Today marks the start of a new administration. In the middle of a raging pandemic and economic hardships, this is a time for hope of a better future. So, to mark this event, I pawed through my ancients looking for the first year of reign coins. I found some - there might be others - but I figure that by the time I locate any more it will be 2024. Here's my lineup. Please post your year ones. Byzantine Empire, 565-66 AD Justin II AE follis Antioch, Reginal Year 1 Obverse: Facing portrait of emperor, holding victory in his right hand, cross to right of head. Reverse: Large central M, A below (officina), cross above, ANNO to left, I to right with stars above and below, Antioch in exergue. SB 378 15.8 grams Byzantine Empire, 565-66 AD Justin II and Empress Sophia AE follis Constantinople, Reginal Year 1 Obverse: Emperor and Empress seated, Justin II holding a globus cruciger, Sophia holding a cross. Reverse: Large central M, B below (officina), cross above, ANNO to left, I to right, Constantinople in exergue. SB 378 15.8 grams Byzantine Empire, 582-83 AD Maurice Tiberius AE follis Constantinople, Reginal Year 1 Obverse: Facing portrait of emperor, holding a globus cruciger in right hand. Reverse: Large central M, Δ below (officina), cross above, ANNO to left, I to right, Constantinople in exergue. 12.3 grams Byzantine Empire, 582-83 AD Maurice Tiberius AE follis Cyzicus, Reginal Year 1 Obverse: Facing portrait of emperor, holding a globus cruciger in right hand. Reverse: Large central M, A below (officina), cross above, ANNO to left, I to right, Cyzicus in exergue. 11.0 grams While there is a dip in the flan on the reverse, probably caused by a bubble during refining of the bronze , next to the "I", I believe this coin was minted in the first year of Maurice Tiberius' reign, based on the positioning of the ""I" well to the right of the M, leaving very little space for another thick "I" to the right of it.
Taking me down a trip of memory lane. This song was played over and over again in my dorm, freshman year, 1970.
Do emperors who ruled for less than one year count? Their coins are "Year 1" by definition! I have some of those:
Of course - year one is year one, regardless of duration. Very nice examples, Donna! The Galba, Pupienus, and Balbinus coins are really nicely struck and centered. The Vitellius as well is a wonderful coin.
Here are a couple of Year One issues of two young kids who did not have the best of luck: Gordian III, AR Antoninianus (22mm, 4.97 g), Antioch mint. 1st series, AD 238-239. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / AEQVITAS AVG, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopia. RIC IV 177a From the Richard McAlee Collection Phillip II (a few years into his father's reign, but his first as co-emperor): Philip II, AR Antoninianus (21mm, 3.12 g). Antioch mint. 1st issue. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust r.,/ AEQVITAS AVG, Aequitas standing l., holding scales and cornucopia. RIC IV 240a From the Richard McAlee Collection
A first year issue of Gordian III. Imagine being 13yo and coming into power in the craziness that was 238 and your grandfather and uncle both recently perished. C'est la vie in Rome! Gordian III, Ruled 238-244 AD AR Antoninianus, Struck 238 AD Rome or Antioch mint Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, bust of Gordian III, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right. Reverse: PAX AVGVSTI, Pax, draped, standing front, head left, holding branch in extended right hand and transverse sceptre in left hand. References: RIC IV 3 or 189 Size: 22mm, 5.16g
Here is the FIRST SILVER COIN of Rome (Coin 1 Silver): Roman Republic Anonymous, circa 310-276 BCE. Heavy Denarius / Didrachm (Silver, 20mm, 7.28 g 11), uncertain mint (Neapolis?). Helmeted head of Mars to left; oak spray to right. Rev. Horse’s head right, wearing bridle, on base inscribed ROMANO; to left, stalk of grain. Crawford 13/1. HN III 266. Sydenham 1. Minor reverse corrosion, otherwise, about very fine. From a Swiss collection, formed in the 1990s. Ex: Nomos Obolos And... The FIRST SILVER COIN MINTED at the Rome mint (Coin 1 Silver at Rome Mint). Roman Republic Anonymous AR Heavy Denarius / Didrachm. 6.55g, 18mm, 6h. Rome Mint, circa 265-242 BCE. Head of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet, cornucopiae behind / ROMANO, Victory standing right, attaching wreath to long palm, YY in right field. Crawford 22/1; RSC 7. Very Fine. From the Eucharius Collection Ex: Roma Numismatics
I could be wrong, but I suspect the date here reads L Δ rather than L A. In any case, lovely coin! From the first year of the unexpectedly long reign of Antoninus Pius... ANTONINUS PIUS AR Denarius. 3.02g, 18.1mm. Rome mint, 10 Jul - end AD 138. RIC III 4 corr. (bust type, obv legend); BMCRE pg 2, *; RSC 659a. O: IMP CAES AEL ANTONINVS AVG, bare head right. R: PONT MAX T R POT COS, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus and cornucopiae. Ex Phil Peck Collection From the months following Commodus's acclamation as co-emperor in AD 177: COMMODUS AR Denarius. 3.33g, 18mm. Rome mint, Autumn - Dec AD 177. RIC (Marcus Aurelius) 646; Cohen 270. O: L AVREL COMMODVS AVG GERM SARM, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: IVNONI SISPITAE TR P II IMP II COS P P, Juno Sospita, advancing right, brandishing javelin in right hand and holding shield in left; in front, snake.
I think you're right about the date of the Claudius Alexandria tetradrachm. That is a delta, which makes it year 4, not 1. I'll remove that coin from my original post. Those are two nice coins, by the way. Thanks