Roman Silver Coins

Carcalla was born Lucius Septimius Bassianus in A.D. 188. When his father, Septimius Severus, became emperor that changed to Marcus Aurelius Antoninus for a link to the fondly remembered Antonine Dynasty. He was later made joint emperor but within a year of Septimius Severus’ death in A.D. 211, Caracalla ensured he had no rivals by killing his brother, Geta, and Geta’s 20,000 supporters. He was a soldier, so left his mother, Julia Domna, to run the empire while he campaigned, gaining the name Carcalla from a Gallic cloak & hood he adopted while on the Rhine. He was also cruel & unstable, massacring thousands in Alexandria (Egypt) over a satirical play. He was eventually killed by a disaffected soldier he had refused promotion, leaving the empire in financial ruin from his campaigns and increases to soldiers pay. Caracalla’s coins have his most enduring legacy on them, his portrait, one of the most impressive on all Roman coins. It breaks from previous philosopher-emperors; his curly hair close-cropped like a soldier and his life-like bust becoming more imposing as he ages. We have a small group of his silver Denarii in Good Very Fine showing his adult bust on the obverse with multiple reverse types. We think Roman coins are miniature pieces of art, this is a great example!

Postumus was the governor of Germany in A.D. 260 when the emperor Valerian was captured in the East. With the Roman world in crisis the rebel Postumus was left in control of Britain, Gaul, Spain and parts of Germany, forming what was called the ‘Gallic Empire’. Like many emperors at the time Postumus was murdered by his own troops in A.D. 269. At the start of his reign Postumus minted coins that were about 20% silver, at least twice as much silver than the coins being made by Gallienus’ central government in Rome. Later in his reign as he ran out of resources he lowered the silver content to about 5%, the same as the rest of the empire. This is the 20% grade Very Fine meaning an ancient person has used it.

Postumus was the governor of Germany in A.D. 260 when the emperor Valerian was captured in the East. With the Roman world in crisis the rebel Postumus was left in control of Britain, Gaul, Spain and parts of Germany, forming what was called the ‘Gallic Empire’. Like many emperors at the time Postumus was murdered by his own troops in A.D. 269. At the start of his reign Postumus minted coins that were about 20% silver, at least twice as much silver than the coins being made by Gallienus’ central government in Rome. Later in his reign as he ran out of resources he lowered the silver content to about 5%, the same as the rest of the empire. This is the 5% silver grade Extremely Fine meaning they’ve had very limited use since they were struck.