Julius Germanicus Top Ten Sestertii of 2020

This might be my final top 10 list (dominated by imperial ladies this time), because there might not be many more purchases in the future as my collection of all Roman Emperors in Sestertius denomination is now finally complete .


1) Paulina

My most expensive coin this year, but one of the few in my collection that I find practically unimproveable. Graded “a most attractive VF with smooth brown patina, struck on a full, thick flan” by David Sear, who added that this was one of the finest of the type that he has seen.



PAVLINA - Veiled and draped bust right.
CONSECRATIO - Paulina, raising hand and holding scepter, seated l. on peacock flying upward to right. In field, S – C.
Sestertius, Rome ca. September-December 236.
31,98 mm / 23.46 gr
MIR 38-5; RIC 3 plate XI (same dies); BMCRE 129-34 and pl. 37; Cohen 3; Sear (Roman Coins & Their Values III) 8401, Banti 1 (same dies)
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Spring Auction 2020, lot 1181; ex Diana Numismatica, Rome


2) Otacilia Severa

When I decided to upgrade my Otacilia Severa, this was the only type that was in consideration. This was the finest specimen available and I do love that hippo so much that I wrote a little history of Hippos in Ancient Rome:
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/new-otacilia-severa-sestertius-hippos-in-ancient-rome.365708/


MARCIA OTACIL SEVERA AVG - Draped bust of Otacilia Severa right, seen three quarters from front, wearing Stephane
SAECVLARES AVGG, S C in exergue - Hippopotamus walking right, head raised
Sestertius, Rome, 4th officina, 9th emission of Philip I, AD 248
30 mm / 18,37 g / 6 h
RIC (Philip I) 200a; Cohen 65, Banti 13, Hunter 26
Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 474 (12.08.2020), ex Jack A. Frazer collection, purchased from John Aiello, March 1976


3) Aquilia Severa

This is my rarest Sestertius so far. I do not think another one has been shown on this forum yet. Of the three wives of Elagabalus, Aquilia Severa, the second and fourth, was by far the most interesting and historically relevant figure and moreover the only female consort he found acceptable. Therefore if have to settle on one of them, she would be my first choice. Her Sestertii are again twice as rare as those of his first wife Julia Paula. I even find this coin quite attractive in it´s own right with it´s golden tone and lovely portrait of the young Vestal Virgin.



IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG – diademed and draped bust right
CONCORDIA AVG – Concordia standing left, sacrificing over lighted altar and holding double cornucopiae, star in right field
Sestertius, Rome mint, early 221 A.D.
18.92 g / 30,0 mm / 12 h
RIC IV 390 (Elagabalus), pl. VII.3 (same reverse die); Cohen 4 (same dies); BMCRE 433, plate 96.8 (same obverse die), Banti 4 (same obverse die), Sear RCV II, 7681 (same dies), Hunter 3, plate 41 (same dies).
ex Roma Numismatics E-Sale 76, lot 1088, ex Zeno Pop collection


4) Plotina

As any collector of the “Five good Emperors” has to experience, Plotina will cost you a multitude of the price you will have to pay for all other Antonine wives together (especially in Sestertius form).
Trajan´s sister and niece Marciana and Matidia are just as rare and expensive, but lack, for me, the historical relevance and collectability of Plotina. If you must restrict yourself to one of the ladies of Trajan (and most collectors have to), Plotina is the obvious choice.
This coin is worn and has a die crack, but I find it more than acceptable due to the characteristic portrait and yellow orichalcum tone.
My Plotina is still waiting for it´s export license, so all I can offer so far are the seller´s pictures:


PLOTINA AVG IMP TRAIANI - draped bust of Plotina right, hair elaborately dressed in two tiers over brow, above which is a stephane, and elaborately waved at the back, falling down her neck in plait /
FIDES AVGVST S C - Fides standing right, holding grain ears in right hand, basket of fruits in left
Sestertius, Rome mint 112 A.D.
RIC 740 (Trajan), BMCRE 1080 (Trajan), Cohen 12, Woytek Nr.711 (48 specimens), Banti 1 (30 specimens)
Ex Jesus Vico Online Auction 157 (26.11.2020), lot 3038


5) Octavian and Julius Caesar

Upgrading my old specimen of this proto-Sestertius (featuring the only portrait of Julius Caesar on the bronze coinage) has long been a goal for me.
This coin is still not of high grade, but great in hand: struck well centered on a thick, round flan of goof metal with readable legends and characteristic (and in the case of Octavian, naturalistic) portraits in a light brown tone compatible with my Sestertius gallery.



CAESAR DIVI F - bare head of Octavian right
DIVOS IVLIVS - wreathed head of Julius Caesar right
Sestertius (?), southern Italy, 38 b.C.
30,21 mm / 19,73 gr
RPC 620; Crawford 535/1; Sear (Roman Imperators) 308; FITA, pp. 49-50 and pl. i, 14; Sydenham 1335; BMCRR Gaul 106; Babelon Julia 98-9; Cohen I, p. 22, 3
Ex Roma Numismatics E-Sale 69, 16.04.2020, Lot 877


6) Vitellius

I discovered that this Sestertius with Mars carrying an Aquila is unlisted in all published sources.



A VITELLIVS GERMAN IMP AVG PM TR P - Laureate, draped bust of Vitellius right
S C - Mars, helmeted and naked but for cloak, advancing right, holding transverse spear in right hand and Aquila standard in left hand over left shoulder.
Sestertius, Rome July/August 69 aD
35,64 mm / 24,29 gr
RIC 141 var. (trophy instead of aquila over Mars’ shoulder) = BMCRE 58 = RCTV I 2208; CBN 108 var. (trophy) = Cohen 79; CBN 104 var. (trophy and legend ends P M TR) = Cohen 79; Mazzini 80 var. (Mars holds aquila, but obv. legend ends P M TR) = Cayon (Los Sestercios del Imperio Romano) 29.


7) Aemilianus

Last Emperor that was missing in my portrait Sestertius collection.



IMP CAES AEMILIANVS P F AVG - laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right /
VOTIS DECENNALIBVS SC in four lines within laurel wreath
Orichalcum Sestertius, Rome mint, struck ca. August 253 AD
29mm / 11,28 g
RIC IV 54a (RRR), Cohen 67, Hunter 25, Sear 9862, Banti 18 (23 specimens, same obverse die as illustrated)


8) Augustus



AVGVSTVS - bare head of Augustus right / CA (within laurel wreath)
Orichalcum Sestertius, Pergamum 27-23 BC
34 mm / 24,91 gr
RIC 501; Cohen 791; BMCRE 713; RPC 2233; Howgego, “Coinage and Military Finance: the Imperial Bronze Coinage of the Augustan East”, in NC 1982, p. 7, Class 2a, pl. 1, 9
ex Savoca Silver Auction 88, 25.10.2020, lot 228


9) Julia Maesa



IVLIA MAESA AVGVSTA – diademed and draped bust of Julia Maesa right
PIETAS AVG S C – veiled Pietas standing left, holding incense-box and sacrificing on adorned lighted altar
Sestertius, Rome 218-220 a.D.
30 mm / 20,30 gr
RIC 414, Cohen 31, BMCRE 389, Sear 7763, Banti 6 (38 specimens + 8 in Guelma hoard)
Ex Künker eLive Auction 63, 30.11.2020, lot 375


10) Julia Mamaea



IVLIA MAMAEA AVGVSTA - draped bust right, wavy hair with stephane /
VENERI FELICI S C - Venus standing right, holding long sceptre in right hand and winged and naked cupid in left
Sestertius, Rome AD 224
30 mm / 17,85 g
RIC 694 (Sev. Alexander), BMCRE 190, Cohen 62, Sear 8232, Banti 16 (43 Specimens)
Ex Savoca Silver Auction 88, 25.10.2020, lot 269


Please choose your favourites and have a good start into a hopefully happy New Year!!!

 

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For looks, the Paulina is the winner. Also like the SEVERA and the Octavian with JC.

 

Paulina as well. Love her smile and her chin..

 

A truly wonderful group. I could easily have voted for any or all of them, but I chose my three favorites: No. 1 is definitely the Paulina, and the other two I picked were the Otacilia Severa (how can I resist a hippo?) and the Octavian/Julius Caesar.

 

I have read that supposedly nobody knew what she looked like -- I believe she died before her husband became Emperor -- so the engravers made her chin a toned-down version of her husband's.

 

Never mind. She must have been cute.

 

I love all of these...the Julia Paula is definitely my favorite, that is as good as it gets. I also voted for the Otacilia Severa and the Julia Maesa. Another great year for you!

 

Another vote for Julia Paula and a great haul of new sestertii with nice golden tones.

 

Congratulations on completion of your sestertii set!

They're all nice coins. I especially like #s 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 10.

 

Just great coins @Julius Germanicus - congratulations!

 

Paulina is the winner any day. Lovely coin !

Q

 

Paulina and Otacilia Severa, to be sure, because they are very fine examples of the type, but as far as sheer rarity goes, I admire the Plotina and the Vitellius!

 

Great top ten Germanicus! I love the hippo/ even though they are a nasty beast in the real world. I have lost out on 3 different Severa AR hippos so far. There is also an AV aureus hippo never seen one appear in auctions yet
John

 

terrific coins! I have a die match of the Aquila Severa that I should post.

 

Please do so!

This is obverse die AV 1 (of 2) and reverse die RV 3 (of 6) in my die study of the Sestertii of Aquilia Severa, by the way.