who was married to his only child Julia. Tiberius was also the empress Livia’s son by an earlier marriage, as heir.

The post Augustus 27 BC- AD 14 Silver Denarius Lyon appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Laureate bust right/Salvs enthroned left

The Twelve (12) Caesars

Rome

RCV1945; 18mm, 3.53g

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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