Reverse types unique to a particular Roman emperor

Long ago I made a web page with reverse types issued by only one emperor. The main page showed the reverse only and allowed you to click on the image to see a short page with both sides illustrated and the coin identified, including a description of the event which prompted the type.

The page has been completely revised. Now only famous types are on page 1:

http://augustuscoins.com/ed/unique/unique.html

Also, the site has been expanded to five times its previous size. There are now six pages of reverse images, each linking to the other pages. Pages 1 through 4 emphasize coins from before the tetrarchy. If you are only interested in late Roman coins, use the links on page 1 to skip to pages 5 and 6.

Here is what it is like. This image of a denarius is on page 1:


It links to
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/unique/DACCAP.html
where you can find out who issued it and from which you can go back its place on page 1.

I checked the links and think they all work, but solicit corrections, even of minor errors such as misspellings.

"Unique" reverse types have interested me for decades. When I first created a page like this I knew there were quite a few unique reverse types, but as I worked on extending my initial one-page version it became clear there are very many types indeed. Yes, many emperors issued some "stock" types, but most issued types that reference current events.

For decades there has been debate about whether coin really were "the newspapers of their day" or whether unique types didn't matter because people didn't read coins to get information. Martin Beckmann recently posted to Academia.edu his 2009 KLIO article, "The Significance of Roman Imperial Coin Types," which uses a study of all the gold and sestertius types of Trajan to demonstrate that many types were unique to that emperor. He notes that silver required such massive production that they were subject to less change than gold and sestertii. Overall, he comes down firmly on the side that asserts coins were topical.

I quote him.

"Gold and bronze coin types were topical, frequently changed, and almost always clearly connected to the most important events in the developing history of the Empire. As such, most of them can be identified as news types. These coins generally had clear messages, and in some cases these messages were propagandistic: for example, Parthia was described on the coinage of 116–117 as Capta, when it was actually in a state of revolt."

I hope you agree that reverse types are interesting. They often belong to particular emperors. Take a look here:

http://augustuscoins.com/ed/unique/unique.html

You don't need to try all the pages at once. They are far too long. Bookmark it and come back after trying a few types.

Show us a reverse type which belongs to only one emperor!

 

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Usually, some commemorative coins celebrating a particular event or honoring an Emperor, are likely to have a unique reverse related to that particular Emperor or the event related to a defined or concerned Emperor. For instance, the coin with the horses and the hand of God on reverse refers only to one Constantinian Emperor. I personally have a coin commemorating the victory against usurper Pescennius Niger. I suppose it should be restricted only to one Emperor ( Septimius Severus). If so, I own this coin. Shall I post it ?

 

Is the reverse type alone issued only by Septimius Severus, or do you have to know it was issued by Septimius Severus to know it refers to his victory over Pescennius Niger?

 

I wanted to know if Septimius Severus was the sole Emperor who struck that coin to commemorate his victory then. Reverse shows a trophy with captured arms.

 

Considering that most emperors who were in power for more than a year issued, at a minimum, a couple hundred types, I would imagine the list would be extensive.

Now you got me thinking, so let me post some of mine that are unique to one issuer

 

Wow, you've really expanded those pages! They are a lot of fun and a quick trip through the pages showed that I have indeed learned some things over the last few years, since the last time I visited those pages .

Here's one I didn't see on your pages-- I'm pretty sure only one person issued this reverse. I've pixelated the exergual legend because it is a giveaway although I suspect people who've been collecting Roman coins more than a few months are aware of the type :

 

^^ And man, oh man have I wanted that type for a while! I don't think any other reverse type does that issuer justice!

 

Awesome! I've used that site before, never knew you made it!

 

@Valentinian , hey I noticed a couple of pics on the first and second page I couldn't click to get the reverse pics, like the column denarius and the last pic of snake reverse.

Here's one, an Antioch anonymous coin, during the reign of Maximinus II.




Time of Maximinus II, Antioch Civic Issue

Ob: GENIO ANTIOCHENI. Tyche seated facing, river-god Orontes swimming below.
R: APOLLONI SANCTO. Apollo standing left, holding patera and lyre; Z in right field, SMA in exergue.
15 mm, 1.4g

 

O the holy grail of coins! ^^

 

That is from the Emperor FRED, the Potato King. From the obscure province Idaho-us. He had a long reign, however his stomach exploded at an eldely age by gorging himself at a lavish banquet...

Yup, true story.

This is confirmed by the famed Historian, Annoyus the Round

 

Here is one for Galba (RIC 193)



Another Galba (RIC 236)


One for Vespasian (RIC 1414)



Titus RIC 1


Vespasian RIC 1395

 

Reverse has Emperor standing on galley, cross on upper right field. The prow has the shape of an animal's head. Struck at Antioch.
Emperor is THEODOSIUS I.

 

@chrsmat71 , thank you very much for finding those two errors. I fixed them. I hope in anyone finds any other errors, they will let me know.

 

I know of no other reverse types like this struck by different emperors. SOLI CONS AVG of Gallienus, Pegasus or one of Sol's horses. It seems scholarship on which one it is is debatable.

 

How picky do you want to get on details? For example, does the fact that one ruler used Victory carrying a trophy in front erase the fact that others used Victory with no trophy or some other minor detail?

Picky, picky, picky I know but, technically this one is not a reverse but an obverse. The other side has the officina number.


Regarding the coins that celebrate the defeat of Pescennius Niger: Would this one count or would the fact that there are other Victory seated coins with different legends make it ineligible?

I believe each of the below qualify:

 

@Valentinian -- The Gallienus with the SAECVLARHS AVG reverse link doesn't work, nor does the Postumus Rhine river god one.

Some listed at your page:

 

View attachment 899153 View attachment 899154 View attachment 899155 View attachment 899156 View attachment 899153 View attachment 899154 View attachment 899155 One might ague that the Judaea capta series was employed by Titus as well - though in a different style. View attachment 899153 View attachment 899154 View attachment 899155 View attachment 899156

 

Thanks for the help. I just fixed them and they should work now. I found a few other broken links as well. I hope they are all fixed, but I am not betting on it. If anyone finds a broken link, please let me know, maybe by PM.

 

Some types are not unique to a particular emperor, but the great majority of coins with that reverse belong to a particular emperor. I have linked page 1 of the OP site:

http://augustuscoins.com/ed/unique/unique.html

to a new page with a few well-known but "not quite unique" types:

http://augustuscoins.com/ed/unique/unique10.html