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, August 13: Leo I AE4, Theodosius campgate, Crispus PRINCIPIA IVVENTVTIS, Valentinian II galley, Valentinian II CONCORDIA AVGGG (On this page). Many sold coins removed entirely. Many coins moved to chronological order on the "Valentinian and later" page. Many prices reduced on that page.
2025, July 27: Philip from Nisibis with triangular pediment.
2025, July 26: Heraclius from Thessalonica on the Byzantine page.
2025, July 22: The largest campgate type (top of this page).
2025, July 12: Almost every price reduced on the late Roman Valentinian and later page. Phocas and Justin II K from Nicomedia on the Byzantine page. Facing-bust Arcadius on this page.
2025, July 10: The first type with a Christian symbol! (top of this page). Michael I, 811-813 (scarce, none on vocins), Leontius (very rare), and two Maurice, on the Byzantine page.
2025, July 1: Heraclius and son from the Isauria mint on the Byzantine page.
2025, June 27: Claudius Gothicus with his nickname and the SPQR mint. Constans II galley and Constantine on the Constantinian page. Justinian, Constantine IV, and Alexius Class K on the Byzantine page.
2025, June 20: Constantine (2) on this page. Excellent Hanniballian, Diocletian follis, Maximinus II (on this page). Androncius I, Justinian pentanummium, Maurice from Catania, and Crusader Tancred on the Byzantine page.
2025, June 10: CONSTANTINOPLOI with oars, Aelia Flaccilla, Licinius (on this 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
Leo I, 457-474
AE 4. 11.3 mm.
DN LEO (short, full, legend!)
Emperor holding long cross, and captive
CON
Nice Surfaces. [$33 SOLD]
Valentinian II
"galley"
Helmeted bust of Valentinian II right, holding spear forward and shield.
GLORIA ROMANORVM
CONSA
Emperor on ship of state left, head right, right hand raised, Victory at helm.
[$27] (by itself, only $3 shipping)
Valentinian II
19.0-17.6 mm.
CONCORDIA AVGGG
ANTΓ
Antioch mint.
[$19] (by itself, only $2 shipping)
Philip I, 244-249
26 mm. 9.98 grams.
AVTOK K M IOVΛI ΦIΛIΠΠOC CЄB
Reverse: IOY CЄΠ KOΛΩ NЄCIBI MHT,
This variety has a triangular pediment. The others have an arched pediment. I think the temple had a trangular pediment, but most of the coins used an arched pediment to allow more room to display a larger goddess within the temple.
[$35]
Constantine, 307-337
SOLI INVICTO COMITI
Ticinum mint.
Learn more on my educational site about Christian symbols on Roman coins where this is Type 1.1, dated to 316.
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Christian/ChristianSymbols.html
The basic type SOLI is very common, but the + in the field is unusual.
ST for the Ticinum mint, which was the only mint to use this + and which was the first mint to use any Christian symbol (this type) on its coins.
The earliest type with a Christian symbol!
[$65 SOLD]
(A search of voins on "Constantine SOIL INVICTO got 232 hits and none of them had this cross. It's rare!)
Hanniballianus
335-337. 16.5 mm. A small coin, but full flan--better flan than almost all of the type.
Very nicely repatinted.
He was chosen by Constantine to become ruler of the part of Mesopotamia that Constantine expected to conquer in his (aborted by Constantine's death in 337) campaign prepared in 335. Note the title "REGI"-- the only use of "King" on a Roman imperial coin. The river god on the reverse refers to the Euphrates which would have been the route of invasion. Hanniballianus was killed in the purge by Constantius II and his brothers in 337 in the "Summer of Blood" after Constantine's death.
The importance of this particular example is that it is legible--all of it.
FL (Flavius) HANNIBALLIANO REGI
SECVRITAS PUBLICA
CONSS (Constantinople) RIC VII Constantinople 147 "r2" (very rare) but many have been found since then.
Compare to this recent CNG coin:
https://auctions.cngcoins.com/lots/view/4-GYPG2S/hanniballianus-rex-regum-ad-335-337-follis-145mm-141-g-6h-constantinople-mint-6th-officina-struck-ad-336-337-vf at $250+20% = $300. I much prefer this one. [$185 (+ $6 shipping)] The CNG coin is crowded at 14.5 mm, where this one is 16.5 mm max.
Maximinus II, 305-310-313
22.7 mm.
GENIO AVGVSTI
Genius standing left holding Victory on globe
* A
ANT
RIC VI Antioch 162b "311-312"
[$28]
Constantine, 307-337
19.5 mm. 3.14 grams.
PROVIDENTIAE AVGG
SMANTΓ (Antioch mint, officina gamma)
[$15] Legend fully on the flan. CONSTANTINVS AVG
CONSTANTINOPOLI
19.3-17.7 mm. 2.17 grams.
330-337
Constantinople mint
Commemorative of the founding of Constantinople, which was made possible by a naval victory.
This type is very common, but not with visible oars on the prow. Often the prow is just a projection and barely identifiable as a ship part. This one has Victory's foot on a very clear galley with visble oars.
[$18]
Constans, Augustus 337-350
19 mm. 2.55 grams. (The small version of the "galley" type)
DN CONSTANS PF AVG
Post-reform "galley"
FEL TEMP REPARATIO
ЄSIS
Siscia mint.
Very dark glossy patina.
Emperor on galley holds phoenix and standard with chi-rho. Galley steered by Victory.
[$23]
Constantine, 307-337
19mm 3.34g. Repatinated.
CONSTANTINVS AVG
DN CONSTANTINI MAX AVG
SMHB
VOT XX *
High grade--look at his hair!
[$20]
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]
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]
NOTE: This page now includes Tetrarchal coins (below). It incorporates the previous "Tetrarchy" page.
Please compare prices with those on acsearch and vcoins and any other sites you use. I intend my prices to be below the prices for comparable coins on vcoins.
Begin Roman coins in chronological order
[SOLD]
***** I also have a page of numismatic literature (ancient-coin auction catalogs, books) for sale.
Roman Imperial Silver and AE
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 ]
Second Century
Trajan (98-117)
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]
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! [$27]
It is nice 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.
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. reduced to $135]
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 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, reduced to $55] An interesting historical type.
Central Empire, Claudius II (268-270) and later:
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)
Maximian (286-305 and later)
Maximian, 286-305
27.4-25.6 mm. 7.90 grams. Repatinated.
Struck 295-295 at Siscia
RIC VI Siscia 95b or 85b (same type)
GENIO POPVI ROMANI
Γ
*SIS
Big coin with nice details and some pitting on the face
[$34, reduced to $29]
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]
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 $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.
Galerius (293-305-311)
Maxentius (306-312)
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]
Licinius (308-324)
Licinius I, 308-324
18 mm. 3.22 grams. Repatinated.
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG
Jupiter holding Victory on globe with no captive to left. (Compare to the next coin with captive)
crescent to left, A to right; SMAL in exergue. RIC Alexandria 23.
Licinius left in imperial mantle holding a mappa in his right hand and globe in his left.
[$21]
Licinius I, 308-324
19-18 mm. 3.45 grams. Repatinated.
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG
Jupiter holding Victory on globe with captive to left. (Compare to the previous coin without captive) Other varieties have an eagle or palm branch or wreath)
H
SMANT
RIC VII Antioch 27H "r2" (but many similar)
Sear IV 15239 p. 379.
[$24]
Licinius I, 308-324
22.7-21.3 mm. 4.56 grams.
Struck "c. 312" at Heraclea.
IMP C VAL LICINIAN LICINIVS PF AVG (long name!)
IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG
Jupiter holding globe with wreath to left.
Δ
SMHT
RIC VII Heraclea 541 with officina Δ not in RIC.
Sear IV 15233 p. 379.
[$45] for the long version of his name and for being a minor variety not in RIC.
Licinius, 308-324
19 mm.
IOVI CONSERVATORI
SMALB for Alexandria.
The new 12 1/2 denomination: X/IIΓ
Jupiter with Victory on globe, eagle and captive at feet.
[$15]
This type is very common, but often, as here and the next coin, remarkably nice and inexpensive.
Licinius, 308-324
19 mm.
IOVI CONSERVATORI
SMKA for Cyzicus.
The new 12 1/2 denomination: X/IIΓ
Jupiter with Victory on globe, eagle and captive at feet.
[$23] Really lovely in hand and a bit better profile than the photo suggests.
Great centering. Great detail on the eagle. You can see the captive's face (How can they engrave the die!?)
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, 317-324Helmeted 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]
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, the coins will not add to the shipping cost unless the coins are expensive.)
Return to the top of this page.
Next Page: Constantinian (306-364)
Second next: Roman of Valentinian and later (364-491 AD)
To order, or simply to ask me questions, write me, Warren, at
Crispus, 317-326