Let's march through time with Roman Imperials!

Maximus of Spain (409-411 AD) AR Siliqua. Barcelona mint. D N MAXIMVS P F AVG, diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right / VICTOR—A AAVGGG, Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and reversed spear. Mintmark SMBA. RIC X 1601; RSC 1; Sear 21081. (Borrowed from Wild winds)


Priscus Attalus, AV Solidus. 22 mm, 409-410 AD, 4.47 g. IMP PRISCVS ATTALVS P F AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGVSTI, Emperor standing right, holding labarum and Victory on globe, treading with his left foot on bound captive to right; R–M across fields. Mintmark COMOB. RIC 1401. C 9. Depeyrot 37/1.(Borrowed from Wild winds)


Sebastianus 412-413 AD. AR Siliqua, Arles. 1.56 gr. DN SEBASTIA-NVS PF AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / RESTITV-TOR ROM, Roma seated left on curule chair, holding Victory on globe and inverted spear, back of throne visible. Mintmark KON. Arles. RIC X 1721 Note (this coin): Jameson 402; Mazzini 1 (this coin)(Borrowed from Wild winds)


Constantius III. 421 AD. AV Solidus. Ravenna mint. D N CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG, diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right / VICTORI-A AVGGG, Constantius standing right, holding standard & Victory on globe, & trampling on captive; R V/ COMOB. (Borrowed from Wild winds)

 

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Like a first girlfriend, she might be ugly but at least you can tell your buddies you have one, here is my (probably barbarous) Valentinian III:


Valentinian III, AE4, 425-455 AD. Rome. DN PLA VALENTINIANVS PF AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right / SALVS REI-PVBLICE, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm branch

And a non barbarous:


VALENTINIAN III
425-455 AD. Æ Rome mint. Struck 425-435 AD. D N VA[LENTINIAN] A, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / CRA-TRAN, camp-gate with no doors and two turrets, star above; RO[M]. RIC X 2161

 

What makes Poemenius a usurper. He was in charge at a city that supported the most legitimate emperor of that period (Constantius II). That city issued coins in the name of legitimate emperor and none in the name of Poemenius. He might have been considered a traitor by Magnentius but that one has a stronger claim on the term usurper than anyone else of the period. Do we have any evidence that Poemenius had any personal interest in that issue as opposed to the city as a whole remained loyal to the sole remaining son of Constantine?

I consider the term usurper to be overused in several other places. Pescennius Niger was not a usurper any more than was Septimius Severus. He was just the guy that lost and history is written by the winners. I always considered the use of names like Poemenius and Aureolus mostly hype by coin sellers. Worse is using Vetranio or Nepotian for coins with legends of Constantius II. They may have been in charge of a mint city at the time the coin was made and even issued coins in their own names but we don't call coins of emperors who were absent from Rome by the name of the local supporters. Who was in charge at Rome when Septimius Severus was in the East or Britain? Who issued the coins for Gordian I and II who never made it to Rome? There are coins of Pertinax struck at Alexandria but he was either in Rome or dead when they were made (how long did it take to get the word that Commodus was dead to Egypt?

I'm a bit simplistic in my belief that we need pretty solid details before we add names to the emperor list. Exactly who was in control in which mint city at which date becomes difficult in the last part of the empire. We are not consistent in how we handle such matters. Does a coin belong to the name on the coin or the ruler located in the mint city?

I will be anxious to see how we handle Ricimer. He could not be emperor because he was not Catholic but he has his monogram on coins. (I forget who is on the other side?).

We can't be too hard on Theodosius II for his terrible bronzes unless we acknowledge that his gold is probably the easiest and cheapest Roman gold (at least partially due to the amount he made to bribe the Huns). I bought mine (worn and ex jewelry) years ago for just over melt at that time. There are many available in mint state for those who want a perfect one.

 

From my collecting perspective, the coin represents History. I do not claim to collect numismatically, rather I choose to collect Historically. I like the story, and that coin is a placeholder that I can speak with my Grandkids about.

If a person can create an uprising, or lead people, and a coin is created, then I see it as an interesting collectible. I cited a couple articles that posit this claim. However, I never stated that I am a scholar, nor an expert. Should you contend the claims, by all means take it to the authors.

I am not too sure who makes the decisions regarding the various Rulers, but this coin has a lot of History surrounding it, so I have added it to my collection.

Here are those articles again:
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=57516.0

https://www.academia.edu/1504998/Usurping_a_Usurper_The_Poemenius_Revolt_at_Trier

 

I agree Doug that Theo II issued a lot of gold coins some of which are quite nice. It's just that the folks at the mint didn't have the heart to produce reasonable bronze at this date. Who knows how the ordinary folks made it at this time? Not everyone had a solidus.

 

This thread mostly stayed ahead of my efforts to sort and image my Romans, but I've enjoyed it from the sidelines. Now's as good a time as any I guess?

Johannes? AE4
(VICTOR)IA AVG...
I call it Johannes because I'm pretty sure I see a beard


Valentinian III AV Tremissis
Minted at Constantinople under Theodosius II
Practically stole it from Leu


And Theodosius II AE's aren't *ALL* crummy

 

Very nice!

 

Those are some wonderful SLRBs. Coingrats on that AU Valentinian iii! Something about a beautiful coin that you also got a screaming deal on that just makes me:

 

VALENTINIAN III


VALENTINIAN III
AE4 11mm 1.47g Nummus
AV: DN VALENTINIAN PF AVG; pearl-diademed draped cuirassed bust r.
REV: SALVS REI - PVBL[]; Victory advancing left holding weath and palm.
EXE: [RM] Rome mint.
REF: RIC X Rome 2108, Scarce, 425-430AD.
Ex: @seth77

 

I'm watching on the sideline as these late, late roman bronzes show up. I like some of those recently posted - they are actually attributable!!!

What's next? Pass the popcorn.

More solidi. I'm curious to see if anyone has a romulus augustulus.

 

Catch-up post. Very much out of Sequence! I am very much late to the game, sorry. I have been absent from CT for some time - I had so much catching up to do on the Calligraphy Forum, for I had been absent from there for a very long time also - I find it harder and harder to stay up to speed these days.

Some London mint Tetrarchic coins:

RIC Volume VI, Londinium, No. 1a, Diocletian, Augustus of the East
CT (Cloke & Toone), No. 1.01.001, c. AD 296, Rarity: R


IMP C DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG .................... GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI
LON in reverse exergue

Laureate, truncated, bare neck bust.
Laurel wreath long ribbon tie laying on the neck.
LON mint mark in the reverse exergue.
All LON mint mark coins are designated Rare by CT.
As depicted in RIC Volume VI, Plate 1.
9.8 gm.

RIC VI, Londinium, No.6b, Maximian Herculius, Augustus of the West:
CT (Cloke & Toone), No. 2.01.007 (5), c. AD 296-303, Rarity: C


IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG ................. GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI

Laureate, cuirassed, bust.
10.1 gm.

RIC VI, Londinium, No. 14a, Constantius, Caesar of the West:
CT (Cloke & Toone), No. 2.01.010 (3), c. AD 296-303, Rarity: C


FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C .............................. GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI

Laureate, cuirassed, bust.
Small head on a tall neck.
Reminiscent of Carausius/Allectus Mint "long neck" Antoniniani
Maybe the work of former Carausius/Allectus Mint die engravers?
9.8 gm.””

RIC VI, Londinium, No. 20, Constantius, Caesar of the West
CT (Cloke & Toone), No. 2.01.010 (1), c. AD 296-303, Rarity: C


FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C ........................... GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI

Laureate, cuirassed, bust with long ribbon tie laying on neck.
London style lettering.
9.8 gm.

RIC VI, Londinium, No. 25, Maximian Herculius, Augustus of the West:
CT (Cloke & Toone), No. 3.01.013, c. AD 303-1 May 305, Rarity: S


IMP MAXIMIANVS PF AVG ................................. GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI

Draped, laureate, bust.
10.2 gm.

RIC VI, Londinium, No. 28a, Diocletian, Augustus of the East:
CT (Cloke & Toone), No. 3.01.005, c. AD 303-1 May 305, Rarity: C


IMP DIOCLETIANVS AVG ................................. GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI

Laureate, cuirassed, bust.
11.5 gm.


RIC VI, Londinium, No. 42, Galerius Maximian, Augustus of the East:
CT (Cloke & Toone), No. 4.03.004, AD 1 May 305 - Spring 307, Rarity: S


IMP C MAXIMIANVS P F AVG ......................... GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI

Laureate, cuirassed, bust.
Identical obverse inscription (2C) to the primary one of Maximian Herculius.
9.7 gm.

RIC VI, Londinium, No. 46 (variant), Severus, Augustus of the West:
CT (Cloke & Toone), No. 4.04.004, 26 July 306 - Spring 307, Rarity: RR


IMP SEVERVS PIVS FEL AVG ........................... GENIO POPV - LI ROMANI

Draped laureate bust.
This variant (PIVS FEL instead of PIVS FELIX) is listed as RR by CT.
9.4 gm.

 

Johannes
Mint: Rome
423 to 425 AD
AE 4
Obvs: DN IOHANN-ES PF AVG, Draped and cuiassed right.
Revs: SALVS REIPVBLICE, Victory advancing left, holding trophy over shoulder and dragging captive. Christogram to left.
11x12mm, 1.12g
Ref: RIC X 1920

 

Some Carausius and Allectus coins:

RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 355:


IMP C CARAVSIVS P AVG .............................................. PAX - A - VGGG | S .....P |
C in reverse exergue

Coin reverse legend ends in AVGGG - an attempt by Carausius to indicate that he, Diocletian and Maximian Heculius were a fraternity of co-equal Roman Emperors - not accepted by them.
Draped, radiate, bust
Colchester (Camulodunum/Clausentum) - "C" Mint
3.8 gm.

RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 5


IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P AVG .............................................. PAX AVGGG | S P
M L XXXI

Cuirassed, radiate, bust
London Mint.
Struck by Carausius in the name of Diocletian.
3.8 gm.

RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 20


IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P AVG ....................................... PAX AVGGG | S P
C in reverse exergue

Cuirassed, radiate, bust
Colchester (Camulodunum/Clausentum) - "C" Mint.
Struck by Carausius in the name of Diocletian.
3.4 gm.

RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 34


IMP C MAXIMIANVS P AVG .............................................. PAX AVGGG | S P
M L XXXI in reverse exergue

Cuirassed, radiate, bust
London Mint.
Struck by Carausius in the name of Maximian Herculius (Maximianus).
3.95 gm.

RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 434


IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG .............................................. PAX AVGGG | S P
M L XXXI in reverse exergue

Cuirassed, radiate, bust
London Mint.
Struck by Carausius in the name of Maximian Herculius (Maximianus).
3.8 gm.

RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 475:


IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG ......................................... PA - X - AVG | S .....P

Draped, radiate, bust
London Mint.
3.9 gm.

Added via Edit:

RIC V (2), Allectus, Antoninianus, No. 33:


IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG ............................. PA - X - AVG ..... S (Pax standing left) A
M L in reverse exergue.

Cuirassed, radiate, bust
London mint
5.1 gm.

RIC V (2), Allectus, Quinarius, No. 55:


IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG ............................. VIRTVS AVG ..... (Galley)
Q L in reverse exergue.

Allectus "Q" coin issue - The reverse depicts a Roman galley - symbolic of the dominant sea power emphasized by the Usurper Augusti.
Cuirassed, radiate, bust
London Mint.
2.8 gm.

 

I keep looking for this fictitious Marcian... I keep wondering WHO COULD BE HOLDING UP THE TRAIN?

 

Licinia Eudoxia, wife of Valentinian III, AV Solidus. Constantinople mint, ca 439-440 AD. AEL EVDOXIA AVG, pearl-diademed draped bust right, wearing necklace and earring, crowned by Manus Dei / VOT XXX MVLT XXXX, Constantinopolis enthroned left, holding cross on globe and sceptre; shield behind, star in right field; Q/CONOB

Justa Grata Honoria (sister of Valentinian III) AV Solidus. Ravenna mint. D N IVST GRAT HONORIA P F AVG, Diademed, draped bust right, hand of God holding crown above / BONO REIPVBLICAE, angel standing left, holding long cross, star in upper left field, R-V across field. Mintmark COMOB. RIC 2022, Cohen 1, Depeyrot 15/1, DO 866; Sear 21371

 

Har har! Everything in its order. I was hoping someone would post a Justa Grata before moving past her. Her older bro, Val iii, ordered her to marry some sleaze bag whom she hated. Rather than marry him she wrote to Attila the freaking hun offering her hand in marriage. A real bizarre footnote in history. Alas, looks like none of us have one, so I borrowed those 2 golden beauties from wild winds so I could catch us up and present this wholly unremarkable Martian...


Oops! I mean Marcian


Marcian
450-457 CE ae-Nummus
Nicomedia D n Marcianus
pf aug, armored and
draped bust with Pearl
diadem N. R., Rs.:
Monogram in Wreath,
top star. LRBC 2468; Ric
552. 11 MM 1.2

 

Agreed! That has always beena bit bizarro piece if history! I really lose interest in the latter part of the Roman Empire due to these bizzzzarrro stories!

Great job absconding that Marcian. Neat to have. And I really don’t focus on the beauty of those coins, especially due to the poor quality of coins minted at this time!

 

Marcian


Actually picked up a lot of monogram coins from CNG about a year ago, right around the time the ebay market for them crashed

That coin wasn't in the lot, though. It was in a 5 coin lot om ebay that I won for $25!

 

3762 Aelia Pulcheria AE3. AEL PVLCHERIA AVG, diademed draped bust right / SALVS REIPVBLICAE, Pulcheria standing facing, arms crossed across her breast, star to right.(Borrowed from wild winds)

Petronius Maximus AV Solidus. 455 AD. D N PETRONIVS MAXIMVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGGG, Petronius standing facing, holding long cross & Victory on globe, right foot resting on human-headed serpent; R-M/COMOB.(Borrowed from wild winds)

Avitus AV Tremissis. Ravenna mint. D N AVITVS PERP AVG, diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right / Cross within wreath; COMOB. Depeyrot 50/1.
(Borrowed from wild winds)

 

Leo I
AE4 half centenionalis (9.7
mm, 1.2 g, 7 h).
Constantinople mint, struck
A.D. 457-462. [D] N LEO P
F [AVG], diademed, draped
and cuirassed bust of Leo
right / lion crouching left,
head right / CON; all within
wreath. RIC 674; LRBC
2260