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: 2024, Nov. 30: First Crusade, Tancred, his bust facing, on the Byzantine page. Many sold Byzantine coins removed entirely.2024, Nov. 23: Constantius I by Domitius Domitianus. Aurelian SERD mintmark. Anonymous follis of Class F on the Byzantine page. Crispus anepigraphic on the Constantinian page.
2024, Nov. 18: Anonymous Class J of Alexius I on the Byzantine page. Newell's books on Seleucid coins on the literature page.
2024, Nov. 16: (Top of this page) Honorius. Eudoxia (wife of Arcadius). Carus with 3 Gs. The smallest Roman coins (half-quadrans), Trajan and Hadrian. 
2024, Nov. 11:  Remarably nice Theodosius II (top of this page).
2024, Nov. 10: Ancient imitation of Constans on the Constantinian page.
2024, Nov. 3:  Tiny Greek silver fraction. (top of this page). 2024, Nov. 3: Maurice pentanummium on the Byzantine page.
2024, Oct. 30: Constantius II with two captives and Constantine campgate on the Constantinian page. Arcadius AE2 on the Valentinian and later page. Almost all coins on the Byzantine page (except some of he most recent) have had their prices reduced today. Many sold coins removed entirely from this page and from the Byzantien page.
2024, Oct. 28: Large coins of Nisibis, Mesopotamia, for Philip I and Philip II. Constantius II VOT XX and campgate, CONSTANTINOPOLIS, Constantius II soldier-spearing-fallen horseman and an inexpensive Constantine on the Constantinian page. Arcadius AE2 on the Valentinian and later page.
2024, Oct. 27: Rare small Honorius on the Valentinian and later page. Another Justinian penta on the Byzantine 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.  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 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

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 two-volume copy at $155, including shipping in the US only.

Constantius, 293-305-306
Struck at Alexandria by Domitius Domitianus, c. 295-6
The eagle is the distinguishing feature. 
For a bit of the story, see my page here:
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/usurpers/Usurpers.html#Cs
GENIO POPVLI ROMANI
eagle left, large "A" right, ALE in exergue
RIC VI Alexandria 21. As of 
acsearch has this one at $100 plus fees, and it is not as nice
https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=11950252
25-24 mm. 12:00. 9.94 grams.  [$95 SOLD]

Aurelian, 270-275
21-19 mm.
CONSERVATORI AVG
SERD in exergue
Scarce. The first Roman type with a mintmark that names the city
SERD for Serdica. This type of mint mark is the norm under the tetrarchy, but begun with this type.
The surface is not good, but glossy and better than this "dry" photo shows. 
[$15 SOLD] for the special mintmark. Only one on vcoins, at 210 euros. 

 

Honorius
17 mm. 2.85 grams.
VIRTVS EXERCITI
ANTΔ
Sear V 21031 page 464. 
Struck 395-402 (before Theodosius II)
RIC X, Arcadius 72 struck for Honorius, page 247
Lots of good details. Full flan. [$22] (The lowest price one on vcoins that is full flan is 75 €)

Eudoxia, wife of Arcadius
(and effectively ruler, AD 400-404)
16 mm. 1.94 grams.
AEL EVDOXIA AVG
Bust right draped and with pearl-diadem. Hand of God crowning her.
(The obverse is the same on all her coins.) 
Eudoxia was not from the Aelia family. After Aelia Flacilla, wife of Theodosius, AELIA had become a title. 
SALVS REIPVBLICAE 
Victory seated on a cuirass, inscribing a chi-rho (or iota-chi)  on a shield
ANTΓ 
For her fascinating story, see my page here:
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/ricix/Eudoxia.html
[$19 SOLD]

Carus, 282-283
VIRTVS AVGGG, with 3 Gs for the short time period when Carus, Carinus, an Numerian were all alive.
Antioch.
Є Δ for 9 (the officina number), instead of Θ, which is the usual Greek "9" but abbreviates "Thanatos" for death on military roles, and so was avoided on coins.
[$22 SOLD]

The smallest Roman denomination! The only two emperors to issue it.

Trajan, 98-117
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 end of his reign, c. 117.
11.0 mm. 1.11 grams. Tiny!
His bust right with no legend.
 "SC" in wreath.
Sear II 3250, page 170 "Rome, 112-117"
RIC Trajan 443, probably 101-103 (unlikely, since there is a short-lived similar type of Hadrian, next below)  
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.
Clearly recognizable bust of Trajan and clear "SC" in wreath. Tiny! Lovely surfaces. [$49 SOLD]  
It is beautiful and clear considering it is so small. PRC III 3681 Antioch "chalkous" "product of Rome." "Struck for circulation in Syria" 

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.
10mm. 1.18 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 (coin above).
Clearly recognizable bust of Hadrian and clear "SC" in wreath. Tiny!  [$47 SOLD]  ($4 off the total if you buy the pair) 
It is beautiful and clear considering it is so small. PRC III 3681 Antioch "chalkous" "product of Rome." "Struck for circulation in Syria"

Theodosius II, 402-450
13-12 mm. 1.41 grams. Small.
Cross in wreath.
CON
Remarkably clear portrait, legend, and mintmark for the late time period and type.
[$33]  (Please compare to prices elsewhere, including vcoins:
https://www.vcoins.com/en/Search.aspx?search=true&searchQuery=Theodosius+II+cross+wreath&searchQueryExclude=&searchCategory=0&searchCategoryLevel=2&searchCategoryAncient=True&searchCategoryUs=True&searchCategoryWorld=True&searchCategoryMints=True&searchBetween=0&searchBetweenAnd=0&searchDate=&searchUseThesaurus=True&searchDisplayCurrency=&searchDisplay=1&searchIdStore=0&searchQueryAnyWords=&searchExactPhrase=&searchTitleAndDescription=True&searchDateType=0&searchMaxRecords=100&SearchOnSale=False&Unassigned=False&searchOrderBy=price_asc)

Tiny!  5.5 mm maximim. 0.21 grams. Tetartemorion denomination (quarter obol)
Ionia. Kolphon. 
"Late 6th C. B.C." according the SNG Turkey I Kayhan 343, plate 14.
SNG von Aulock I 1810. 
Sear Greek II 4343 variety. 
Archaic head left/millsale pattern incuse
[$32]  (for more Greek coins, see the Greek page)
This might be both the oldest and smallest coin in yiour collection. 



Philip I, 244-249
Struck at Nisibis, Mesopotamia
26-25 mm. 9.31 grams. Repatinated.
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]  The size of a quarter and twice as thick.

Philip II
26 mm. 8.25 grams. Repatinated.
Struck at Nisibis, Mesopotamia.
Read more about Nisibis here: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Nisibis/Nisibis.html
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."
Excellent reverse! The legend and city name couldn't be clearer. The obverse shows weakness on the right as seen in the photo. [$39] The size of a quarter and twice as thick.



Maximian, 260-305, second reign 306-308, and 310
Abdication issue
19.6 - 18.7 mm. 2.62 grams.  The smaller-size issue. 

DN MAXIMIANO FELICISSIM

PROVIDENTIA DEORVM
PROVIDENTIA  = foresight/wisdom    DEORVM = of the Gods 

A in middle field
ALE in exergue
RIC VI Alexandria 87b "earlier to mid 308".
[$32]
 

Licinius II, 317-324

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

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

 

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 lively out his life in captivity after losing the East.
[$19]

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

 

Full-sized ancient imitation. 
Constantius II
FEL TEMP REPARATIO
galley
23 mm. 6.16 grams (Heavier than the official originals!)
TRS for Trier.

Found in England.
Bought at Baldwin's in London in 2002.
Full-size FEL TEMP REPARAYIO imitations are rare.
[$85]

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]

Galeria Valeria
Wife of Galerius
Daughter of Diocletian
25 mm. 7.48 grams. Large. Repatinated. 
ANT for Antioch, H in right field (H for 8, the officina number in Greek)
RIC VI Antioch 151, strck 310-311

[$48]

Ionia, Teos. Tiny!
6.2-5.9 mm. 0.12 grams.
Griffin's head right with protruding tongue.
Incise squre divided into four parts.
SNG Turkey I Kayhan 603 (0.16 grams) "475-450 BC).
Rosen 604, page 29 (0.18 grams) "tetartemorion, 520-478 BC"
Klein 481 is this type and 0.23 grams.
flan chip behind head. [$23]
Would this be the smallest coin in your collection?

 

Sabina, wife of Hadrian
117-138
Anepigraphic reverse
Venus Victrix standing right, leaning on column, before her to right, shield.
RIC II 412, page 469 "R"
BMC III Hadrian 920v page 356, plate 65.5 (has shield behind column)
Highly artistic. Worn. Elegant design. Slabbed. [$179 SOLD]  

CNG had one, $1200+20% = $1440: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=12108117
Leu had one: $430 + 20% = $516: 

 

 

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.
12.3- 10.1 mm. 0.75 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!  [$36]  
It is nice considering it is so small. PRC III 3681 Antioch "chalkous" "product of Rome." "Struck for circulation in Syria".

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]

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]

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]

 

Theodosius, 379-395
AE 2. 22 mm.
GLORIA ROMANORVM
ANTB Antioch mint
[$22]
 

 

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.

 

 

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]

 

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 $45]
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 

 

Third Century:
 

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

 Tetrarchy begins here!

Diocletian (284-305)

---

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]

 

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 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 $195]  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]

 

Constantius I (293-305-306)

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.  

Galerius (293-305-311)

Licinius, 308-324
21 mm. 3.23 grams/
IOVI CONSERVATORI
Jupiter holding Victory on globe, eagle below
SIS
Siscia mint
Lovely orange highlights
[$19 + $2 shipping if this is all you order]
(Totals more than $25 up to $50 cost $3 shipping.)

Licinius II (317-324)

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]

 

---

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 $7 + $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