Ardashir I, Tetradrachm

Nerva, 96-98 AD, Rome, 97 AD, Sestertius, 25.11g. BM-107, Paris-100, C-67, (5 Fr.), RIC-83. Obv: IMP NERVA CAES AVG – [P M TR P COS III P P] Head laureate r. Rx: FORTVNA – AVGVST S – C Fortuna standing l. holding rudder and cornucopia.

The obverse legend is restored from Paris-99, pl. CXXV, which appears to be from the same obverse die, there coupled with the reverse Fortuna seated.

Marcus Aurelius, 161-180 AD, AE Sestertius, Rome 172-173 AD, 22.22g. RIC 1077, Cohen-538, BMC-1449. Obv: M ANTONINVS AVG T[R P XXVII], laureate head right Rx: RE[STITVT]OR[I] [ITALIAE I]MP VI COS III. Aurelius standing left, holding spear and raising kneeling figure of Italia who holds a globe. S-C in exergue.

Vitellius, 69 AD, Rome, Denarius, 3.29g. RIC-97, inaccurately citing Cohen-55 (40 Fr.) for this variant, see below. Cf. BMC-23 note and Glasgow-12, pl. 30, C-55 (40 Fr.), an Aureus from the same reverse die as our Denarius. Obv: A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P Head laureate r. Rx: L VIT[ELLIVS CO]S III CENSOR L. Vitellius seated l. on curule chair, holding branch and eagle-tipped scepter.

Ex Berk 30, 13 February 1984, lot 197. Rare, especially with L. Vitellius not just extending his right hand on the reverse, but also holding a branch with it. Cohen describes this variant from the Paris collection, but in fact Paris’ two Aurei and two Denarii of the type, Paris pl. XXIII, 61-64, all omit the branch. RIC-96 cites an Aureus with branch in Glasgow, and our Denarius is actually from that same reverse die. Neither variant, with or without branch, was in the Reka Devnia hoard. Vitellius’ father, as this coin type records, had achieved the highest offices attainable by a private man at Rome, Consul for the third time and Censor, during the reign of Claudius, when he had been a close friend of the Emperor and the most influential Roman Senator.

Faustina II, Rome, c. 161 AD, Denarius, 3.61g. BM-167, C-255 (3 Fr.), RIC-730. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA Bust draped r., legend unbroken. Rx: VE – NVS Venus standing l. holding dove and scepter. The unbroken obverse legend is characteristic of the end of Antoninus Pius’ reign and the beginning of Marcus Aurelius’ reign: see Strack, p. 20.

Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus, Laodicea, ca. 196–202, Silver denarius (3.11 gm). BMCRE 624. RIC 648. RSC 246. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust of Julia Domna right Rx: VESTAE SANCTAE, Vesta standing facing, head left, holding patera and scepter. Portrait in high relief. Beautifully toned. Good extremely fine.

Claudius I, Æ As, Rome, AD 41-50. 9.67g. RIC-97, BMCRE-145, C-47. Obv: [TI CL]AVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP, bare head left. Rx: LIBERT[AS] AVGVSTA, draped figure of Libertas standing facing front, head right, holding pileus in right hand and with left outstretched; S-C across fields.