Welcome to the latest edition of Coin Relief! In this issue Sam Moorhead looks at the coinage of Commodus, both as Caesar and as Augustus with Marcus Aurelius. The coinage of Commodus (c.AD 175-192) Commodus was born in AD 161 and made Caesar by Marcus Aurelius in AD 162. However, it appears that no coins were struck …more
Category: Finds
Coin Relief 36 – Sol’s last dawn
Welcome to another edition of Coin Relief! In this issue Sam Moorhead discusses an enigmatic coin type that continues to generate discussion… Sol’s last dawn, at Thessalonica in AD 319 In AD 319, the mint at Thessalonica struck an enigmatic nummus type which has engendered a fair amount of discussion. It was issued in the names of Constantine …more
Coin Relief 35 – Maximinus I and Maximus
Welcome to another edition of Coin Relief. In this issue, Sam Moorhead examines the coinage of the two Maxes: Maximinus I, a man who was max by name and by nature, and his son Maximus. The coinage of Maximinus I and Maximus (AD 235-8) Maximinus was a giant Thracian (Scriptores Historiae Augustae tells us that he …more
Coin Relief 34 – Augustus
Welcome to the latest edition of Coin Relief. In this issue, Andrew Brown looks at the coinage of Rome’s first emperor, Augustus. Augustus, c.27 BC to AD 14 In September 31 BC, Gaius Octavius (Octavian) was victorious at the Battle of Actium and gained undisputed control over the Roman Republic. Octavian was the great-nephew of Julius …more
Coin Relief 33 – “Camp Gate” nummi
Welcome to another issue of Coin Relief. In this edition, Andrew Brown examines a rather funky series of nummi – the “Camp Gate” type. These are identifiable by the fabulous depiction of a camp gate on their reverse. The ‘Camp Gate’ nummus issues of AD 317-330 This piece covers one particular reverse type of the Fourth …more
Coin Relief 32 – “Fallen Horsemen” coins
Welcome to the next edition of Coin Relief! In this issue, Sam Moorhead looks at the “fallen horseman” coin type. FEL TEMP REPARATIO and SPES REI PVBLICE nummi In a previous edition, I wrote about the ReformedCoinage of AD 348-50, outlining the three different nummi(AE2a, AE2b and AE3 sizes) and their types. In the early years of …more
Coin Relief 31 – Civil War denarii
Welcome to another edition of Coin Relief. In this issue Andrew Brown looks at a rare group of coins from the period of unrest that followed Nero’s demise. Denarii of the Civil Wars, c.AD 68-70 In previous editions we have looked at the coinage of Nero and his demise, as well as three of the four emperors that …more
Coin Relief 30 – The Imperial women of Elagabalus
The Imperial Women of Elagabalus Elagabalus struck coins for five female members of the imperial family, his grandmother Julia Maesa, his mother Julia Soaemias, and his wives Julia Paula, Julia Aquilia Severa and Annia Faustina. Julia Maesa, AD 218-222 or later Julia Maesa was the sister of Julia Domna (Septimius Severus’ wife) and grandmother of Elagabalus. The …more
Coin Relief 29 – Elagabalus
The coinage of Elagabalus, AD 218-222 After the death of Caracalla in AD 217, Macrinus and his son Diadumenian reigned for just over a year. However, the Severan dynasty was not finished. Elagabalus, born Varius Avitus Bassianus, was the grandson of Julia Maesa; she was the younger sister of Julia Domna, the wife of Septimius Severus. Elagabalus’ …more
Coin Relief 28 – Nummi of the House of Valentinian
Welcome to the latest edition of Coin Relief. This time Dr. Andrew Brown examines the nummi of Reece Period 19. Reece Period 19 nummi – House of Valentinian, c.AD 364-378 In this blog post we will look at the bronze coinage of the House of Valentinian struck between AD 364-378 (Reece Period 19) that was in circulation alongside the siliquae …more
