Last year I announced here that I was downsizing my ancient coin collection to just twenty coins that I especially treasured - ones that I took great delight in fondling, admiring and researching above all others I owned. These would be the coins that I would keep until I die. I announced that I would not buy any more coins: twenty would be it! There were some skeptics here who said I could never exist with just twenty coins, and they were right! The accursed coronavirus hit and that changed everything. Beverly and I were prescribed home quarantine due to our age and medical conditions (and have essentially remained so for a year). I wanted more coins to help prevent me from becoming “stir-crazy”. So,I purchased 12 additional coins (all Julio-Claudian) and my collection grew to 32 coins. I have now reduced my collection once again to 20 coins in two parts: Part 1 - ten portrait coins of Caesars and Augusti who actively campaigned in Britain (i.e. actually holding the title while campaigning). Part 2 - ten Julio-Claudian Coins. This collection fits just right in my shoulder carry bag and satisfies my coin historical association research very well. ………………………………………………………………… Part 1, Romano/British coins: JULIUS CAESAR: In 55 BC Julius Caesar became the first Roman Imperator to set foot in Britain. He fought skirmishes with local Chieftains in the south east of the country eventually departing Britain later that year to resume his campaign in Gaul. He returned in early 54 BC and successfully subjugated the Britannic forces only to abandon the campaign later in the year. Denarius, Crawford, Roman Republican Coins (RRC), No. 480/8 (March 44 BC - Alfoldi) Coin obverse depiction: Julius Caesar wreathed head facing right Inscription clockwise from right: CAESAR DICT PERPETVO (Dictator in Perpetuity) Coin reverse depiction: Venus standing, facing left, holding statuette of victory on palm of right hand and supporting vertical scepter with left hand. Inscription vertical to right: L BVCA (L. Aemilius Buca, Moneyer) Weight: 3.5g CLAUDIUS: Claudius freed all slaves and restored the liberties of numerous Roman citizens of all ranks unjustly exiled or imprisoned by Caligula, in order to signal the return to a government of tolerance and stability. BMCRE Vol I, CLAUDIUS, As, Rome, No. 206 (Pl. 36.6) RIC Vol I, CLAUDIUS, As, Rome, No. 113 Obverse depiction: Claudius, bare headed facing left. Inscription clockwise from bottom: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TRP IMP P P Reverse depiction: Personification of Liberty, standing right, holding Pileus (Freedman’s cap) in right hand. Inscription clockwise from bottom: LIBERTAS AVGVSTA | S -------- C (left and right). Claudius perceived that it was imperative for him to accomplish a great feat of arms in order to enhance his prestige with the Senate and prove himself worthy of the title of Augustus. His own father NERO CLAUDIUS DRUSUS and brother GERMANICUS had been acclaimed as great military leaders on the northern frontier and he was determined to emulate their successes. His predecessor (and nephew), CALIGULA, had set out to conquer Britain and add that island outpost to the Empire, but had failed. Now Claudius was determined to fulfill that mission and to that end in AD 43 he dispatched an advanced force consisting of four legions commanded by a renowned general and close ally of the Claudians, AULUS PLAUTIUS, to invade Britain and engage the Britannic forces there. Shortly thereafter Claudius landed in Britain and assumed command of the army led by General Plautius. In short order (he only remained in Britain for a couple of weeks) Claudius accepted the surrender of the Britannic forces, appointed Plautius Governor of Britannia and subsequently returned to Rome to celebrate his Triumph and enhance his entitlement by the Senate as Father of the Country - PATER PATRIAE (PP), and exalted servant of the People - OB CIVES SERVATOS. SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AND HIS SONS CARACALLA AND GETA: In AD 208 Septimius Severus set out for Britain accompanied by his sons Caracalla and Geta with the avowed aim of restoring the much damaged Hadrian's wall and subduing the warlike native tribes of northern Britain and Caledonia (Scotland). In AD 211 he became terminally ill during the campaign, and after proclaiming Victory over Britannia, he withdrew to his headquarters at Eboracum (York) where he died later that year Septimius Severus, Denarius, RIC Vol. IV, No. 335 Obverse depiction: Laureate head facing right. Inscription clockwise from bottom: SEVERVS PIVS AVG BRIT Reverse depiction: Victory (Britannia?) seated left writing on shield. Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT Caracalla, Denarius, RIC Vol. IV, No. 231a Obverse depiction: Laureate head facing right Inscription clockwise from bottom: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT Reverse depiction: winged Victory advancing right holding trophy. Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT Geta, Denarius, RIC Vol. IV, No. 91 Obverse depiction: Laureate head facing right. Inscription clockwise from bottom: P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG BRIT Reverse depiction: Victory standing left holding wreath and palm branch. Inscription: VICTORIAE BRIT THE USURPER AUGUSTI OF SECESSIONIST BRITAIN - CARAUSIUS & ALLECTUS: The political and military turmoil of the third century spawned numerous external assaults on the Roman Empire. One of these was the incessant seafaring piracy in the waters surrounding the Roman occupied island outpost of Britain. In 286 Maximian Herculius, in his capacity as Dyarch Augustus of the West, designated a highly regarded military commander named Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius, of Flemish descent, to head a fleet of ships who's mission was to eliminate, or at least severely curtail, this piracy. Carausius had distinguished himself by outstanding leadership and military prowess, especially as a naval "Admiral", in the Gallic campaigns. Carausius established his operational base at the coastal city of Boulogne (Gesoriacum) in Roman occupied northern Gaul. Carausius did indeed accomplish his mission, but reports of corruption and extortion led Maximian Herculius to dispatch a fleet of ships in order to remove Carausius from command. However, Carausius proved too strong and he repulsed the attack. Carausius subsequently used his continental base to launch an invasion force to occupy and subjugate Britain. Landing in the north, Carausius secured the support of the native Picts and, advancing south, confronted and defeated the forces of the Roman Governor. Having thus conquered the Island, he proclaimed himself Augustus of a Secessionist Britain, becoming an effective and efficient Administrator using the Roman Imperial governmental framework as a model. He maintained control of Boulogne and coastal northern Gaul. Carausius established two mints in Britain: one at London (Londinium) and the other at Colchester (Camulodunum - Clausentum) and a Continental mint in Gaul. The coins depicted here were produced in Britain by the London (Londinium) mint. Carausius, Antoninianus, RIC V (2), No. 475: Obverse depiction: draped, radiate, bust. Inscription: IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG Reverse depiction: Pax standing left, holding olive branch Inscription: PA - X - AVG | S .....P London Mint. 3.9 gm. Allectus, the chief minister of Carausius, assassinated him (or orchestrated his assassination) in AD 293. He continued operation of the British Carausian mints and coins were issued in his name and bearing his portrait. Allectus, Antoninianus, RIC V (2), No. 33: Obverse depiction: cuirassed, radiate bust. Inscription: IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG Reverse depiction: Pax standing left, holding olive branch. Inscription: PA - X - AVG ..... S - A, M L in reverse exergue. London mint 5.1 gm. Allectus died in battle with the invading force of Constantius in southern Britain. CONSTANTIUS AND HIS SON CONSTANTINE: In AD 296 Constantius, then Caesar of the West, invaded secessionist Britain and restored it to the Empire as directed by Maximian Herculius, Augustus of the West. RIC Volume VI, Lugdunum, follis, No. 17a, Constantius, Caesar of the West: Obverse depiction: truncated bare neck bust, laureate, facing right. Inscription: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C Reverse depiction: Genius of the Roman people, standing. Inscription: GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI Earliest obverse legend 10.1 gm. Britannia invasion coinage produced in Gaul at unknown Continental mint Constantius campaigned in Britain as both Caesar and Augustus - the only Imperator to do so. RIC VI, Londinium, follis, No. 47, Constantius, Augustus of the West: CT (Cloke & Toone), No. 4.02.003, 1 May 305 - 26 July 306. Obverse depiction: laureate, cuirassed bust facing right. Inscription: IMP CONSTANTIVS PIVS FEL AVG Reverse depiction: Genius of the Roman people standing, left. Inscription: GENIO POPV -- LI ROMANI Constantius was elevated to Augustus of the West after the Abdication of Diocletian and Maximian Herculius. He Died at Eboracum (York) while campaigning against the warlike tribes of the North in AD 306. On his death bed, Constantius conferred Imperium on his son and companion, Constantine. RIC VI, Londinium, follis, No. 89b, Constantine, Caesar of the West: CT (Cloke & Toone), No. 5.03.004, c. November - December AD 307. Obverse depiction: laureate, draped, bust facing right. Inscription: FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB C Reverse depiction: Genius of the Roman people standing left. Inscription: GENIO - POP ROM, PLN in reverse exergue Genius with head towered and loins draped Issued shortly after the death of Constantius following tentative recognition as Caesar of the West by Galerius Weight: 9.3 gm.
Wonderful collection @jamesicus, you are stronger than most to keep a collection at 20! I can truly say that I am happy to know that you are doing well during these wild times, it will pass eventually.
An excellent selection Jamesicus, my favourite being the marvelous Carausius, but all would be welcome in my trays.
Thank you @Deacon Ray - it certainly gladdens my heart to see you posting again! You have been missed!
This and your "Part 2" post represent a wonderful collection! Certainly a case of "less is more", a mentality that aligns well with my personal preference. Here's to a happy and healthy 2021!
Thank you, Joe. I hope you regale us with more of your incredibly rare and magnificent coins throughout 2021.
Whenever I take coins with me when I leave the house I carry them in a “Shoulder Bag”. I put them in archival quality paper envelopes together with accompanying attribution tags and, in turn, vinyl flips cut from standard commercial sheets. I write a brief generic coin description on the outside of each envelope so that I can quickly identify them. The coins are well protected from the elements and I can easily get them out for examination, etc. I am not overly concerned about anyone cutting the strap on my shoulder bag and absconding with my coins, because the strap incorporates strands of tempered steel that resists all kinds of cutters - I had the clerk who sold it to me demonstrate that before I bought it. .
Not a Roman coin - in fact it is a Britannic/Celtic coin - but I want to include it here because of its possible historical connection to the Claudius invasion of Britain. British Celtic coin - uniface silver unit - minted by the Corieltavi tribe ABC 1938; Van Arsdell 914, 15.27 mm, .99 gram, circa. 15-40 AD Obverse depiction: none (plain surface). Reverse depiction: stylized horse galloping left (head of horse off flan, left). Inscription: AVN above, [CO - obliterated] below (AVN COST - Corieltavi king). Illustrating head of horse (and AVN) on flan of a better centered coin. Cataloged in the British Museum collection: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1991-1110-138 This coin is contemporaneous with the Queen of the Brigantes tribe, Cartimandua, and her association with the conquest of Britain by Claudius and his Generals. This coin could possibly have been used by her tribe who did not mint their own coins but who were close allies with the Corieltavi tribe and traded extensively with them. Background information: The Time Travellers (UK) Brigantes study group: http://www.thetimetravellers.org.uk/brigantes-group.html
This much worn iconic coin was issued by Septimius Severus to celebrate and commemorate his Victory over Britain. This coin has obvious condition problems. I have not seen one in this series available in VF/EF condition at a price I want to pay recently - they have become quite pricey (and hard to come by). Septimius Severus, Sestertius, RIC IV, Rome No. 796, AD 210 Obverse depiction: Laureate bust of Septimius Severus facing right Obverse Inscription: L SEPT SEVERVS PIVS AVG Reverse depiction: Two Victories, winged, draped, standing left and right, facing each other and fixing a shield to a palm tree, at the foot of which are two seated British captives. Reverse Inscription: P M TR P XVIII COS III P P - S C in exergue I love this coin, despite it obvious condition problems. I hope someone will post a pic of one in better condition, maybe RIC No. 818 which is the same as this except it has VICTORIAE BRITANNICAE as the Reverse legend.
Wonderful coins, @jamesicus, with a clear historical focus. I really like the Carausius and Allectus as well as the London mint Constantinians.
Thank you @Roman Collector. I am pleased that I was able to convey my emphasis on the historical focus of my coins - I have been striving to do that for some time now. The Carausius and Allectus coins are two of personal favorites.
