denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Coin Auctions

Lot 3222 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3222 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Gordian II Africanus. Silver Denarius (3.03 g), AD 238. Rome. IMP M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian II right. Reverse VICTO-RIA AVGG, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm. RIC 2; BMC 28; RSC 12. Very Rare. Well struck, perfectly centered and lightly toned. A marvelous example of this important issue. Superb Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $6,000 - 7,000.
Ex A Gentleman's Collection (Triton XII, 5 January 2009), 722; Tkalec (18 February 2002), 219.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68
Lot 3143 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3143 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Domitilla II. Silver Denarius (3.50 g), Augusta, ca. AD 82/3. Rome, under Domitian, AD 82/3. DIVA DOMITILLA AVGVSTA, draped bust of Domitillia II right, hair in curls on forehead and braided in long plait down back of neck. Reverse FORTVNA AVGVST, Fortuna standing facing, head left, holding rudder and cornucopiae. RIC 157; BMC 137; RSC 3. Boldly struck on a huge flan and well centered on both sides. An incredible example, lustrous with hints of light golden toning. Extremely rare and among the finest known specimens. Superb Extremely Fine.

Although the first edition of RIC II assigns this exceptionally rare and spectacular denarius to Domitilla I, the wife of Vespasian, it is a coin of Domitilla II, the sister of Titus and Domitian. The coin is undated, but metrological evidence indicates that it was struck after Domitian's monetary reform of AD 82, specifically to the year 82/3 (see Carradice, Coinage and Finances in the Reign of Domitian, AD 81-96, pp. 16-22). The title of Augusta - which surprisingly was not mentioned by any ancient author - was given posthumously to the younger Domitilla, probably at the same time that Domitian's wife Domitia was awarded the title.
Estimated Value $30,000-UP.
Ex Numismatica Genevensis 7 (27-28 November 2012), 348; NAC 41 (20 November 2007), 63.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68
Lot 3213 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3213 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Severus Alexander. Silver Denarius (3.01 g), AD 222-235. Rome, AD 232. IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander right. Reverse SPES PVBLICA, Spes advancing left, holding flower and raising hem of skirt. RIC 254; BMC 897-900; RSC 546. Well struck and lustrous, lightly toned. Nearly Mint State.
Estimated Value $300 - 350.
Ex Davisson's 29 (16 December 2010), 66.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68
Lot 3126 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3126 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Otho. Silver Denarius (3.59 g), AD 69. Rome. IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P, bare head of Otho right. Reverse SECV-RI-TAS P R, Securitas standing facing, head left, holding wreath and scepter. RIC 8; BMC 18; RSC 17. Well struck in high relief and perfectly centered. Beautiful electric blue iridescense about the obverse borders. Extremely Fine.

Otho, of Etrurian stock, had been one of the most reckless and miscreant nobles in Nero's court. In AD 58, Otho's wife, the beautiful Poppaea Sabina, began a secret affair with the emperor and soon divorced Otho. At her insistence, Nero sent Otho far away, making him governor of the remote province of Lusitania. He remained there as governor for the next ten years, and Suetonius records his rule there as one of well-administered moderation.

In AD 68, Galba, the governor of the neighboring province of Hispania Tarraconensis, revolted against Nero, and Otho joined him in his march on Rome. Otho perhaps thought that by his support he would be named as successor by the aged and childless Galba, if Galba were successful in overthrowing Nero, but in this he was to be disappointed. Once Galba had become emperor, he formerly adopted Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus as his heir. With his hopes of peaceful succession now dashed, Otho boldly approached the Praetorian camp and bribed a few guardsmen, who were already aggrieved by Galba's refusal to pay the promised money for their support in his overthrow of Nero. They quickly found the emperor, who was making his way to the camp because of rumors of treachery, and brutally murdered him and Piso. They then declared for Otho, the Senate affirming the decision shortly afterward.

Despite his reckless youth, Otho's short reign showed signs of equitable administration, emulating his former career in Lusitania. However, he never enjoyed the opportunity of fully establishing this benevolent rule for as soon as he was in power he faced the formidable revolt of Vitellius and the Rhine legions. While at first he showed remarkable energy in mustering an opposition to the revolt, after his forces were soundly defeated at the Battle of Bedriacum he committed suicide, preferring to spare his soldiers and the empire further bloodshed.
Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68
Lot 3193 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3193 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Caracalla. Silver Denarius (3.5 g), AD 198-217. Rome, AD 213. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head of Caracalla right. Reverse P M TR P XVI COS IIII P P, Hercules, nude, standing facing, head left, holding branch, club and lion's skin. RIC 206a; BMC 48; RSC 220. Lustrous surfaces. Nearly Mint State.
Estimated Value $200 - 250.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68
Lot 3160 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3160 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Aelius. Silver Denarius (3.29 g), Caesar, AD 136-138. Rome, under Hadrian, AD 137. L AELIVS CAESAR, bare head of Aelius right. Reverse TRIB POT COS II, CONCORD in exergue, Concordia seated left, holding patera and resting arm on cornucopiae balanced on side of throne. Cf. RIC 443 (aureus); Strack 398; BMC 1001; RSC 11a. Boldly struck with the portrait in high relief. Extremely Fine.

Overlooking the BM specimen, Mattingly and Sydenham omitted this type when compiling RIC II, which was published in 1926. Four specimens were amongst the coins in the massive 1929 Réka-Devnia Hoard, and perhaps it is for this reason that it was 'rediscovered' by both Strack in his study of Hadrian (1933) and Mattingly in BMC (1936). The type was marginally more common by number of specimens relative to several other types found in Réka-Devnia; however, it remains an elusive rarity for today's specialist of Hadrian's coinage.
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,300.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68
Lot 3225 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3225 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Balbinus. Silver Denarius (3.2 g), AD 238. Rome. IMP C D CAEL BALBINVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Balbinus right. Reverse PROVIDENTIA DEORVM, Providentia standing facing, head left, hold wand over globe at feet to left and cornucopiae. RIC 7; BMC 3; RSC 23. Rare. Boldly struck on both sides on a wide flan. A splendid example of this rare issue and nicely toned. Superb Extremely Fine.

After the death of the Gordiani, the Senate nominated two of their own, Balbinus and Pupienus, as joint emperors to oppose Maximinus I who was then quickly marching towards Italy at the head of his legions from the Balkans. Pupienus had risen through the ranks of the military before becoming a senator and was thus the natural choice to lead the defense in northern Italy, while Balbinus stayed behind in Rome to shore up support there. When Maximinus' troops arrived before Aquileia, lack of provisions caused them to mutiny. They murdered the emperor and his son and paraded their disembodied heads on lances which they carried to Rome.

Although Maximinus was now out of the way, the city of Rome remained in a state of turmoil. The joint emperors, being wealthy patricians, were not well liked by the inhabitants who forced the Senate to nominate as Caesar the grandson and nephew of the Gordiani, Gordian III. Despite this attempt at appeasement, however, the people were in open revolt. Fire had been set to the city, causing much devastation and making many homeless. To make matters worse, the co-emperors were mutually suspicious of one another. In the ensuing disorder, the Praetorian Guard broke into the palace and murdered both emperors, elevating the young Gordian III as the new emperor.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500.
Ex Steinberg, NAC 1973 Sale, lot 320.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68
Lot 3144 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3144 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Nerva. Silver Denarius (3.4 g), AD 96-98. Rome, AD 96. IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P, laureate head of Nerva right. Reverse CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM, clasped hands before aquila set on prow. RIC 3; BMC 8; RSC 25. Well struck and well centered. Well toned with hints of iridescense. Extremely Fine.

The Roman emperor Nerva came from a distinguished family that was connected to the Julio-Claudian dynasty through marriage. He served under Nero and was instrumental in uncovering the Pisonian conspiracy in AD 65, and subsequently served under each of the three Flavian emperors in turn. Upon Domitian's assassination in AD 96, the Senate proclaimed Nerva emperor solely on their own initiative, the first such instance of the Senate exercising this prerogative during imperial times.

Upon his accession Nerva attempted to appease the Senate by ending Domitian's proscriptions and promising a general amnesty to the conspirators, stating he would not have any senators put to death. Additionally, he paid a large donative amounting to 5000 denarii a head to the Praetorian Guard. However, the Praetorians were dissatisfied, and in October AD 97 they laid siege to the Imperial Palace and took Nerva hostage. They demanded that the emperor hand over those responsible for Domitian's death, who were swiftly executed, and then forced Nerva to give a speech publicly thanking them. This event damaged the emperor's authority beyond repair, and shortly thereafter Nerva adopted as heir the popular general of the German frontier, Marcus Ulpius Traianus. With this accomplished, Nerva all but abdicated the throne, dying only three months later (January AD 98).
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,300.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68
Lot 3216 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3216 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Maximinus I 'Thrax'. Silver Denarius (3.41 g), AD 235-238. Rome, AD 235/6. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus I right. Reverse PROVIDE-NTIA AVG, Providentia standing facing, head left, holding wand over globe at feet to left and cornucopiae. RIC 13; BMC 15-6; RSC 77. Boldly struck on a huge flan and lustrous. Nearly Mint State.
Estimated Value $250 - 300.
Ex Helios 2 (25-26 November 2008), 360.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68
Lot 3127 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3127 - denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68 - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Vitellius. Silver Denarius (3.30 g), AD 69. Rome. A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate head of Vitellius right. Reverse PONT MAXIM, Vesta, veiled, seated on throne right, holding patera and scepter. RIC 107; BMC 34; RSC 72. Boldly struck and well centered. Lovely old cabinet toning. Superb Extremely Fine.

Vitellius was made Governor of Lower Germany by Galba. When the legions became disaffected from Galba's austere and strict rule, they renounced their allegiance to him and hailed Vitellius as emperor. Vitellius at first refused the imperial title, but he did take the name Germanicus and pledged to lead the revolt. Shortly thereafter the provinces of Britain, Gaul and Spain defected to him. Meanwhile in Rome Galba had been murdered and Otho installed as the new emperor by the Praetorian Guard.

Otho offered to share the emperorship with Vitellius, but the latter, whose forces were already marching on Rome, refused. A decisive engagement, the Battle of Bedriacum, was fought between the two sides in the vicinity between Cremona and Verona, and Vitellius's forces were victorious. Despite losing at Bedriacum, Otho perhaps could still have won the war - he had the support of the formidable legions of Dalmatia, Moesia and Pannonia, as well as both the Praetorian Guard and the Roman fleet - but instead chose to avoid civil war by committing suicide.

Once in Rome the Senate decreed Vitellius the usual imperial honors. The historians Suetonius, Tacitus and Dio Cassius do not record much positive about Vitellius's short reign, but he did implement some worthwhile and lasting changes (for instance, he accepted equites into the offices of imperial administration whereas before they had been open only to freedmen). Overall, though, his reign was irresolute, and Vitellius himself is described as lazy and self-indulgent.
Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - the civil wars a.d. 68