Lordmarcovan: My Twelve Caesars of Rome collection as of Fall 2025

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by lordmarcovan, Sep 16, 2025.

  1. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    Banner-12Caesars-400x400.png

    My sister made a little video of me presenting this collection. There are minor errors in it- I misspoke in a few places.


    This is the category of my collection for the Twelve Caesars of Rome.

    SEE MY OTHER COLLECTIONS HERE.

    This collection consists of twelve coins, of Julius Caesar followed by the first eleven emperors of the Roman Empire. These rulers were chronicled in Suetonius' The Twelve Caesars. The Twelve Caesars is a popular, if somewhat challenging, collection theme with collectors of Roman coins.

    The Twelve Caesars were: Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian.

    This is the second time I have collected the Twelve Caesars. My first Twelve Caesars collection, completed in 2013, was done on a relatively modest budget of $500 USD or less per coin, which made rulers like Caligula and Otho challenging.

    This time around, I did it with a somewhat expanded budget, allowing me to pursue slightly higher quality pieces in some cases, and even a few gold aureus coins. I set a minimum grade of Fine or better, and may upgrade some of these beyond that, later.

    All my other ancient coins have their own thread.

    Coins below are displayed in chronological order. Photos are not shown to scale.

    Thank you for taking the time to view my collections. I welcome your comments.

    Numismatic Regards,

    ~Robertson (“Rob”) Shinnick (“lordmarcovan”)

    Golden Isles of Georgia, USA
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2025
    lordmarcovan, Sep 16, 2025
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  3. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    PART I: THE JULIO-CLAUDIAN DYNASTY

    Roman Imperatorial era: 44 BC silver denarius of Julius Caesar, lifetime issue
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    Roman Empire (Ephesus): ca. 25-20 BC silver cistophorus of Augustus
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    Roman Empire: ca. 14-37 AD silver denarius of Tiberius (the biblical "Tribute Penny")
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    Roman Empire: ca. 37-38 AD bronze as of Gaius ("Caligula")
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    Roman Empire: ca. 41-54 AD bronze sestertius of Claudius
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    Roman Empire: ca. 54-68 AD gold aureus of Nero
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    Last edited: Sep 30, 2025
    lordmarcovan, Sep 17, 2025
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  4. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    PART II: THE CIVIL WAR EMPERORS

    Roman Empire: ca. 68-69 AD silver denarius of Galba
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    Roman Empire: 69 AD silver denarius of Otho
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    Roman Empire: 69 AD silver denarius of Vitellius
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    Last edited: Sep 30, 2025
    lordmarcovan, Sep 17, 2025
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  5. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    PART III: THE FLAVIAN DYNASTY

    Roman Empire: ca. 80-81 AD silver denarius of Vespasian; commemorative issue struck by Titus
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    Roman Empire: ca. 80 AD gold aureus of Titus, struck for the opening of the Colosseum
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    Roman Empire: ca. 80-81 AD silver denarius of Domitian as Caesar under Titus
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    Last edited: Sep 30, 2025
    lordmarcovan, Sep 17, 2025
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  6. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Very nice
     
    Bing, Sep 17, 2025
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  7. Tall Paul

    Tall Paul Supporter! Supporter

    I'm working on the five good emperors maybe I'll tackle the 12 Caesars now that I've seen splendid examples to serve as inspiration.
     
    Tall Paul, Sep 17, 2025
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  8. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    NERO
    [​IMG]
    RI Poppea-Nero BI tetradrachm of Alexandria LI yr10 63-64AD Milne 217 RPC 5275


    VINDEX
    The Dude that got the ball rolling to STOP THE MUSIC…
    [​IMG]
    RI Civil War VINDEX 68-69 CE AR Denarius 3.22g Gallic mint SALVS GENERIS HVMANI Victory l globe - SPQR in wreath RIC 72 BMCRE 34-36 RSC 420 RARE


    GALBA
    [​IMG]
    GALBA 68-69 BCE
    AR Quinarius 15mm, 1.5g; Lugdunum mint
    Ox: SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG P M TR, laureate head right
    Rx VICTORIAE GALBAE AVG, Victory on globe standing left
    RIC 131 scarce


    OTHO
    [​IMG]
    Otho, AD 69.
    Billon AR Tetradrachm, 23mm, 11.9gms; Year 1; Egypt-Alexandria.
    Obv.:AVTOK MAΓ OΘΩNOΣ KAIΣ ΣEB; Laureate head right, L A in right field
    Rev: RΩ-MA; Helmeted, cuirassed bust of Roma right.
    Emmet 186


    VITELLIUS
    [​IMG]
    Roman Empire
    AR Denarius
    Vitellius 69 BCE
    Rome mint
    18mm, 3g
    OBV: A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate head r
    REV: PONT MAXIM, Vesta, veiled, seated r on throne, holding patera and scepter
    REF: RIC I pg 273, #107


    VESPASIAN
    [​IMG]
    RI Vespasian 69-79 CE AR Quinarius Victory seated wreath palm RIC 802 Rare
     
    Alegandron, Sep 17, 2025
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  9. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Agreed Rob @lordmarcovan has put together a great collection.

    Historically, he needs a Vindex… he is the guy that started the Civil War that ousted Nero and ushered in the Year of 4 Emperors… or the year of The Three Clowns and One Good Emperor…
     
    Alegandron, Sep 17, 2025
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  10. GarrettB

    GarrettB Well-Known Member

    A wonderful collection. I really like that Vespasian.

    Tall Paul. Do you plan to stop at the five good emperors or will you add Aelius and Lucius Verus etc.?
     
    GarrettB, Sep 18, 2025
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  11. BuffaloHunter

    BuffaloHunter Short of a full herd Supporter

    Yep, this set will be on my wish list - to hopefully be started right after my US registry type set is complete. I'll most likely be hitting you and Randy up for tips and pointers, if you don't mind.

    I enjoyed all the threads of your collections, Rob!
     
    BuffaloHunter, Sep 18, 2025
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  12. Tall Paul

    Tall Paul Supporter! Supporter

    I don't know. Anything is possible.
     
    Tall Paul, Sep 18, 2025
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  13. Tall Paul

    Tall Paul Supporter! Supporter

    Here is my first of the 5 good emperors.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Tall Paul, Sep 19, 2025
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  14. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    [​IMG]
    RI
    Civil War Revolt of Vindex
    CE 68-69 AR Denarius
    ROMA RESTITVTA -
    IVPITER LIBERATOR Jupiter seated r Tbolt Scepter
    17mm 3.02g
    RIC I 62 RSC 374-RARE
     
    Alegandron, Sep 20, 2025
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  15. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    Having done the 12 Caesars, maybe I’ll do the 5 Good Emperors next. I already have two of them:

    IMG_4310.jpeg IMG_4311.jpeg
     
    lordmarcovan, Sep 21, 2025
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  16. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    5 "Good" Emperors - Humble collection (But, I really do not collect Roman Imperials)

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

    [​IMG]
    RI Trajan AR Denarius 98-117 CE 3 Standards

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

    [​IMG]
    RI Antoninus Pius 138-161 BCE AR Denarius Issue 6 as Augustus IMP T AEL CAES HADR ANTONINVS - AVG PIVS P M TR P COS DES II

    [​IMG]
    RI MARCUS AURELIUS AR Den as Caesar TR POT VI COS II - Genius stg at altar hldg standard
     
    Alegandron, Sep 21, 2025
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  17. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    Great collection, @lordmarcovan! ;) I don’t have the gold, and I’ve never had much luck acquiring a Julius Caesar lifetime portrait coin. I have the elephant coin and a post assassination piece.
     
    johnmilton, Sep 21, 2025
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  18. Nicholas Molinari

    Nicholas Molinari Well-Known Member

    I really enjoyed the video!
     
    Nicholas Molinari, Sep 22, 2025
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  19. GarrettB

    GarrettB Well-Known Member

    GarrettB, Sep 25, 2025
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