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. 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). (Links to other series are on the left sidebar.)

Recent: 2025, March 24: Philip II from Nisibis, Mesopotamia. Two Islamic weights of the Fatimid period, c.940 to c.1190, on the Byzantine page. 
2025, March 22: Tiny Trajan and matching tiny Hadrian. Many sold coins removed entirely. Some prices reduced on the Constantinian page. 
2025, March 14: Nice Trajan Decius Syrian tetradrachm (on this page).
2025, March 7: Eudoxia, wife of Arcadius, on the late Roman page. Michael I, Sear 1618 on the Byzantine page.
2025, March 2: Hadrian half-quadrans, three Theodosius, two Constantine (including one with the first Christian cross on Roman coins), Theodosius II. Rare Justin II of year 1, two Maurice, one Justin and Justinian joint reign (only 4 months) on the Byzantine page.
2025, Feb. 28: Maximinus II and Helena, on this page.
2025, Feb. 21: Aelia Flaccilla on the late Roman Valentinian-and-later page.



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.  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.) Do not pay until after I confirm I still have the coin.
Please tell me if you are not in the US. If you are outside the US, shipping will be $18 to Canada and $22 (or slightly more for a big order) to elsewhere. (I'm very sorry shipping outside the US is so expensive.) Please pay with Wise if you can.  See more here. 
 
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 first. After that, Roman coins before the 4th century are in chronological order below. Later Roman coins are on other pages linked in the sidebar.
  (Greek, Byzantine, and other coins are on their own pages with links at the top left.)
 

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

Philip II, 244-249
26 mm. 13.33 grams. Repatinated. Larger than a quarter and twice as thick.
Nisibis, Mesopotamia (read about Nisibis here)
AVTOK K M IOVΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CЄB
Autokrater Caesar Marcus Julius Philippus Sebastos)
The young face makes it Philip II.
Nisibis sometimes distinguished the two Philips by having Philip face right and Philip II face left.
Tetrastyle temple, with triangular pediment, containing statue of city goddess seated facing; above her head, ram (Aries) leaping right; below, river god Mygdonius swimming right.
Rev: IOY CЄΠ KOΛΩ NЄCIBI MHT,
(Julia Septimia Colonia Nisibis Metropolis)
[This "Julia" is a family name for Philip.]
   Sear Greek Imperial 4157. BMC Mesopotamia Nesibi [sic] 21, attributed there to Philip I, with a footnote "Some of these may be of Philip Junior, especially nos. 21-4 on which the face appears to be beardless."
RPC VIII "unassigned; ID 2962."
The city name (NECIBI) is clear from 1:00-3:00.  Nice portrait. Strong mint name. Good size. [$39] 

Trajan Decius, 249-251
Tetradrachm of Antioch.
27.0-25.2 mm. 9.58 grams. Much larger than an antoninianus. 
Note the officina "S" below the bust, which makes it Prier 547, of which Prier notes only 3 examples. However, this apparent rarity is misleading because there are numerous similar coins with different Prier numbers which differ in only one minor detail.
Prier 547.  Struck  250-1.
A nice example with a good portrait and legend fully legible and on the flan.
[$89]

Theodosius II (402-450), helmeted, facing
17.6-15.9 mm. 2.20 grams.
CONCORDIA AVGGG
You can see his face, which is often worn flat.
ANTΓ 
[$14]
vcoins has two as I write: $75 and 145 £!  (I don't think it is that rare or worth that much.)

 

Theodosius, 379-395
AE2. 24 mm. 5.46 grams.
(As above, but distinctly larger. 24 mm is large for these.)
VIRTVS EXERCITI
Antioch
[$29, reduced to $27]

Theodosius, 379-395
"campgate"
GLORIA REIPVBLICE
TES
Thessalonica mint
[$14]

 

 

Maximinus II, 305-311
21.7 mm. 4.69 grams. Repatinated.
GENIO AVGVSTI
Genius hold head of Sol
Antioch mint
IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS PF AVG
RIC Antioch 164b, dated "312"
[$18]
 

Helena, mother of Constantine and a saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Discover of "The True Cross" and many Christian sites in the Holy Land.
18.6 mm. 2.70 grams.
FL HELENA AVGVSTA
SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE
SMANTS
RIC VII Antioch 67 dated "325-6"
[$18]
 

Trajan, 98-117
Roman imperial quadrans
Hercules/Club with "S C" either side.
15 mm. 2.20 grams.
IMP CAES TRAIAN AVG GERM
Head of Hercules right/his club between SC
Fortunately the obverse legend names Trajan.
RIC II 699, page 293, plate XII, 212.
ex Baldwin's in London, May 17, 1988 (no ticket)
[$29]

  

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

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 $43]
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.

 

*****  I also have a page of numismatic literature (ancient-coin auction catalogs, books) for sale.

Roman Imperial Silver and AE 

Second Century

Trajan (98-117)

 
Trajan, 98-117
The smallest Roman denomination! Sometimes called an "uncia." It is much smaller than a quadrans.
Struck very near the end of his reign, c. 117.
12 mm. 0.84 grams. Tiny!
His bust right with no legend.
 "SC" in wreath.
Sear II 3250, page 170 "Rome, 112-117"
RIC Trajan 443, says probably 101-103 (unlikely, since there is a short-lived similar type of Hadrian)  
BMC 1883. p. cvi "Very probably of Roman mintage--possibly Antioch."
The only other coin of a similar type is of Hadrian, distinguished only by its portrait of Hadrian.
Recognizable bust of Trajan and clear "SC" in wreath. Tiny!  [$23]  
It is nice considering it is so small. PRC III 3681 Antioch "chalkous" "product of Rome." "Struck for circulation in Syria"

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Hadrian (117-138)

 Hadrian, 117-138
The smallest Roman denomination! Sometimes called an "uncia." It is much smaller than a quadrans.
It may be a "half-quadrans."
Struck very near the beginning of his reign, c. 117.
9.5 mm. 0.77 grams. Tiny!
His bust right with no legend.
 "SC" in wreath.
Sear II 3705, page 170 "Rome, 117-118"
RIC Hadrian 629b.
BMC 1883. p. cvi "Very probably of Roman mintage--possibly Antioch."
The only other coin of a similar type is of Trajan, distinguished only by its portrait of Trajan. 
Recognizable bust of Hadrian and clear "SC" in wreath. Tiny!  [$23]  ($3 off the total if you also buy the corresponding Trajan above as a pair) 
It is so small! PRC III 3681 Antioch "chalkous" "product of Rome." "Struck for circulation in Syria"

Another:  (Before a few years ago I don't recall these ever being offered. Maybe they were too small for life-sized photos! I find them really interesting in hand for their size. 

Hadrian, 117-138
The smallest Roman denomination! Sometimes called an "uncia." It is much smaller than a quadrans.
It may be a "half-quadrans."
Struck very near the beginning of his reign, c. 117.
9.5 mm. 1.00 grams. Tiny!
His bust right with no legend.
 "SC" in wreath.
Sear II 3705, page 170 "Rome, 117-118"
RIC Hadrian 629b.
BMC 1883. p. cvi "Very probably of Roman mintage--possibly Antioch."
The only other coin of a similar type is of Trajan, distinguished only by its portrait of Trajan. 
Recognizable bust of Hadrian and clear "SC" in wreath. Tiny!  [$33]  ($3 off the total if you also buy the corresponding Trajan above as a pair) 
It is so small! PRC III 3681 Antioch "chalkous" "product of Rome." "Struck for circulation in Syria"
 

 

Antoninus Pius (138-161)

[none]
 

Third Century: 

Enlarged! (Because the portrait is so great!)
Look at it closely.
Philip I, 244-249, His first isssue, dated to 245. He does not have coins dated to 244.
23 mm. Antoninianus. 12:00. 3.74 grams.
IMP M IVL PHILIP{PVS AVG
Magnificent portrait right on a large flan.
PM TRP II COS PP
 

Sear 3.8843
RIC 2b. Plate 5.16.

If you only want one coin of Philip for your portrait series, this could be the one. [$145]

Philip I, 244-249
Struck at Nisibis, Mesopotamia
26-25 mm. 9.31 grams. Repatinated. The size of a quarter and twice as thick.
AVTOK K M IOVΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CЄB
(Autokrater Caesar Marcus Julius Philippus Sebastos)
The beard makes it Philip I. 
Rev: IOY CЄΠ KOΛΩ NЄCIBI MHT,
(Julia Septimia Colonia Nisibis Metropolis)
[This "Julia" is a family name for Philip.]
Tetrastyle temple, with triangular pediment, containing statue of city goddess seated facing; above her head, ram (Aries) leaping right; below, river god Mygdonius swimming right.
Sear Greek Imperial Coins 3970. BMC Mesopotamia Nesibi [sic, that is how it is spelled on coins, although it is spelled "Nisibis" in literature] 17. RPC VIII "unassigned; ID 2824."[$34] 

 

Philip II, 244-249
25.6 mm. 8.89 grams. Repatinated. Larger than a quarter and twice as thick.
Nisibis, Mesopotamia
AVTOK K M IOVΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CЄB
Autokrater Caesar Marcus Julius Philippus Sebastos)
The young face makes it Philip II.
Nisibis sometimes distinguished the two Philips by having Philip face right and Philip II face left.
Tetrastyle temple, with triangular pediment, containing statue of city goddess seated facing; above her head, ram (Aries) leaping right; below, river god Mygdonius swimming right.
Rev: IOY CЄΠ KOΛΩ NЄCIBI MHT,
(Julia Septimia Colonia Nisibis Metropolis)
[This "Julia" is a family name for Philip.]
   Sear Greek Imperial 4157. BMC Mesopotamia Nesibi [sic] 21, attributed there to Philip I, with a footnote "Some of these may be of Philip Junior, especially nos. 21-4 on which the face appears to be beardless."
RPC VIII "unassigned; ID 2962."
The city name (NECIBI) is clear from 1:00-3:00.  [$35] 

A lovely portrait for the portrait series.
Herennia Etruscilla, wife of Trjan Decius who reigned 249-251
HER ETRVSCILLA AVG
Please please go look at other coins of Herennia. She often/usually has an unattractive face. You have to look hard to find one as pleasing as this one.
PVDICTIA AVG  (modesty)
RIC IV.III (under Trajan Decius) 58b, page 127, plate 11.4. (RIC's coin is not quite as nice)
Sear III 9494.
Ancient coins are ancient art, as well as history. This particular coin is art of a higher order than almost all of her other coins.
[$145, reduced to $125 + $6 shipping in the US
 

Valerian, 253-260
22 mm. 3.44 grams. Repatinated. 
RESTITVT ORIENTIS

"Restorer of the East", which may be the most ironic legend on a Roman coin, given that he was captured alive by Shapur II and lived out his life in captivity after losing the East.
[$19]

Valerian II, son of Gallienus
VICTORIA PART
I love coins relating to wars between Roman and Persia.  This is a scarce type (primarily for Valerian I) which ironically references Valerian's (untimately disastrous) war with "Parthia"  (by then we call them Sasanians)
Comparable coins on vcoins cost far more. [$59]

 

Aurelian, 270-275
Very rare type of the denarius denomination.
19 mm. 2.41 grams. 
Everone knows that most coins of Aurleian are radiate and he has a type as a laureate denarius: VICTORIA AVG.  That type is scarce compared to his antoniniani or aureliani. Did you know he had other, far rarer, types of denarii too?
This one is highly unusual. Lots of silvering. 
RIC 69. Estiot 248, 249 on page 166. "11th issue, beginning 275 - Sept. 275." page 304, Rome mint. Part of his reformed coinage.
ex Numismatica Zagreb March 7, 2005, at $112. I bet I see 50 of his common denarius VICTORIA AVG for every denarius that is not VICTORIA AVG. 
A rarity. [$165]

For a page of ancient imitations from the third century, see here.
 

 Tetrarchy begins here!

Diocletian (284-305)

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Maximian (286-305 and later)

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, reduced to $19]

 

 

Club and lion-skin!

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

IMP C MAXIMIANVS AVG
HERCVLI 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 $189]  Please compare with prices elsewhere.

 

 

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 $13]

 

 

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Constantius I (293-305-306)

 Constantius, as Caesar, 293-305
19 mm. 2.99  grams.
CONCORDIA MILITVM
ANT for Antioch
[$12]

 

 

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 $31]

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 $21] 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.   

 

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Galerius (293-305-311)

 

Maxentius (306-312)

 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
MAXIMINVS NOB C  [$33, reduced to $14]

 

\

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

[SOLD]
 

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Licinius (308-324)

Licinius
19.5-17.9 mm.
IOVI CONSERVATORI
SMANTZ for Antioch mint
X II Γ in the field for 12 1/2, half the "25" denomination. 
eagle holding wreath, captive, and Jupiter holding Victory on globe, crowning him.
[$8] 

Licinius, 308-324
19-17 mm
IOVI CONSERVATORI
XIIΓ for 12 1/2, the denomination.
SMANTЄ
[$9]

 

 

Licinius II (317-324)

 

Licinius II, 317-324

Helmeted bust left
XIIΓ denomination.
SMKA for Cyzicus
[$8]

 

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. Bold strike.
A really cute tiny head! Bold head and legend. Splendid! [$59, reduced to $45]

 

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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, reduced to $6 + $6 shipping (It is too thick for a regular envelope)]  (If you also order coins, they will not add to the shipping cost unless the coins are expensive.)
 

 

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