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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;jamesicus, post: 5223508, member: 14873&quot;]Many years ago (about seventy) I set out to build a collection of Julio-Claudian sestertii (which weren’t exorbitantly expensive in those days). The coins I purchased then (at coin shows or local coin shops or from other collectors) were mostly in very good to very fine condition (I couldn’t afford those in higher grade). I have always liked Sestertii for their size and heft, and for the often elaborate depictions engraved on their substantial flans.</p><p><br /></p><p>I adopted the following criteria as my collecting guide: reasonably smooth surfaces (natural patina - evidence of previous cleaning and blemishes acceptable within reason ); well centered on a round flan; complete, easily read, inscriptional lettering (legends); well documented historical association.</p><p><br /></p><p>Of course, I wasn’t always able to find Sestertii that met those criteria in my price range, but I tried my best. In a few years I assembled a fairly comprehensive collection of pretty nice Julio-Claudian Sestertii. But that consumed just about all of my modest coin budget - it left me little cash for denarii, dupondii, asses, quadrans, etc. (and soon, Tetrarchic folles).</p><p><br /></p><p>As often happens, I had to break up my specialized Sestertius collection in order to expand my Ancient coin collecting horizons. I still have a few of my favorite Julio-Claudian Sestertii. I still love to admire and fondle them - here they are:</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/000calig1o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /><img src="http://jp29.org/000calig1r.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><i>RIC Vol. I, CAIUS (CALIGULA), SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 51, 40-41AD,</i> (35mm, 26.2gm)</p><p>Obverse depiction: Personification of Pietas, seated left</p><p>Obverse Inscription: C CAESAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG PM TRP IIII PP In exergue: PIETAS</p><p>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.</p><p>Reverse Horizontal Inscription: {small lettering} DIVO AVG and below: S C (left and right)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/000nerox.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /><img src="http://jp29.org/000neroy.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><i>RIC Vol. I, NERO, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 356, 66-67AD,</i> (36mm, 24.8gm)</p><p><i>BMCRE Vol. I, NERO, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 114, 66-67AD,</i></p><p>Obverse depiction: Nero, laureate head facing right</p><p>Inscription: IMP NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM PM TRP XIII PP</p><p>Reverse depiction: Personification of Roma seated left on cuirass</p><p>resting elbow on shield and holding spear, helmet behind</p><p>Inscription: ROMA in exergue S C left and right</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/000augustoo.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /><img src="http://jp29.org/000augustor.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><i>Sestertius, RIC, Vol. I, Tiberius, No. 68, AD 36-37 (35mm, 22.6gm)</i></p><p>Cataloged in Wildwinds under Augustus - Sear 1784</p><p>Coin obverse depiction: Augustus, radiate, togate, holding laurel branch in r. hand and long sceptre in l., seated on throne, placed on a car, drawn l. by four elephants, each bearing a mahout on its neck. The side of the car is ornamented with shields (?)</p><p>Inscription across top in three lines DIVO AVGVSTO SPQR</p><p>Coin reverse depiction: Large, centered S C</p><p>Inscription clockwise from top: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST PM TR POT XXXIIX</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/000cl2o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /><img src="http://jp29.org/000cl2r.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><i>RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 112, 50-54AD (36mm, 28.2gm)</i></p><p>Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right</p><p>Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP</p><p>Reverse depiction: Civic Oak Wreath</p><p>Inscription in four lines:</p><p>EX SC</p><p>P P</p><p>OB CIVES</p><p>SERVATOS</p><p>(within wreath)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/000drususo.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /><img src="http://jp29.org/000drususr.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><i>RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 109, 42-43AD (38mm, 28.0gm)</i></p><p>Obverse depiction: Nero Claudius Drusus (father of Claudius), bare head facing left</p><p>Inscription: NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMANICVS IMP</p><p>Reverse depiction: Claudius seated left on curule chair holding olive branch,</p><p>panoply of weapons and armor beneath</p><p>Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PP - S C in exergue</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/6ec53a6f-50e6-4b84-b12f-0c44313ac65c-jpeg.1144054/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><i>RIC Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 99 41-50 AD,</i> (36mm, 25.3gm)</p><p><br /></p><p>Obverse depiction: Claudius, bare neck laureate bust, facing right</p><p><br /></p><p>Inscription clockwise from bottom: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP</p><p><br /></p><p>Reverse depiction: Personification of Spes holding flower in right hand and demurely raising skirt with left hand</p><p><br /></p><p>Inscription clockwise from bottom: SPES AVGVSTA - S C (exergue)[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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