The Five "Good" Roman Emperors

Totally awesome coins for real!

I don't have Nerva yet. A low grade coin is not too difficult to locate but a high grade one is for a decent price. I'm planning on purchasing one later on.

I don't have Aelius or Lucius Verus yet. I thought I had LV, but it's a Marcus Aurelius As. That's ok though, it still fits into my collection. I don't have Lucilla either.

The wife, sister and niece of Trajan I don't have either. Not likely to get any of those.

 

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Trajan AE As. Rome, 9.9g, 27.55mm

OBV: IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM PM, Laureate head right.

OBV: TR POT COS III PP SC, Victory walking left, carrying shield inscribed SPQR.

REF: RIC 417, Cohen 628. Sear 3242




Trajan AE Quadrans. 98-117 AD, 3.5g, 17mm

OBV: IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG. Laureate head right, slight drapery on far shoulder.

REV: She-wolf crouching left, SC in ex.

REF: RIC II 694, BMCRE 1061, Cohen 340.

 

Hadrian AR Denarius., 117-138 AD, 3.1g, 18mm

OBV: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, Laureate head right, slight drapery on left shoulder.

REV: COS III, Pudicitia standing left, covering face with veil.

REF: RIC 176, RSC 392.




Sabina AR Denarius. 117-238 AD, 2.0g, 16mm

OBV: SABINA AVGVSTA, Diademed and draped bust right, hair in queue down neck.

REV: IVNONI REGINAE, Juno standing left holding patera and sceptre.

REF: RIC 395a, RSC 43, Sear (RCV 2000) 3921, BMC 940

 

Antoninus Pius Æ Orichalcum Sestertius. 138-161 AD, 24.2g, 34mm

OBV: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVIII, Laureate head right.

REV: LIBERTAS COS IIII S C, Libertas standing left holding purse and extending hand.

REF: Cohen 543. RIC III 929




Faustina I AE As. 138-161 AD, 10.6g, 27mm

OBV: DIVA FAV-STINA, Draped bust right.

REV: S-C in fields. Unknown figure.

 

Marcus Aurelius, Denarius. 172-173 AD, 3.2g, 18mm

OBV: M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXVII, Laureate head right.

REV: IMP VI COS III, Emperor standing left holding branch and sceptre.

REF: RIC 282, Cohen 305




I'm now convinced this coin is Marcus Aurelius. I haven't gotten around to attributing it properly yet because I just got it in today.




Faustina II Denarius. 3.1g, 18mm

OBV: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, Diademed & draped bust right.

REV: SALVS Salus seated left feeding from a patera a snake arising from an altar.

REF: RSC 195. RIC 714. Sear 5262.

 

As i've been lucky and find some Rome denarii i have to say that in my location appear Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, so i gather nice collection of it. Will try to sell doubles from my collection here on the forume

 

I have bought a very few coins from the Ukraine. It might be interesting to hear more about your finds and where/how your have found them.

 

I appreciate all the replies. This tends to confirm my research indicating that coins of the five "good" emperors are more readily available than the 12 Caesars. There also seems to be a wide variety of portrait and reverse types in aurei and denarii, making them some easier to collect than those of the 12 Caesars.

I'm still researching the bronzes of these emperors, however. Early Roman bronzes have become increasingly scarce for the 12 Caesars -- even for the more common asses and sestertii -- and I don't know if these is true for these emperors as well.

 

12 Caesars just have a huge demand from the book. I cannot tell you how many ancient collectors I have met who only collect 12 Caesars. Personally I stay away from them mostly because I prefer better value for my money, and they simply are not interesting enough for me to wish to pay the premiums for them. A person could build simply a magnificent collection of Trajan - AP for one-fifth the price.

No offense meant to 12 Caesar collectors, but I would strongly urge you to also take a look at the 5 good emperors. Tremendous coins, high style, and very interesting historically. If I were to specialize in a Roman emperor, I think I would choose Trajan or Domitian.

 

I to am collecting the 12 Caesars, silver and bronze, i'm having better luck with bronze...

The five Good Emperors, here are my best two...

Nerva..96 - 98..AD..
27mm x 11.35g.

Nerva.. 96 -98..AD..
Ar Denarius..
18mmx 3.23g.

Trajan..98- 117..AD.
Ae As
28mm x 10.22g.

Trajan..98- 117..AD..
Ar..Denarius.
18mm x 2.63g.

 

There's definitely more coins, cheaper as well, of the 5 good emperors than the 12 Caesars with both variety and in general. however, price aside, I don't this it would be difficult to acquire a full set of AE for the 12 Caesars. I also think the 5 emps. have a slightly superior style of coins, though I like both.

 

Aahahaha => I find it a bit odd that you're (we're) trying to segregate groups, whether they're the "12 Caesars" and/or the "5 Good Emperors" ... and/or the 33 Rulers that were left-handed ...

=> man-up and find your own niche ... what are ya, sheep?

Oh ... but I already have dibbs on the animal-coins, so beat it!!

 

Arrived today Good Emperor Tetradrachm

Arrived today!

I was able to finally find, buy and receive a "good emperor" tetradrachm.

Turns out to be a coin that is double phat!

24 mm x 14.34g
AR Tetradrachm s.110AD
Tyre, Phoenicia

 

Wow => that's a nice lookin' boat anchor, A-Noob!! (it's phat "and" purdy!!!)

=> full-points!!

:high5:

 

Excellent coin, nice and chunky

 

ORLY?

Tell ya what, i will forsake any other animals if you cough up the rhino.

 

You've already got your rhino. Now you have to move on and find a coin with a monkey.

 

I got A rhino from Alexandria. Doesn't mean i don't want them all.

Monkey, huh? Come to think of it, cannot think of one offhand.....

 

There is only one type that shows a primate - a tetartemorion from the Thraco-Macedonian region.