I posted previously that the time has come for me to downsize my Ancient coin collection so that my family will not be burdened with disposing of so many great artifacts they know nothing (or very little) about when I depart this wonderful world. But how to do that and still retain a very small “swan song” collection of coins that I can fondle and admire and read about in my “golden years”? Well, I think I have achieved that goal: I have consigned the majority of my Tetrarchic Romano Britannic coins for Auction by a highly respected Dealer - and retained just a few coins to satisfy my need to have some to fondle, admire and study. I have always sought out and collected coins with significant historical association rather than just aesthetic appeal or completing sets of coin types - condition of coins and appearance of surfaces has always been of secondary importance to me (although I have purchased fine quality coins whenever possible and I do admire beautiful inscriptional lettering). Fortunately there is, and always has been, room for all collecting interests and specialties in this hobby. Here is my “swan song” collection: COINS DEPICTING CAESARS & AUGUSTI WHO CAMPAIGNED IN BRITAIN Four Augusti died in Britain: SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS - at Eboracum (York), AD 211, while on campaign in the north. CARAUSIUS - in southern Britain, AD 293, assassinated by his Chief Minister, Allectus. ALLECTUS - in southern Britain, AD 296, killed in battle with the invading force of Constantius. CONSTANTIUS (Chlorus) - at Eboracum (York), AD 306, while on campaign in the north. Julius Caesar In 55 BC Julius Caesar became the first Roman Imperator to set foot in Britain. He fought skirmishes with local Chieftains in the south east of the country eventually departing Britain later that year. He returned in early 54 BC and successfully subjugated the Britannic forces only to abandon the campaign and return to Rome later in the year. Denarius, Crawford, Roman Republican Coins (RRC), No. 480/8 (March 44 BC - Alfoldi) Coin obverse depiction: Julius Caesar laureate bust facing right Inscription clockwise from right: CAESAR DICT PERPETVO (Dictator in Perpetuity) Coin reverse depiction: Venus Victrix standing, facing left, holding statuette of victory on palm of right hand and supporting vertical scepter with left hand Inscription vertical to right: L BVCA (L. Aemilius Buca, Moneyer) Weight: 3.5gm Claudius In AD 43 Claudius landed in Britain and assumed command of an army led by the general Aulus Plautius that quickly accepted the surrender of the Britons. Claudius thereupon returned to Rome to celebrate his Triumph RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 109, 42-43AD (38mm, 28.0gm) Obverse depiction: Nero Claudius Drusus, bare head facing left Inscription: NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMANICVS IMP Reverse depiction: Claudius seated left on curule chair holding olive branch, weapons and armor beneath Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP - S C (exergue) Nero Claudius Drusus was the father of Claudius RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 112, 50-54AD (36mm, 28.2gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP Reverse depiction: Civic Oak Wreath Inscription in four lines: EX SC P P OB CIVES SERVATOS (within wreath) Septimius Severus and his sons Caracalla & Geta In AD 211, while campaigning in northern Britain and Caledonia with his sons, Septimius Severus proclaimed Victory over Britannia. He died at Eboracum (York) later that year RIC Vol. IV, SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS, Denarius, No. 335 Obverse: Septimius Severus,, Laureate head facing right Inscription clockwise from bottom: SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT Reverse: Victory (Britannia?) seated left writing on shield Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT RIC Vol. IV, CARACALLA, Denarius, No. 231a Obverse: Caracalla, Laureate head facing right Inscription clockwise from bottom: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT Reverse: winged Victory advancing right holding trophy Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT RIC Vol. IV, GETA, Denarius, No. 91 Obverse: Geta, Laureate head facing right Inscription clockwise from bottom: P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG BRIT Reverse: Victory standing left holding wreath and palm branch Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT The usurper Augusti of secessionist Britain - Carausius & Allectus The coins depicted here were minted in Britain at the London (Londinium) mint which had been established by Carausius RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 475: IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG ......................................... PA - X - AVG | S .....P Draped, radiate, bust London Mint. 3.9 gm. Allectus, the chief minister of Carausius, assassinated him (or orchestrated his assassination) in AD 293. He continued operation of the London and "C" mints and coins were issued in his name and bearing his portrait RIC V (2), Allectus, Antoninianus, No. 33: IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG ............................. PA - X - AVG ..... S (Pax standing left) A M L in reverse exergue. Cuirassed, radiate, bust London mint 5.1 gm. Allectus died in battle with the invading force of Constantius in southern Britain AD 296 Constantius and his son Constantine In AD 296 Constantius, Caesar of the west, invaded secessionist Britain and restored it to the Empire as directed by Maximian Herculius, Augustus of the West RIC Volume VI, Lugdunum, follis, No. 17a, Constantius, Caesar of the West: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C .............................. GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI Earliest obverse legend Fully silvered. 10.1 gm. Britannia invasion coinage produced in Gaul at unknown Continental mint RIC VI, Londinium, follis, No. 47, Constantius, Augustus of the West: CT (Cloke & Toone), No. 4.02.003, 1 May 305 - 26 July 306, Rarity: S IMP CONSTANTIVS PIVS FEL AVG ....................... GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI Elevated to Augustus of the West after Abdication of Diocletian and Maximian Herculius Earliest obverse legend style Laureate, cuirassed, bust Died at Eboracum (York) in Britain during a campaign against the warlike tribes of the North in AD 306 9.9 gm RIC VI, Londinium, follis, No. 89b, Constantine, Caesar of the West: CT (Cloke & Toone), No. 5.03.004, c. November - December AD 307, Rarity: R FL VAL CONSTANTINIVS NOB C GENIO - POP ROM PLN in reverse exergue Invested with Imperium by Constantius on his deathbed Draped, laureate, bust Genius with head towered and loins draped Issued shortly after the death of Constantius following recognition as Caesar of the West by Galerius 9.3 gm .
Thank you Randy. Actually there are a couple more (we Ancient coin Collectors are irrepressible): RIC Vol I, CLAUDIUS, As, Rome, No. 113 (AD 50) Obverse: Claudius, bare headed facing left Inscription clockwise from bottom: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P Reverse: Personification of Liberty, standing, facing right Inscription clockwise from bottom: LIBERTAS AVGVSTA | S -------- C (left and right) Caius (Caligula) Sestertius Featuring the dedication of the Temple of Divus Augustus: RIC Vol. I, CAIUS (CALIGULA), SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 51, 40-41AD, (35mm, 26.2gm) Obverse depiction: Personification of Pietas, seated left Obverse Inscription: C CAESAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG PM TRP IIII PP In exergue: PIETAS Reverse depiction: Caligula standing left holding patera over altar - attendants (victimarius) on either side holding bull for sacrifice - hexastyle temple of Divus Augustus festooned with garlands in background. Reverse Horizontal Inscription: {small lettering} DIVO AVG and below: S C (left and right)
You kept a nice selection. I hope the auction is highly successful. Sometimes downsizing is not such a bad thing. Over the last year I've been slowly selling part of my collection to use the money to refocus on other areas of ancient numismatics that I am now more interested in collecting.
Thank you, Gerard. But, how weak willed or lacking in resolve some of us (me, actually) are ...... I forgot that there are a couple more - absolutely the last for sure (!!!) .......... Titus Restoration/Restitution of Claudius Sestertius Last updated: 1 September 2018 RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 99 41-50 AD, (36mm, 25.3gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription clockwise from bottom: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP Reverse depiction: Personification of Spes holding flower in right hand and raising skirt with left hand Inscription clockwise from bottom: SPES AVGVSTA - S C (exergue) SESTERTIUS - CLAUDIUS/TITUS RESTORATION/RESTITUTION ISSUE RIC Volume II (1962 Edition), Rome, Titus, No. 234 RIC Volume II, Part 1 (second edition), Titus, No. 472 (Sear No. 2601) 80-81 AD, (34.5mm, 24.3gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP Reverse depiction: Personification of Spes holding flower in right hand and raising skirt with left hand Inscription: IMP T VESP AVG REST - S C (left and right) Titus was a Military Tribune in Britain AD 60-63 Sear Roman Coins and their Values (RCV 2000 Edition) Number 2601 (via Wildwinds) Sale: CNG, Triton XII, Lot: 555 (5 January 2009) Provenance: Ex Dr. V.J.A. Flynn Collection Restoration/Restitution coinage Both of the above terms are employed by modern day authors to describe this coinage. I think that the REST which is inscribed on the reverse of these coins is an abbreviation of the Latin noun Restitutio = reinstatement, restoration, giving back. * One purpose for issuing restored coins was to provide substitutes for familiar coin types that were being recalled due to excessive wear. * Another purpose was to honor deceased and revered Emperors (and sometimes members of their families) * They were struck from newly made dies designed to produce coins that closely resembled the originals. * They were always marked REST (together with the name of the issuing Augustus) as part of the reverse inscription. * This coinage should not be confused with Commemorative coinage (which was not marked REST) * It was issued under the auspices of (in chronological order) Titus, Domitian, Nerva and Trajan * Only Trajan issued this coinage in silver and gold. * Trajan also issued this coinage to honor Distinguished Republican families. There is some very interesting information relating to Restoration/Restitution coinage in this CNG listing. Note especially the Curtis Clay and Harold Mattingly information.
What a nice set of coins! I have a mid-size ancient collection, but none of them are even close to the quality of these coins. A great set to keep
Great remnants of your collection @jamesicus - I foresee a time in the future when I will have to do the same thing. Not much interest around here in collecting small bits of metal from ancient times, even if it truly is holding history in your hands.
It must be a difficult and painful process, @jamesicus ! I imagine it's also uplifting to know that your collection will live on and be appreciated. I give away a lot of Widows Mites to folks at my church and other groups who I assist. It's usually the young wealthier upper middle class people who ask "How much is it worth?" or "What can I get for it?" I've noticed that the poorer folks and people who have very little material wealth seem more interested in the age and where it's from. "2000 years old? Really? "What? Saint Peter could have touched this?
Well, it is Ray, but we all have to do it sooner or later. Actually I have done pretty well. My goal was to retain 16 coins and my final (ahem) count is 15! The down side is some of my favorite coins are going to auction.
I admire your resolve Jamesicus , but hope to avoid following your example as long as possible ! Thank you for the interesting CNG reference.
