I haven't come across any auction houses yet with more than a few slabbed ancients scattered about their offerings (not that this is a bad thing ) I'm curious to know which auction houses do this. I'm assuming they would have nowhere to turn but NGC?
I'm enjoying seeing all the great denarii in this thread, despite the fact that TIF's Crepereius Rocus causes me pain because it's so much nicer than mine . I'm a relative newcomer to RR, but my favorite 10 already has Republican and Imperatorial dominating. In no particular order... JULIUS CAESAR, portrait denarius AUGUSTUS, moneyer's series, Pegasus reverse MARK ANTONY, Praetorian cohort, Sear RCV plate coin L. PLAUTIUS PLANCUS, my favorite RR issue C. PISO FRUGI C. HOSIDIUS GETA OTHO Q. CREPEREIUS M. F. ROCUS, lesser kin of TIF's coin COSSUTIUS SABULA SEXTUS POMPEY
Thanks! It checked the "one nice denarius of Augustus" box for me. I like coins with Pegasus on them and this was a less often seen type for him.
Heritage slabs almost all of their ancients now (NGC; I wonder if HA gets special rates from them). Great Collections slabs everything. If it isn't slabbable they won't sell it. GC uses NGC and ANACS. GC only has a handful of ancients at any point in time. Much of what they have is essentially trash (low grade; harshly cleaned) yet with comically high prices. Once in a while something good and reasonable can be found there. Yeah? Well I am not jealous at all of your JC portrait, your Antony, your Sabula, your Sextus Pompey... Not at all. [I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to cry]
Some really beautiful denarii posted here! I'll add my favorite 10 into the mix. Julius Caesar: Marcus Antonius - Legionary Denarius, Legio VI: Vespasian Denarius - Judaea Capta: Galba Denarius - SPQR (one of my favorite types) Galba Denarius - Roma Renasces:
Best two I've found; Augustus and Claudius. Sadly moved on now but great fun finding these on a very special site.
My guess is that the members here on CT could put together a stunning 100 Greatest Denarii list. And it looks like we are off to a good start! So far, Titus is unrepresented. Here is one type worthy of inclusion.
I always thought the possible double meaning of this Caesar coin made it historically, very significant. Does the elephant stomping on the serpent represent Caesar stomping Gaul, or does it mean Caesar is sending a message to the senate, "here I come to stomp you". The timing of the coin is too good.
GLADIATORS! Can't have Rome without Gladiators! Roman Republic 42 BCE Moneyer: L Livineius Regulus (one of 4 Moneyers that year! A quattuorvirate) AR Denarius 3.7g, 19mm Obv: Bare head of the praetor L. Livineius Regulus right Rev: Gladiatorial scene; in foreground, one man attacks lion with spear; in back ground, second man with shield and sword attacks panther; on left, wounded boar; in exergue, L. REGVLVS Ref: Sear 489; Crawford 494/30; Syd. 1112 Comment: bankers mark and scratch on obverse. I love the gentle wear on the rough gladiatorial scene!
Roman Republic Moneyers: M. Aemilius Scaurus & P. Plautius Hypsaeus AR Denarius, 4.1g, 19mm, 6h; Rome mint, 58 BC. Obv.: M SCAVR AED CVR, kneeling figure right (King Aretas of Nabataea), holding olive branch and reins of camel beside him; EX on left; SC on right; REX ARET[AS] in exergue. Rev.: P HVPSAE AED CVR, Jupiter in quadriga left, holding reins in left hand and hurling thunderbolt with right; scorpion below horses; CAPTV on right; C HVPSAE COS PREIVE in exergue. Ref: Sear 379; Babelon Aemilia 8 and Plautia 8; Sydenham 913; Crawford 422/1b.
The Severan denarii, indeed a lot of the third century ones, are great. Not sure why I think so except they're cheaper than the twelve caesars, and most of them murdered each other which adds a bit of spice. Not that murder was unknown in other centuries! I also really like the empresses.
SEXTUS POMPEIUS FOSTLUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS POMPEIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Head of "Minerva or Pallas" (personification of Rome) with winged helmet, earrings and necklace, looking to the right. Below the chin, it is the "X" (although its value then was 16 aces) and behind the bust is a small jar REVERSE: FOSTuLVS left and Sextus. Pompeius. to the right of the field. She-wolf suckling the twins Romulus and Remus. Behind Ruminal fig tree is represented with three birds in their branches. On the left, the pastor Faustulus figure in an attitude of admiration for the wonder he sees. ROMA in ex Struck at Rome 137 BC 3.63g, 19.5mm Cr235/1a; Syd 461; Pompeia 1 MN. FONTEIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS FONTEIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Jugate heads of the Dioscuri REVERSE: Galley under oar Struck at Rome 108-109 BC 3.9g, 20mm Cr.307/1, Fonteia 7 L POMPONIUS MOLO ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS POMPONIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Laureate head of Apollo right; L POMPON MOLO around REVERSE: Numa Pompilius standing right before altar preparing to sacrifice a goat which is being held by a youth; NVMA POMPIL in exergue Struck at Rome 97 BC 3.7g, 18mm Crawford 334/1; Pomponia 6 L MARCUS PHILIPPUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS MARCIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Diademed head of Ancus Marcius right, lituus hehind, ANCVS below REVERSE: Equestrian statue right on an arcade of five arches; flower below horse, AQVA MAR between arches, PHILLIVS behind Rome 56 BC 3.06g Cr425/1, Marcia 28, Syd 919 JULIUS CAESAR AR Denarius OBVERSE: Diademed head of Venus right. REVERSE: CAESAR - Aeneas advancing left, carrying Anchises and palladium Carthage 47 to 46 BC 4.0g, 17mm CRI 55, Sydenham 1013, RRC 458/1, S 1402 MARCUS ANTONIUS AR Denarius OBVERSE: ANT AVG III VIR R P C, Praetorian galley, thyrsos behind prow REVERSE: LEG XXII, eagle between standards Patrae 32-31 BC 3.6g, 20mm RSC 27 CALIGULA AR Denarius OBVERSE: C CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR POT, bare head right REVERSE: DIVVS AVG PATER PATRIAE, radiate head of Divus Augustus right Struck at Lugdunum, 37/8AD 3.5g, 18mm RIC I 10