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Lord Marcovan Roman Imperial coin collection (and wantlist)
lordmarcovan
Posts: 43,198 ✭✭✭✭✭
(Last Updated 12/31/07)
Using this list, you can see what I've got, and what I want. Having begun this rather ambitious collection in the spring of 2007, I've come a long way fast, but I have a very long way to go, too.
For now, I just need one coin per emperor, bronze or silver (or gold, in the rare cases where it's affordable). If it is a particularly scarce ruler, I will consider provincial coinage with his portrait. For the toughest pieces, my budgetary ceiling is around $500-600 per coin, and obviously those won't be regular monthly purchases for me.
Numbers in parentheses at the end are AE (bronze) rarity and AR (silver) rarity, respectively, according to the Dirty Old Coins database. I imagine these ratings apply only to homeland coinage and not to provincial issues. Therefore, for the scarcer rulers, I might consider a provincial issue if the homeland issues of that ruler are exceedingly expensive. I have marked provincial coins currently in my collection with an asterisk (*). As of now, I am not attempting any of the prohibitively rare rulers whose coins are all rated 8 or 9 on the database, or those who issued only gold coins.
While a coin struck during a particular emperor's reign as Augustus is preferable to "as Caesar" issues struck before he became full emperor, anything goes at this point. "As Caesar" or posthumous issues are acceptable to me, since this is primarily a portrait set.
My first criterion is a nice portrait, the second is a clear obverse legend with as much of the emperor's name readable as possible. (You'll notice that a few of the coins pictured below fall a bit short on the latter criterion). Unusual or interesting reverse designs are nice and if they appeal to me, I will pay a small premium for them, but this is mostly a portrait type set so those first two criteria are the only big ones.
001-Augustus, 27 BC – 14 AD (4/6): AE as
002-Livia (wife of Augustus) (6/-)
003-Agrippa (intended heir of Augustus) (5/-): AE as
004-Tiberius, 14-37 AD (6/6): AR denarius
005-Antonia (niece of Augustus, mother of Claudius) (5/8)
006-Drusus (son of Tiberius) (4/-)
007-Germanicus (nephew of Tiberius) (4/-): AE as
008-Nero and Drusus (sons of Germanicus) (6/-)
009- Caligula, 37-41 AD (5/8): AE as
010- Claudius, 41-54 AD (3/8): AE as
011-Nero, 54-68 AD (5/6): AR denarius
012-Galba, 68-69 AD (6/6): AE sestertius
013-Otho, 69 AD (-/6): AR denarius
014-Vitellius, 69 AD (7/5): AR denarius
015-Vespasian, 69-79 AD (5/4): AR denarius
016-Titus, 79-81 AD (6/5): AR denarius
017-Domitian, 81-96 AD (4/3): AR denarius
018-Nerva, 96-98 AD (4/3): AE as
019-Trajan, 98-117 AD (3/3): AR denarius
020-Hadrian, 117-138 AD (3/3): AR denarius
021-Sabina (wife of Hadrian) (7/5): AR denarius
022-Aelius, 136-138 (6/6)
023-Antoninus Pius, 138-161 AD (3/3): AR denarius
024-Faustina Senior (wife of Antoninus Pius) (4/3): AE sestertius
025-Marcus Aurelius, 161-180 AD (3/3): AR denarius
026-Faustina Junior (wife of Marcus Aurelius) (4/3): AE denarius
027-Lucius Verus, 161-169 AD (5/4): AE sestertius
028-Lucilla (wife of Lucius Verus) (5/5): AR denarius
029-Commodus, 177-192 AD (4/3): AR denarius
030-Crispina (wife of Commodus) (7/5): AE sestertius
031-Clodius Albinus, 195-197 AD (unlisted in DOC database)
032-Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD (6/3): AR denarius
033-Julia Domna (wife of Septimius Severus) (6/3): AR denarius
034-Caracalla, 198-217 AD (6/3): AR denarius
035-Plautilla (wife of Caracalla) (7/4)
036-Geta, 209-212 (7/3): AR denarius
037-Macrinus, 217-218 AD (7*/5): AE25, provincial
038-Diadumenian, 218 AD (7/6): AE sestertius
039-Elagabalus, 218-222 AD (6/3): AR denarius
040-Julia Paula (1st wife of Elagabalus) (7/4)
041-Aquilia Severa (2nd wife of Elagabalus) (8/5)
042-Julia Soaemias (mother of Elagabalus) (6/4): AR denarius
043-Julia Maesa (grandmother of Elagabalus & Severus Alexander) (6/4): AR denarius
044-Severus Alexander, 222-235 AD (5/3): AR denarius
045-Orbiana (wife of Severus Alexander) (8/6)
046-Julia Mamaea (mother of Severus Alexander) (6/4): AR denarius
047-Maximinus, 235-238 AD (4/4): AR denarius
048-Maximus, 235-238 AD (5/6)
049-Balbinus, 238 AD (6/6)
050-Pupienus, 238 AD (6/6)
051-Gordian III, 238-244 AD (4/2): AR antoninianus
052-Philip I, 244-249 AD (4/3): AR antoninianus
053-Otacilia Severa (wife of Philip I) (4/3): AE sestertius
054-Philip II, 247-249 AD (4/3): AR antoninianus
055-Trajan Decius, 249-251 AD (4/3): AR antoninianus
056-Herennia Etruscilla (wife of Trajan Decius) (4/3): AR antoninianus
057-Herennius Etruscus, 251 AD (4/4): AR antoninianus
058-Hostilian, 251 AD (7*/6): AE27, provincial
059-Trebonianus Gallus, 251-253 AD (4/3): AR antoninianus
060-Volusian, 251-253 AD (4/4): AR antoninianus
061-Aemilian, 253 AD (8/6)
062-Valerian I, 253-260 AD (4/3): AR billon antoninianus
063-Valerian II, 256-258 AD (5/4)
064-Gallienus, 260-268 AD (2/-): AE silvered antoninianus
065-Salonina (wife of Gallenius) (3/-): AE antoninianus
066-Saloninus, 260 (5/5)
067 Postumus (c.260-269 AD, usurper) (4/3): AR antoninianus
068-Macrianus (c.260-261 AD, usurper) (5/-)
069-Quietus (c.260-261 AD, usurper) (5/-)
070-Claudius II, 268-270 AD (2/-): AE silvered antoninianus
071-Marius (c.269 AD, usurper) (6/-)
072-Victorinus (c.269-271 AD, usurper) (3/-): AE antoninianus
073-Quintillus, 270 AD (4/-): AE antoninianus
074-Aurelian, 270-275 AD (2/-): AE silvered antoninianus
075-Vabalathus (c.271-272 AD, usurper) (5/-): AE antoninianus
076-Tetricus I (271-274 AD, usurper) (3/-): AE antoninianus
077-Tetricus II (c.273-274 AD, usurper) (3/-): AE antoninianus
078-Tacitus, 275-276 AD (3/-): AE antoninianus
079-Florian, 276 AD (4/-)
080-Probus, 276-282 AD (2/-): AE antoninianus
081-Carus, 282-283 AD (3/-): AE antoninianus
082-Numerian, 283-284 AD (3/-): AE antoninianus
083-Carinus, 283-285 AD (3/-): AE antoninianus
084-Diocletian, 284-305 AD (2/6): AE antoninianus
085-Maximianus, 286-305, 306-308 & 310 AD (3/6): AE antoninianus
086-Carausius (287-293 AD, usurper) (4/7)
087-Allectus (293-296 AD, usurper) (5/-)
088-Constantius I, 305-306 AD (3/6): AE post-reform radiate fraction
089-Helena (1st wife of Constantius I) (3/-)
090-Theodora (2nd wife of Constantius I) (5/-)
091-Galerius, 305-311 AD (3/6): AE follis
092-Galeria Valeria (wife of Galerius) (4/-): AE follis
093-Severus II, 306-307 AD (5/8): AE 1/4 follis
094-Maximinus II, 309-313 AD (3/6): AE follis
095-Maxentius, 306-312 AD (3/6): AE follis
096-Romulus (son of Maxentius) (5/-)
097-Constantine I, 307-337 AD (1/7): AE3
098-Fausta (wife of Constantine I) (3/8)
099-Licinius I, 308-324 AD (1/8): AE follis
100-Crispus, 316-324 AD (1/8): AE follis
101-Licinius II, 317-324 AD (1/-): AE3
102-Delmatius, 335-337 AD (4/8): AE follis
103-Constantine II, 337-340 AD (1/7): AE3
104-Constans I, 337-350 AD (1/6): AE4
105-Constantius II, 337-361 AD (1/6): AE3
106-Magnentius, 350-353 AD (3/6): AE centenionalis
107-Decentius, 351-353 AD (3/6)
108-Constantius Gallus, 351-354 AD (1/6): AE3
109-Julian II, 360-363 AD (2/6): AE3
110-Jovian, 363-364 AD (2/6): AE3
111-Valentinian I, 364-375 AD (1/6): AE3
112-Valens, 364-378 AD (1/6): AE3
113-Procopius (365-366 AD, usurper) (4/7)
114-Gratian, 367-383 AD (1/6): AE3
115-Valentinian II, 375-392 AD (1/6): AE2
116-Theodosius I, 379-395 AD (1/6): AE4
117-Aelia Flaccilla (wife of Theodosius I) (3/8)
118-Magnus Maximus (383-388 AD, usurper) (4/6)
119-Flavius Victor (387-388 AD, usurper) (6/8)
120 Arcadius, 383-407 AD (East) (1/6): AE3
121-Eudoxia (wife of Arcadius) (3/8)
122-Eugenius, 392-394 AD (6/7)
123-Honorius, 394-423 AD (1/6): AE3
124-Theodosius II, 402-450 AD (East) (3/6)
125-Johannes, 423-425 AD (6/8)
126-Valentinian III, 425-455 AD (5/8)
127-Marcian, 450-457 AD (East) (5/8): AE4
128-Leo I, 457-474 AD (East) (5/8)
129-Verina (wife of Leo I) (6/-)
130-Zeno, 474-491 AD (East) (5/7): AV solidus, ex-Eliasberg
Using this list, you can see what I've got, and what I want. Having begun this rather ambitious collection in the spring of 2007, I've come a long way fast, but I have a very long way to go, too.
For now, I just need one coin per emperor, bronze or silver (or gold, in the rare cases where it's affordable). If it is a particularly scarce ruler, I will consider provincial coinage with his portrait. For the toughest pieces, my budgetary ceiling is around $500-600 per coin, and obviously those won't be regular monthly purchases for me.
Numbers in parentheses at the end are AE (bronze) rarity and AR (silver) rarity, respectively, according to the Dirty Old Coins database. I imagine these ratings apply only to homeland coinage and not to provincial issues. Therefore, for the scarcer rulers, I might consider a provincial issue if the homeland issues of that ruler are exceedingly expensive. I have marked provincial coins currently in my collection with an asterisk (*). As of now, I am not attempting any of the prohibitively rare rulers whose coins are all rated 8 or 9 on the database, or those who issued only gold coins.
While a coin struck during a particular emperor's reign as Augustus is preferable to "as Caesar" issues struck before he became full emperor, anything goes at this point. "As Caesar" or posthumous issues are acceptable to me, since this is primarily a portrait set.
My first criterion is a nice portrait, the second is a clear obverse legend with as much of the emperor's name readable as possible. (You'll notice that a few of the coins pictured below fall a bit short on the latter criterion). Unusual or interesting reverse designs are nice and if they appeal to me, I will pay a small premium for them, but this is mostly a portrait type set so those first two criteria are the only big ones.
001-Augustus, 27 BC – 14 AD (4/6): AE as
002-Livia (wife of Augustus) (6/-)003-Agrippa (intended heir of Augustus) (5/-): AE as
004-Tiberius, 14-37 AD (6/6): AR denarius
005-Antonia (niece of Augustus, mother of Claudius) (5/8) 006-Drusus (son of Tiberius) (4/-)007-Germanicus (nephew of Tiberius) (4/-): AE as
008-Nero and Drusus (sons of Germanicus) (6/-)009- Caligula, 37-41 AD (5/8): AE as
010- Claudius, 41-54 AD (3/8): AE as
011-Nero, 54-68 AD (5/6): AR denarius
012-Galba, 68-69 AD (6/6): AE sestertius
013-Otho, 69 AD (-/6): AR denarius
014-Vitellius, 69 AD (7/5): AR denarius
015-Vespasian, 69-79 AD (5/4): AR denarius
016-Titus, 79-81 AD (6/5): AR denarius
017-Domitian, 81-96 AD (4/3): AR denarius
018-Nerva, 96-98 AD (4/3): AE as
019-Trajan, 98-117 AD (3/3): AR denarius
020-Hadrian, 117-138 AD (3/3): AR denarius
021-Sabina (wife of Hadrian) (7/5): AR denarius
022-Aelius, 136-138 (6/6)023-Antoninus Pius, 138-161 AD (3/3): AR denarius
024-Faustina Senior (wife of Antoninus Pius) (4/3): AE sestertius
025-Marcus Aurelius, 161-180 AD (3/3): AR denarius
026-Faustina Junior (wife of Marcus Aurelius) (4/3): AE denarius
027-Lucius Verus, 161-169 AD (5/4): AE sestertius
028-Lucilla (wife of Lucius Verus) (5/5): AR denarius
029-Commodus, 177-192 AD (4/3): AR denarius
030-Crispina (wife of Commodus) (7/5): AE sestertius
031-Clodius Albinus, 195-197 AD (unlisted in DOC database)032-Septimius Severus, 193-211 AD (6/3): AR denarius
033-Julia Domna (wife of Septimius Severus) (6/3): AR denarius
034-Caracalla, 198-217 AD (6/3): AR denarius
035-Plautilla (wife of Caracalla) (7/4)036-Geta, 209-212 (7/3): AR denarius
037-Macrinus, 217-218 AD (7*/5): AE25, provincial 
038-Diadumenian, 218 AD (7/6): AE sestertius
039-Elagabalus, 218-222 AD (6/3): AR denarius
040-Julia Paula (1st wife of Elagabalus) (7/4) 041-Aquilia Severa (2nd wife of Elagabalus) (8/5)042-Julia Soaemias (mother of Elagabalus) (6/4): AR denarius
043-Julia Maesa (grandmother of Elagabalus & Severus Alexander) (6/4): AR denarius
044-Severus Alexander, 222-235 AD (5/3): AR denarius
045-Orbiana (wife of Severus Alexander) (8/6)046-Julia Mamaea (mother of Severus Alexander) (6/4): AR denarius
047-Maximinus, 235-238 AD (4/4): AR denarius
048-Maximus, 235-238 AD (5/6) 049-Balbinus, 238 AD (6/6) 050-Pupienus, 238 AD (6/6)051-Gordian III, 238-244 AD (4/2): AR antoninianus
052-Philip I, 244-249 AD (4/3): AR antoninianus
053-Otacilia Severa (wife of Philip I) (4/3): AE sestertius
054-Philip II, 247-249 AD (4/3): AR antoninianus
055-Trajan Decius, 249-251 AD (4/3): AR antoninianus
056-Herennia Etruscilla (wife of Trajan Decius) (4/3): AR antoninianus
057-Herennius Etruscus, 251 AD (4/4): AR antoninianus
058-Hostilian, 251 AD (7*/6): AE27, provincial
059-Trebonianus Gallus, 251-253 AD (4/3): AR antoninianus
060-Volusian, 251-253 AD (4/4): AR antoninianus
061-Aemilian, 253 AD (8/6)062-Valerian I, 253-260 AD (4/3): AR billon antoninianus
063-Valerian II, 256-258 AD (5/4)064-Gallienus, 260-268 AD (2/-): AE silvered antoninianus
065-Salonina (wife of Gallenius) (3/-): AE antoninianus
066-Saloninus, 260 (5/5)067 Postumus (c.260-269 AD, usurper) (4/3): AR antoninianus
068-Macrianus (c.260-261 AD, usurper) (5/-) 069-Quietus (c.260-261 AD, usurper) (5/-)070-Claudius II, 268-270 AD (2/-): AE silvered antoninianus
071-Marius (c.269 AD, usurper) (6/-)072-Victorinus (c.269-271 AD, usurper) (3/-): AE antoninianus
073-Quintillus, 270 AD (4/-): AE antoninianus
074-Aurelian, 270-275 AD (2/-): AE silvered antoninianus
075-Vabalathus (c.271-272 AD, usurper) (5/-): AE antoninianus
076-Tetricus I (271-274 AD, usurper) (3/-): AE antoninianus
077-Tetricus II (c.273-274 AD, usurper) (3/-): AE antoninianus
078-Tacitus, 275-276 AD (3/-): AE antoninianus
079-Florian, 276 AD (4/-)080-Probus, 276-282 AD (2/-): AE antoninianus
081-Carus, 282-283 AD (3/-): AE antoninianus
082-Numerian, 283-284 AD (3/-): AE antoninianus
083-Carinus, 283-285 AD (3/-): AE antoninianus
084-Diocletian, 284-305 AD (2/6): AE antoninianus
085-Maximianus, 286-305, 306-308 & 310 AD (3/6): AE antoninianus
086-Carausius (287-293 AD, usurper) (4/7) 087-Allectus (293-296 AD, usurper) (5/-)088-Constantius I, 305-306 AD (3/6): AE post-reform radiate fraction
089-Helena (1st wife of Constantius I) (3/-) 090-Theodora (2nd wife of Constantius I) (5/-)091-Galerius, 305-311 AD (3/6): AE follis
092-Galeria Valeria (wife of Galerius) (4/-): AE follis
093-Severus II, 306-307 AD (5/8): AE 1/4 follis
094-Maximinus II, 309-313 AD (3/6): AE follis
095-Maxentius, 306-312 AD (3/6): AE follis
096-Romulus (son of Maxentius) (5/-)097-Constantine I, 307-337 AD (1/7): AE3
098-Fausta (wife of Constantine I) (3/8)099-Licinius I, 308-324 AD (1/8): AE follis
100-Crispus, 316-324 AD (1/8): AE follis
101-Licinius II, 317-324 AD (1/-): AE3
102-Delmatius, 335-337 AD (4/8): AE follis
103-Constantine II, 337-340 AD (1/7): AE3
104-Constans I, 337-350 AD (1/6): AE4
105-Constantius II, 337-361 AD (1/6): AE3
106-Magnentius, 350-353 AD (3/6): AE centenionalis
107-Decentius, 351-353 AD (3/6)108-Constantius Gallus, 351-354 AD (1/6): AE3
109-Julian II, 360-363 AD (2/6): AE3
110-Jovian, 363-364 AD (2/6): AE3
111-Valentinian I, 364-375 AD (1/6): AE3
112-Valens, 364-378 AD (1/6): AE3
113-Procopius (365-366 AD, usurper) (4/7)114-Gratian, 367-383 AD (1/6): AE3
115-Valentinian II, 375-392 AD (1/6): AE2
116-Theodosius I, 379-395 AD (1/6): AE4
117-Aelia Flaccilla (wife of Theodosius I) (3/8) 118-Magnus Maximus (383-388 AD, usurper) (4/6) 119-Flavius Victor (387-388 AD, usurper) (6/8)120 Arcadius, 383-407 AD (East) (1/6): AE3
121-Eudoxia (wife of Arcadius) (3/8) 122-Eugenius, 392-394 AD (6/7)123-Honorius, 394-423 AD (1/6): AE3
124-Theodosius II, 402-450 AD (East) (3/6) 125-Johannes, 423-425 AD (6/8) 126-Valentinian III, 425-455 AD (5/8)127-Marcian, 450-457 AD (East) (5/8): AE4
128-Leo I, 457-474 AD (East) (5/8) 129-Verina (wife of Leo I) (6/-)130-Zeno, 474-491 AD (East) (5/7): AV solidus, ex-Eliasberg
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Comments
Agrippa (intended heir of Augustus, but predeceased him in 12 BC)
Tiberius (14-37 AD, emperor during the ministry and crucifixion of Christ.)
Faustina II (wife of Marcus Aurelius, who reigned 161-180 AD)
Julia Mamaea (mother of Severus Alexander, who reigned 222-235 AD)
Otacilia Severa (wife of Philip I "The Arab", who reigned 244-249 AD)
Herennia Etruscilla (wife of Trajan Decius, who reigned 249-251 AD)
Tetricus II (usurper circa 273-274, breakaway Gallic empire)
Constantius Gallus (351-354 AD)
Valentinian I (364-375 AD)
(Otho ruled for only three months, early in the year 69).
And a follis of Delmatius, as Caesar 335-337 A.D.:
And Marcian and Lucilla, for which I forgot to save pics. (Update- pics added above).
My first non-provincial R-7, I believe. And it cost me well under a hundred bucks! That makes up for the lack of readable legends on the coin. I can live with a low-grade piece like this since it has a decent portrait and it's fairly rare. Diadumenian provincial bronzes are readily available, but it is nice to have such a scarce homeland type. And this ruler's bronze is a bit scarcer than his silver.
You'll note that I've also added pictures and thumbnails for everything above.
Sabina, wife of Hadrian, AR denarius
Crispina, wife of Commodus, AE sestertius (arrived today- I love it!)
Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus, AR denarius (also arrived today and is better in hand than the pix- thanks, Gil!)
Lane
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
Galeria Valeria, wife of Galerius.
<< <i>gF/gF Galeria Valeria AE Follis / Venus
Attribution: RIC 107
Date: 309 AD
Obverse: GAL VAL-ERIA AVG, Draped bust right
Reverse: VENERI V-ICTRICI, Venus standing left, holding apple over altar
Size: 23.27 mm
Weight: 4.9 grams
Description: Ex Colosseum Coin 1992 >>
Severus II.
@Failmezger Collection@@ Severus II as Caesar AE 1/4 Follis / Genius
Attribution: RIC VI 170a Siscia , Failmezger 59 S
Date: 305-306 AD
Obverse: FL VAL SEVERVS NOB C, Laureate bust right
Reverse: GENIO POP-VLI ROMANI, Genius standing left holding patera and cornucopia, SIS in ex.
Size: 18.31 mm
Weight: 2.3 grams
Description: Ex Guy Clark 1996 >>
Both from Marc Breitsprecher at Ancient Imports, from whom I've bought many coins.