Divus Antoninus Pius. Died AD 161. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.33 g, 5h). Consecration issue. Rome mint. Struck under Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, AD 161. DIVVS ΛNTONINVS, bare head right / CONSECRΛTIO, Funeral pyre of four tiers, decorated with garlands, surmounted by facing quadriga. RIC III 436 (Aurelius); MIR 18, 27/4-10 (Aurelius); RSC 164; BMCRE 58-9. Lightly toned, underlying luster, traces of deposits. Choice EF. Well centered and struck with fresh dies.
From the Michael Rogal Collection. Ex Thomas A. Palmer Collection (Triton XXV, 11 January 2022), lot 920, purchased from Rick Ponterio, August 1989.
Marcus Aurelius. As Caesar, AD 139-161. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.30 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, AD 147-148. AVRELIVS CAE SAR AVG PII F, bare head right / TR POT II COS II, Minerva, helmeted and draped, standing facing, head right, holding long scepter in right hand and resting left on shield set on ground to right. RIC III 438b (Pius); RSC 608; BMCRE 636-8 (Pius). Toned. Choice EF. Artistic portrait.
From the Michael Rogal Collection. Ex Dr. Patrick H. C. Tan Collection (Triton XX, 10 January 2017), lot 755; Edward Waddell Inventory 52248; Egon Beckenbauer Collection (Künker 257, 10 October 2014), lot 8537.
Julia Domna. Augusta, AD 193-217. AR Denarius (19.5mm, 3.40 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Septimius Severus and Caracalla, circa AD 200-207. IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right / CERERI FRVGIF, Ceres, draped, seated left, holding grain ears in right hand and long torch in left. RIC IV 546 (Septimius); RSC 14; BMCRE 10-13 (Septimius and Caracalla). Die breaks and minor flan flaws on the reverse. Superb EF.
From the Michael Rogal Collection. Ex Rome on the Euphrates Collection (Triton XXV, 11 January 2022), lot 948.
Displayed at “Villa to Grave” Roman exhibit at Cedar Rapids Museum of Art September 2003-August 2005.
Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.77 g, 6h). Uncertain Spanish mint (Colonia Patricia?). Struck circa 18 BC. CAESARI AVG[VST]O, laureate head right / S • P • Q • R • in exergue, triumphal quadriga right; the chariot is ornamented on side and with Victory at front, in it is an aquila and a miniature, galloping quadriga right. RIC I 108a; RSC 272; BMCRE 394 = BMCRR Rome 4430; BN 1179. Lightly toned and faint hairlines. Good VF.
Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.84 g, 8h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck 15 BC. ΛVGVSTVS DIVI • F, bare head right / IMP • X across field, ΛCT in exergue, Apollo Citharoedus of Actium, wearing long drapery, standing facing, head left, holding plectrum in right hand and lyre in left. RIC I 171a; Lyon 28/6 (D116/R123); RSC 144; BMCRE 461 = BMCRR Gaul 175; BN 1397 (same dies). Toned, minor marks, faint hairlines, trace of die rust on obverse. Good VF.
From the Collection of a Gentleman, Kent, England. Ex Morton & Eden 68 (10 June 2014), lot 76.
Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.78 g, 9h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck AD 13-14. [CAES]AR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PA[TRIAE], laureate head right / TI CAESAR in exergue, AVG F TR POT [XV], Tiberius standing right, driving triumphal quadriga, holding eagle tipped scepter in left hand, laurel branch, and reins in right hand; all horses facing right. RIC I 222; Lyon 90; RSC 300; BMCRE 512; BN 1688-9; CNR VI 822 (this coin). Wonderful old cabinet tone, struck slightly off center. Good VF.
From the Collection of a Gentleman, Kent, England. Ex Spink 233 (2 December 2015), lot 554; Sir Charles Oman and son Collection (Part I, Christie’s, 2 July 1968), lot 54b (part of).
Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (20.5mm, 3.95 g, 8h). Rome mint; P. Petronius Turpilianus, moneyer. Struck 19/8 BC. P • PETRON • TVRPILI[AN III • V]IR •, draped bust of Feronia right, wearing pearl necklace and stephane, above which is a row of berries; FERO below bust / CAESAR AVGVS[TVS SIG]N RECE, bareheaded Parthian kneeling on right knee right, extending in right hand a signum, to which is attached a vexillum marked with X, and holding out left hand below left knee. RIC I 289 (R3); RSC 486; BMCRE p. 4, note *; BN 139. Attractive cabinet tone, small flan flaw on obverse. Good VF. Very rare. When Carradice and Buttrey published RIC II.1, they knew of only one example, in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.
From the Collection of a Gentleman, Kent, England, purchased from Baldwin’s, 24 April 2014.
Divus Augustus. Died AD 14. Æ Sestertius (33.5mm, 23.56 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck under Tiberius, AD 35-36. DIVO AVGVSTO S P Q R, OB/ CIVES/ SER in three lines on shield within oak-wreath supported by two capricorns; globe below / TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST P M TR P[OT] XXXVII around large S • C. RIC I 63 (Tiberius); BMCRE 109-10 (Tiberius); BN 93-5 (Tiberius); CNR VI 927/2 (this coin). Green-brown patina, some porosity, small flan flaw on obverse. VF.
Ex Gorny & Mosch 276 (19 April 2021), lot 506; Bolaffi 33 (29 November 2018), lot 330; Dr. Giorgio Giorgi Collection (M. Ratto, 26 January 1955), lot 198.
Tiberius. AD 14-37. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.74 g, 10h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck AD 15-16. TI CΛESΛR DIVI ΛVG F ΛVGVST[VS], laureate head right / TR PO[T XVII], IMP VII in exergue, Tiberius driving triumphal quadriga right, holding eagle-tipped scepter in left hand and branch in right. RIC I 4; Lyon 122; RSC 48; BMCRE 7-11; BN 5-8. Handsome gray and gold toning, struck slightly off center. Good VF. Rare.
From the Collection of a Gentleman, Kent, England. Ex Spink 233 (2 December 2015), lot 561; Classical Numismatic Group 76 (12 September 2007), lot 1349.
Trajan. AD 98-117. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.46 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 107. IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate bust right, slight drapery / S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Aequitas, draped, standing left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopia in left. RIC II 169; Woytek 222b1 (same dies); Strack 101; RSC 462; BMCRE 167; BN 243-4. Attractive light tone, minor flan flaw and a couple of short, shallow scratches on reverse. Superb EF. Well struck on a round flan.
From the Michael Rogal Collection. Ex Triton XXVII (9 January 2024), lot 746; Numismatica Ars Classica 120 (6 October 2020), lot 748.
Orbiana. Augusta, AD 225-227. AR Denarius (17.5mm, 3.24 g, 12h). Rome mint. Special marriage emission of Severus Alexander, AD 225. SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, draped bust right, wearing stephane / CONCORDI A AVGG, Concordia, draped, seated left, holding patera in right hand and double cornucopia in left. RIC IV 319 (Alexander); BMCRE 287-9 (Alexander); RSC 1. Toned. In NGC encapsulation 8209274-015, graded AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5.
Ex Brian Henry Grover Collection (Roma E-Sale 72, 25 June 2020), lot 1204 (hammer £1900).
The Triumvirs. Octavian. Autumn 31 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.43 g, 12h). Cyrene mint. L. Pinarius Scarpus, moneyer. Open right hand left; IMP • CAESARI above, SCARPVS • IMP below / Victory standing right on globe, holding wreath tied with fillet in extended right hand and palm frond over left shoulder in left hand; DIVI • F downward to right, AVC • PONT downward to left. Crawford 546/6; CRI 413; Sydenham 1282; RIC I 534; RSC 500; BMCRR Cyrenaica 5 = BMCRE 689; BN 894; Kestner –; RBW 1855. Deep cabinet tone with bright blue and red iridescence, roughness, a few scrapes. Near VF.
From the 1930’s Collection of Robert W. Hubel of Michigan. Ex Sir Arthur Evans Collection (Ars Classica XVII, 3 October 1934), lot 1068.
L. Pinarius Scarpus had been appointed by Antony to command his four legions in Cyrenaica against Octavian's African army, under the command of Cornelius Gallus. After learning of Antony's defeat at Actium, Scarpus transferred his allegiance to Octavian. This issue was struck shortly after the battle of Actium, the open hand signaling a gesture of friendship toward Octavian.
The Triumvirs. Octavian. Autumn 30-summer 29 BC. AR Denarius (16.5mm, 3.81 g, 12h). Uncertain mint in Italy (Rome?). Laureate head of Apollo of Actium right, with features resembling Octavian / Octavian, as city founder, veiled and wearing priestly robes, holding whip in extended left hand and plow-handle in right, plowing right with yoke of oxen; IMP • CAESAR in exergue. CRI 424; RIC I 272; RSC 117; BMCRR Rome 4363-5 = BMCRE 638-40; BN 92-6. Toned over lustrous surfaces, trace of die rust on obverse. EF.
This issue refers to the foundation of Nicopolis in Epirus by Octavian during the Actian campaign. This scene, in which the founder is plowing with oxen, refers to the Roman custom of fixing a boundary for a new city by marking it with a pomerium, or sacred furrow.
Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.88 g, 9h). Rome mint; L. Mescinius Rufus, moneyer. Struck 16 BC. Laureate head right / L • MESCINI VS • RVFVS, Mars, wearing crested helmet, naked except for a cloak falling over his right arm, standing left on low pedestal, holding transverse spear in right hand and parazonium in left; S • P • Q • R/V • PR • RE/CAES in three lines on pedestal. RIC I 351; RSC 463a; BMCRE 86 = BMCRR Rome 4479; BN 331-6. Lightly toned, faint hairlines. Near EF. Well centered on a broad, round flan.
Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.79 g, 10h). Rome mint; L. Vinicius, moneyer. Struck 16 BC. Bare head right / [L •] VINICIVS in exergue, triumphal arch, surmounted by facing quadriga, in which Augustus stands, holding laurel branch in right hand and scepter in left; smaller arch on either side, surmounted by archer on left and by slinger on right; S • P • Q • R/IMP CAE in two lines on entablature of arch. RIC I 359; RSC 544; BMCRE 77-8 = BMCRR Rome 4477-8; BN 348-51; Elkins, Monuments Figure 57. Toned, banker’s mark and shallow scratch in field under tone on obverse. Good VF. Rare.
From the Michael Rogal Collection. Ex Kallman Collection (Triton XX, 10 January 2017), lot 638; Richard Prideaux Collection (Triton XI, 8 January 2008), lot 782.
The reverse depicts the Parthian Arch. This coin solves an archaeological problem of the Arches in the Forum, where only one base has been found for the two arches built (the Actian and the Parthian). The Parthian Arch was the Actian Arch. Builders added one smaller arcade on each side of the existing Actian Arch which is quite recognizable as the central arcade of the new arch, with the quadriga on its top. The two side arcades support Parthian archers.
The transformation of the former Actian Arch may be explained by three factors. There was significant economy in just adding to the existing arch. Space in the Forum was limited. The Actian Arch hadn’t been welcomed or appreciated by the people of Rome. The “official” version behind Actium had been the declaration of war on Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. This had not fooled the well-informed citizens and inhabitants of Rome, who knew that Mark Antony had been the actual enemy defeated. A triumphal arch celebrating a victory over other Roman citizens must have seemed inappropriate. Augustus seized the opportunity of making the controversial celebration of Actium disappear inside a consensual Parthian victory triple Arch.
Gaius (Caligula). AD 37-41. Æ As (29mm, 11.14 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 37-38. C • CAESAR • AVG • GERMANICVS • PON • M • TR • POT •, bare head left / VESTA above, S C across field, Vesta, veiled and draped, seated left on ornamental throne, holding patera in outstretched right hand and transverse scepter in left. RIC I 38; BMCRE 45-8; BN 54-71. Dark brown patina with touches of green, minor cleaning/smoothing marks. EF. Well struck.
From the Michael Rogal Collection. Ex Triton XX (10 January 2017), lot 659; Heritage 3024 (18 April 2013), lot 24842; Stack’s (24 April 2008), lot 2283; Kroisos Collection (Stack’s, 14 January 2008), lot 2352.
Claudius. AD 41-54. Æ As (30.5mm, 9.58 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 41-42. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP, bare head left / LIBERTAS AVGVSTA, S C across field, Libertas, draped, standing facing, head right, holding pileus in right hand and extending left hand. RIC I 97; von Kaenel Type 62; BMCRE 145-6; BN 177-8. Even green-brown patina, lightly smoothed. EF. Powerful portrait.
Ex Classical Numismatic Review XLVI.1 (Winter 2021), no. 559028; Classical Numismatic Group 115 (16 September 2020), lot 622.
Galba. AD 68-69. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.50 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa July AD 68-January AD 69. IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG P M, laureate head right / ROMA RENASCES, Roma, helmeted and in military dress, standing left, holding Victory on globe in right hand and transverse eagle-tipped scepter in left. RIC I 229; RSC 208; BMCRE p. 313, note †; BN 103. In NGC encapsulation 2491176-001, graded Ch VF★, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5, Fine Style.
Though reigning scarcely seven months, Servius Sulpicius Galba has the honor of inspiring Rome’s portrait artists to reach heights never again equaled or surpassed. Achieving the throne at age 70, Galba was a wizened Roman aristocrat whose sagging, craggy countenance could not have been more different than that of his predecessor, the bloated and dissolute Nero. Indeed, Galba seems to have deliberately promoted himself as a steely martinet who would restore Rome to proper Republican austerity.
Otho. AD 69. AR Denarius (17.5mm, 3.33 g, 5h). Rome mint. Struck 15 January–8 March. IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P, bare head right / SECV RI TΛS P R, Securitas, draped, standing left, holding wreath in right hand and scepter in left. RIC I 8; Muona Group 1, Type 4B, Portrait Type B; RSC 17; BMCRE 17-8; BN 10. Deeply toned. In NGC encapsulation 4170300-001, graded Ch VF, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5, edge marks.
Otho. AD 69. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.44 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck 15 January-8 March. IMP OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P, bare head right / SECVR I TAS P R, Securitas, draped, standing left, holding wreath in right hand and scepter in left. RIC I 10; Muona Group 2, Type 9B, Portrait Type D; RSC 15; BMCRE 19; BN 11-13 . Attractively toned. VF.
From the Collection of a Gentleman, Kent, England, purchased from Baldwin’s, 29 November 2013; Roma II (2 October 2011), lot 606; W. B. and R. E. Montgomery Collection (Heritage 3012, 2 January 2011), lot 24661.