I thought I'd share a few interesting coins found in my searches.
They're not mine; they are unobtainable on my budget, but I can enjoy them in pictures.
A few Roman Sestertii first
TRAJAN. 98-117 AD. Æ Sestertius (28.28 g). Struck 116-117 AD. IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P, laureate and draped bust right / ARMENIA ET MESOPOTAMIA IN POTESTATEM P R REDACTAE, S C across field, Trajan, laureate and in military uniform, standing facing, head right, holding reversed spear and parazonium; Mesopotamia seated left at feet, in attitude of mourning; to left and right, Tigris and Euphrates seated vis à vis, each leaning on inverted urn from which water flows, and holding reed. RIC II 642
Sestertius circa 64, Æ 27.56 g. NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P IMP P P Laureate head l. Rev. S -- C Triumphal arch, hung with wreath across front; above, the emperor in facing quadriga flanked by figure of Victory, on r., and Pax, on l. On the sides of the platform, two small figures of soldiers; on l. side of arch, statue of Mars holding spear and round shield
Sestertius 50-54, Æ 29.97 g. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P Laureate head r. Rev. SPES -- AVGVSTA Spes, draped, advancing l., holding flower in upraised r. hand and raising skirt with l.; in exergue
Sestertius circa 37-38, Æ 27.67 g. C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT Laureate bust l. Rev. AGRIPPINA - DRVSILLA - IVLIA The sisters of Gaius standing facing: Agrippina, as Securitas, holds cornucopiae in r. hand resting on column, with l. hand on shoulder of Drusilla, as Concordia, who holds patera and cornucopiae; Julia, as Fortuna, holds rudder and cornucopiae. In exergue, S C
Sestertius 22-23, Æ 28.22 g. Confronted heads of two little boys on crossed cornucopiae with caduceus between. Rev. DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N PONT TR POT II around S C
Roman Denarii, some almost look too good to be real!
Gaius (Caligula), with Divus Augustus. AD 37-41. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.77 g, 7h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. 1st emission, AD 37. C • CAESAR • AVG • GERM • P • M • TR • POT COS, bare head of Gaius (Caligula) right / Radiate head of Divus Augustus right, flanked by two stars. RIC I 2
Octavian as Augustus, 27 BC -- 14 AD L. Mescinius Rufus. Denarius 16 BC, AR 3.90 g. [S CO]B R P CVM SALVT IMP CAESAR AVG[VS CONS] Facing head, slightly turned to r. on roundel within laurel wreath (imago clipeata). Rev. L MESCINIVS R[VFVS III VIR] Mars, naked but for helmet, holding spear and parazonium. standing on pedestal inscribed S P Q R V P / S PR S ET / RED AVG
Augustus (31 BC -. 14 AD.) Denarius, 29 - 27 BC (from the Triumphalserie), Rome. Portrait head of Augustus left in the thread loop. Rev: IMP - CAESAR. Jupiter herm in front view, under the Hermenschaft lightning bolts, thread group.
L. Plautius Plancus. Denarius (Silver, 3.96g 6), 47. L.PLAVTIV Head of Medusa facing, coiled snake on either side. Rev. PLANCVS Victory facing, holding palm branch and leading four horses rearing around her.
L. Mussidius Longus. 42 BC. AR Denarius (3.80 g). Rome mint. Radiate and draped bust of Sol facing slightly right / Two statues of Venus Cloacina on platform inscribed CLOACIN with balustrade of the shrine of Venus Cloacina
Nerva. AD 96-98. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.30 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck 19 September-31 December AD 96. IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P, laureate head right / LIBERTAS PVBLICA, Libertas standing left, holding pileus in right hand and cradling scepter in left arm. RIC II 7; RSC 106
Per the Creative Commons free usage agreement, these photos are attributed to Ancient Art
Posted 03/11/2012 9:22 pm
It's just as bad for me when I look at Greeks...actually for sale--so few I can afford! 
