Roman Emperor Set

TheRaven

A complete set of coins of all Roman Emperors, including Julius Caeser, how difficult and how expensive is this collection?

We are talking about 140+ coins correct?

Aethelred

Not an easy undertaking!

CIVITAS

Most emperors from Julius Caesar through the middle 4th century A.D. are fairly available, especially if you are willing to use bronze, silver and gold of various denominations to complete your set. There are some real stoppers in the late Roman Empire, especially in the 5th century. Some are only offered on the market once every few years (or decades).

I would count on $250,000+ for decent examples from all Emperors. $350,000+ if you're including Empresses. A lot more if you only want precious metal issues or want everything in EF+.




Edited to correct figures.

CIVITAS

One additional thought. With the way high quality ancient coins are selling nowadays, and the dwindling supply of decent ancient coins, my figures are most assuredly low.

That being said, there are plenty of great ancient coins out there to buy that won't break the bank. So start small and enjoy.

Sapyx

It also depends on what you mean by "complete". If you need a coin from every single person who ever declared himself emperor and persuaded some hapless mintworker to strike coins in his name, then the list can be quite long and include some extremely rare, even unique, coins.

The "Emperors" are normally considered to begin with Augustus - if you want to go back to Julius, then you have to consider whether or not to include Julius' contemporaries, the other "imperators" - Mark Antony and so forth. They're not that scarce, but they're in high demand, pushing the price up.

Most of the scarcer, more expensive "emperors" are considered usurpers, who never really exerted much if any control over the empire. Check the list of Roman Emperors on Wikipedia; most of the ones in italics issued coins, but aren't generally recognised as "real emperors". There are 103 names (by my count) of "real emperors" on that list.

You can also decide whether or not to include coins with the name and portrait of minor nobility - the ladies, the parents and the Imperial heir-designates (in later times called "caesars" and given a formal role in the government - sort of "junior emperors").

Then there's the issue of breakaway empires. For example, the "Gallic Empire" really deserves to be treated as a completely separate country, but their emperors are normally lumped in with the rest of the Romans - especially by us English-speaking collectors, since Britain seems to be a major source for Gallic Empire coins.

Finally, you have to consider when the "Roman Empire" ended for you - because it gradually evolved into what is now called the Byzantine empire. The Wikipedia list cuts off at 476, when the last Emperor in Rome itself was deposed, but you can make reasoned arguments for other years, earlier and later than this.

TheRaven

I was basically using the list from Wayne Sayers 1st book.....

I only have a few silver coins from Gordian III & Philip II.....

Those figures of $250,000 and so forth give me sense of do something else.....

Also you can't have a collection of Emperors without Julius Caeser either..... ( I know this is a pricey beast )

I find Greek & Roman coins fasinating, but coming up with a sub collection is difficult.....

Aethelred

My two cents for what it is worth:

Collect Roman coins that you like and don't worry about getting every emperor. You'll have a lot of fun, learn a lot of history and end up with a great collection.

TheRaven

THat is probably the wisest course of action, but I do like to have some type of completion target when I start something.....

500Bay

While it is still somewhat expensive - why not try a "12 Caesars" set? At least you are limited to 12 coins - a very achievable goal.

TheRaven

That is a short set which I have pondered....

Rough cost on a 12 Caeser set?

Or if I have to ask it is to much.....

Sapyx

Let's say you were trying to assemble an as-cheap-as-possible-but-still-collectable set of 12 Caesars. Prices are taken from the British Sear catalogue, lowest grade (VF).

Julius: Bronzes aren't really an option; virtually none were issued. The cheapest silver denarii come in at £110 ($176).

Octavian/Augustus: The cheapest and commonest denarius (two children type) CV is £125 ($200). Bronzes are an option, though the smallest and cheapest normally don't have the Emperor's name on them.

Tiberius: Hyping them up as "biblical tribute pennies" tends to raise the price of the commonest denarius well above the £175 ($280) pricetag Sear quotes. Tiny bronzes in better grades might be findable for under $100; I found a Tiberius copper as in a dealer's $10 slug-tray. Of course, I got what I paid for...

Caligula: Almost all his coins are pricey; the denarii are $2000 plus. The only cheap one is the tiny copper quadrans, CV £55 ($88).

Claudius: Like Caligula, only slightly cheaper. Cheapest denarii are £650; once again the tiny bronzes are the best option for the budget (£45/$72).

Nero: Getting cheaper: denarii from £250 ($400), small bronzes from £50 ($80).

We then have the Year of the Four Emperors, AD 68-69. Short reigns mean small mintages, meaning big, big bucks.

Galba: denarii start at £350 ($560); the tiny quadrans isn't struck; the smallest coppers start at £275 ($440).

Otho: probably the hardest of the Twelve. Denarii don't go below £600 ($960), and there's no copper at all.

Vitellius: denarii begin at £350 ($560), coppers aren't any cheaper.

Vespasian: Nice and cheap, finally. Denarii from as low as £65 ($100), the cheapest series for this emperor. A popular (and more expensive) type is "Judaea Capta".

Titus: several denarii types are quoted as low as £120 ($190), tiny coppers can be found even cheaper.

Domitian: the "last caesar", and the cheapest of the 12. Denarii and smaller coppers both from £55.

By my calcs, that's a minimum $3200. A couple grand more if you insist on silvers.

It's often cheaper to find "provincial" coins from these emperors. Egyptian billon tetradrachms and bronzes are a popular alternative.

TheRaven

Thanks that is alot of help.....

Cladiator

Wow, a 12 Caesars set in low grades seems very doable. Even for a low budget collector, it might just take a bit longer. Would make one heck of an interesting display as well.

TheRaven

It sure would make for an impressive display piece.....

Thought a coin of Julius Caeser by himself would really do that.....

JZrarities

I would start and get the Julius Caesar piece first - you will cherish it.

Don't forget to look through VCoins

WillieBoyd2

Another good website on ancient coins is:

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/index.html

By the way, in the above picture of Gerald Ford, he kinda looks like a Roman emperor.

291fifth

It is very difficult and very expensive. What's worse, the markup on ancients tends to be very high. Think very carefully before starting such a set.

I actually tried doing this back in the 1980's but stopped when it became obvious I couldn't afford the really rare emperors. Since that time I believe a single coin has been located for an additional usurper emperor so the set can never really be completed.