In a previous post , I shared a coin from Brutus, that celebrated his family history of tyrannicide. This week, a much humbler coin, linked in time to an equally compelling story (and to Julius Caesar). This coin is an anonymous denarius which also has variants that are signed by Gargonius, Ogulnius and Vergilius . Anonymous issue , 86 BC, AR Denarius Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right, thunderbolt below, border of dots. Rev: Jupiter in quadriga right hurling thunderbolt, b

Here are three silver drachms from Illyria, one from Apollonia (AΠOΛ on reverse) and two from Dyrrhachion (ΔYP on reverse or straight...

This coin from Emperor Valerian was minted in his first year of reign. The portrait stype is much better than average for this emperor....

I was a little worried about the fragility of this coin when I bid on it and was pleasantly surprised see that, in hand, the flan crack...

The year 102 BC falls at the climax of the Cimbrian War (113–101 BC), one of the most dangerous military crises the Roman Republic had faced since Hannibal’s invasion a century earlier. Beginning around 113 BC, massive migrations of Germanic and Celtic peoples - principally the Cimbri, Teutones, and Ambrones - had swept southward from northern Europe, crushing Roman armies in a succession of catastrophic defeats. The Battle of Aurasio The Battle of Arausio in October 105 BC:

This unusual coin from Ariabia Felix is from the late 1st century or early second century AD. There doesn't seem to be much info on these...

This coin struck me as unusual, and I couldn't decide which way was "up" - so I didn't hesitate to pick it up. All three images below are...

My collecting focus has been the Roman Republic and especially the time period around the career of Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix . I have...

Technology over the ages in health and social media illustrated with Roman Republican coins. Roma: Tempio della Concordia al Foro Romano [Temple of Concord in the Roman Forum], Rome, Gelatin silver print, image public domain from the National Gallery of Scotland I am starting my blog with a post on a Roman Republican coin that I purchased a few years ago. So much of what could be found in ancient Rome has carried forward to the today from Roman roads to social media. Social m

While you can spend thousands of dollars on a highly prized ancient coin, you can also get an interesting coin for under $5. This coin...

The Humiliation of Valerian by Shapur I, French 15th Century, Digital image courtesy of the Getty's Open Content Program When I first...

This Italian "medalet", 20mm, 11h, 3.7g, by an unknown artist is from the 18th to early 19th century, apparently issued for the Grand...

This coin was issued near the end of the Roman republic and is an artifact of Mark Antony's alliance with Lepidus in the days before they...

Why were these ancient imitations minted in such quantities? While the most sought after coins can reach astronomical prices, there is no...

I often ask for provenance for the coins that I have purchased. Only rarely do I get anything and then it is something like from "a...

This coin is called a "sestertius" by modern numismatists, however it is lighter than the contemporary issues from Rome. The MH on the back is the Greek number 48 and is the mark of value (48 units of bronze). Sauromates I , AD 93/4-123/4, Æ 48 Units, struck AD 117/8-123 Obv: diademed and draped bust right Rev: MH (mark of value - 48) within wreath Tiberius Julius Sauromates I Philocaesar Philoromaios Eusebes aka Sauromates I, lover of Caesar, lover of Rome, and most Pius