index

    Interesting ancient coins, offered by Augustus Coins.

If you want to buy ancient coins, you are beginning at the right page. If you want to learn more about them, 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
3rd C. more precisely: Septimius Severus, Caracalla, Elagablal, Severus Alexander,
  Gordian III, Philip, Valerian, Gallienus, Gallo-Roman, Claudius II, Aurelian,
  Probus, Tacitus, Carus and Family

Recent: June 19: Claudius II, Neptune (at the top).
June 17. Barbarous radiate, at the top. Some new coins moved to be in chronological order. Many sold coins removed entirely from this page and some moved to the end of this page. Some prices slightly reduced.
June 9: Rare Cilician obol with the god Bes on the Greek page.
June 6: Extremely rare Lycian dynast obol and four Jewish AE on the Greek page.
May 25: Very rare Aemilian with a reverse type unique to him, at the top of this page.
May 23: A dozen additions at the top of the inexpensive page, including a rare Gelimer Vandal coin. Three AE4s at the top of the late Roman page.
May 20: Basil II Class A2 Byzantine anonymous follis. Maximian, second reign, at the top of the Tetrarchy page.

  Books. If you would like some literature to read, make me an offer. I think my prices are the lowest on the market, but I'd like to sell some of these to someone who would like to look at them. That might be you! Make me an offer.

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:

When you write me, please tell me if you are not in the US (it changes shipping costs).
After I confirm I still have the coin,
from the US you can pay with Zelle (preferred) or PayPal to my e-mail address. (I also accept checks.) (Why I prefer Zelle.)
from abroad, you may pay with Transferwise (preferred) or PayPal to my e-mail address. (Why I prefer TransferWise.)

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.
Shipping to other countries: Shipping is an additional $3 for orders under $200 and payment must be with TransferWise or PayPal. (Thick coins change an "envelope" into a "small parcel" which costs significantly more in postage. I can mail about three denarius-sized coins as an "envelope," but not large Byzantine bronze or sestertii.) When you order, please tell me which country you live in and I will get back to you about shipping before you confirm your order.
More detailed terms are here. All coins are guaranteed genuine.

Purple means "SOLD" and no longer available

Newest. Skip the newest coins and coins of the Republic to go down to those of the empire.

Claudius II, 268-270
NEPTVN AVG
Neptune standing, holding dolphin and trident.
Full flan from an Eastern mint, with signs of silvering. His coins from western mints are rarely full flan and rarely show silvering.
Dark tone. Neptune! [$25 SOLD]
Sear III 11353. RIC 214 "Antioch" mint.

Aspendos, c. 465-430 BC.
A stater, silver, 10.84 grams. 20-17 mm. Thicker than a stack of three US cents.
Ancient Greek Silver selected from a hoard of the formerly-rare first-issue of the city of Aspendos on the south-central coast of modern Turkey. Struck 465-430 BC.
Obverse: Hoplite warrior right with spear and shield
Reverse: triskeles, the symbol of the city which has three human legs around a central point running left.
EΣ abbreviating "Espendos" in Pamphylian above.
Sear Greek Coins and Their Values 5381 at 750 pounds in VF.
A remarkable piece of very early ancient money. [$165]
For more pieces, see the Greek page.

Roman Republican denarius
L. Pomponius, 118 BC
Roma
naked bearded warrior in biga right, carnyx and reigns in left
Struck at Narbo, commemorating its foundation. One of the very first Republican types to reference a current event, since it was founded c. 120 BC.
19 mm. 3.85 grams. Serrated.
Crawford 282/4. Sear 158
Well-centered. Gallic reference. [$109, reduced to $95]

core of a fourree denarius, with all the silver plate gone.
Prototype, L. Torquatus, 113-112 BC
18-17 mm. 2.54 grams
Roma
horseman charging left with big circular shield
Sear 172. Crawford 295/1.
Unusual. Ex Baldwin's in London, March 9, 1988 (no ticket) [$16, reduced to $14]

Republican. 88 BC.
C. Censorinus
Apollo right
horse racing right, wreath above
CENSOR
Monogram below
Crawford 346/2b. Sear 257.
[$89, reduced to $69]

Fourrees with especially remarkable reverses. The original would be a very expensive coin, and finding an imitation of it is extremely unusual and the imitation may well be unique of its type.
Search vcoins under "fouree" and "fourree" to see what dull reverse types are offered for. You will probably never see these good types again.

[$69, reduced to $59, reduced to $49] Augustus/receiving standards back from the Parthians "Signus Receptus" CAESAR AVGVSTVS SIGN RECE hybrid.
This reverse does not normally have a portrait obverse. BMC 71 plate 3.1 for obverse legend and portrait. BMC plates 1.7-9, 2.2, 2.11-12 for obverse. Reverse of RIC 288, plate 5.

More fourrees here.

Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD)

Augustus/Rhometalkes
11 BC - AD 12
19 mm.
SNG Copenhagen Thrace 1193
A two-headed coin.
Sear Greek Imperial 5395 variety (different diameter)
[$25]

Augustus, DIVVS, struck under Tiberius, c. 22/3 - 30 AD.
29 mm. 8.59 grams. (A little light.)
Small backwards S incuse mark at 7:00 on the obverse.
DIVVS AVGVSTVS PATER (PATER = father)
PROVIDENT below altar with paneled door, above flames(?)
RIC Tiberius 81. BMC Tiberius 147.
Overstruck on a coin with something like "AESA" close together at 7:00 on the obverse.
Could this be a very well done ancient imitation? If so, it is much better than the 13 illustrated in Banti and Simonetti.
I like the surfaces. Nice. [$125, reduced to $109]

ex Vecchi [London] auction 12, lot 1092 (June 5, 1998)

Claudius, 41-54

Claudius, 41-54
One of the twelve Caesars
27-25 mm. 9.77 grams.
Struck 41-50
TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP
head left
Minerva brandishing spear and shield right
Lots of drapery details.
Excellent portrait (look at it closely) in high grade with hair details and no tooling. (Many Roman AE with hair details that look this sharp are actually tooled, but this one is not.) A special coin. [$345, reduced to $295]
RIC 100. BMC 149.
Bought in December 1975 from "Hyland" (by the man I bought it from) with a ticket (included) that says it is from the "1884 Croston Hoard."

Claudius, 41-54 AD.
Roman Alexandria.
26-25 mm.
Good portrait/eagle
[$95, reduced to $75]

Nero (54-68)

Vespasian (69-79)

Vespasian, 69-79.
26 mm. Dupondius
IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG
PON MAX TRPOT PP COS V CENS
double cornucopia
caduceus in middle

RIC 758, AD "74"

[$49]

Titus (79-81)

[SOLD]

Three excellent Domitian imitations are next.

Three unlisted Domitian denarii:

Domitian, 81-96.
22-18 mm. 2.61 grams. Light weight.
IMP CAE DOMIT AVG GERM PM TRP VII
IMP XXI COS XV CENS P PP
Minerva standing left
BMC reverse of 168, plate 65.2, page 333 "AD 90", but the normal obverse ends TRP VIIII not VII, which is from AD 88.
TRP VII is on obverses of 87 and 88, e.g. RIC 521, but IMP XXI COS XV does not appear there until Sept. 90, page 315, e.g. 692

Extremely rare. Possibly an ancient imitation, but awfully nice for an imitation. [$149].
ex CNG 61 lot 1774 (part)

Domitian, 81-96.
18 mm. 3.28 grams.
IMP CAES DOMITIAN AVG GERM V
IMP SV COS XIIII CENS ...
Minerva fighting right, owl at feet.

BMC -- for this obverse legend. IMP XV COS XIIII is "second issue" AD 88, page 326, types 129 only, but not with this obverse.
RIC II.1 cf. 592 page 305 for the reverse, but this obverse legend is shorter.

Extremely rare. Possibly an ancient imitation, but awfully nice for an imitation. [$149].
ex CNG 61 lot 1774 (part)

Domitian, 81-96
18 mm. 3.10 grams.
IMP CAES DOMITIAN AVG PM counterclockwise
IMP XX COS XVI CENS PPP
Minerva standing left with thunderbolt in right and spear in left with shield below.
Cf. BMC 181, page 335, plate 65.9 which has this reverse, but obverse clockwise. The reveres is of 90-91. RIC II.1 Domitian --, reverse as 726 but obverse legend lacks their ending "TRP XI" and reads outwards, a legend of 91, 14 Sept. to 31 Dec.
Extremely rare. Possibly an ancient imitation, but awfully nice for an imitation. [$149]
ex CNG 61 lot 1774 (part)

Links: Caracalla, Elagablal, Severus Alexander, Gordian III, Philip, Valerian, Gallienus, Gallo-Roman, Claudius II, Aurelian, Probus, Tacitus, Carus and Family

Second Century

Trajan (98-117)

Trajan, 98-117 AD
small dichalcon. 11 mm.
Roman Alexandria, Egypt
poor obverse/elephant reverse, LI Δ above
Emmet 701 "R5".
Very rare, but terrible obverse. The reverse (the interesting part) is visible. If it were nice all around, it would cost far more. [$25, reduced to $23 SOLD]

Trajan, 98-117
Small. 15 mm. 3.21 grams. (Thick)
Hercules right, with legend of Trajan
IMP CAES TRAIANO AVG GERM
boar right
SC below.

RIC 702 "S" page 294
Glossy patina. Excellent boar with curly tail [$35, reduced to $29]

Quadrans. Anonymous. early 2nd century AD
13 mm (small). 3.07 grams.
Bust of Venus right
Dove standing right, S C
Sear I 2924
[$19, reduced to $16]

Hadrian (117-138)

Hadrian, 117-138 AD.
dichalcon. 14 mm. Tiny!
Roman Alexandria, Egypt
his head right/pomegranate
struck for the Pelusium nome.
Good portrait. Some letters, which is about as good as they come. Emmett 1321
Nome coins are rare [$65, reduced to $59]

Antoninus Pius (138-161)

Antoninus Pius. 138-161.
Large AE34. Milne 2293 var. year 18.
eagle standing front, wings half spread, head left LI H
Ex. Berk, August 2000.
Large. [$55, reduced to $45]

Faustina II, Diva
as. 28 - 26 mm.
crescent moon and stars.
SC below
RIC III 1714, struck after 176
Nicer than many (compare to vcoins) but notice the pit on the forehead.
[$89, reduced to $69]

Commodus (177-193)

Commodus, 177-193
Denarius. 19 mm.

TRP IIII IMP III COS II PP
Struck 179

RIC 665, Struck Spring 179
Young head right
L AVREL COMMODVS AVG

[$39]

Denarius. 19 mm. Young Commodus. Struck as Caesar 175-6.
PRINC IVVENT (Prince of Youth)
Standing left beside trophy, holding branch and scepter.
ex Empire Coins, list 23, lot 116, July 11, 1984.
Dark toning. Nice style youthful portrait.
[$95, reduced to $79]

[$149, reduced to $129] Commodus 190-193
Liberalitas type
LIB AVG IIII TRP VI IMP IIII COS II
databable to a single year -- 181.
BMC 53, Sear --, but close to 5655.
RIC 22, page 368.
Light beard. Outstanding surfaces. Looks just like the photo.
Excellent type with lots of references--to his Liberality (IIII), victories (IMP IIII) Tribune power (TRP VI) consulship (II).
A really nice coin that would go for more, or much more, at a fine auction [$129]

Commodus, 180-193
19-18 mm.
Roman provincial from Nikopolis ad Istrum.

eagle, wings half spread
Moushmov 895
Glossy dark patina [$33, reduced to $25]

Geta, Roman provincial, ancient Thrace
City of Pautalia
21-19 mm.
Grapes.
Lovely green patina. CEΠ for Septimius clear [$19, reduced to $15]

Geta, Serdica. 19 mm.
His bust right/CEP ΔON (for "of Serdica")
Asclepius standing left with attribute snake-coiled staff.
BMC --. Good lettering and centering. [$23, reduced to $19]

Caracalla, 196-198-217
20 mm.
beautiful young bust
IIII LIBERALITAS AVGG (4th Liberlity)
Liberalitas standing left holding up counting board with coins (to count the coins handed out to each citizen)
RIC Caracalla 135 "Scarce"
Sear II 6814 variety (different year) Good metal. Very high grade. A specific historical occasion. Look at the detail and style! Nearly perfect. Letters bold. Portrait great. Stunning! [$145. Not reduced, nor should it be! It is an outstanding coin.]

Caracalla, 196-198-217
19 mm. 2.78 grams.
Mint at Ladoicea ad Mare
MONETA AVGG
Struck 198 as Augustus
RIC Caracalla 337d "Scarce"
Uncommon mint. Neat type. [$95, reduced to $79]

[$69, reduced to $35] Caracalla, Tarsos mint
26 mm. 8.70 grams
AH / MI in wreath
Sear Greek Imperial --, SNG Danish Tarsos 369. SNG France 2:1560

[$23] Caracalla and Julia Domna/ Serapis head reverse
Marcinopolis 6.19.6.5
Moushmov 47b
AE27-26 [$29, reduced to $23]

[$19, reduced to $16] Caracalla, 196-198-217
at Nicopolis ad Istrum, Moushmov 1077
Serapis head reverse. Good detail.
AE19-16. 2.67 grams
Head of Serapis

Elagabalus at Tyre, Phoenicia. large: 30 mm. Astarte standing left, placing her hand on trophy, holds transvers scepter, crowned by Nike on column right, palm to left SEPT IM TYRO SGI 3117 BMC Phoenicia, Tyre, 389. rev. illustrated plate XXXIII.1. small figure "Marysas of the forum" to the right. Large and quite clear. [$49, reduced to $42]

Elagabalus, 218-222.
CONCORDIA MILIT, two standards and two eagles.
18-16 mm.
Sear 7505. RIC IV-2 187. Antioch mint, A.D. 218-219. High grade portrait and interesting military connection with four standards.
[$85, reduced to $69]

Severus Alexander (222-235)

Severus Alexander, 222-235
Denarius. 20-18 mm.
Mars walking right
PM TRP VI COS II PP
Dated to 227 by the TRP number.
Gorgeous Very high grade. [$89, reduced to $75]

Samaria, Neapolis. Holy Land coin.
Mt. Gerizim with a temple on top, columnade across the bottom, steps up it.
Severus Alexander, 222-235
23 mm. 12.88 grams.
BMC 113 is similar without the c/m.
Sear Greek Imperial 3375.
[$22, reduced to $17]

Gordian III and Serapis, 238-244
27 mm. 14.06 grams.
Struck at Marcianopolis, Lower Moesia.
legate Tullius Menophilus
Naked Apollo standing, facing, head right, grasping a tree, around which a serpent coils, & holding his right arm over his head; to left, cloak on quiver.
Sear GI --, SNG Cop II 255, Marcianopolis 6.37.7.4 (obv legend variety) None on vcoins. [$119]
Nice surface. Nice even very dark patina. [$125, reduced to $79]

[$65] Moesia Inferior, Nicopolis ad Istrum. Gordian III. A.D. 238-244. Æ (30 mm, 14.20 g, 1 h). Large and heavy, A.D. 241-244. Sabinus Modestus, consular legate. AVT K M ANTΩNIOC ΓOPΔIANOC · (sic), radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III right / [VΠ] CAB MOΔЄCT(OV) N-IKOΠOΛЄIT(ΩN) (ΠΡ)OC I/C/T, Tyche standing facing, head left, holding rudder and cornucopiae. Hristova & Jekov -, but cf. 8.36.38.1-8; cf. Varbanov 4244 (rev. legend). Nice green patina with moderate earthen deposits. Very fine. [$65, reduced to $49]

Philip (244-249)

Philip, 244-249
28 mm. Large.
Struck at Viminacium, Moesian Superior
Sear GI 3874
28 mm. 15.30 grams. Large
The bull and the lion were the emblems of legions VII and IV which were quartered in the province.
Even dark green patina. [$49, reduced to $27]

Philip I, 244-249
Sestertius 29-25 mm.
Minted for the 1000teh anniversay of Rome in 247
AETERNITAS AVGG (most not legible)
Elephant and mahout
SC below.
[$85]

Philip II. 244-249.
25 mm. 10.40 grams.
AVTOK K M IOVΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CЄB
(Autokrater Caesar Marcus Julius Philippus Sebastos)
The same legend is used by both Philip I and II.
Philip I is bearded and Philip II, a child, was not. However, they can be hard to distinguish if the beard is unclear, so Nisibis did it by having Philip face right and Philip II face left.
Sear GI 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."
ex CCE Sept. 1981 lot 159.

The city is mentioned in Acts 7:2. Nice dark green patina. [$65, reduced to $55]

Philip II at Antioch in Pisidia, AE27. 970 grams. SGI --, McClean 8964. BNC Pisidia Antioch 120 (no photo) [$27, reduced to $21]

Cilicia, Hierapolis-Castabala.
Trebonianus Gallus. A.D. 251-253. Large AE 30 (29.8 mm, 13.82 g, 5 h). AVT K ΓAΛΛOC CEBAC, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / KACTABAΛEΩN IEPOΠOΛEI, turreted and draped bust of Tyche right. SNG France -; SNG Levante 1596 var (obv and rev legends); BMC -; SNG von Aulock -. Fine, rough surfaces.
Large. Rare variety. [$39, reduced to $29]

Struck at Heliopolis, Coele-Syria
253)-23 mm, thick, 11.70 grams.
agnostic urn on table with ornamental legs
COL HEL
Sear Greek Imperial --
L&K --, Lindgren III 1283variety (legend), Weber --, McClean 9440 variety, BMC Syria --
SNG Copenhagen Syria -- (439 has urn with no table, SNG Righetti --
[$65, reduced to $45] Ex Colosseum Coin Exchange, list of April 1988, lot 106, with ticket.

Rare Valerian at Flaviopolis, Cilicia. 253-260 AD. AE27-26. 11.99 grams. bust right/bust of Zeus right (not the usual Serapis w. slightly larger flan). Sear GI --, SNG France --, SNG Cop--, SNG von Aulock --, Lindgren & Kovacs --, L III --, SNG Righetti 1558, very similar. Note how few collections have this type. Rare [$35, reduced to $27] (This reverse type is sometimes on Maximinus I.)

[$95, reduced to $69] Gallienus, 30 mm.
Struck at Side in Pamphylia
E countermark over the original "IA" at the neck.
E = 5 assaria. Howgego Countermark 805
Sear Greek Imperial --,
von Aulock -- cf, plate 158, volume II for Valerian
L&K 1174 for obverse
SNG Copenhagen VI Pamphlia -- Supplement 523
Weber III --, SNG Righetti 1309 variety
ex Cederlind at $100, his #345 (list date uncertain, maybe 1990s?)
[$75, reduced to $65]

[$59, reduced to $49] Pamphylia, Perga. Gallienus. A.D. 253-268.
Æ decassarion (32 mm, 17.18 g, 1 h). AVT KAI [ΠΟ Λ] ΓAΛΛΠHNO CЄB (sic), laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gallienus right, before, I / ΠЄΡ-ΓΑΙΩΝ, Elpis advancing left, holding flower and raising hem of skirt. SNG BN 579 (same obv. die); SNG von Aulock 4728 (same obv. die). Dark brown patina, some porosity. Very fine Large provincial at 32 mm.
Ex Malter November 1994, #359-9 accoding to the previous owner's insert.

Gallienus, Antioch in Pisidia.
29 mm. 13.02 grams.
It is less green than the image and more black.
Roman wolf and twins right.
SGI 4601. SNG France 3, 1326 (This one is slightly better than theirs) [$69, reduced to $49]

Troas, Alexandria Troas. Civic issue. Mid-late 3rd century A.D. AE 23 (23.0 mm, 5.85 g, 7 h). CO ALEX TRO, turreted and draped bust of Tyche right; vexillum behind / COL AVG TROA, she-wolf right, head left, suckling the twins Remus and Romulus. cf. Bellinger A495; SNG Copenhagen 104-7. VF. [$39, reduced to $29]

Aurelian usually comes as a radiate, either pre-reform or post reform. He also comes as a scarcer "denarius"--however almost always VICTORIA AVG. Far rarer, offered less than once a year, I think, is this PROVIDEN AVG denarius type.
None on vcoins. None at MA-Shops.
Roma had one, not better, in e-sale 27 for $143 including fees + shipping. CNG had one in 2010 for $185 + 12% + shipping. Elsen had one in 2011 for $207 + fees + shipping.
IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG laureate bust right
PROVIDEN AVG
Providentia standing left holding wand over globe.
RIC 68 very rare type of an unusual denomination [$85, reduced to $75]

Carinus, 282-285, as Augustus
21 mm.
SAECVLI FELICITAS
RIC V.II 214 page 166.
Excellent portrait detail. [$69, reduced to $59]

Recently sold:

Aemilian, April-June 253
21-19 mm. 3.54 grams.
"The remarkably unorthodox form TR P I occurs only on coinage of this reign" Sear III, p. 252
Sear 9840
RIC 18 "R2"
Very Rare. Aemilian is rare and this type is rare and unique to Aemilian [$379 SOLD]
ex Richard Beale who has a web site devoted to "249-253: Four Bad Years" where you can still see this coin as #18 on this page:
http://sonic.net/~marius1/mysite/Aemilian%20Silver.htm

Trajan Decius, 249-251
Struck at Rhesaena, Mesopotamia
Fortuna standing left holding patera over altar, eagle on perch
25 mm. 12.05 grams.
Castelin Rhesaena 133.
(I can send you the 10 mb pdf file of the small book.)
ex Amphora in 2012.
Very few of these are in better shape; this one is very comparable to his two plate coins.
[SOLD]

Antoninus Pius, 138-161
Dupondius. 25 mm.
Bust with radiate crown right
INDVLGENTIA AVG

[$39 SOLD]

A very special Carinus from Alexandria:

Carinus, 283-285, year 3 (284/5)
Alexandria, Egypt
Billon 19 mm tetradrachm.
Milne 4744
Emmett 4004 (R2, only this one year)

Revere legend: LЄΓ B TPAI
LΓ (year 3)
"the unsual set of 'legionary coins', absolutely unique in the Alexandrian series, which the two brothers issued in honor of LEGIO SECUNDA TRAIANA" Bellemore, Picus 1996, page 76.

"Legion II Traiana was raised by Trajan early in the second century for service in the Dacian wars. It was later transferred to Syria and under Hadrian circa AD 125 it was sent to the eventual permanent station, Nicopolis, close to Alexandria in Egypt. It probably participated in the Persian wars of Carus and Numerian and may have distinguished itself during that campaign." Sear III, page 519.
Compare to the only one from CNG: https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=298596 This one is better, especially in the reverse legend, for much less [SOLD]