0 to 200 AD
During this period the Roman empire was at the height of its wealth, power, and prestige -- both in absolute terms, and relative to everyone else in the ancient world. The only other significant independent state in the Mediterannean / Near East was the Parthian empire, but even their power was fading and they would not survive much past 200 AD. Several small, semi-independent states ringed the outskirts of the Roman empire. Other than Roman imperial coinage, other coins were struck by provincial cities and Roman client states for local commercial needs; sometimes these would be struck in the name of a local ruler (although often including the name of the Roman emperor, as a sort of patron), or they might be struck by a local Roman governor or prefect.
101-439
 (click image to see larger picture) Roman empire denarius
—struck by Augustus
Lugdunum, 2BC - 14 AD
obv.- CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE; laureate head rt, retrograde legend
rev.- C L CAESARES AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT; Gaius and Lucius Caesars standing with spears and shields between them; above them, simpulum and lituus turned inwards
RSC 43, RIC 350
19mm; 3.0g; Silver
101-167
 (click image to see larger picture) Kingdom of Thrace AE 22
—struck by Rhoemetalkes I
Byzantium (?), 11 BC–12 AD
obv.- BASILEWS ROIMHTALKOU; Conjoined heads of King Rhoemetalkes and Queen Pythodoris
rev.- KAISAROS SEBASTOU; Bust of Augustus right
SGI 5396, RPC 1711
22mm; g; Bronze
101-230
 (click image to see larger picture) Roman prutah
—struck by Pontius Pilate, prefect under Tiberius
Caesarea, 29 AD
obv.- IOYLIA KAICAROC; Three ears of barley bound together by their stalks
rev.- TIBEPIOY KAICAPOC LIS; Libation lable (simpulum); date LIS
Hendin 648; GIC 5622; Mesh 229
16mm; 1.8g; Bronze
Pontius Pilatus / Pilate : Roman prefect of Judea. He was appointed by Tiberius in c.26, having charge of the state and the occupying military forces, but subordinate to the legate of Syria. Although based in Caesarea, he also resided in Jerusalem. He caused unrest by his use of Temple funds to build an aqueduct, by his temporary location of Roman standards in Jerusalem, and by his slaughter of Samaritans in 36 (for which he was recalled). His fame rests entirely on his role in the story of Jesus of Nazareth, permitting his execution by crucifixion at the prompting of the Jewish authorities
101-508
 (click image to see larger picture) Rome (empire) as
—struck by Caligula
Rome, 37-38
obv.- C CAESAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG PM TR P IIII PP; Bare head , left
rev.- VESTA / S C; Vesta seated left, Holding Patera and Sceptre
RIC 38; C 27; RCV 616
29mm; 11.1g; Bronze
201-013
 (click image to see larger picture) Rome (Empire) as
—struck by Claudius
Rome, 41-42
obv.- TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP; Bare hd. of Claudius l.
rev.- S C; Minerva adv. r. brandishing sp. & hldg. shield
RIC 100, RCV 1861
29mm; 10.0g; Bronze
101-166
 (click image to see larger picture) Roman Britain; Celtic copy of Claudius as
Britain, circa 1st cent AD
obv.- bust of Claudius left, garbled legend
rev.- S C; Minerva adv r with spear and shield, S C in fields
Seaby 473 (copy)
22mm; 3.8g; bronze
Click here to see the original Roman coin. Click here to learn more about Celtic imitations of Roman coins of this era .
201-012
 (click image to see larger picture) Syria (Roman province) tetradrachm
—struck by Nero
Antioch, 62/63
obv.- NEPΩΝΟΣ KAIΣAPOΣ ΣEBATOY; laureate head right
rev.- Eagle standing left on winged thunderbolt, palm in left, date Z ΘP in right field
Prieur 81
25mm; 14.8g; Silver
101-224
 (click image to see larger picture) Judaean prutah
—struck by Jewish rebels in time of Nero
Jerusalem, 67
obv.- [shenath shtayim]; Amphora with broad rim and two handles. Inscription means "year 2"
rev.- [Cheruth Zion]; Vine leaf on branch. Inscription means "deliverance of Zion"
Hendin 123
18mm; 3.0g; bronze
This coin was struck by the Jewish rebels who revolted against the Roman authorities in 66 AD. Nero sent Vespasian to defeat them, but it took 5 years and was finally finished by Vespasian's son, Titus, after the final defeat of the Jews at Masada. It was during this revolt that the Temple at Jerusalem was destroyed for good.
Note that my picture has the obverse and reverse mixed up, oops!
101-506
 (click image to see larger picture) Rome (empire) sestertius
—struck by Vespasian
Rome, 71AD
obv.- IMP CAES VESPAS AVG PM TR P P P COS III; laureate bust right
rev.- PAX AVGVSTI / S C; Pax standing left holding cornucopiae
RIC 437, BMC 555
33mm; 25g; Bronze
101-507
 (click image to see larger picture) Rome (empire) denarius
—struck by Vespasian
Rome, 69-79
obv.- IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; laureate head right
rev.- COS ITER TR POT; Pax seated left holding branch and caduceus
RIC 10; RSC 94h; BMC 26
17mm; 3.0g; Silver
101-165
 (click image to see larger picture) Flaviopolis (Roman) Assarion
—struck by Domitian
Flaviopolis, 81–96 AD
obv.- DOMITIANOC KAICAR IOKLHTIANOS; laureate bust r.; countermark of helmeted Athena
rev.- ETOUCZIFLAVI OPOLEITwN; city-goddess/Tyche seated left, holding ears of grain, river-god swimming at feet
SNG Cop 135
24mm; 7.3g; Bronze
The obverse has a neat countermark of an Athenian crested helmet.
101-164
 (click image to see larger picture) Roman empire Denarius
—struck by Domitian
Rome, 95 AD
obv.- IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM PM TRP XIIII; laureate bust right
rev.- IMP XXII COS XVII CENS PP P; Minerva standing left, holding thunderbolt, spear at her feet
Sear 2737, RIC 188
18mm; 2.9g; Silver
102-150
 (click image to see larger picture) Roman empire Dupondius
—struck by Trajan
Rome, c116 AD
obv.- CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P; radiate draped bust right
rev.- SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS S C; Trajan advancing right, head turned, between two trophies
Sear 3219, RIC 676, C 356, VM 61
26mm; 12.0g; Bronze
This coin has the longest legend on any Roman coin
102-245
 (click image to see larger picture) Bosporos, Kingdom; sestertius (48 nummi)
—struck by Sauromates I
Pantikapaion, 93 - 124 AD
obv.- TI IOULIOU BACILEWC CAUROMATHC; TI IOULIOU BACILEWC CAUROMATHC, laureate draped bust right
rev.- MH; MH (=48) within wreath
27mm; 11.6g; bronze
202-077
 (click image to see larger picture) Roman empire denarius
—struck by Hadrian
Rome, 125-128
obv.- HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS; Laureate head right
rev.- COS III; Genius? (Hadrian) standing left, holding patera over altar with corn-ears atop, and cornucopia in left arm
RIC II 173; Cohen 336; RCV II (2002) #3476
18mm; 2.7g; silver
102-154
 (click image to see larger picture) Roman empire Sestertius
—struck by Hadrian
Rome, 118 AD
obv.- IMP CAESAR TRAIANUS HADRIANUS AVG; laureate bust right
rev.- PONT MAX TRP COS II; Fortuna seated left holding cornucopiae and rudder, FORT RED in ex, S C in fields
Sear 3598, RIC 551a, C 756, VM 88
34mm; 22.8g; Bronze
102-487
 (click image to see larger picture) Rome (Empire) sestertius
—struck by Antoninus Pius
Rome, 148 AD
obv.- ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP TR P XI; Head of Antoninus Pius right
rev.- ANNONA AVG; Annona standing slightly left, holding two ears of corn over a modius that contains four stalks of grain, with her right hand resting on an anchor
Sear 4147; RIC 840, BMCRE 1807
30mm; 23.62g; Bronze
102-894
 (click image to see larger picture) Rome (empire) denarius
—struck by Antoninus Pius
Rome, 139-140
obv.- ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III; bare head right
rev.- GENIVS POP ROMANI; Genius standing front, head right, with scepter & cornucopiae
RSC 405, RCV 4085, RIC 70
19mm; 3.3g; silver
102-227
 (click image to see larger picture) Cappadocia Didrachm
—struck by Antoninus Pius
Caesarea, 140-141 AD
obv.- AYTOKP ANTωNεINOC CεBACTOC; laureate bust right
rev.- YΠATOC Γ; Mt Argaeus surmounted by star. Legend Γ gives date = third consulship
Metcalf 125; cf Head, Hist Num p 752
22mm; 6.4g; Silver
102-448
 (click image to see larger picture) Roman empire denarius
—struck by Marcus Aurelius
Rome, 145-147 AD
obv.- AVRELIVS CAE – SAR AVG PII F; Bare head right
rev.- COS II; Honos standing left, holding branch and scepter.
RIC Vol. III 429a (Pius)
17mm; 3.46g; Silver
The obverse of this coin refers to Aurelius Caesar, son of Pius, the Emperor of Rome. This title indicates that he held the rank of Caesar, or heir, under the Emperor Antoninus Pius. The reverse lists Aurelius as having twice held the consulship. The reverse image depicts Honos, the Roman personification of honor, which was a frequently used image for Aurelius as Caesar.
102-151
 (click image to see larger picture) Roman empire Denarius
—struck by Commodus
Rome, 190
obv.- M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT PP; laureate bust right
rev.- GEN AVG FELIC COS VI; Genius standing left, sacrificing from a patera over an alter
RSC 172, RIC227
18mm; 2.7g; Silver
Commemorates emperor's 30th birthday
202-020
 (click image to see larger picture) Rome (empire) sestertius
—struck by Commodus
Rome, 190
obv.- [M] COMMOD ANT P FELIX AVG BRIT; laureate bust right
rev.- [GEN AVG FELIC PM TR P XV IMP VIII COS VI]; Genius stg left, sacrificing over alter; SC in fields (legends worn completely off)
cf. RIC 561; Van Meter 132; Cohen 174
27mm; 20.6g; Bronze
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