This period occupies roughly the 2nd century A.D. It includes the period of the adoptive emperors Nerva through Commodus, and the Civil War period. This is a particularly interesting period with many coins bearing fine portraits of the emperors and members of their families all of which are avidly sought by collectors.
11176. DIDIUS JULIANUS. AD 193. AE Sestertius (27mm, 18.22 g, 12h). Rome mint. Laureate head right / Concordia standing facing, head left, holding legionary eagle and standard. RIC IV 14a; Woodward, Didius, p. 79 (dies 11/E); Banti 1. Good VF, dark brown patina. Ex CNG Auction 276, Lot 420.
$3750.
11867. GALERIUS ANTONINUS, son of Antoninus Pius. Diva Faustina Senior, with Galerius Antoninus. Augusta, AD 138-140/1. AE (27mm, 9.30 g, 12h). Uncertain mint on Cyprus. Struck circa AD 147. Veiled and draped bust of Diva Faustina Senior right / Bareheaded and draped bust of Galerius Antoninus right. Overbeck, Galerius 14; Parks 22; SNG Copenhagen -; Lindgren III 940. Vagi 1517. VF, green patina, light roughness. Rare and historically interesting. Ex CNG Auction 327, Lot 829. This issue raises three important questions. The first regards where it was minted. While the general consensus assigns it to a mint in Cyprus, this attribution is tenuous, and Crete, the northern Balkans, and Rome itself have been suggested as equally plausible alternatives. The second question regards its strike date. If the obverse legend for this coin follows the pattern set at Rome, then this coin had to be struck after 147 AD when the DIVA FAVSTINA obverse legend was instituted. The third question then regards the purpose for which this coin was struck. Galerius Antoninus was the natural son of Antoninus Pius and Faustina Senior. When he had died before his father had been made Caesar, Hadrian compelled Antoninus Pius, now without any natural son, to adopt Lucius Verus, the son of Hadrian's previous Caesar, and Marcus Aurelius as his own sons and heirs. In AD 147 Faustina Junior, Antoninus Pius' only surviving child, was created Augusta upon her marriage to Marcus Aurelius. In the flurry of issues struck to commemorate this event and the formation of a new dynasty, it is quite possible that this issue was struck to commemorate the young boy's premature death and include him in an as yet uncertain way into the new imperial scheme. Commentary courtesy CNG.
THE CIRCUS MAXIMUS 11033. TRAJAN AD 98-117. AE Sestertius (34mm, 24.13 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 103-104. Laureate head right, slight drapery / View of the Circus Maximus, showing a colonnaded front (the Duodecim Portae), with arched gateways surmounted by quadrigae; temple of Sol along back wall; within, from left to right: meta, equestrian statue of Trajan, obelisk of Augustus, shrine of Cybele, and a second meta. RIC II 571; Woytek 175b. Fine, tan surfaces with some green in the fields, a little rough. Rare. Provenance: From the Deyo Collection. Some wear but an excellent contrasty patina that clearly shows nearly all the details of the famous Roman circus maximus. Well centered with most of the legends clear as well. All in all a very pleasing example. Ex CNG Auction 266, Lot 367.
RARE CAPPADOCIA SESTERTIUS 7688. ANTONINUS PIUS PROVINCIAL SERIES SESTERTIUS, 138-161 AD. AE Sestertius, HRIC 103/5 ($1000-$3000). /CAPADOCIA SC, Capadocia stg. l. holding holding crown, Mt. Argeus at feet. One of Pius' rare and interesting Provincial series of 139 AD commemorating the accession gifts offered to him by the various provinces, 50% of which he remitted. VF. Rare.
10194. MANLIA SCANTILLA. Augusta, AD 193. AE Sestertius (29mm, 22.62 g, 12h). Rome mint. Draped bust right / Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; to left, peacock at feet, standing left, head turned up. RIC IV 18a (Didius); Woodward, Didius, dies 6/- (unlisted rev. die); Banti 2. Fine, dark gray-brown and brown patina. The upper portion of the reverse perfectly matches the reverse of BMCRE 36 (pl. 4, 5), which was struck with Woodward rev. die E. It is possible that the same die was used for both coins, but was re-engraved before this coin was struck. Rare.
6627. PESCENNIUS NIGER. AR Denarius. EF. Choice example! Surface much better than image. SOLD.
6111. PERTINAX, 87 days in 193 AD. AE of Tomis, 27 mm, 9.49 g. Varbanov 4791; Mouchmov 1869. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. / Female figure leading chariot carrying male figure and drawn by single bull left. This is presumably a scene from an otherwise unknown local myth, acc. to Pick and Regling, AMNG pp. 629-30. F+. A superior example with both obverse and reverse clear and centered with good contrast and with most of the legend clear as well. Very rare provincial AE of Pertinax. SOLD.
8061. WONDERFUL PERTINAX PORTRAIT SESTERTIUS, 87 days in 193 AD. AE Sestertius, HRIC _ ($3000-$10,000). /VOT DECEN TR P COS II, Pertinax veiled as a priest, stg. l. and sacrificing over a tripod. Choice EF portrait better than image. Very rare. SOLD.
6438. LUCIUS VERUS, 161-169. Gold Aureus of 166/67AD, RIC.568, 7.19gm. /Concordia stg. l. holding abacus. EF+. A choice example with a high profile portrait rendered with great sensitivity. SOLD.
10116. CHOICE FDC VERUS DENARIUS, LUCIUS VERUS, 161-169 AD. AR Denarius, Bare head of emperor Lucius Verus r./Providentia standing l. holding the globe. Fleur de coin with no wear, overall mint luster and striking flows. As good as they come and much better than possible to show in the image. An excellent addition to any collection! SOLD.
9501. LUCIUS VERUS SUPERB PATINA SESTERTIUS, 161-169. AE Sestertius. /Concordia. EF. Superb lime green patina! SOLD.
11214. ANNIUS VERUS, (son of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Jr.) Cilicia, Tarsus mint. Commodus and Annius Verus. Caesars, AD 166-169/70 and AD 166-177. AE (18mm, 3.72 g, 6h). Confronted busts of Commodus left and Annius right, each bareheaded and draped; between, crossed caduceus and club / Decastyle temple with eagle in pediment. SNG France 1455; SNG Levante 1018. VF, black patina. Scarce. A choice example about as good as these come with everything clear. Though the bust on the right is traditionally attributed to Annius Verus that seems improbable since Annius died age 7 and the bust on the right seems at least a teenager, possibly even older. Thus it is possibly a depiction of someone else. It would help to know when this coin was issued which I haven't found yet. Thus the identity of the person on the right seems unresolved to me. On the other hand perhaps it's only a stylistic issue since its a provincial issue far removed from Rome and the legend clearly identifies the two as Caesars.
SOLD.
6624. GALERIUS ANTONINUS, son of Antoninus Pius. AE29 of uncertain city, GIC1540. Veiled bust of Faustina r./Bare-headed and draped bust of Galerius Antoninus r. VF+. Excessively rare. Some smoothing of fields, nevertheless a choice portrait of this elusive emperor’s son. SOLD.
7944. GALERIUS ANTONINUS, son of Antoninus Pius. AE29 of uncertain city, GIC1540. Veiled bust of Faustina r./Bare-headed and draped bust of Galerius Antoninus r. VF. Excessively rare. Rare portrait of this elusive emperor's son. SOLD.
9434. FAUSTINA SR. POOR GIRL'S CHARITY REVERSE, wife of Antoninus Pius. AR Denarius, HRIC 15. /PVELLAE FAVSTINIANAE, Antoninus std. on platform, Faustina stg. behind him, receiving a little girl held up by a citizen, while another citizen ushers a second little girl towards the receiving line. VF. Refers to the poor girls' charity and orphanage established by Antoninus in memory of his deceased wife. Rare. SOLD.
7191. ANTONINUS PIUS, 138-161 AD. Gold Aureus. Head of Pius r./COS IIII, togate Pius holding globe l.Choice EF+. SOLD.
7687. ANTONINUS PIUS, 138-161 AD. AR Denarius, HRIC 37. /PROVIDENTIA DEOVRM (foresight of the gods), ornate thunderbolt. EF+. Scarce. Choice sharply struck example. SOLD.
10788. RARE LARGE BRONZE MEDALLION OF ANTINOUS. STRUCK BY HADRIAN, 117-138 AD, AE medallion of Smyrna, Ionia. Antinous. Died AD 130. (38mm, 46.43 g, 6h). Polemon, magistrate. Bare head left / Bull standing right. Blum 8-11; BMC 339; cf. SNG Copenhagen 1367/1366 (obv./rev.); SNG von Aulock -. VF, brown surfaces with traces of green and blue. Some field smoothing and tooling but the obverse portrait of Antinous is impressive and quite nice both in style and detail. From the HLT Collection. One of the most remarkable cults of the ancient world was that which grew up around the youth Antinous, a boy from Claudiopolis in Bithynia who attracted the attention of the emperor Hadrian. Hadrian apparently had little love for his wife Sabina, and chose instead to shower favors on the handsome youth, whom he apparently chanced upon during a visit to Bithynia. During the emperor's tour of Egypt in October AD 130, Antinous fell into the Nile and drowned, an event surrounded by dark suspicions whispering of suicide or ritual murder. The distraught Hadrian had his favorite immediately deified, and the worship of Antinous became an important facet of the imperial cult.
SOLD.
9334. HADRIAN, 117-138 AD. Gold Aureus, HRIC _, RIC 91. /PM TR P COS III, Genius stg. l. holding grain ears and patera. EF. Rare. Especially nice bust of Hadrian with detailed drapery. SOLD.
11208. TRAJAN PATER, father of Trajan. Denarius, 20 mm., RIC 252, BMC 500. Cohen 140. Obverse: IMP TRAIANVS AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P laureate bust right with slight drapery on left shoulder. Reverse: DIVVS PATER TRAIAN Trajan's father seated left holding patera and scepter. Near EF. Nice example. Died c. 100 AD. Marcus Ulpius Traianus father of the emperor Trajan, commanded the 10th Legion during the Jewish War and conquered the city of Joppa. Named consul in 70 AD, he became governor of Syria and proconsul of Asia.
SOLD.
9432. PLOTINA, wife of Trajan. AR Denarius, HRIC 1 ($1000-$3000), Sear 1059 (£2000). /CAES AVG GERMA DAC COS VI PP, Vesta std. l. holding palladium and scepter. VF. Rare. SOLD.
10293. TRAJAN, 98-117 AD. AE Dupondius (26mm, 11.80 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 103-111. Radiate bust right, slight drapery on shoulders / Arabia standing facing, head left, holding branch and bundle of sticks; at feet to left, camel left. RIC II 467. Good VF, brown patina, obverse surfaces a bit pitted. Ex. CNG. From the J.S. Wagner Collection. SOLD.
9498. CHOICE NERVA PORTRAIT SESTERTIUS, 96-98. Sestertius, RIC.100. /Libertas stg. holding pileus and scepter. Superb EF portrait worthy of the finest collection! Very rare this nice. SOLD.
8060. NERVA, 96-98 AD. AR Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. /Crowned serpent holding caduceus and grain ear. VF. Scarce. SOLD.
9469. ROMAN TESSERA, temp. Domitian to Antoninus Pius, AD 81-161. AE Tessera (17mm, 2.49 g, 8h). A.P.P.F within oak wreath / Tall scepter surmounted by bareheaded male bust left. Cohen VIII 53; Gobl, Antike 104 = Vierordt Collection (Schulman, 17 June 1924), lot 27. VF, brown patina. Rare. SOLD.
9504. FASCINATING BARBARIC FAUSTINA SR. DENARIUS, wife Antoninus Pius. Barbaric style denarius. Struck by Celts or ancient counterfeiters. VF. Rare! Excellent Celtic portrait art! SOLD.
6620. HADRIAN. AE Dupondius. /Africa std. l. wearing elephant headdress and holding scorpion. EF. Scarce. An especially nice rv. with a lot of fine detail. SOLD.
7512. HADRIAN, AR Denarius. /Salus stg. l. AEF. Excellent style portrait. SOLD.
8923. HADRIAN DONATIVE SCENE DENARIUS. HADRIAN, 117-138. Denarius, HRIC 47/12. /Hadrian on platform with Liberalitas and deputy distributing coins to citizens. EF. Scarce. Refers to the third donative, ca. 121 AD. Nice example with a lot of detail in the reverse donative scene. SOLD.
8922. TRAJAN, 98-117.Silver Tetradrachm of Tyre. Portrait with eagle and club/Bust Melquarth. VF/EF. Scratches in rv field but sharp portrait. Better than image with fine quality portraits of both Trajan and Melquarth (the Phoenician name for Hercules). SOLD.
THE ADOPTIVE EMPERORS (Nerva & the Antonines), 96-192 ( Family Tree )
ANONYMOUS ISSUES, early 2nd century A.D.
NERVA, 96-98
SOLD.
6617. NERVA. AE Sestertius. /Libertas stg. l. VF+.
9498. CHOICE NERVA PORTRAIT SESTERTIUS, 96-98. Sestertius, RIC.100. /Libertas stg. holding pileus and scepter. Superb EF portrait worthy of the finest collection! Very rare this nice.
SOLD.
TRAJAN, 98-117
SOLD.
6619. TRAJAN. AE Sestertius. EF.
SOLD.
7543. TRAJAN, 98-117. Denarius, RIC307, C115, RSC284. Head of the emperor Trajan r./Trajan's Column which still stands in Rome. Toned EF. Superior example with detailed column and statues all on the flan.
SOLD.
7507. TRAJAN, BILLON TETRADRACHM OF EGYPT. Radiate hd. r./Nike stg. l.
10332. RARE TRAJAN REVERSE TYPE SESTERTIUS (CAST REPRODUCTION. Several others from the same mold are known.), 98-117 AD. AE Sestertius. IMPERATOR VIII - The fall of Singara. Trajan AE Sestertius. Rome mint. Struck AD 115. IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P, Laureate and draped bust right / IMPERATOR VIII in exergue, Trajan seated right on platform, placed on left, accompanied by two officers, addressing soldiers. RIC II 658; Banti 80. 20.08 g 32mm. Near Fine. Nice even dark glossy green patina. A very rare type considerably better than the photo shows. Trajan's acclamation by his troops as imperator for the eighth time occurred after the fall of the city of Singara in 115 during his campaigns on the eastern frontier. Singara itself was a strongly fortified post at the northern extremity of Mesopotamia, which for a while was occupied by the Romans as an advanced colony against the Persians. It was the camp of legio I Parthica. It's position, south-east of Nisibis, has not been clearly defined by ancient writers, Stephanus of Byzantium calling it a city of Arabia, near Edessa, and Ptolemy placing it on the Tigris. There can, however, be no doubt that it and the mountain near it are represented in the present day by the district of Singar in modern-day Iraq. See another EF example offered by Roma at $16,653.
SOLD.
PLOTINA, wife of Trajan
9432. RARE PLOTINA PORTRAIT IN SILVER, wife of Trajan. AR Denarius, HRIC 1 ($1000-$3000), Sear 1059 (£2000). /CAES AVG GERMA DAC COS VI PP, Vesta std. l. holding palladium and scepter. VF. Very rare.
SOLD.
SOLD.
7685. PLOTINA, wife of Trajan. AE18 of Gaba, Syria Trachonitis. Dated 171 AD. PLWTEINA CEBACTH, draped bust right. KLAU FI GABHNWN, Male figure (Men?) standing left, holding spear, left hand on hip. Date AOP in lower right field. Mionnet 5, 30. (not in BMC or the usual sources, but Mionnet came up with the goods, as he so often does for these rare provincials). Not Men with certainty, because he usually wears a Phrygian cap, and the male figure on this coin does not. Rare.
TRAJAN PATER, father of Trajan
MARCIANA, sister of Trajan, mother of Matidia
MATIDIA (Salonina Matidia), daughter of Marciana, niece of Trajan, mother-in-law of Hadrian, daughter of Marciana, mother of Sabina and Matidia the Younger
MATIDIA THE YOUNGER (Mindia Matidia or Matidia Minor), daughter of Matidia (Salonina Matidia), sister of Sabina
HADRIAN, 117-138
9334. HADRIAN, 117-138 AD. Gold Aureus, HRIC _, RIC 91. /PM TR P COS III, Genius stg. l. holding grain ears and patera. EF. Rare. Especially nice bust of Hadrian with detailed drapery.
SOLD.
SOLD.
11173. HADRIAN WITH PHAROS REVERSE, 117-138. AE Drachm of Alexandria Egypt, Koln 1125. EGYPT, (33mm, 25.54 g, 12h). Dated RY 17 (AD 132/3). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Isis Pharia advancing right, holding billowing sail; Pharos to right; L IZ (date) across field. Kšln -; Dattari (Savio) 1765-6; K&G 32.547. Near VF, brown patina, scratches, some roughness especially on the rim. A scarce and desirable type depicting the famous Pharos lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. The types all clear including the statues on the lighthouse. Provenance: From the Collection of Dick Schultz.
SOLD.
6106. HADRIAN, 134-138. Denarius, HRIC 49/2. /RESTITVTORI HISPANIAE, Hadrian raising Hispania. EF. Scarce.
SOLD.
7509. HADRIAN, AE24 OF EGYPT. /Uraeus cobra rearing r. Scarce.
SOLD.
7605. HADRIANUS, Dupondius. Bust of Hadrian to right, Concordia reverse. Nice portrait and very detailed reverse. Green patina. gVF/gVF with some deposits on reverse.
SABINA, wife of Hadrian
ANTINOUS, youthful lover of Hadrian
10117. RARE LARGE BRONZE MEDALLION OF ANTINOUS. STRUCK BY HADRIAN, 117-138 AD, AE 37 OF CLAUDIOPOLIS, BYTHNIA, Van Aulock 297, Waddington plate 41 #18, Svoronos 1914, plate II #14. Bare head of Antinous the favorite of emperor Hadrian r./Antinoos as Hermes striding l. wearing chylamys and carrying pedum, hound to l. F. A rare large coin of Antinous portrait better than image. Large medallions of Antinous are quite rare and sought after.
SOLD.
AELIUS, 136-138
SOLD.
8099. HADRIAN AND AELIUS, Augusta in Cilicia. AE24. Diademed hd. Hadrian l./Bare hd. Aelius r. ADRIANOC AYGOYCTANWN, laureate head of Hadrian left. L AILIOC KAICAR (possibly with the date E ZIR), head of Aelius right. Karbach 66; Winterthur 4560. For information: Lindgren III 802 and SNG Levante both have both busts facing right. Karbach, citing Imhoof's Winterthur example, is the only source of information for this coin. VF. Excessively rare.
ANTONINUS PIUS, 138-161
SOLD.
6622. ANTONINUS PIUS Sestertius. Bust of Antoninus to right. At reverse the emperor in a quadriga is shown. A wonderful reverse with much detail. AVF/nEF.
SOLD.
7508. ANTONINUS PIUS. AE DRACHM OF EGYPT. /Roma std. l. being crowned by Nike.
SOLD.
7191. ANTONINUS PIUS, 138-161 AD. Gold Aureus. Head of Pius r./COS IIII, togate Pius holding globe l.Choice EF+.
FAUSTINA SENIOR, wife of Antoninus Pius
GALERIUS ANTONINUS, son of Antoninus Pius and Faustina Senior
SOLD.
6624. GALERIUS ANTONINUS, son of Antoninus Pius. AE29 of uncertain city, GIC1540. Veiled bust of Faustina r./Bare-headed and draped bust of Galerius Antoninus r. VF+. Excessively rare. Some smoothing of fields, nevertheless a choice portrait of this elusive emperor’s son.
SOLD.
7944. GALERIUS ANTONINUS, son of Antoninus Pius. AE29 of uncertain city, GIC1540. Veiled bust of Faustina r./Bare-headed and draped bust of Galerius Antoninus r. VF. Excessively rare. Rare portrait of this elusive emperor's son.
MARCUS AURELIUS, 139-180
SOLD.
6108. ANTONINUS PIUS & MARCUS AURELIUS, Denarius, RIC417b. Hd. Antoninus/Bust Aurelius. EF. Scarce dynastic issue with a choice portrait especially that of the young Marcus Aurelius.
FAUSTINA JUNIOR, wife of Marcus Aurelius, daughter of Antoninus Pius
SOLD.
6109. FAUSTINA JR. AE26 of Philippopolis, Thrace. /Apollo stg. naked r., his arm resting on a column. VF. Scarce.
9460. RARE FAUSTINA JR. JUDEAN BRONZE, AE22 of Neapolis JUDAEA, Hendin_. /Cult statue of uncertain diety, perhaps Artemis, with plumes, animals below. F+. Rare.
SOLD.
T. AELIUS ANTONINUS and T. AURELIUS ANTONINUS, twin sons of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Jr., brothers of Commodus, Annius Verus and Lucilla
ANNIUS VERUS, son of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Jr., brother of Commodus, Aurelius Antoninus and Lucilla
LUCIUS VERUS, 161-169
9501. LUCIUS VERUS SUPERB PATINA SESTERTIUS, 161-169. AE Sestertius. /Concordia. EF. Superb lime green patina!
SOLD.
10162. LUCIUS VERUS, 161-169. AE Sestertius. L VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX; his diademed bust right. Reverse: Fortuna seated left holding rudder. AVF. Scarce with this obverse legend.
SOLD.
SOLD.
6438. LUCIUS VERUS, 161-169. Gold Aureus of 166/67AD, RIC.568, 7.19gm. /Concordia stg. l. holding abacus. EF+. A choice example with a high profile portrait rendered with great sensitivity.
LUCILLA, wife of Lucius Verus, daughter of Marcus Aurelius
COMMODUS, 166-192, son of Marcus Aurelius
9462. COMMODUS LEGIONARY REVERSE, 166-192. AR Denarius. /Commodus on platform haranguing legionary soldiers with standards. VF. Scarce.
SOLD.
9461. EXCELLENT YOUNG BEARDLESS PORTRAIT OF COMMODUS AS CAESAR, 166-177. AR Denarius, HRIC 89. /PRINC IVVENT, Commodus in military garb holding branch and scepter l., trophy of arms behind him. VF. Scarce
SOLD.
CRISPINA, wife of Commodus
THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD OF 193-197PERTINAX, 193
SOLD.
8061. WONDERFUL PERTINAX PORTRAIT SESTERTIUS, 87 days in 193 AD. AE Sestertius, HRIC _ ($3000-$10,000). /VOT DECEN TR P COS II, Pertinax veiled as a priest, stg. l. and sacrifici ng over a tripod. Choice EF portrait better than image. Very rare.
SOLD.
6110. PERTINAX, 87 days in 193 AD. AR Denarius, RIC 1a. Laur. hd. r./Aequitas stg. l., holding scales and cornucopia. AEF. Rare!
DIDIUS JULIANUS, 193
MANLIA SCANTILLA, wife of Didius Julianus
DIDIA CLARA, daughter of Didius Julianus
PESCENNIUS NIGER, 193-194
SOLD.
6627. PESCENNIUS NIGER. AR Denarius. EF. Choice example! Surface much better than image.
SOLD.
6628. PESCENNIUS NIGER, 193-194 AD. AR Denarius, RIC 26. /Fortuna stg. l. holding rudder & cornucopia. EF/VF. Rare.
8924. PESCENNIUS NIGER, 193-194 AD. Denarius, HRIC 19 ($1000-$3000). /IVSTITIA AVG, Justitia stg. l. holding scales. VF. Thin deposits on surfaces. Inexpensive coin of this rare Roman emperor, but with a decent clear portrait.
SOLD.
9472. PESCENNIUS NIGER, 193-194 AD. CAST REPRODUCTION. Denarius. /PIETAS AVG, Pietas stg. l. sacrificing over lighted altar. VF+. Rare. Nice clear portrait.
SOLD.
CLODIUS ALBINUS, 193-197
HOME > GALLERIES > TOP
