An octet of higher grade Roman denarii at very good prices (check the links for comparisons). PM me if interested. Check, MO, Paypal, Transferwise. I offer a lifetime guarantee of authenticity. 1. A gorgeous denarius of Domitian with Minerva reverse. Domitian was an ambitious emperor, initiating a substantial building program to restore Rome, and shoring up the empire's border defenses. So it's not surprising that we find Minerva on his coinage. She was the goddess of strategic warfare, that is of defense and deterrence. The Romans equated her with Athena, and she was one of the three deities of the Capitoline Triad, along with Jupiter and Juno. This is a tremendous coin, struck in excellent style, perfectly centered on a large flan, lightly toned, with only a bit of circulation wear at the high points of the laurel wreath, and full inscriptions. An example of this quality could easily fetch over $200 at auction – compare to sold coins at CNG here. $175 Domitian. AD 81-96. AR denarius, 19mm, 3.25 g, 6h; Rome mint. Struck AD 88-89. Obv.: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII; Laureate head right. REV.: IMP XVII COS XIIII CENS P P P;Minerva standing left, helmeted and draped, thunderbolt in right hand, spear vertical behind in left hand, grounded shield on left side behind. Reference: RIC II 659; RSC 244 From the Sallent Collection, ex-FORVM ___________________________________________________ 2. According to biographer Anthony R. Birley, Hadrian was an enigmatic figure, capable of both great generosity and extreme cruelty, driven by insatiable curiosity, self-conceit, and ambition. He visited almost every province of the empire, built Hadrian's Wall, assassinated senators that opposed him, rebuilt the Pantheon, constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma, and carried on a famous love affair with a male concubine by the name of Antinous, who he later deified. Edward Gibbon includes him among the Five Good Emperors as a “benevolent dictator.” Here is his distinctive bust on a denarius with Annona reverse. Annona represented the bounty of the grain supply to Rome. She was not a goddess in the sense of a character organically evolved from ancient mythology, but rather the personification of an ideal, much like Lady Liberty in American culture. This coin has beautiful, smooth surfaces, and a well-centered, strong strike. This is by no means a common coin, but I can't say how rare it is with any accuracy. There are a few at CNG here for comparison, none to be found currently at vcoins or ma-shops. $100 Hadrian. A.D. 117-138. AR denarius, 18mm, 3.5g, 7h; Rome mint, 125-128. Obv.: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS; Laureate head of Hadrian right. Rev.: COS III; Annona standing left, right foot atop overturned modius, holding hook and cornucopiae. Reference: RIC 169. From the Sallent Collection, ex-Agora 66, lot 196. _________________________________________ 3. Faustina I was empress and wife of Antoninus Pius. She was renowned for her wisdom and beauty, but according to the Historia Augusta, she conducted herself with “excessive frankness and levity.” (I fail to see how that's a criticism, but perhaps it isn't – perhaps it was intended as a compliment.) Her distinctive hairstyle, braids pulled back in a bun or on top of her head, was imitated for several generations by the fashionable women of Rome. She died in 140, and the devastated Antoninus Pius honored her memory in many ways, including deification, and the issuance of a series of DIVA FAVSTINA coinage. Here she is on a beautiful, sharp, and stylish denarius with Vesta reverse. Vesta was the virgin goddess of hearth, home, and family. There are a few at CNG on this page for comparison, and a few at vcoins here. $115 Faustina I, c. AD 100 – 140. AR denarius, 19mm, 3.2g, 6h. Rome mint, issued by Antoninus Pius after 147. Obv.: DIVA FAVSTINA; Draped bust of Faustina right. Rev.: AVGVSTA; Vesta standing left, holding simpulum and palladium. Reference: RIC 368. From the Sallent Collection, ex-Ken Dorney _________________________________________ 4. Here is Annona again on a denarius of Antoninus Pius. Shortly before his death, Hadrian adopted Antoninus as his son and successor. He reigned during a peaceful period of Roman history, during which the empire prospered and saw no revolts or military incursions. AP was a highly effective administrator, “...leaving his successors a large surplus in the treasury, expanding free access to drinking water throughout the Empire, encouraging legal conformity, and facilitating the enfranchisement of freed slaves.” [wiki] Here are a couple at CNG, and a couple at vcoins. This example has a great bust, strong details, full inscriptions, and some attractive, light toning. $100 Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161 AR denarius, 18mm, 3.3g, 6h; Rome mint, 156-7. Obv.: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P IMP II; Laureate head right. Rev.: TR POT XX COS IIII; Annona seated right, holding cornucopia, modius in front. Reference: RIC III 262. From the Sallent Collection, ex-JAZ Numismatics, ex-Time Machine. _________________________________________ 5. Another lovely denarius of Antoninus Pius, Salus reverse. Salus was the goddess of safety, health, and prosperity, and her cult was widespread in Italy. Her most common pose is that found on this coin: standing with staff in hand, feeding a snake. This denarius is a superb: EF, perfectly centered, retaining all the lettering, with pristine surfaces. Compare to CNG here. At vcoins, you'd pay at least $150 for an example in this grade, see here. $100 Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. AR Denarius, 3.4g, 20mm, 6h; Rome mint, 148-9. Obv.: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP TR P XXIII; Laureate head right. Rev.: SALVTI AVG COS IIII; Salus standing facing, head left, feeding from patera a serpent arising from altar at left, and holding scepter. Reference: RIC III 305. _________________________________________ 6. Lucius Verus was co-emperor with his adoptive brother Marcus Aurelius from 161 until 169, which marked the first time that Rome was ruled by multiple emperors. That model would become increasingly more common in the later history of the empire. The majority of his reign was occupied by his direction of the war with Parthia, which culminated in a Roman victory and a handful of territorial acquisitions. Verus had a full head of tightly curled hair, with a beard to match, and this denarius gives us a superb portrait of the emperor. Providentia was the personification of virtues that included foresight and prudence. Like Annona, she was not a goddess in a mythological sense, but rather a moral and philosophical abstraction. Cicero tells us that the three major components of Providentia were the knowledge of good and evil, memory, and intelligence. She is the origin of the Christian concept of divine providence. (PROVIDENTIA DEORVM, the abbreviated inscription on the reverse, means the Providence of the gods.) I can't convey to you what a stunning coin this is in hand. It was obviously collected immediately after being struck, and lovingly preserved over the centuries. Compare to coins at CNG here. $225 Lucius Verus, AD 161-169 AR Denarius, 18mm, 3.2g, 6h; Rome mint, AD 163. Obv.: IMP L VERVS AVG; Bare head right. Rev.: PROV DEOR TRP III COS II; Providentia standing left, holding globe and cornucopia. Reference: RIC 491. From the Sallent Collection, ex-FORVM _________________________________________ 7. Geta and Caracalla played a deadly Game of Thrones story which led to fratricide, but today's sale includes two exceptional denarii struck when the brothers were quite young. No doubt they enjoyed some happy days in their youth, playing together happily with their Lego Colosseum and Tonka Chariots, before absolute power corrupted Caracalla absolutely. The boyish busts on these coins are exceptional well-styled, and both specimens evince wonderful preservation. Geta with Minerva, a beautiful EF coin with even gray toning. See comps at CNG here. Opening bid: $125 Geta as Caesar, AD 198-209. AR denarius, 21x18mm, 2.7g, 12h; Rome mint, 203-8. Obv.: P SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES; Draped, bare-headed but right. Rev.: MINERV SANCT; Minerva wearing long dress and mantle, standing facing, helmeted head turned left, holding spear with her left hand, large shield with her right hand. Reference: RIC IVa 45 From the Sallent Collection, ex-JAZ Numismatics. _________________________________________ 8. Caracalla as Sol, RECTOR ORBIS, Master of the World! - also a beautiful EF coin, lightly toned. This coin comes from our late, great friend Tom Cederlind. Compare to CNG here. $125 Caracalla. A.D. 198-217. AR denarius, 9mm, 3.5g, 6h; Rome mint, 201. Obv.: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG; Laureate and draped bust right. Rev.: RECTOR ORBIS; Caracalla as Sol, standing left, holding globe and reversed spear. Reference: RIC 141. From the Sallent Collection, ex-Tom Cederlind (with his tag).
