What artistic style of roman coinage do you prefer?

I personally dislike any coins after Hadrian. The style on coins becomes much more unrealistic and ugly after that. That is why I enjoy Flavian style the most. It is both interesting historically, and interesting artistically.You can appreciate even the most worn down Flavian coin.

 

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i prefer roman rare draped bust types and buildings/ and emperor on platform speaking to solders to

 

I like following along with the changes evident on imperial coins. I really am fascinated the changes in style, particularly from the 1st century to the second century, and later on from the 2nd century to the third century. Some of the 3rd century bronze pieces are still quite nice and offer realistic portraitures up through the time of Gallienus (on some of his coins) and Valerian. After that, we get the kind of cruciform portraits of the late 3rd century to the time of Diocletian, who introduced the almost interchangeable portraits of the tetrarchs.

I'm not necessarily a big fan of the 4th century portraits after the time of the tetrarchs, but it's interesting to follow the changes during the dominate, as opposed to the principate.

 

My preference is mid second century AD and before.

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I generally agree, but I go a little further into the second century than Hadrian. For example:

MACRINUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate & cuirassed bust with short beard right
REVERSE: PONTIF MAX TR P COS P P, Securitas standing left, holding scepter & leaning on column
Struck at Rome, 217 AD
3.15, 20mm
RIC 24, RSC 62, BMC 40

 

Easily the Eastern mint denarii of the Severans:
Alenandria (Commodus, Pertinax, Albinus, Septimius, Domna)


Emesa (Septimius and Domna)


Laodicea (Septimius, Domna, Caracalla, Plautilla and Geta)


Antioch (Elagabalus and after)

 

Like so many of us, I've always preferred artistry depicting life-like/realistic portraits and devices---the more generalized and cartoonish, the less the coins appeal to me.

 

I actually have an affinity for the pre-Nero portraiture. I love the idealized nature more than the realistic style. It's a bridge in Roman history between the often cartoonish style of the republic and the realistic style of later imperial issues, and represents in my mind the height of young imperial idealism.

 

For Roman Imperial coins, I prefer artistically rendered complex scenes. Nero's reign produced many such coins, but there are some equally interesting coins in the Severan era.


Nero sestertius / Ceres and Annona

 

I'd like to find one with a helmet and two daggers on it
and "EID-MAR below.

 

Wouldn't we all. Welcome @Goldpiece

 

I agree.




Though I also like the heroic bust on the 2nd century as well.

 

I like the ones on Aes Graves -

Venus on TV2 / TV17 (depending on size)

 

I prefer the first century AD.

 

As far as coin-style, first century AD for sure, then early 2nd, after with a tie between mid-late 2nd and 3rd century AD. But history-wise, late-4th to 6th centuries AD are my favorites.

Tiberius, Roman Empire
AR denarius
Obv: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate head right
Rev: PONTIF MAXIM, Livia, as Pax, holding scepter and olive branch, seated right on chair, plain legs, two lines below
Mint: Lugdunum
Ref: RIC 26; RSC 16

 

I will buck the trend: I am a fan of the Republic, and love the Pre-Denarius Didrachmae...


RR Anon 234-231 BCE Didrachm Apollo-Horse prancing Obv-Rev Crawford 26-1 Sear 28

 

good call @Alegandron I wish I had one of these -

Head of Roma / Victory; Cr 22/1 sold by Roma Numismatics

 

I agree. Forgot: THAT is one of my favorites that I have:


RR Anon 265-242 BCE Didrachm Roma-Victory Crawford 22-1 Sear 25

 

Oh I am most definitely with you. I love the Republic denarius!! Gods, and battles, and and horses and Gods. And horses.

 

As am I. Actually, I just don't much care for many coins from the 3rd Century AD onward. Anything before that, including Greek and RR, I find interesting.

 

My sentiments exactly!