Unique Reverse Types (page 1)

Ancient Roman coin reverse types that are unique to a particular emperor.
It is possible to tell which emperor issued the coin just by looking at the reverse.
       What's new?  2024, Jan. 24: The first type on page 4.
                                 2021, June 29. The first type on page 2. 
                                 2019, June 19. The last type on page 4:
                                 2019, March 7. First type on page 4.
                                 2019, Feb. 28. Site completely revised with page 1 much changed and 5 other pages added. 

See if you know who issued the type. Then click on the image to see both sides and commentary.

Contents:  This site has six pages. Page 1, page 2, page 3, and page 4 cover the empire, emphasizing before the tetrarchy. Page 5 emphasizes the tetrarchy and later (AD 284 ff). Page 6 covers Valentinian I and later (AD 364ff). One more page covers a few famous types that are not quite unique. 

Introduction:  Many collectors do not pay much attention to reverses because they are most interested in the imperial portrait. However, after acquiring a few portrait pieces of a given emperor, they may decide to look for his interesting and historical reverse types. Some reverse types are used by only one emperor, and this page is devoted to them. Here is my criterion for which types qualify to be on this page. 

For reference books that emphasize historical reverse types, see here.

22 mm.

19-18 mm.

24 mm.
 

30-28 mm.
  (The picture omits the mintmark. Extra credit if you can identify the mint as well as the emperor.)

 21-20 mm.

   Sestertius

  22 mm.
 

 





Denarius.

  HERCVLI ROMANO AVG, denarius.
 

Sestertius

 

 

Denarius

Denarius.

 






Denarius. 

 





Denarius.

  





15-13 mm.

  





19 mm.

 

 

 

 

 

21 mm.

 

 

  





25-22 mm.

Denarius.

16 mm.

26 mm. Dupondius. 

Denarius

18 mm. 

Go to the next page (page 2). Return to the top of this page.

Go to page 2, page 3, or page 4, which emphasize the empire before the tetrarchy.
Page 5 emphasizes the tetrarchy and later (AD 284 ff).
Page 6 covers Valentinian I and later (AD 364ff)
One more page covers a few famous types that are not quite unique. 

If you think one of these reverses is not "unique" write me here:  .  I can easily move it to a page of "nearly" unique types. 

Go to the Table of Contents of this entire educational site.