Hello friends, here are six “cream of the crop” Roman Imperial issues. I have selected these coins for their strong strikes, copious detail, and beautiful surfaces. No offers please - these are my best prices, which are substantially lower here at CT than on eBay. Payment by paypal or money order. If you prefer to use “paying for goods and services” at paypal, your invoice will include a 3% charge to cover fees. Shipping is $4 for USPS First Class Parcel with tracking, for any amount of coins. Shipping to UK and Canada is $8. Please PM me if you’re interested in any of these items, or if you have any questions. The links in the sale go to wiki pages concerning specific people, places, and things, should anyone like additional historical background. 1. In the early days of his rule, Septimius Severus fought off his rival claimant to the throne Pescennius Niger, in the Eastern regions of the Empire. During this brief interval, an imperial mint at Emesa (modern-day Homs, Syria) produced coinage primarily for use as military pay. By AD 195 the mint had ceased operation. Due to its short lifespan, many Emesa issues are scarce to rare. Here is a denarius of Emesa with a bust of the emperor in grandiose style. Fortuna was Lady Luck, be the luck good or bad. She holds a cornucopia, a blessing of abundance, but also a rudder indicative of her power to steer fate as she pleases. Not only does this coin have a sharp, centered strike, it also presents dazzling cabinet toning. $129 Septimius Severus, AD 193-211 AR denarius; Emesa mint: 194-195 Obv.: IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II; Laureate head right. Rev.: FORTVN R-EDVC; Fortuna standing, head left, rudder in right hand, cornucopia in left. Reference: RIC IV(a), 377 (p. 142) ________________________________________ 2. SOLD ________________________________________ 3. Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus Augustus rose from the lowly station of herdsman through soldiery under Aurelian and Probus, to eventually rule the Roman Empire. I wonder if he had any inkling as a boy, while directing sheep traffic, that he would one day be called Augustus. His reign was occupied by the typical struggles of Roman rulership - basically an endless top of the heap game. He was a staunch opponent of Christianity, but eventually issued an edict of toleration in 311. Galerius was one of the few Roman emperors who died of natural causes, although in his case, assassination might have been preferable. Eusebius and Lactantius describe him as dying of a horribly gruesome form of protracted bowel cancer or gangrene. Don’t bother googling the details unless you’ve got a strong stomach. These large folles are not rare, but this one is in an exceedingly high grade, with a superb strike. The fine details in the rendition of Genius are razor sharp, the bust is exceptionally realistic, and there is a significant amount of silvering left. This coin was minted while Galerius was a junior Caesar under Diocletian. It’s slightly smaller and lighter than a US half dollar. $89 Galerius, 305-311 Æ Follis; 27mm, 9.7g, 12h; Siscia mint, AD 295. Obv.: MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES; Laureate bust right. Rev.: GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius holding patera and cornucopiae / B // star SIS. Reference: RIC VI Siscia 90b (p. 464). ________________________________________ 4. SOLD ________________________________________ 5. Licinius junior had the misfortune of being the son of the captain of the losing team. Little is known of him - he served as Caesar during his father’s tenure, but it was little more than a title. He was probably executed a year or so after his father’s defeat, short of his 12th birthday. Since Licinius was a boy when these coins were struck, an effort was made to portray him as such. These small-bust types are generally rather roughly engraved. The die cutter of this coin, however, took great pains to carve an exquisite and expressive little portrait - a miniature work of art. This example also comes fully “silvered.” The Romans employed a chemical pickling technology that gave certain coins a silvery sheen. Metallurgical analyses indicate that these outer layers are generally comprised of alloys of lead, tin, zinc, and antimony. The Romans knew these coins were bronze. The “silvering” was merely for show - a way to make the coins look pretty - something similar to our modern clad coinage. $79 Licinius II, AD 317-324 Ae Follis, 19mm, 3.5g, 12h; Heraclea mint: AD 317. Obv.: DN VAL LICIN LICINIVS NOB C; laureate, draped, small bust left, globe and scepter in left hand, mappa in right. Rev.: PROVIDEN -TIAE CAESS; campgate with three turrets // MHTΔ. Reference: RIC VII Heraclea 19. ________________________________________ 6. Much has been researched and written of Constantine the Great, one of the most famous of Roman emperors. I cannot nor need not add anything. This is a another bronze with stunning style and strike, featuring military themes on both sides. The emperor wears an ornate Roman helmet, while on the reverse, two captives are bound to a banner. The legend boldly announces the virtue of the army, VIRTVS EXERCIT. Not only is the bust of this coin rendered in superb style, the engraver put quite a bit of artistry in the carving of the captives - look closely. They typically have a more generic, perfunctory style. $89 Constantine I, AD 306-337 Æ Follis, 20mm, 3.29g, 12h; Siscia mint, AD 320. Obv.: CONST-ANTINVS AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust right. Rev: VIRTVS EXERCIT; Standard inscribed VOT; two barbarian captives at sides, S-F / HL // ΔSISstar Reference: RIC VII Siscia 120 (p.439).
