Coins of the First Century
From Augustus to Trajan
RC 3238 – Claudius (41-54 AD) – brass sestertius of 42 AD
obverse – TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TR P IMP
reverse – SPES AVGVSTA
Spes (Hope) advancing carrying flower and holding skirt.
Hope is always personified as a young girl going out in adult dress for the first time, raising her skirt clear of the mud.
£150
RC 3323 – Nero (54-68 AD) silver denarius of 66-67 AD
Obverse – IMP NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS
Reverse – SALVS
Salus (safety) seated.
£140
RC 3222 – Nero (54-68 AD) silver denarius of 67-68 AD
Obverse – IMP NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS PP
Reverse – IVPPITER CVSTOS
Jupiter seated.
£165
RC 3225 – Otho (January to April, 69 AD) – silver denarius
Obverse – IMP OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P
Reverse – VICTORIA OTHONIS
Victory advancing.
It is thought this coin was issued in anticipation of beating Vitellius’ army in a forthcoming battle, a battle which Otho’s army lost!
£475
RC 0375 – Vitellius (January to December 69 AD) – silver denarius
obverse -VITELLIVS GERMANICVS [IMP]
reverse [CONCORDIA]
Concord (harmony) seated
£155
RC 3227 – Vitellius (January to December 69 AD)
silver denarius of May/June 69
obverse -VITELLIVS GERMAN IMP TR P
reverse LIBERTAS RESTITVTA
Liberty standing holding Cap of Liberty and staff.
The Pileus or Cap of Liberty was the red conical cap presented to freed slaves
(presumably while their hair grew back).
In the late 18th century, it was the symbol adopted by the American and French Revolutionaries.
£245
RC 2947 – Vitellius (January to December 69 AD)
silver denarius of July to December 69
Obverse – A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P
Reverse – XV VIR SACR FAC
Lebes (a sacrificial bowl on a tripod), dolphin above, eagle below.
£ 295
RC 2930 – Vespasian (69-79 AD) brass sestertius of 30mm
(Rome mint 71 AD)
Obverse – [IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG PM TR P PP COS III]
Reverse – CAES AVG F [DES IMP AVG F COS DES IT]
Titus and Domitian Caesars standing
£85
RC 3305 – Vespasian (69-79 AD) copper as of 26mm
(Lugdunum mint 77-78 AD)
Obverse – IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVG COS III PP
Reverse – no legend – SC – Eagle standing on a globe
£100
RC 2951 – Domitian (81 – 96 AD) – silver denarius of 87 AD
Obverse – IMP CAES DOMITIAN AVG GERM PM TR P VIII
Reverse – IMP XXII COS XVI CENS PPP
Minerva (war goddess) standing on a galley prow with spear & shield,
owl at her feet
£135
RC 3228 – Domitian (81 – 96 AD) – brass sestertius of 86 AD
Obverse – IMP CAES DOMITIAN AVG GERM CENS PER PP
Reverse – [no legend] – Domitian standing, being crowned by Victory,
holding a palm
£175
RC 2990 – Trajan (98-117AD) – copper quadrans of 15 mm
(Rome mint 107 AD)
A quadrans was the “widow’s mite” of the Bible
Obverse – IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVGVST
Reverse – no legend – SC – she wolf
£45
RC 0617 – Trajan (98-117 AD) – copper as of 28 mm (Rome mint 101 AD)
Obverse – IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM PM
Reverse – TR POT COS IIII PP – SC
Justice seated on a chair of crossed cornucopiae
£68
