Just curious -- does anyone focus their collection on the five "good" Roman emperors (Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius)? If so, what are your thoughts about finding coins for these emperors? Difficult? Easy? How long have you been collecting them? Do you try to collect all types (AEs, denarii, aurei) or just certain ones? This was an interesting period of ancient Rome and I was wondering if there is as much interest in these emperors as in some of the later ones that seem to be popular on this site.
I don't focus on the "five", but throughout the years it seems to me that all coins of Nerva are more difficult to find in all conditions. There seems to be plenty of the other four in silver and base metal. I don't buy gold, so I can't comment on those.
I love these 5 "Good" emperors!! Ummm, but I have only been collecting for a bit more than one calendar year, so I am still trying to collect one of each of every Roman Rulers and/or Ruler's-mates => so generally, I only have one of each Ruler (the big, fat bronze-babies are definitely my favourites, but denarii are certainly awesome as well) ... Here are my examples of these "5 Good Rulers" NervaAR Didrachm CAPPADOCIA, Caesaraea-Eusebia AD 96-98 Struck AD 98 Diameter: Weight: 6.64 grams Obverse: Laureate head right Reverse: Club set on ground; date in legend Reference: Metcalf, Caesarea 45; Sydenham, Caesarea 153 Other: 12h … Choice VF, toned
Agree, Nerva was my most expensive purchase but considering its condition and original tone, I dont regret buying it. In the last year though I see many Nervas, some nice, go for less then $70. I can say I tend to like the empresses of this period more. Other then trajan's women, I find the empresses after him plentiful, affordable, have many nice reverse types and so on. Once I am done buying some other romans on my wish list I could see myself buying more coins from this period then the others.
Trajan Æ Dupondius 98-117 AD Rome mint Struck circa AD 103-107 Diameter: 27 mm Weight: 13.39 grams Obverse: Radiate bust right, wearing aegis Reverse: Trophy with two shields at base Reference: RIC II 586; Woytek 196cA Other: 6h ... VF, green patina, numerous cleaning scratches on reverse Trajan, Bronze dichalkon Roman Provincial Egypt, unpublished variety 98 - 117 A.D. Struck: Alexandria mint (29 Aug 113 - 28 Aug 114 A.D.) Diameter: 13.7mm Weight: 1.23 grams Obverse: no legend, laureate head right
Since we're showing off coins: Nerva AR Denarius OBV: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P, laureate head right REV: CONCORDIA EXCERCITVVM, clasped hands holding legionary eagle resting on prow Struck at Rome, 96 AD 2.9g, 18mm RIC 3
Hadrian silver (AR) tetradrachm 117-138 AD Struck at the mint of Antioch in Syria Diameter: 23.1 mm Weight: 12.88 grams Obverse: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian to right Reverse: Eagle, wings spread, head left, stands upon thigh of bull Reference: BMC 304-05 Other: NICE surfaces nearly EF. SCARCE Hadrian Æ Dupondius Rome mint AD 117-138 Struck AD 125-128 Diameter: 26 mm Weight: 11.24 grams Obverse: Radiate bust right, slight drapery Reverse: Pegasus right Other: 6h ... RIC II 758 … Near VF, greenish-brown patina.
Trajan AR Denarius OBV: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P, laureate bust right REV: COS V P P SPQR OPTIMO PRINC, Dacian seated with hands bound behind back on pile of shields, spears & swords, DAC CAP in ex 2.8g, 18mm Minted at Rome, 103-11 AD RIC 96
Hadrian AR Denarius OBV: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, Laureate head right REV: AFRICA, Africa reclining left holding scorpion & cornucopiae, basket of grain at feet 2.76g. 18.5mm Minted at Rome, 136 AD RIC 299
Antonius Pius AR Didrachm OBV: ANTWNEI-NOC CEBACTOC, laureate head right REV: YPAT B PAT PATR, Helios, holding globe and sceptre, standing atop Mt. Argaeus; * in exergue View attachment 258043 View attachment 258044 Minted at Caesaria, Cappadocia, 139 AD Syd 301c var
Antoninus Pius Sestertius 140-144 AD Diameter: 33.4 mm Weight: 23.4 grams Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III - Laureate head of Antoninus Pius Reverse: TIBERIS - Tiber reclining on rock, hand on ship, holding reed Antoninus Pius Sestertius 144 AD Diameter: 30 mm Weight: 20.4 grams Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III - Laureate bust of Antoninus Pius Reverse: DES IIII - Salus holding rudder and patera, feeding snake entwined on alter
Marcus Aurelius AE Drachma ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT AD 161-180 (struck AD 150/151) Diameter: 31.9 mm Weight: 15.66 grams Obverse: Laureate head of Marcus Aurelius right Reverse: Female “griffine” seated right, left paw on wheel, across field regional year ( 14 = AD 150/51 ) Reference: Dattari 3224, Emmett 1866 (Rarity 3) => and that's the last of my "5 Good Emperors" ..... Cheers, brothers!! :cheers:
MARCUS AURELIUS Denarius OBV: IMP M ANTONINVS AVG, bare head right REV: PROV DEOR TR P XVII COS III, Providentia standing left, holding globe and cornucopiae 2.6g, 17mm Minted at Rome, 162-3 AD RIC 70
atta-boy, Randy-G => we "love" seeing ancient coins!! (bring 'em!!) => ummmm, 1500-2000 year old coins, anybody? => yup, super-fricken cool!!! (we rock!!) Hey, I still "love" my Canadian coin collection ... but man, the first Canadian coin was minted less than 200 years ago (yup, it puts everything in perspective, eh?) ... I'm now collecting coins that are 2500 years old!! (nice)
My Roman collection is neither large nor impressive, but when I want a certain ruler, I first try to procure him in denarius or tetradrachm denomination. I ve been chasing a Trajan. I know many people here collect that era primarily but I do not. I do like these emperors, and probably should acquire more. I do have something that has satisfied me for quite some time. You have got to love the two for one deal. .... Some day they will rise from their coffin.
Great topic. As a beginner, this is really the first "set" I'm focusing on other than randomly collecting Roman Imperial coins. This period in Roman history fascinates me, it can really be considered the pinnacle of the Roman Empire in many ways. Each of these five seems to have unique strengths and leadership qualities that helped the Empire fourish in different ways. I'm also finding that Nerva seems to be the biggest challenge. But here are the other four that I've purchased up to this point. Here are the first couple in my collection: Hadrian; AD 117-138 Bronze Dupondius; 27mm/ 14 g OBV HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS; Radiate Head R, Drapery at shoulder REV: COS III SC; Salus Std L feeding serpent from patera (RIC 657, Cohen 367cf) Trajan; 98-117 AD Bronze; AS 27mm/10.4g OBV: IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM PE Laureate Bust Draped R REV: TR POT COS III PP Victory walking L holding shield w SQOR inscribed and palm (RIC 417, Cohen 628)
Ummm, am I the only dude that prefers the big brass babies??? (hey, don't get me wrong I love a good denarius, but there is just something about holding a big, fat, heavy, comfy brass sestertius .... am I right, eh?) ... arrgghh, is it me? (good => more for me!!)