AugustusCoins

Interesting ancient coins, offered by Augustus Coins

If you want to buy ancient coins and you are in the US, you are beginning at the right page. My coins are interesting and in nice condition, but inexpensive; all cost much less than $1000. If you want to learn more about ancient coins, visit my educational ancient-coin website (begun in 1997 and expanded very many times since then). If you like to learn from books, visit my page of ancient-coin literature. For more about me, see see here.

Contents: This is the main page with Roman coins and some of newest listings from other series too, at the top. For late Roman, Byzantine, or Greek coins, or books about them, use the links to the left.

Skip down to Republican, 1st C, 2nd C, or 3rd C , Tetrarchy (Diocletian - Licinius II)

Recent: 2024, April 16: Some literature prices reduced.
2024, April 9: Justinian, Antioch year 13, and Tancred, of the First Crusade, on the Byzantine page. Theodosius galley and a lovely coded ant of Maximian and a Diocletian very rare small abdication piece (top of this page).
2024, April 4: Honorius, facing bust. First Crusade, Baldwin II, at the top of this page.
2024, April 2: Constantine, Sol with Victory on globe. Valentinian II VRBS ROMA. Justinian K on the Byzantine page.
2024, March 14: A page of ancient imitations from the time of Constantine.
2024, March 8: Alexius, anonymous Class J. Tiberius II X, Justin II Є from Nicomedia on the Byzantine page.
2024, March 6: A rare Turkoman figural coin on the Byzantine page.
2024, March 5: An entirely new page of ancient imitations from the time of Constantine . (I spent years working on my collection of imitations and now I am passing some of them along.)

wwestyc wwestypage
Prices are in brackets: [$xx].

To order, or simply to ask me questions, write me, Warren, at

.
(I am on Pacific time, so if you are in the east and write me at 8:00 am it is only 5:00 am where I am.)
My page of terms, which are essentially repeated here:
All coins are guaranteed genuine.

Terms of Sale. Please tell me if you are not in the US. If you are outside the US, shipping will be $20 or $25. (I'm very sorry shipping outside the US is so expensive.) See more here.
After I confirm I still have the coin:
If you are in the US you can pay with Zelle (preferred) or PayPal to my e-mail address. (I also accept checks.) (Why I prefer Zelle.)

Shipping in the US is $2 for orders under $25, $3 up to $50, $4 up to $100, and an additional $2 for each hundred thereafter.
Reminder: When you buy a coin you must add in the shipping cost. Don't think a coin offered at $20 elsewhere will cost you $20. It won't. Shipping could easily be $6 or more. In contrast, I charge only $2 for shipping a $20 coin in the US.

Purple means "SOLD" and no longer available

Newest next. Skip the newest coins and go down to Roman coins in chronological order

NOTE: This page now includes Tetrarchal coins (below). It incorporates the previous "Tetrarchy" page.

Theodosius, 379-395
AE2. 21 mm. 5.17 grams.
Bust right in helmet with crest and spear forward
DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG
GLORIA ROMANORVM
Emperor on galley (the "ship of state") left, Victory at the rudder
ANTΓ
[$32 SOLD]

Maximian, 286-305
23 mm. (large for a radiate) 3.97 grams.
"Coded" antoninianus from Siscia
where the officina mark is given two ways
B for "2" in XXIB
and "KOY" which is the second part of
Hercules = HRKOYΛI = HR / KOY / ΛI
which you can read about on my page:
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/officina/
IMP C M AV VAL MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
Bust right, radiate and cuirassed
CONSERVATORI AVGG
emperor standing right and Hercules standing left, each holding a patera in his right hand over a flaming altar on a tripod. The emperor has a vertical scepter in his left hand and Hercules rests his left arm on his club.
Lovely! [$69 SOLD]
I salute the researcher who figured out what the Romans were doing at Siscia with these odd mintmarks. Gert Boersema states in an article on "The translation of the codewords AEQVITI, IOBI and HPKOYΛI" (footnote 8) that it was discovered by Von Kolb in Vienna and who published it in 1872. It was already known to the author of RIC V (page 211), Percy Webb, in 1927.

Very rare!
Remarkably small Diocletian late abdication piece dated to 310
when Maxmian was either dead or no longer retired
This type is normally 27-28 mm and this one is only 23-22 mm. The size of coins had decreased since retirement issues began in 305.
Antioch is the only mint to issue abdication pieces this late and in this size.
23-22 mm. 5.88grams.
RIC VI Antioch 136 page 637 "R3" "310" Extremely rare.
DN DIOCLETIANO BEATISSIMO SEN AVG
PROVIDENTIA DEORVM QVIES AVG (with only one "G", unlike all the others of this design)

*
Δ
ANT
Not in good shape, but very rare and I collected abdication peices for years before I discovered this smaller version. I suppose it could be a half, but RIC has it with other folles of 310 which are about its size. To want it you must appreciate rarity and interest more than condition.
My own thoughts: Antioch recognized Maximian's third reign and most mints did not. So, Maximian, in their view, was no longer retired in 310, so this issue with only one "G" is appropriate. [$37 SOLD]
For more about abdication pieces, see my page: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/tetrarchy/retirement.html

Honorius, 393-423
18-17 mm. 2.54 grams.
Helmeted facing bust, slightly to right, spear across righ shoulder and shiled with cross.
CONCORDIA AVGGG
Constantinopli seated holding long staff and Victory on globe, right foot on tiny prow
CONSA

RIC X 88, Constantinople. Struck 401-403 with Theodosius II and Arcadius.
Sear V 20992 (says $50 in VF)
Very nice, especially for a coin this late. [$34 SOLD] Always, compare with quality and price on vcoins.

First Crusade
Baldwin II, at Edessa. Second reign, 1108-1118.
22-21 mm. 4.07 grams.
Struck after c. 1110, his third type.
Count in armor walking left, holding cross in right hand with his left hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist. Legend around, usually flat and illegible but on this example much of the key part can be seen.
(From 1:00) BAΓΔOVNOC ΔO-YΛO CATV (some letters ligate. The "B" is larger than the others.) ("Baldwin, servant of the cross") By the way, the reason for this spelling of "Baldwin" on these coins is Armenian influence which is discussed by Murray, Alan V. "The Greek inscriptions on the coinage of Count Baldwin II of Edessa (1100-18)". Numismatic Chronicle 2022, pages 243-248. This article explains some of the apparently erroneous Greek spelling on the coins as the result of Armenian pronunciation.
Cross with floral ornament at the base, much like a Class I Byzantine anonymous follis.. Pellets in the angles and pellets alongside the ends of the cross.
CCS Edessa 9a. Metcalf 109-111
Porteous --. Sch I.7
Pretty nice for the type which is rare and usually in terrible condition. It is nice that with all the usual flaws of crusader coins, this one has the key part of the name legible. [$89 SOLD]

Constantius II
SMHΔ Heraclea
PROVIDENTIAE CAESS
Bust left
High grade [$23 SOLD]

Theodosius, 379-397
AE 2. 22 mm.
Helmeted bust right with spear and shild
GLORIA ROMANORVM,
Emperor on galley steered by Victory.
CONS Constantinople mint
Lovely orange and black [$28]

Honorius
17-16 mm.
RARE
VRBS ROMA FELIX
SMROM
Soldier holding Victory on globe
This is very nice for the type which never(?) comes full flan and nice. When found, it is in poor shape for Honorius, Arcadius, or Theodosius II.
[$39] Please look at your (other) favorite site for comparable coins and their prices.

Arcadius
AE2. 21-20 mm.
VIRTVS EXERCITI
ANTS Antioch.
Black with light cover [$24]

Arcadius
AE2. 23-21 mm.
GLORIA ROMANORVM
the "Hand of God" crowns Arcadius.
An interesting early Christian type.
CONΓ*
Constantinople
Black, with nice light cover [$35]

Constantine, 307-337
Bust right in close-fitting helmet
VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP
VOT PR on shild held by two Victories
SIS for Siscia
Black with nice tan cover. [$18]

Constantius II
16 mm. Small
VOT XX MVLT XXX
SM ALE for Alexandria
Lovely color. Look at the ear and hair. A beautiful small coin.
[$19]

Licinius, 308-324
19 mm. 2.73 grams.
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG
Jupiter standing left, over captive, holding Vicotry on globe.
RIC Antioch 27S, page 680. Struck 317-320.
Ex Berk auction #5 in 1978.
Consular bust left [$20 SOLD]

Constantine, 307-337
18 mm.
Interesting variant of the very common
SOLI INVICTO COMITI
type, however this one has a captive left.
RIC VII Rome 52, "316-7"
316 AD is well after his Christian vision of 312, but Sol, the sun god, is still on his coins and our "Sunday" still retains his name. The variant with the captive is unusual.
A vcoins search on "Constantine SOLI captive" gets three hits, one at 34 euros and others at $250 and $400. Ridiculous! How does that seller ever sell any coins?
[$19 SOLD] (See other late Roman types on the "Constantinian" page.)

Maximian,
28 mm. 9.25 grams.
IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS P F AVG Laureate head right. Rev. GENIO POPVLI ROMANI Genius standing left, two stars in left field, Δ and crescent in right,
ANT in exergue. RIC 50b.
Repatinated. Lovely! [$32 SOLD]

Maximian. (286-305 AD).
20mm, 2.71g
Cyzicus
IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS P F AVG. radiate cuirassed bust of Maximian right.
CONCORDIA MILITVM. Jupiter standing left presents Victory on a globe to Maximianus standing right. White cover. [$23]

Licinius I. (321-323 AD).
21mm, 2.91g
Alexandria.
IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG. laureate bust of Licinius right.
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG. Jupiter standing and holding Victoria on globe ; eagle at his feet. White cover. [$19]

Maximinus II, 305-311
26-24 mm.
GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB CAES. laureate bust of Maximianus right.
GENIO CAESARIS. Genius standing left holding patera and cornucopiae.
MKV Cyzicus mint
[$19, reduced to $15 SOLD]

NOTE: This page now includes Tetrarchal coins (below). It incorporates the previous "Tetrarchy" page.

Okay, it is not an ancient coin, and not ancient, but it is interesting. A small thimble, 14 mm diameter, 15.3 mm deep. (Too small for even my little finger.)
I know almost nothing about it. I bought it from the "artifacts" section of an ancient-coin auction. Thimbles are a medieval invention, not ancient.
I will ship it in a small but strong box inside an envelope so it doesn't get crushed in the mail.

[$9 + $5 shipping] (If you also order coins, they will not add to the shipping cost unless the coins are expensive.)

BOOKS!

"Late Roman Coins In the Dumbarton Oaks Collection" [Arcadius (included) to Anastasius (excluded)] by Grierson and Mays, which is a massive hardcover book of 499 pages and 37 page-plates with 955 coins well-photographed lots of excellent commentary, charts, etc. Nice dustjacket. I love this book for very late Roman coins. It is much like the Dumbarton Oaks Byzantine catalogs, but for earlier coins. It is on Amazon, used, lowest at $90. Here, an excellent copy, only the former owner's name in pencil [which could be erased] on the flyleaf, for $75 + $8 shipping (it is heavy!)

Books! Coinage and Finances in the Reign of Domitian: A.D. 81-96 (BAR International) Paperback, 1983. Beautifully hardbound in heavy red cloth covers. Somebody did a nice job having it covered. The original cardcover book and its cover is all there after a flyleaf. Title in black on the spine. Unmarked and seems nearly new. [ $119+$5 shipping.]
(For other books and catalogs, see http://augustuscoins.com/numislit.html ]

Book. The large two-volume book by Estiot on coins of Aurelian and Florian, "Monnaies de l'Empire Romain, D' Aureline a Florien, 270-276", with 456 pages in French (most lists, tables, and coin IDs, easy to read), plus 100 page plates and 16 pages of color enlargements and many tables. This copy is excellent.
None on Amazon. AddAll at $199 or $220 but shipped from Europe.
Here, a very good copy at $180, reduced to $155, including shipping in the US only.

Roman Republican semis imitation from Spain
(which rarely had its own mint so locals issued imitations to supply the need for small change)
First century BC. c. 100-25 BC.
Small. 17-15 mm. 2.19 grams.
Head of Saturn right; S (mark of value) behind
Prow right; horizontal S (mark of value) above. Cf. Burgos R46.
cf CNG https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=270492
for a very similar coin, not as nice, for $60 plus fees.
Crawford "Unoffical imitations and small change under the Roman Republic" AIIN 29 (1982) plate XI, 21. Also, plate II 19 (same dies!)
"Found almost always in the south of Spain, near Seville"
Better than the CNG piece. [$49, reduced to $47]
This coin cited in Rippolès and Witschonke, "The unofficial Roman Republican semisses struck in Spain" in Studies in Ancient Coinage in Honor of Andrew Burnett, 2015. #116h, not illustrated.

Second Century

Hadrian (117-138)

Hadrian, 117-138. Struck c. 117. The smallest Roman denomination! Sometimes called an "uncia." It is much smaller than a quadrans.
Struck very near the beginning of his reign, c. 117. (The only other coin of a similar type is of Trajan, which is distinguished only by its portrait of Trajan. See the next coin.)
10.5-9.5 mm. 1.15 grams. Tiny!
His bust right with no legend.
"SC" in wreath.
Sear II 3250, page 170 "Rome, 112-117"
RIC Hadrian 629b.
Sear II 3705 page 170
Tiny! Good portrait for the small size. [$39, reduced to $33] PRC III 3681 Antioch "chalkous" "product of Rome." "Struck for circulation in Syria". It seems these of Hadrian are poorly made compared to those of Trajan. This one is nice "for type."

19 mm fourré. (ancient imitation) 2.53 grams.
Hadrian, 117-138
IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG
/PM TRP COS III, Victory right holding trophy forward
plated piece: 19 mm. 6:00. 2.53 grams
Remarkably nice reverse.
Prototype: RIC 101 "AD 119-122", BMC 212, plate 51.1. Hill 237 "AD 123"
[$29, reduced to $27]
ex Esty collection of ancient imitations (old photo taken with a scanner back in the day).

Antoninus Pius (138-161)

Antoninus Pius, 138-161
Denarius 18 mm. 3.09 grams.
without the title Augustus ("as Caesar")
Antonius Pius and Marcus Aurelius were designated heirs of Hadrian. When the senate declined to deify Hadrian, Antoninus Pius declined to take the title Augustus. The senate caved to the pressure.
IMP T AEL CAES ANTONINVS (His name included "Titus" and he used "Aelius," one of the names of Hadrian)
TRIB POT COS
Pietas standing by altar raising right hand
bare head right
RIC II.3 Hadrian 452a
Old RIC 2 (the Hadrian volume) Hadrian 445 "138, Feb. 25 - July 19)
Pietas has a component of caring for your parents and Antoninus Pius says, with this coin, that he expects Hadrian, his adoptive father, to be cared for by deification.
This coin is early in the first year as can be seen by TRIB POT without a number and not even "DES II" which is used near the end of the year to assert he is designated to be TRIB POT II next year. [$145, reduced to $125 SOLD]

Maximian (286-305 and later)

Maximian
21-20 mm. 4.21 grams.
HERCVLI PACIFERO
Hercules standing left holding olive branch in right and club and lion-skin in left
Γ in field left, nothing in exergue.
RIC V.II Maximian 371, page 263 "Lugdunum, 288"
Bastien 95 p.134, 3rd emission, 4th officina (286 AD)
Sear 13131.
Good silver. Somewhat porous. Lots of reverse detail. [$35, reduced to $29]

Club and lion-skin!

Maximian, 286-305.
22 mm. 4.23 grams. Heavy with better silver than typical.

IMP C MAXIMIANVS AVGHERCVLI INVICTO AVGG
Hercules standing left holding Victory on globe, lion-skin over left arm, leaning on club.
S in left field, nothing in exergue.
Obverse: radiate bust left holding club over far shoulder, lion skin over near (his left) shoulder.
RIC V.II Maximian 367, page 263, "Lugdunum, 289"
Bastien 190 p.152, 5th emission, 2nd officina (287-289 AD).
Sear 13132.
Rare bust type. Lots of silvering. [$295, reduced to $235, reduced to $215] Please compare with prices elsewhere.

Maximian
21-20 mm. 3.02 grams.
HERCVLI PACIFERO
Hercules standing left holding olive branch in right and club and lion-skin in left
Δ in field left, nothing in exergue.
RIC V.II Maximian 371, page 263 "Lugdunum, 288"
Bastien 95 p.134, 3rd emission, 4th officina (286 AD)
Sear 13131.
[$39, reduced to $34, reduced to $27]

Quarter Follis of Siscia
19 mm.
Maximian
IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS PF AVG
GENIO POPVLI ROMANI
SIS
This is not the usual full-size follis, rarther the scarcer (but not rare) "quarter follis".
RIC Siscia 146, "R3" (RIC rarities are out of date.)
plate IX
Failmezger 29 [$16, reduced to $14]

[$39, reduced to $35] Maximian post-reform radiate. 20 mm.
VOT / XX in wreath, struck 297-8.
Vows for 20 years of reign (which is what Diocletian wanted and imposed)
RIC Rome 85b, "Scarce" and this officina is unlisted. (It is listed for nearby issues, but not this type.)
Should it be worth a lot more for being "not in RIC"? Maybe a little. If that appeals to you, and it does to most collectors somewhat, buy this one. Most collectors don't have any coins "not in RIC."

Maximian, 286-305, struck posthumously, 317-318, by Constantine in his 3-emperor commemorative series.
AE 16. (small denomination) RIC Siscia 41, page 429, "r3" (extremely rare, but minor, variety). [$59, reduced to $32 SOLD]

Constantius, 293-305-306
20-19 mm
Struck as Caesar
IMP VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C
VOT XX in wreath
No visible officina number
RIC VI Rome 87e variety. "c.297-8." Footnote 2 says some apparently have no officina number. [$49, reduced to $33]

VOT XX is hard to explain for Constantius with this date. It might be the vows of Diocletian (not Constantius) reconfirmed at year 15 (as proposed by RIC). It might be the coin is really from c. 303 (as the Carthage coins above) and this is vows suscepta for Constantius on the occasion of his ten-year vows. Of, it might be really from c. 303 and the vow number belongs to Diocletian. It is certainly the case that vow numbers can belong to the senior ruler and not the ruler named on the coin.

[$39, reduced to $23] Constantius I. Struck c. 297-8 at Rome. 19 mm. 3.14 grams.
VOT XX A in wreath.
RIC VI Rome 88a. page 360.
A reference to the "20 years" intended for the tetrarchy.
Rare. None on vcoins or MA-Shops as of this writing.

Maxentius (306-312)

Maxentius. 306-312
half-follis. 20 mm. 3.13 grams.
VICTORIA AETERNA ANG N
Victory standing right inscribing shield with VOT X, captive below to left
R S
RIC Rome 227 "scarce" struck "c. 310"
[$59, reduced to $32]

Maximinus II (310-313)

Maximinus II, 305-310-313
19 mm.
Struck 305-306
quarter follis
GENIO POPVLI ROMANI
SIS for Siscia
RIC Siscia 171b
The short version of his obverse legend
MAMIMINVS NOB C [$33, reduced to $17]

[$39] Maximinus II, Daza. 305-310-313 AD.
Struck as Caesar, c. 305-6 at Aquileia. RIC VI Aquileia 68b "scarce" (I'd say "rare")
Large AE30-26. Horseman spearing fallen foe.
VIRTVS AVGG ET CAESS NN
Helmeted bust left with spear over far shoulder. The coin is a little less red than the image on my screen. Rare type (both obverse and reverse are unusual)

Civic Pagan Coins of the time of Maximinus II (c. 310)

[SOLD]

\Licinius (308-324)

Licinius I, 308-324
21-19 mm. 2.79 grams.
Radiate 12 1/2 denomination.
IOVI CONSERVATORI
Jupiter holding Victory, eagle and captive below.
X/IIΓ in field (12 1/2)
SMANTE

RIC Antioch 35
Lovely rust and black patina. [$26]

Licinius, 308-324
Radiate Fraction,
18 mm. 3.37 grams.
Alexandria, 321-324. IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS P F AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Licinius I to right. Rev. IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG / X / IIΓ / SMALB Jupiter standing front, head to left, holding Victory on globe in his right hand and long scepter in his left; at feet, eagle to left, holding wreath in beak; to right, captive seated right, his head turned back toward Jupiter. RIC Alexandria 28.
The X / IIΓ means 12 1/2, which is half of 25 and also 8 to 100, so it was probably an attempt to make a denomination fit with the coins (whichever they were) valued at 100 (denarii?).
I love the earthen highlighting. [$25]

[$39, reduced to $29 SOLD] Licinius
19 mm. 3.61 grams
Struck at Heraclea 317
RIC Heraclea 17. Silvering. High grade.

Licinius II, 317-324
19 mm. Tiny head left with scepter and mappa, struck 317
RIC VII Heraclea 19
"Camp gate" PROVIDENTIAE CAESS, MHTDelta
very little wear, silvering mostly tarnished to glossy black
A really cute tiny head! Splendid! [$59, reduced to $47]