Ancient => ERIC-II's Comparative Rarity Table

After buying yesterday's Aelia Eudoxia coin (Number 122 outta 207 on the Rarity Scale), I started wondering how many RIC coins I owned and also how rare they all were ...

=> So, I printed-out the 207 RIC-II Rulers and/or Ruler's mates, etc ... I also added how many coins of each ruler were noted out of a sample of over 230,000 coins ...

NOTE => the RIC-II numbers were obtained from E-bay and auction stats ...

Oh, and because it's my thread, I coloured all of the Rulers/Mates/Etc that I currently own (in "blue")

Hey, I realize that this is merely one data-set ... but I found it interesting and it gives us at least one more "relative comparison" (David Sear's awesome books also gives us another relative clue as to the rarity of these cool ancient Roman coins)

=> I hope that you dudes (and dudess) find this list kinda interesting ... I'm also pretty sure that there may be some people that will disagree with this list and Rarity Scale (I only print the info ... I don't defend the findings) ...

"Enjoy"

Rarity# - Ruler Name (# Coins) #coins again & Percentage of total sample
... sorry about the format
1 - Constantine I (15,609 coins) 15,609 6.9358
2 - Gordian III (8,652 coins) 8,652 3.8445
3 - Septimus Severus (7,252 coins) 7,252 3.2224
4 - Hadrian (7,204 coins) 7,204 3.2011
5 - Constantius II (7,088 coins) 7,088 3.1495
6 - Trajan (7,080) 7,080 3.1460
7 - Antoninus Pius (6398) 6,398 2.8429
8 - Gallienus (6356) 6,356 2.8243
9 - Probus (5726) 5,726 2.5443
10 - Severus Alexander (5481) 5,481 2.4355
11 - Augustus (5239) 5,239 2.3279
12 - Caracalla (5122) 5,122 2.2759
13 - Vespasian (4902) 4,902 2.1782
14 - Aurelian (4346) 4,346 1.9311
15 - Philip I (4190) 4,190 1.8618
16 - Licinius (4019) 4,019 1.7858
17 - Constantine II (3999) 3,999 1.7769
18 - Marcus Aurelius (3775) 3,775 1.6774
19 - Domitian (3704) 3,704 1.6459
20 - Claudius (3188) 3,188 1.4166
21 - Constans (3174) 3,174 1.4104
22 - Julia Domna (3159) 3,159 1.4037
23 - Diocletian (3083) 3,083 1.3699
24 - Maximian (3055) 3,055 1.3575
25 - Nero (2918) 2,918 1.2966
26 - Claudius II (2889) 2,889 1.2837
27 - Postumus (2849) 2,849 1.2659
28 - Commodus (2789) 2,789 1.2393
29 - Elagabalus (2758) 2,758 1.2255
30 - Valentinian I (2646) 2,646 1.1757
31 - Faustina (2519) 2,519 1.1193
32 - Valens (2498) 2,498 1.1100
33 - Crispus (2372) 2,372 1.0540
34 - Faustina I (2519) 2,084 0.9260
35 - Arcadius (1995) 1,995 0.8865
36 - Julian II (1978) 1,978 0.8789
37 - Theodosius (976) 1,976 0.8780
38 - Geta (1910) 1,910 0.8487
39 - Anon: Urbs Roma (1903) 1,903 0.8456
40 - Trajan Decius (1813) 1,813 0.8056
41 - Gratian (1646) 1,646 0.7314
42 - Tiberus (1628) 1,628 0.7234
43 - Valerian I (1559) 1,559 0.6927
44 - Maximinus I (1407) 1,407 0.6252
45 - Nerva (1376) 1,376 0.6114
46 - Galerius (1374) 1,374 0.6105
47 - Julia Mamaea (1366) 1,366 0.6070
48 - Anon: Constantinopolis (1348) 1,348 0.5990
49 - Salonina (1303) 1,303 0.5790
50 - Titus (1292) 1,292 0.5741
51 - Maximinus II (1268) 1,268 0.5634
52 - Honorius (1248) 1,248 0.5545
53 - Constantius I (1183) 1,183 0.5257
54 - Trebonianus Gallus (1096) 1,096 0.4870
55 - Philip II (1026) 1,026 0.4559
56 - Victorinus (1011) 1,011 0.4492
57 - Helena (1011) 1,011 0.4492
58 - Lucius Verus (982) 982 0.4363
59 - Tetricus (924) 924 0.4106
60 - Valentinian II (910) 910 0.4044
61 - Otacilia Severa (906) 906 0.4026
62 - Tacitus (858) 858 0.3813
63 - Magnentius (852) 852 0.3786
64 - Licinius II (820) 820 0.3644
65 - Lucilla (795) 795 0.3533
66 - Jovian (790) 790 0.3510
67 - Maxentius (790) 790 0.3510
68 - Caligula (764) 764 0.3395
69 - Agrippa (745) 745 0.3310
70 - Theodosius II (689) 689 0.3062
71 - Carausius (672) 672 0.2986
72 - Carinus (672) 672 0.2986
73 - Vitellius (628) 628 0.2791
74 - Sabina (624) 624 0.2773
75 - Herennia Etruscilla (618) 618 0.2746
76 - Galba (612) 612 0.2719
77 - Constantius Gallus (597) 597 0.2653
78 - Julia Maesa (554) 554 0.2462
79 - Volusian (541) 541 0.2404
80 - Macrinus (522) 522 0.2319
81 - Numerian (513) 513 0.2280
82 - Magnus Maximus (493) 493 0.2191
83 - Severina (451) 451 0.2004
84 - Plautilla (445) 445 0.1977
85 - Clodius Albinus (441) 441 0.1960
86 - Carus (440) 440 0.1955
87 - Crispina (436) 436 0.1937
88 - Germanicus (421) 421 0.1871
89 - Aelius (401) 401 0.1782
90 - Tetricus II (383) 383 0.1702
91 - Quintillus (382) 382 0.1697
92 - Allectus (382) 382 0.1697
93 - Aelia Flaccilla (364) 364 0.1617
94 - Fausta (352) 352 0.1564
95 - Delmatius (351) 351 0.1560
96 - Florian (348) 348 0.1546
97 - Leo I (330) 330 0.1466
98 - Herennius Etruscus (329) 329 0.1462
99 - Galeria Valeria (325) 325 0.1444
100 - Julia Soaemias (323) 323 0.1435
101 - Severus II (320) 320 0.1422
102 - Anastasius I (317) 317 0.1409
103 - Decentius (308) 308 0.1369
104 - Procopius (299) 299 0.1329
105 - Valerian II (286) 286 0.1271
106 - Anon: Other (255) 255 0.1133
107 - Marcian (233) 233 0.1035
108 - Balbinus (232) 232 0.1031
109 - Vabalathus (231) 231 0.1026
110 - Vetranio (228) 228 0.1013
111 - Pupienus (215) 215 0.0955
112 - Saloninus (213) 213 0.0946
113 - Otho (209) 209 0.0929
114 - Valentinian III (204) 204 0.0906
115 - Zeno (203) 203 0.0902
116 - Pertinax (203) 203 0.0902
117 - Diadumenian (196) 196 0.0871
118 - Theodora (188) 188 0.0835
119 - Julia Paula (187) 187 0.0831
120 - Antonia (180) 180 0.0800
121 - Maximus (Caesar) (176) 176 0.0782
122 - Eudoxia (175) 175 0.0778
123 - Drusus (175) 175 0.0778
124 - Marius (157) 157 0.0698
125 - Orbiana (157) 157 0.0698
126 - Aemilian (153) 153 0.0680
127 - Hostilian (153) 153 0.0680
128 - Mariniana (126) 126 0.0560
129 - Pescennius Niger (123) 123 0.0547
130 - Flavius Victor (119) 119 0.0529
131 - Agrippina I (113) 113 0.0502
132 - Julia Titi (109) 109 0.0484
133 - Nero Claudius Drusus (108) 108 0.0480
134 - Didius Julianus (97) 97 0.0431
135 - Livia (97) 97 0.0431
136 - Macrianus (85) 85 0.0378
137 - Hanniballianus (84) 84 0.0373
138 - Quietus (82) 82 0.0364
139 - Aquilla Severa (82) 82 0.0364
140 - Magnia Urbica (75) 75 0.0333
141 - Johannes (75) 75 0.0333
142 - Eugenius (72) 72 0.0320
143 - Gordian I (69) 69 0.0307
144 - Romulus (68) 68 0.0302
145 - Gordian II (61) 61 0.0271
146 - Paulina (56) 56 0.0249
147 - Didia Clara (48) 48 0.0213
148 - Manlia Scantilla (46) 46 0.0204
149 - Eudocia (40) 40 0.0178
150 - Marciana (38) 38 0.0169
151 - Majorian (38) 38 0.0169
152 - Basiliscus (36) 36 0.0160
153 - Constantine III (36) 36 0.0160
154 - Laelianus (36) 36 0.0160
155 - Galla Placidia (33) 33 0.0147
156 - Pulcheria (31) 31 0.0138
157 - Nigrinian (30) 30 0.0133
158 - Julian I (28) 28 0.0124
159 - Anthemius (27) 27 0.0120
160 - Libius Severus (26) 26 0.0116
161 - Matidia (25) 25 0.0111
162 - Plotina (24) 24 0.0107
163 - Domitius Domitianus (20) 20 0.0089
164 - Honoria (18) 18 0.0080
165 - Tranquillina (18) 18 0.0080
166 - Alexander (18) 18 0.0080
167 - Domitia (18) 18 0.0080
168 - Agrippina II (17) 17 0.0076
169 - Verina (15) 15 0.0067
170 - Pacatian (14) 14 0.0062
171 - Leo II (12) 12 0.0053
172 - Martinian (12) 12 0.0053
173 - Jovinus (12) 12 0.0053
174 - Julius Nepos (12) 12 0.0053
175 - Britannicus (11) 11 0.0049
176 - Clodius Macer (11) 11 0.0049
177 - Caius Caesar (10) 10 0.0044
178 - Dryantilla (9) 9 0.0040
179 - Maximus (8) 8 0.0036
180 - Regalianus (8) 8 0.0036
181 - Nepotian (8) 8 0.0036
182 - Domitilla II (7) 7 0.0031
183 - Licinia Eudoxia (7) 7 0.0031
184 - Valerius Valens (6) 6 0.0027
185 - Zenonis (6) 6 0.0027
186 - Constantius III (6) 6 0.0027
187 - Domitilla I (6) 6 0.0027
188 - Cornelia Supera (6) 6 0.0027
189 - Petronius Maximus (6) 6 0.0027
190 - Avitus (5) 5 0.0022
191 - Romulus Augustus (5) 5 0.0022
192 - Zenobia (5) 5 0.0022
193 - Annia Faustina (4) 4 0.0018
194 - Uranius Antoninus (4) 4 0.0018
195 - Priscus Attalus (4) 4 0.0018
196 - Sebastianus (3) 3 0.0013
197 - Glycerius (2) 2 0.0009
198 - Euphemia (1) 1 0.0004
199 - Olybrius (1) 1 0.0004
200 - Ariadne (1) 1 0.0004
201 - Jotapian (1) 1 0.0004
202 - Constans II (1) 1 0.0004
203 - Constantia (0) 0 0.0000
204 - Domitian II (0) 0 0.0000
205 - Leontius (0) 0 0.0000
206 - Saturninus (0) 0 0.0000
207 - Sibannacus (0) 0 0.0000

 

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Interesting! And as you've pointed out, there is no such thing as a truly accurate accounting. It's a fun and possibly helpful guide though.

Maybe we should use this thread as a pile-on... post your least common emperor/ess (according to this particular rarity scale)?

I may cheat and post a provincial since those are the bulk of my Romans

 

Sorry => I didn't have my office-techy peeps import my spreadsheet, so unfortunately the format got all screwed-up (oops)

=> anyway, it's really still informative-enough

The number on the far left-side is the Overall Relative Rarity number of the ruler (examples => Constantine I is #1 and is the most common Ruler ... and Sibannacus is #207 and is the rarest of all the Rulers)

The numbers in (#) are the number of coins that were found out of a sample of over 230,000 coins (for example, there were 15,609 Constantine I coins found in the entire 230,000 sample) ...... and only "1" coin of Constans II was found (rarity rating of 202)

... again, I'm sorry that the format screwed-up (my bad) ... but I'm fairly sure that you'll figure it out, right?

Oh, and there is a nasty 4 decimal-point percentage on the far right-hand-side (this is the percentage out of 100, obviously)

 

=> that's a great idea, TIF ... wow, you're all that, eh?

Well, how 'bout I go first?

Ummm sadly, my least common emperor/ess is a fairly beat-up lil' coin ... but I still love it, even though I know that Mat thinks that it sucks!!



=> #132 on the Rarity Scale:

Diva Julia Titi. Æ Sestertius
Struck under Domitian
Rome mint
AD 91
Died AD 91
Diameter: 34 mm
Weight: 24.31 grams
Obverse: Carpentum drawn right by two mules
Reverse: Legend around large S C
Reference: RIC II 717 (Domitian)
Other: 5h … brass-brown patina, roughness and cleaning scratches

 

NOTE => the one very cool thing about this new thread is

=> "Every single one of us is able to post one of our coins"

So c'mon man => let's see what ya got!! ... hey, no matter how nasty and ragged, or how AJ-esque and amazing your coin is

=> LET'S SEE WHAT YOU'VE GOT!!

Cheers, gang

 

I have a Maximus Sestertius, but which Maximus on your list? Number 121 or 179. I think it is 121. Tell me if I'm wrong.

MAXIMUS AE Sestertius
OBVERSE: MAXIMVS CAES GERM - Bare-headed, draped bust right
REVERSE: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS - Maximus standing left, holding baton and spear, two standards behind
Struck at Rome, 236-238 AD
18.3g, 28.5mm
RIC 9, C 14

Depending on which it is, I also have a Tranquillina, number 165

 

Not being as organized as you, it's taking some time to figure out which of mine is the least common on this list. Perhaps one I haven't even ID'd yet from a mixed lot.

Of the mixed lot RICs I have ID'd, it looks like Quintillus is the winner at #91. Huh. Bummer, since I just posted him a few days ago.


Quintillus antoninianus
270 AD
Rome mint, 3rd officina
Obv: IMP C M AVR CL QVINTILLVS AVG; radiate draped bust right
Rev: VICTORIA AVG; Victory walking right, holding wreath and palm; Γ in right field
Ref: RIC Vi 33; Cohen 70

If we count provincials... and dual portrait issues... I have a Phrygian Domitia (#167) with Domitian.

 

Hey, let's see the Tranquillina as well, my good man (yah if I recall, I think this issue may have come-up back in the good/bad ol' CCF days, yes? ... ummm, I may not have tweaked my info since then)


... I have extremely fat fingers, so occasionally I hit the wrong key on the wee lil keyboard!!



Oh, and thanks for posting your cool coin (I like you)

 

Like TIF, I have a lot of provincials. My Tranquillina is a provincial:

TRANQUILLINA AE23
OBVERSE: CAB TPANKVLLEINA CEB, diademed & draped bust right
REVERSE: ADRIANOPOLEITWN, Artemis running right, holding bow, drawing arrow from quiver behind shoulder, dog running at her feet
Struck at Hadrianopolis, 241-43 AD
6.1g, 23mm
Moushmov 2764

 

cool coin (awesome colour)

 

The color is not exact. This was the sellers image I had in my catalog. I just re-imaged the coin and this one reflects more accurate color:

 

Some tough Bit**es.


Orbiana (225 - 227 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, draped bust right.
R: CONCORDIA AVGG,Concordia seated left holding double cornucopia and patera.
Rome
19mm
3.8g
RIC IV 319, RSC III 1, BMCRE VI 287, SRCV II 8191


Aquilia Severa (221 - 222 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O: IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG, draped bust right.
R: CONCORDIA, Concordia standing half left, sacrificing from patera in right over lit altar, double cornucopia in left, star left.
Rome 221 A.D.
19mm
3.2g
RIC IV 226, BMCRE V 184, RSC III 2, SRCV II 7679

Partial portrait die clash on right reverse field.

Ex. Heritage Auctions, Jul 18, 2013, #231329 Lot 61048 (part of)


Livia (30 B.C. - 29 A.D)
IONIA, Ephesos
Æ 16
Magistrate, Aristeas Asklepiades
O: Draped bust of Livia right, hair in a bun.
R: EFE GRAMMATEUS ARISTEAS ASKLHPI-ADHS in five lines across fields and in exergue, Stag standing right.
3.8g
16mm
RPC I 2576; SNG Cop 367

 

Very interesting project Steve. It lets me know I'm still a noob.

Although I'm fast approaching 100 coins in my still somewhat new Roman Imperial collection, my rarest according to your list is this Tetricus II(does a Gallic usurper even count?) which only clocks in at #90.

If I'm reading your list right, that's not even in the "top 100" on the rarity scale. Which is fortunate because it gives me an excuse to go buy more coins!

Tetricus II; 251-253 AD
Bronze; AE Antonianus, Trier
OBV: C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
REV: SPES PVBLICA, Spes walking left holding flower in right and raising skirt with left hand, (RIC 272)

 

Hey, don't be a bunch of punks!! ...

=> if your rarest coin happens to be a Constantine I, then we're still gonna love it, and we all wanna see it!! (this is a coin-"family", not a pose-down)

Hey, new rules => ugliest coin "wins"

Either way brothers => it's all good ... I'd love to see some winners and I love seeing the dogs as well ... it is what it is!!

 

Poppaea (63 - 65 A.D.)
Billon tetradrachm
O: NEPΩ KΛAY KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP AY, radiate head right.
R.ΠOΠΠAIA ΣEBAΣTH, draped bust of Poppaea right, date LI right (year 10).
Alexandria mint 63 - 64 A.D.
12.5g
25mm
Milne 216, Curtis 132, RPC I 5275, Geissen 157

Ex. Harlen J. Berk

 

=> well played, Bannon

 

Julia Paula (219 - 220 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O: IVLIA PAVLA AVG, Draped bust right.
R: CONCORDIA, Concordia seated left, patera in right, left elbow resting on arm of throne, star in left field.
Rome
3.1g
18.3mm
RSC 6a , RIC 211

 

Hey, provincials don't count!

 

Cool coin Mat ... where is that on the list?

 

My best imperial: