top of page


Index : Emperors of Rome
Now that the number of articles on SullaCoins is greater than 375 - I am finding that having an index is useful. I posted an index to the life of Sulla (Link: Index to Sulla ) a few months ago, and I am adding with this post and "Index to the Roman Emperors". Index: Emperor → relevant SullaCoins articles ( Multiple articles where applicable; citations are clickable links to the specific posts. ) Julio‑Claudian (27 BCE–68 CE) Augustus : Triumphs of Augustus ; Standards Rest

sulla80
Sep 21, 20254 min read


Romans in Spain
Entry for the denarius of C Valerius Flaccus in Monnaies de la République Romaine by Ernest Babelon (1854-1924) Romans considered...

sulla80
Sep 20, 20253 min read


Normans in Sicily
It has been a long time since my last visit to the Cloisters in NY. It is an oasis of medieval history, strangely out of place on the...

sulla80
Sep 14, 20257 min read


Aelias, Flaccilla & Eudoxia
I don't have much from late Roman Empire (4th and 5th centuries CE) - this AELIA FLACCILA qualifies, a follis from Constantinople...

sulla80
Aug 29, 20259 min read


Founding of Colonies
The Roman Concept of the Day: * Sulcus Primigenius or "Initial Furrow Understanding the Initial Furrow The term sulcus primigenius ,...

sulla80
Aug 23, 20253 min read


Kushan Dreams
For many years I have admired the gold coins of the Kushan kings and finally decided it was time to move from admiring to owning. This...

sulla80
Aug 21, 20254 min read


A Scarce Drachm of Metapontion
The Temple of Hera (“Tavole Palatine”), late 6th-century BCE Doric sanctuary near Metaponto (ancient Metapontion/Metapontum), Basilicata,...

sulla80
Aug 15, 20253 min read


RR Family Propaganda
This coin is my latest RR denarius a story of family propaganda from ancient Rome in the run-up to and early phases of the Caesar–Pompey civil war. Albinus Bruti f, 48 BCE, AR Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.72 g, 9 h), Rome. Obv: A POSTVMIVS COS, bare head of A. Postumius to right. Rev: ALBINV / BRVTI•F within wreath of grain ears. Ref: Babelon (Postumia) 14 and (Junia) 29. Crawford 450/3b. CRI 27. RBW 1578. Sydenham 943a. Notes: Lightly toned. Struck from somewhat worn dies

sulla80
Aug 9, 20256 min read


Weights and Measures
Today's post begins with the hope of making some sense of the weight standards for a set of staters in my collection. A number of questions started this deep dive: What weight standards did the ancient Greeks use for ancient Greek coins? Why are these standards named the way they are today? What sources are the most useful to understand these standards? When did each standard come into use and who initiated the standard? What are the the various denominations used for ancie

sulla80
Aug 3, 202521 min read


Exploring the AR Tetradrachm of Kyme: A Glimpse into Ancient Aeolis
This map (a detail from The Historical Atlas by William R. Shepherd, 1923 ) illustrates the western edge of Asia Minor, also known as...

sulla80
Jul 19, 20258 min read


Roman Republican Control Marks
Richard Witschonke’s 2012 article, published in the Revue Belge de Numismatique , tackles a long-standing puzzle in Roman Republican...

sulla80
Jul 19, 20254 min read


A Nose for Leadership?
Portraits from a variety of Roman republican and Roman Imperial coins. Aristotle Physiognomy is the historical practice of judging a...

sulla80
Jul 16, 20258 min read


The Power of Pompey: A Look into Roman History
Pompey had already earned a reputation for cleaning up messes when the Roman Senate passed Lex Gabinia (67 BCE) and Lex Manilia (66 BCE), which handed Pompey near‑unlimited imperium over the eastern Mediterranean. Gabinius’ law handed him 500 ships, fifteen legates and fiscal carte blanche; Manilius then united that navy with Lucullus’ veteran army. Pompey had cleaned up the rebels in Spain who were led by Q. Sertorius (The Sertorian War) and commemorated his victory in 74 BC

sulla80
Jul 13, 20255 min read


Auction Formats, Bidding Behavior, and Price Outcomes
Auctions are the main place to buy rare collectibles such as coins and fine art, and auction design and behavioral factors can impact final prices. A number of questions captured my attention today...

sulla80
Jul 10, 202515 min read


Tiribazos?
Detail from the Altıkulaç Sarcophagus (5th–4th c. BCE) discovered in Çingenetepe Tumulus (Çanakkale), today in the Troy Museum , features...

sulla80
Jun 28, 20255 min read


Danishmendids
This week's coin of interest is a large 32mm coin (an AE Dirham of the Danishmendids). It was a steal at 20 EUR - yes it is ugly, yes it seems to be some sort of hot mess with a flan crack and maybe over-struck on some earlier coin? An unusual an interesting coin nonetheless...

sulla80
Jun 21, 20253 min read


Emperor Xianfeng
British Trade Deficit and Opium Smuggling In the 18th century, British demand for Chinese tea, silk, and porcelain soared, but China...

sulla80
Jun 15, 20255 min read


Myriandros: Lifetime of Alexander
Kings of Macedon, Alexander III 'the Great' (336-323 BC), lifetime issue from 325 or 324/3 BCE, AR (17.24g, 27mm) Tetradrachm, minted in...

sulla80
Jun 12, 20258 min read


Lions & Tigers
Tipu's Tiger, an 18th-century automata with its keyboard visible. Victoria and Albert Museum, London . Public Domain image via Wikimedia...

sulla80
Jun 8, 20256 min read


Song Dynasty
Pigeon on a Peach Branch by Emperor Huizong Chinese coins are not an area where I have many coins to offer. Today's coin is from an...

sulla80
Jun 1, 20252 min read
bottom of page
