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THE IMPERATORIAL PERIOD
THE IMPERATORIAL PERIOD
The Imperatorial Period of Roman history isn't clearly defined by years, but many historians would place it as the time from Sulla's dictatorship beginning in 82 BC running up to the point where Octavian is officially made Augustus Caesar and essentially emperor of Rome in 27 BC.
This period encompasses the marching of Rome by Sulla, the rise of Pompey Magnus, followed by Crassus, Cicero, Cato, Julius Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Octavian, Mark Antony, Mettelus Scipio, Lepidus, Cleopatra, and all the rest. Its a time of great upheaval and change, where the control of the an extremely powerful empire is at stake, and after each surprising turn of events, history was forged.
The coins of the Imperators are probably my favorite ones to collect. They also happen to be ridiculously expensive, or else I'd probably own more, but ultimately I am proud of the ones I have managed to obtain so far.
L. Sulla and L. Manlius Torquatus - 82 BC
AR Denarius - mint moving with Sulla in Italy
OBV: L · MANLI - PRO · Q; Helmeted head of Roma to right
REV: L · SVLLA · IM Sulla driving slow quadriga to right; above, Victory flying left, crowning him with wreath held in right hand.
REF: Crawford 367/5. Sydenham 757
EX. Eternity Coin - eBay (May 2021)
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix, more commonly known as just Sulla, is a fascinating historical figure who marched armies on Rome not once, but twice. This coin was minted during Sulla's Civil War, which he won decisively in a battle outside of Rome named the Battle of the Colline Gate. Sulla afterwards set himself up as dictator of the Roman Republic until 79 B.C. His achievements in many ways laid the groundwork for the likes of Julius Caesar, and Sulla should garner much more attention than he does now.
As it is, someone in Hollywood needs to make a movie about this man.
MARCUS BRUTUS (43-42 BC)
AR Denarius: Rome 54 B. C. 3.09g – 19mm
OBV: LIBERTAS, head of Libertas right, hair in bun
REV: BRVTVS, the consul Lucius Junius Brutus walking left, between two lictors, carrying fasces over their shoulders, and preceded by an accensus.
REF: RCV 397
EX. Jeremy Ricci (Facebook May 2023)
This denarius was struck a full ten years before Brutus plunged Rome into yet another bout of Civil War with the assassination of Julius Caesar, and yet you can already see what preoccupied his mind: Liberty. He would later come back to that image minted on coins after killing Caesar, attempting to justify what he had done. On the reverse Brutus is reminding Rome of his heritage, when his ancestor had driven out the last Roman king and become the Romans' first consul in 509 B.C. Brutus had an extraordinary legacy to live up to, and surely that played a massive role in influencing the trajectory of historical events, though, when this coin was struck, its creator could hardly have foreseen the tumultuous future that awaited.
JULIUS CAESAR - 49 BC
AR Denarius: Military mint. 3.53g – 19mm
OBV: Elephant advancing right, trampling upon horned serpent; CAESAR
REV: Pontifical implements: culullus, aspergillum, securis (axe surmounted by dog or wolf's head), and apex
REF: Crawford 443/1; CRI 9.
EX. Numismatik Naumann (Auction 102 Lot 475 / 3 May 2021)
Who doesn't know who Julius Caesar was? Of all the ancient Roman figures, he stands supreme in the public's imagination, deservedly or not, depending on your point of view. What can't be denied is the powerful iconography of his coinage, with the elephant denarius one of the most famous. Beside a portrait coin of Julius Caesar, this coin was the one I wanted most and was thrilled when I bought it at a reasonable price. But what price do you put on a coin with such history behind it? Allegedly, this coin was minted from the silver Caesar took from Rome's treasury after he crossed the Rubicon with his army, marched on Rome, and seized power. This coin was used to pay those troops. So just think: this may well have been put into the hands of one of his legionaries, rewarding him for their victories over Pompey and the Senate.
Here's another, well-worn example of this type of Caesar denarius. What I love about this one is that a) it was obviously in use for many years, starting with the soldier who got paid with it, and then it probably circulated from there for decades, and b) I don't have it in a slab, so I can actually hold it in my hand and imagine where its been. One of my favorites.
On a side-note, I picked this one up on my first visit to a coin show in Tokyo. I lucked out in that the dealer had quite a few ancients and he also spoke English. It cost a fraction of the one above, but it's value isn't solely measured with a price tag.
GNAEUS POMPEIUS (son of Pompey Magnus) 46-45 BC
AR Denarius: Military mint in Spain against Julius Caesar (46-45 BC) 3.7g 19mm
OBV: Helmeted head of Roma to right; M•POBLICI•LEG PRO•PR
REV: Female standing facing, head to right, with shield slung on back, holding two spears in left hand and with right hand giving palm-branch to soldier, standing facing, head to left on prow of ship; on right CN•MAGNVS•IMP
REF: Crawford 469/1a; Coh. 1; BMC Spain 72
EX. Lucernae (via Catawiki 10 April 2021)
You wouldn't have the greatness of Julius Caesar without Pompey Magnus proceeding him. While he would succumb in the end, Pompey arguably was the greatest figure in Rome during the last years of the Republic -- aside from Julius Caesar, of course. This denarius was minted by one of his sons who carried on the war against Julius Caesar after is father's death in Egypt.
P. Clodius M. f. Turrinus (42 BC)
AR Denarius: Rome, 42 BC. 17.7g 19mm
OBV: Laureate head of Apollo; lyre behind; banker's mark on cheek.
REV: M F P CLODIVS, Diana Lucifera standing right, bow and quiver on shoulder, holding two long lighted torches.
REF: Crawford 494/23; CRI 184; Syndenham 1117; RSC 15
EX: Agora Auctions
Not much is known about Publius Clodius, the man behind the minting of this denarius. He was one of four moneyers that year, and almost nothing is known of him. The assumption made by David Sear in his fantastic book, The History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators 49-27 BC, is that Clodius' coins, which featured references to the sun and moon, perhaps symbolized "the imminence of a new age." If that's true, then in a way, Clodius was right. A new age had certainly arrived.
C. Cassius (44-42 BC)
AR Denarius: Military mint traveling with Brutus and Cassius, probably at Smyrna, early 42 BC. 3.79g 19mm
OBV: C•CASSI•IMP-LEIBERTAS; head of Libertas right, wearing stephane, pendant earring and necklace
REV: LENTVLVS / SPINT, oenochoe (on left), and lituus (on right)
REF: Crawford 500/3. Sydenham 1307. Cassia 16 and Cornelia 75
EX: Heritage Auctions (15 Dec 2022); From the Dean Kinzer Collection
Gaius Cassius Longinus, better known as simply Cassius, is remembered for two things: first being a leader of the assassins who took down Julius Caesar, and secondly, as the manipulator of Brutus in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. In that version of history, Cassius paints himself as one of the "men who gave their country liberty." That makes it all the more fitting that this coin features Lady Liberty herself, a proclamation of the basis for his dramatic (and drastic) actions.
This is a coin I waited three years to buy after I let another one of similar quality slip through my fingers in an auction. They don't appear often, and so when this one came along, I was pretty aggressive in getting it. Very glad to do so and is now one of my most prized coins.
MARCUS BRUTUS (43-42 BC)
AR Quinarius: Military mint with Brutus (43-42 BC) Rare. 1.5g 13mm
OBV: LEIBERTAS, laureate head of Libertas right.
REV: Crossed anchor and ship's prow.
REF: Sydenham 1288; Crawford 506/3
EX: Lucernae (via Catawiki 10 April 2021)
"Et tu, Brute?" While Caesar probably never spoke those words, it is true that Marcus Brutus was the key figure it taking down a man who once treated him like a son. That assassination, rather than giving Rome back it's "leibertas" as Brutus' coins often proclaimed, instead plunged the Republic headlong into civil war and the rise of Octavian to assume his role as Augustus Caesar, first emperor. This tiny coin was minted in the last year or so of Brutus' own life as he tried to stave off Octavian and Mark Antony. Like the Cassius coin above, it also features the profile of Liberty.
MARC ANTONY & OCTAVIAN
MARC ANTONY & OCTAVIAN
Denarius (3.69 gm). Ephesus Mint moving with Marc Antony
Spring - Summer 41 BC.
M. Barbatius Pollio, moneyer.
OBV: M ANT IMP AVG III VIR R P C M BARBAT Q P
REV: CAESAR IMP PONT III VIR R P C
REF: Sear 1504
Ex. Eternity Coin - eBay (Dec. 2020)
For a guy who has taught Shakespeare's Julius Caesar for over 25 years, this denarius of Mark Antony and Octavian Caesar on the same coin was a must have. This perfectly illustrates the juxtaposition of the experience and cunning of Antony versus the youth and ambition of Octavian. This was minted the year after their defeat of Brutus and Cassius at Philippi and while their fragile alliance still held.
Soon after, Mark Antony would go off in search of glory in the Middle East, fall in love with Cleopatra, go to war with Octavian, and then have Shakespeare write yet another play about him.
SEXTUS POMPEY (son of Pompey Magnus) 37-36 BC
AR Denarius: Uncertain Sicilian mint, 37-36 BC (18.59 mm, 3.15 g)
OBV: MAG PIVS IMP ITER, bare head of Pompey Magnus right; jug behind, lituus before.
REV: PRAEF / CLAS•ET•ORAE / MAR IT•EX•S•, Neptune standing left, foot on prow, holding aplustre and chlamys; the brothers Anapias and Amphinomus running in opposite directions on either side, holding parents on their shoulders.
REF: Crawford 469/1a; Coh. 1; BMC Spain 72 EX. Lucernae (via Catawiki 10 April 2021)
Another denarius minted by a son of Pompey Magnus, this time featuring a portrait of the man himself. You can always spot a Pompey Magnus profile from the stylish wave of hair he liked to sport in the front. Sextus Pompey used money like this to fund his campaigns against Octavian and Antony.
Sextus was able to hold out until 35 B.C., but was defeated by forces of the Second Triumvirate. He was just 32.
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