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:  Aug 3:  Three major 5th-century Roman-imperial rartites (at the top). Theodosius II, Valentinian III, and Leo I.
July 28: July 28: Ten coins from Byzantine Cherson, a scarce mint (at the top of the Byzantine page)
July 23:  The three graces on a coin of Julia Domna (top of this page). Constantinian era coin page reorganized and some prices revised.  One small Jewish Alexander Jannaeus on the Greek page. Licinius II on the tetrarchy page.
July 14:  Four beautiful Greek AE of Panticipaeum (Pantikapaion)
July 9: Archaic Greek stater of Aspendos, at the top.
July 7:  Julia Domna with a historical reverse unique to her (at the top). Scarce Constantius aurelianus on the tetrarchy page.
July 4: On this page many prices reduced.
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 first (down to the second horizontal line.)
After that, Roman coins before the 4th century are in chronological order below.
  (Greek, Byzantine, and other coins are on their own pages with links at the top left.)

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

Three spectacular major rarities! 5th century Roman imperial coins from the region of the Black sea. They say "CON" in exergue for Constantinople, but are found only in the region of Crimea (north Black Sea), which has casued some to attribute them to the Cherson mint.   


Leo I, 450-457
AE2. 20 mm. 4.24 grams.
Struck for the region around Cherson (in the north Black Sea)
and never found anywhere else.
DN LEO PERPET AC
SALVS R-PVBLCA  [sic]
Emperor with standard and captive
CON in exergue
RIC X 662 "R4"  [extremely rare]
This is the way to get an AE portrait of Leo I.
It has good size, especially for the 5th century.
vcoins has one with much broken off and missing at $299.
Much better than any others out there for sale [$395]

Theodosius II, 402-450
22-21 mm. AE2. 4.13 grams.

RIC X 460 "R3" extremely rare.
Struck for the region around Cherson (in the north Black Sea)
and never found anywhere else.

Wonderful helmeted portrait. [$395 SOLD]
Only one on acsearch, not as nice.
vcoins has one almost flat and illegble at $150 and one at $375 which is (incomparably) far worse than this one.

Valentinian III, 425-455
DN VALENTINIANVS PE AG
CONCORD --  
CONS   [N's retrograde]
RIC X 461 "r4", "437?"   Extremely rare.
Struck for the region around Cherson (in the north Black Sea)
and never found anywhere else.
High grade with excellent helmeted portrait detail and clear obverse legend. Clear beard!  Nice patina.
Very much better than the only example on vcoins which is $750.  [$545]






 

For other imperial coins from the north Black Sea region under the Byzantine empire, see the Byzantine page (at the top)

 

---

The three graces
on a coin of Julia Domna from Marcianopolis
Moesia Inferior
24 mm. 
Mouchmov 418. BMC --
ex Atlantis in 2004
The three graces, nude, dancing together, the left one holds a wreath, the right one tips a jug.
MAPKIANOΠOΛEITΩN
[$125]

Aspendos, c. 465-430 BC.
A stater, silver, 10.74 grams. 21-19 mm. As thick as 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.
The encrustation on the obverse is very hard. I would not attempt to remove it. Thus, the price is much lower. The type is there anyway and many collectors don't mind a bit of encrustation. That's how it came out of the ground! Chunky. Archaic. Old. Neat type! [$95]
For more pieces, see the Greek page.

Jewish
Hashmonean
Alexander Jannaeus
103-76 BC
crossed cornucopiae
Hebrew legend in wreath.
13 mm.
[$19]

See the Greek page for widow's mites.

 

 

Roman Republican  

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

Skip to Republican, 1st C, 2nd C, or 3rd C 
  (Links: Caracalla, Elagablal, Severus Alexander, Gordian III, Philip, Valerian, Gallienus, Gallo-Roman, Claudius II, Tacitus)

Roman Imperial Silver and AE 
 
Early Imperial Fourree
A fourree with an especially remarkable reverse. 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 this good type again.




  [$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, 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 $275]
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 $69]
 

 

 

 Nero (54-68)

[SOLD]

  

 

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 $55]

 

 

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 $59]

 

  

 

 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

Youthful portrait well-centered. [$35]

 

 

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 SOLD]

 

 

 

[$129] Commodus 190-193
Liberalitas type. 3.71 grams.
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 SOLD]

 

 

 

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

eagle, wings half spread
Moushmov 895
Glossy dark patina  [$33, reduced to $21]

 

 

 

Third Century:

Septimius Severus

Geta

Geta, Roman provincial, ancient Thrace
City of Pautalia
21-19 mm.
Grapes. 
Lovely green patina. CEΠ for Septimius clear [$19, reduced to $14 SOLD]

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 SOLD]

Caracalla:

Young Caracalla, 198-217
RECTOR ORIS  (ruler of the world)
Deanrius. 19-18 mm.

RIC 141.

[$39, reduced to $35]

 

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 SOLD]

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

Macrinus, 217-218

[sold]
 

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

Elagabal (218-222)
 

Elagabal, 218-222
Denarius. 19-18 mm. 
IOVI CONSERVATORI
Jupiter holding thunderbolt, standard to right
RIC 91
[$35, reduced to $33]

 

 

Elagabal at Antioch on Orontes.
19 mm. 4.53 grams.
Sear GI --. Butcher, CRS 470 but bust left, page 385, plate 14. 
Nice grade for type. Full legend [$27, reduced to $19]

 

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 $39 SOLD]

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  (238-244)
 

 

Gordian III, 238-244
Antoninianus. 22 mm.
PM TRP II COS PP
dates it to a particular year = 239/240
Virtus left 

RIC 20 "scarce"
[$25 SOLD]

 

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 SOLD]


   

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, reduced to $69]

 

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 $49]

 

Philip II, 244-249.
Sestertius. 31 mm.
PRINCIPI IVVENT
RIC 256  [$55, reduced to $49]
Nice portrait on a coin with lots of crud. I do not clean coins like this one. You are welcome to try. Fortunately, the portrait is nice and the lettering is legible.

 

 

Rare middle bronze of Otacilia Severa, wife of Philip I (244-249)
25-24 mm. as. 9.55 grams.
Denarii and sestertii of her are common--asses are not.
MARCIA OTACIL SEVERA AVG
CONCORDIA AVGG
SC in exergue.
Sear III 9172. RIC 203b.
A clear example of an unusual denomination. [$129, reduced to $89]

Trajan Decius (249-251)

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]

Valerian (253-260)

 [Rare. $65, reduced to $45] Valerian (253-260) 

Struck at Heliopolis, Coele-Syria
25-23 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 $43]  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.)

Gallienus (253-268)

[$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 SOLD] Pamphylia, Perga. Gallienus. A.D. 253-268.
Æ decassarion (32 mm, 17.18 g, 1 h). Large.
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 according 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 $45 SOLD]

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

Aurelian (270-275)

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. You have seen his "Victory" reverse denarius, but likely not this type [$75]

  Probus (276-282)

 

Probus, 276-282
22-20 mm.
PAX AVG
RIC 706 Siscia. Sear III 12000 [$39] ex Berk in 1994

 

   

Tacitus

  [sold]

Florian 

  [sold]

Numerian, 283-284.
22-21 mm.
M AVR NVMERIANVS NOB C
PRINCIPI IVVENTVT
weak strike in the middle, therefore only [$25]
RIC 361.

Numerian, 283-4 as Augustus.
22-21 mm. 3.83 grams.
IMP C NVMERIANVS PF AVG
FIDES EXERCIT AVGG
Fides seated left holding standards
SMSXXI in exergue

RIC V.II Siscia 460

Attractive. Long mintmark. [$69]

 

Carinus (283-285)

Go to, on this page, Republican, 1st C, 2nd C, or 3rd C  

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

Continue on another page with:
Roman: Diocletian through Licinius (the tetrarchy) or
with Constantinian coins,

Return to the top of this page.

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

 

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