If you're going to let a history book define your collecting focus, why not Mary Beard?

Many collectors aim to assemble a "Twelve Caesars" (Julius Caesar - Domitian) set, based upon Suetonius' book by that title. But this list includes three that issued coins for only a short period of time and yet, by historical standards, made little difference in the course of Roman history. The set can be difficult to acquire, particularly in a matching set of denarii.

Easier to acquire is a "five good emperors" (Nerva - Marcus Aurelius) set, based upon Edward Gibbon's use of that phrase. This list includes emperors whose reign made an enormous impact on Roman history, but is too small and too easily acquired to satisfy most collectors' desire for the "thrill of the hunt."

Isn't there anything in between -- a set that is modestly challenging and includes important historical figures but without setting the average collector back the price of a good used car? Yes, friends, there is!

If you're going to let a book define what constitutes a set of Roman coins, why not chapter 10 of Mary Beard's excellent history, SPQR? Chapter 10 is titled, "Fourteen Emperors." You may choose to collect them in any metal you like or include provincial or imperial issues -- whatever suits your budget and fancy!

I have just such a set, which I display below. Let's see yours!

1. Tiberius:


Tiberius, AD 14-37.
Roman AR Denarius; 3.87 g, 18.5 mm.
Lugdunum, AD 16-37.
Obv: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head, right.
Rev: PONTIF MAXIM, Livia, as pax, seated right, holding long olive branch and inverted spear; legs of chair ornate, triple line below.
Refs: RIC 28; BMCRE 45; RCV 1763 var.

2. Gaius (Caligula):


Caligula, AD 37-41.
Roman provincial Æ 20 mm, 6.74 g.
Peloponnese, Corinthia, Corinth, Ae. P. Vipsanius Agrippa and M. Bellius Proculus, duoviri, AD 37-38.
Obv: C CAESAR AVGVSTV, bare head right.
Rev: M BELLIO PROCVLO IIVIR / COR, Pegasus flying right.
Refs: RPC I 1173; Amandry (1988) XVII; BCD Corinth 405-6.

3. Claudius:


Claudius and Messalina.
Roman provincial billon tetradrachm, 10.32 gm; 24.0 mm.
Alexandria, AD 45/46.
Obv: ΤΙ ΚΛΑΥΔΙ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙ ΑΥΤΟΚΡ, laureate head of Claudius, r.; LϚ (year 6) before.
Rev: ΜΕΣΣΑΛΙΝΑ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑΣ, Messalina standing l., holding children and ears of corn.
Refs: RCV 1869; SGI 495; RPC 5164; BMCG 75; SNG Cologne 88; Milne 106; Emmett 74.

4. Nero:


Nero and Poppaea Sabina.
Roman provincial billon tetradrachm, 23.1 mm, 11.55 g.
Egypt, Alexandria, AD 64/65.
Obv: ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑV ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ ΑV, radiate head of Nero, right.
Rev: ΠΟΠΠΑΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ, draped bust of Poppaea, right, LIA (year 11) before Refs: RCV 2002; SGI 664; RPC 5280; Köln 168; BMCG 124; Milne 223; Curtis 138; Cohen 315, 3; Emmett 128.

5. Vespasian:


Vespasian, AD 69-79.
Roman AR denarius, 2.73 gm, 17.7 mm.
Rome, AD 70.
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head, r.
Rev: COS ITER TR POT, Pax seated l., holding branch and caduceus.
Refs: RIC 10D; BMCRE 26; RCV 2285.

6. Titus:


Titus, AD 79-81.
Roman AR denarius,3.31 g, 18.3 mm.
Rome, AD 80
Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M, Laureate head, right.
Rev: TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P, Ornamented semi-circular diadem on draped seat or table; 3 crescent like objects above.
Refs: RIC 24a; BMCRE 58; RSC 313; RCV 2514; CBN 47.

7. Domitian:


Domitian, AD 81-96.
Roman AR denarius, 3.43 g, 18 mm.
Rome, AD 91.
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR XI (error; should read TR P XI), laureate head, right.
Rev: IMP XII COS XV CENS P P P, Minerva advancing right, brandishing a javelin and holding a shield Refs: RIC 156; RIC² 724; BMCRE p. 336, note; Cohen 269; RCV --.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Good idea! You just may start the "next big thing"

 

8. Nerva:


Nerva, AD 96-98.
Roman AR denarius, 3.37 g, 16.5 mm, 7 h.
Rome, Oct-Dec AD 97.
Obv: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P II COS III P P, laureate head right.
Rev: IVSTITIA AVGVST: Justitia, draped, seated right on low backed chair, feet on stool, holding long straight scepter in right and branch extended in left.
Refs: RIC 30; Cohen 103.

9. Trajan:


Trajan, AD 98-117.
Roman AR denarius, 2.95 gm, 20 mm.
Rome, AD 114-117.
Obv: IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC, laureate and draped bust, right.
Rev: P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, Mars walking right with spear and trophy.
Refs: RIC 337; BMCRE 536; Cohen 270; RCV --; Woytek 520v; Strack 230; BN 819.

10. Hadrian:


Hadrian, AD 117-138.
Roman AR denarius, 3.44 g, 17.5 mm, 7:00.
Rome, AD 121.
Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder.
Rev: P M TR P COS III, Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae and resting on column.
Refs: RIC 86b; BMCRE 170; RSC 1155; UCR 206; RCV 3521.

11. Antoninus Pius:


Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 23.16 g, 29 mm.
Rome, AD 142.
Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, laureate head right.
Rev: ANNONA AVG S C, Annona standing right, between modius and prow, holding corn ears and out-turned cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 597; BMCRE 1228; Cohen 37; RCV 4147; UCR 502.

12. Marcus Aurelius:


Marcus Aurelius, AD 161-180.
Roman AR denarius, 3.53 g, 17.4 mm, 1 h.
Rome, AD 169.
Obv: M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXIII, laureate head right.
Rev: LIBERAL AVG V COS III, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus and cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 206; BMCRE 492; Cohen 412; RCV 4914; MIR 181.

13. Lucius Verus:


Lucius Verus, AD 161-169.
Roman AR Denarius, 17 mm, 3.36g, 6h.
Rome, AD 168.
Obv: L VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, laureate head right.
Rev: FORT RED TR P VIII IMP V COS III, Fortuna seated left, holding rudder and cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 586; BMC 477; Cohen 111; RCV 5350; MIR 170.

14. Commodus:


Commodus, AD 177-192.
Roman AR denarius, 3.42 g, 18 mm.
Rome, AD 180.
Obv: M COMMODVS ANTONINVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: LIB AVG TR P V IMP IIII COS II P P, Liberalitas standing left, holding counting-board and cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 10; RSC 302; BMC 3; Szaivert 496/4.

 

Great idea! And Mary Beard is awesome! I just watched het documentaries on Julius Caesar and Caligula on YouTube a week or so ago. Good times

 

Great idea @Roman Collector ... And, as it is your specialty, you have a VERY FINE collection of the Roman Emperors! Gorgeous stuff! Congrats!

BEARD's 14 EMPERORS:

1) TIBERIUS

RI Tiberius AE As 14-37 CE Laureate-Pont Max Globe Rudder sinister left RIC I 58

2) Gaius (Caligula):

RI Gaius Caligula AE As 37-41 CE Vesta seated S-C

3) Claudius:

RI Claudius 41-54 Ae As 28mm LIBERTAS AVGVSTA holding pileus S-C RIC 113

4) Nero:

RI Nero AR Tetradrachm 54-68 CE Eagle

5) Vespasian:

RI Vespasian 69-79 CE AE Dupondius Felicitas stdg caduceus cornucopia sinister left

6) Titus:

RI Titus 79-81 CE AR Denarius Ceres seated corn ear poppy torch

7) Domitian:

RI Domitian AR Denarius 81-96 CE Minerva thunderbolt spear shield protruded chin COS XV CENS PPP RIC 726

 

nevermind

 

8) Nerva:

RI Nerva AE Dupondius 96-98 CE LIBERTAS PVBLICA -pileus TIF

9. Trajan:

RI Trajan CE 98-117 AR drachm Struck CE 114-116 Arabia Petraea Bostra - Camel SNG ANS 1158

10. Hadrian:

RI Hadrian AR Quinarius 1.3g, 14mm Rome, AD 119-122 cuirassed laureate COS III Victory seated wreath palm RIC 108a

11. Antoninus Pius:

RI Antoninus Pius 138-161 BCE AR Denarius

12. Marcus Aurelius:

RI MARCUS AURELIUS AR Den as Caesar TR POT VI COS II - Genius stg at altar hldg standard

13. Lucius Verus:

RI Lucius Verus 161-169 CE AR Denarius Providentia globe cornucopiae RIC 253

14. Commodus:

RI Commodus 177-192 CE AR Denarius 17.7mm 2.42g Apollo Plectrum Lyre RIC 218 RSC 25 BMCRE 292 Rare Type

 

Well, Suetonius ends in AD 96 and that never stopped anyone!

 

Awesome set, @Alegandron !

 

She spent some time on Augustus... I would suggest you add him, making it the Beard 15?


RI Augustus AR Denarius struck 2 BC-14 AD Caius and Lucius Caesars stdg shield spear Sear 1578 NGC4276216-007

 

nevermind

 

Well, it was really more of a rhetorical question. I, too, enjoy collecting areas outside of Beard's list, such as empresses, the Severan dynasty, and the third century in general.

 

To @Roman Collector s point, Suetonius's 12 Caesar's ends at Domitian for the love of Zeus! Just sayin...

 

I also collect what I like. It just so happens that what I like falls in the first 100 or so years of the empire. First I read the Suetonius book, then I became very interested in the time period, then I became interested in the rulers of that period, and lastly I collected the coins of those rulers. I find the time period and the rulers to be fascinating.

Why does having something written in a book disqualify it as a collecting focus? Why must these things be mutually exclusive?

Has there been a group of 12 Caesars collectors attacking you for collecting LRBs?


Why are people so judgmental about what others collect?

 

..its the nature of the beast...

 

well shucks! i'm already missing 3...

 

I think many of us here would have a 14 emperors set just from our boxes. The only one in my mind as a hoarder most would have to go out of their way to get would be Gaius. I have a few of his, (copper only of course, never liked him enough to pony up for one of his silvers).

 

What is interesting about the 14 is that the coins I am missing are coins I was slowly adding anyway. For example, I have added an A. Pius, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius. I just need the Nerva,Trajan, Lucius Verus, and Commodus. I was going to add these anyway. Now I just have to decide if I want them all in one metal. My A.Pius is bronze, but the rest are silver. Oh well, might as well add another A.Pius this time in silver. Why not? It is all about having fun, and hunting for coins to add is fun.

 

Yes. And Severans. And collecting generally (without a want list). There is nothing wrong with 12 Caesars coins. I have dozens. The problem is when people look down their noses at those who collect lesser junk and push that theory on new collectors.

Like I said, we will never agree on who is significant. I like Galba who invented the idea that you did not have to have a pedigree to rule Rome. What happened in 212 that made Mary Beard stop there? Septimius and Geta died in 211. Suetonius had a good reason for stopping where he did but I have trouble deciding how I'd break up the subject now.

 

Beard's SPQR stops at the point when universal Roman citizenship was introduced by Caracalla. Personally, I don't agree with that arbitrary stopping point. I think there is a lot of interesting history to be had when things went pear shaped later in the 3rd century. I'd like to see SPQR Volume II.

In any case, I think her admitted speciality is the late Republican and early Imperial eras, which likely is the reason why her book doesn't go much past the 2nd century.