Roman Gold Coins

In 202 BCE, the Romans defeated Carthage in the Second Punic War, took over the gold mining region of Spain, and minted their first gold coins.

But it wasn't until Caesar returned from his victories in the Gallic wars with enough gold to issue 200 coins to each of his soldiers, and pay off the Roman Debt, that the aureus was born.

Originally, at about 8 grams, the aureus was comparable to the stater in weight; and one aureus was a month's pay for a legionaire.

Coinage also served as the Empire's newspaper, as each issue served notice as to who was in charge, what they looked like, their military accomplishments, conquests, public building projects, and religious affiliations.

As the Empire expanded, Rome was able to acquire gold from West Africa, Macedon, the Bosporus region and the Zagrean Mountains. At the same time, Rome was able to export a stable monetary system as well as a network of relatively safe highways and shipping routes that promoted an era of prosperous world trade.

By the time of Constantine, after many reforms and debasments, the areus weighed slightly more than half its original weight and was replaced with the Solidus at about 4.5 grams. The solidus (fine gold) retained it's status as the world's trade coin for the next 500 years.

After the battle of Phillipi, Octavian had to settle a large number of veterans, many of whom had also fought for Julius Caesar. This coin would have been part of that settlement package. The obverse shows a vigorous youthful Caesar, and the reverse shows the legionary standards along with plough and measuring rod, to symbolize the building and cultivation of the new settlements. Though there are many extant Caesar portrait coins, most of them were poorly engraved and hastily struck by moving mints under the duress of war.

Julius Caesar. 40 BC
AR Denarius (3.42 g, 8h). Rome mint. Tiberius Sempronius Graccus, quaestor designatus. Laureate head of Julius Caesar right / Aquila between signum to left and plough and decempeda (measuring rod) to right. Crawford 525/3; CRI 327; Sydenham 1128; Very Rare. Well struck and centered on a large flan. Old cabinet toning. Great metal. Wonderful Caesar portrait

EF.....................................$6,500

Tiberius (AD 14-37),

Gold Quinarius (half aureus denomination) 3.91g, AD 16/17, TIBERIUS DIVI F , laureate head right, rev TR POT XVII, Victory seated right on globe, holding wreath. - early type.. Provenance: Realms. Very Rare

Near EF..................................$5,600

Claudius (AD 41-54) Aureus (7,74 g), Rome 44/5. : TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG PM TRP IIII, Laureate head right. Rv.: Praetorian camp gate with guard holding speer and standard IMPER RECEPT. RIC:25, C:43. Perhaps the most famous gold coin of antiquity (After the ides mar). Provenance Peus Nachf. auction. Rare - awesome claudius portrait, well centered, struck
Good VF....................sold

VESPASIAN (AD 69-79) Av Aureus (7.39g) Rome 69-70 Laureate Head of Vespasian right, IUDEA mourning jewess seared right beneath trophy. Mazzini I pl lxii (this coin) RIC 15. Provenance: Ex Kollack collection. Ex Mazzini collection, Ex Burrage collection. Antiqua.
Commemorates Vespasian's victory in the Jewish War. Very rare
Several surface scrapes and marks, superb Vespasian portrait
EF ...........................SOLD

TRAJAN (AD 97-117)

Av Aureus (7,11 g.), Rome 112 - 114 : IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P, draped bust of Trajan. r./ Facade of Trajan's Forum. FORVM TRAIAN. RIC 257 Provenance: NAC auction. Rare

About VF....................$5500

HADRIAN (AD117-138) AV Aureus (7.21g) Rome 134-138 HADRAINUS AUG COS III PP head of Hadrian bare right/ VOTA PUBLICA - Hadrian veiled rt, sacrificing out of patera over alter, in fornt of four personages standing with a bull. Depicts Hadrian's induction into the Eastern Mystery Cult. Calico 1404. Provenance D Vagi. Extremely Rare and of the highest artisitic and historical merit
VF......................$12,500

LICINIUS I (308-324)

AV Aureus (5.4g) Siscia mint. 316. LICINEUS PF AUG laureate head of Licinius rt./ IOVI CONSERVATORE Jupiter naked standing lft - holding Victory on globe, eagle with scepter. RIC 425. Calico 62 var. Provenance: D Sear (certificate) Very Rare

NGC Graded: Mint State, strike 5/5, surf 4/5.........................................$14,500

CONSTANTINE I the Great (307-337)

AV Solidus Treveri mint 312-13 (4.33g) CONSTAN-TINUS P F AUG laureate head Constantine rt./ VIRTUS EX-ERCITUS GALL Mars naked carrying spear and trophy P TR. Dep 713 Calico 703-4 . Provenance D Sear (certificate) Very Rare - realistic constantine portrait, with a minor blemish in reverse field
.EF .................................sold

For info, comments, purchase requests contact: Jeff Kahn at Jkahn21@nyc.rr.com
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