Coins of the Roman Republic

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Since 2003 my interest in the roman republic and its coins have been flamed while reading the excellent historical
novel series called Masters of Rome written by Colleen Mc Cullough set during the first century BC. Collecting
republican coins means collecting for the most part silver denarii struck every year by 3 different monetary quaestors.
Almost all coins struck from between 280 and 31 BC were made in Rome. Nowadays coins of the republic can be
found easily on ebay and coin auctions. So far I amassed 42 denarii, quinarii and asses which in time I will post here
in chronological order. For me the interesting part in collecting and showing you these coins is the times they were struck
in. In my opinion a coin gets that much more historical value when it can be linked to an important event. The event will
also be posted here under each coin.
Goal is to acquire a coin from every year. Wish me luck and hope you enjoy this site :)

149BC. Moneyer: C. Iunius C.f. As, Rome, 29mm..
Obv. Head of Janus Quirinus with laurels
Rev. Prora to right, above C IVNI, under ROMA
Ref.: Albert 834, Crawford 210/2, Sear 723
Coin: Janus Quirinus was the two-headed God of doors and beginnings. A 'prora' is the front of a ship.
Times: start of the 3rd Punic War. Rome lands army in N-Africa to attack Carthage. Death of Cato the Elder.

139BC. Moneyer: Aulus Spurilius. AR denarius, Rome, 19mm.
Obv. Roma with winged helmet to right, behind X
Rev. Luna in biga to right, under A SPVRI, in exergue ROMA
Ref.: Albert 888, Crawford 230/1, Sear 107
Times: Numantine War ( 143-133 BC ) were Rome had great difficulty beating the Iberians of the Hither province
who had their capital in Numantia. In 139BC Roman general Mancinus and his army found himself surrounded by
the numantines and had to sue for a humiliating peace.

136BC. Moneyer. L. Antestius Gragulus. AR denarius, Rome, 20mm.
Obv. Roma with winged helmet to right, behind GRAG, before X ( first time this symbol is given = 16 asses )
Rev. Jupiter with double lightning in right hand and scepter in left riding on quadriga to right. Under L ANTES ROMA.
Ref. Albert 904, Crawford 238/1, Sear 115
Times: Numantine War ( 143BC - 133BC ) ongoing. Roman senate refuses to ratify any peace treaty made by its
generals with the Numantines.

136BC. Moneyer. Cnaeus Lucretius Trio. AR denarius, Rome, 18mm.
Obv. Roma with winged helmet to right, behind TRIO, before X.
Rev. Dioscuri riding to right, below CN LVCR, in exergue ROMA.
Ref. Albert 903, Crawford 237/1, Sear 114.
Times: Numantine War: see above coin.

130 BC. Moneyer. M. Acilius M.f.. AR denarius, Rome, 19mm.
Obv. Roma with winged helmet to right, behind X. In outer pearled legend M ACILIVS M F.
Rev. Hercules with club and trophy in quadriga to right, in exergue ROMA.
Ref. Albert 971, Crawford 255/1, Sear 131
Times: no major event for the year 130BC.

116 or 115 BC. Moneyer. M. Sergius Silus. AR denarius, Rome, 17mm.
Obv. Roma with winged helmet to right, behind ROMA and X, before EX. S.C.
Rev. Mounted helmeted warrior galloping to left, carrying shield in right hand and head and sword in left. before Q,
below M SERGI, in exergue SILVS.
Ref. Albert 1060, Crawford 286/1, Sear 163.
The horseman depicted on the reverse is Sergius grandfather, in 197 BC praetor M. Sergius Silus ( same name ). the
monetary quaestor is honoring him for his part in the battle against Hannibal where he lost his right hand. This is why on
this coin the sword and head is carried in his left hand. The shield on his right arm must have had a special fitting.
Times: In 115 BC we see Gaius Marius becoming praetor of Rome, the collapse of the kingdom of Sheba and the birth
of Marcus Licinius Crassus.

113 or 112 BC. Moneyer. P. Licinius Nerva. AR denarius, Rome, 18mm.
Obv. Helmeted bust of Roma left holding spear and shield, star before and crescent moon above. ROMA behind.
Rev. Scene of voting in the comitium. The rogator hands voring tablet over to a citizenn whilest a second citizen on the
right casts his tablet in the voting urn. P. NERVA above.
Ref. Albert 1075; Crawford 292/1, Sear 169.
Times: In 113 BC the Cimbri defeat roman army under G Papirius Carbo in the Drava valley. In 112 BC Jugurtha
declares war on the roman republic which will last till 105 BC.

112-109 BC. Moneyer. L. Pomponius Cn. f and L. Porcius Licinius. AR denarius serratus, Narbo, 20mm.
Obv. Head of Roma right, behind X. legend: L.POMPONI CN F. Banker's mark of a star on head.
Rev. Warrior Bitutius with shield hurling spear in biga right. L LIC CN DOM. Banker's mark below horses.
Ref. Albert 1049; Crawford 282/4; Sear 158.
Times: Jugurthan War

104 BC. Moneyer. L. Appuleius Saturninus. AR denarius, Rome, 18mm.
Obv. Roma with winged helmet to left.
Rev. Saturnus in quadriga to right, above control mark, in exergue L SATVRN.
Ref. Albert 1121, Crawford 317/3, Sear 193
Times: Gaius Marius becomes consul of Rome a second time, the first of five successive consulships. Marius reoganizes
the Roman army. Start of Second Sicilian Slave War ( 104-100 BC ).
 

103 BC. Moneyer. Q. Minucius Thermus M.f.. AR denarius, Rome, 20mm.
Obv. Helmeted head of Mars to left.
Rev. Roman footsoldier with sword and shield fights against a barbarian warrior, a wounded soldier fallen in between.
In exergue Q THERM MF
Ref. Albert 1123, Crawford 319/1, Sear 197.
The monneyer commemorates Q. Minucius Thermus, consul in 193 BC who fell in the war against the Traciens in
188BC ending with the Piece of Apamea.
Times: Second Sicilian slave revolt ( 104-100 BC ). Marius consul third time. Land allotments for Marius' veterans.
Marius trains army in Gaul.

97 BC. Moneyer. C. Egnatuleius C.f. AR quinarius, Rome, 14mm.
Obv. Head of Apollo to right, C EGNATVLEI C F Q.
Rev. Victory writes on shield and trophy, in between Q. On left a carnyx. In exergue ROMA.
Ref. Albert 1141, Crawford 333/1, Sear 213.
The monneyer refers here to the victory of Gaius Marius over the Teutones and Ambrones at Aquae Sextiae in 102 BC.
and the Cimbri at Vercellae in 101 BC.Crawford  believes this issue financed settlement of Marius' veterans, partly in
Cisalpine Gaul.

91 BC. Moneyer. D. Iunius Silanus L.f. AR denarius, Rome, 19mm.
Obv. Roma with winged helmet to right, behind control mark "K".
Rev. Victoria in biga to right, above control mark "VIII", below D.SILANVS.L.F./ ROMA.
Ref. Albert 1161, Crawford 337/3, Sear 225.
Times: Start of the Roman Social War ( 91-88 BC ) between Rome and the other Italian cities.

90 BC. Moneyer. L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi. AR denarius, Rome, 17mm.
Obv. Head of Apollo to right.
Rev. Rider on galopping horse with palm leaf over his shoulder, under L PISO FRVGI.
Ref; Albert 1174, Crawford 340/1, Sear 235.
Times: The monneyer is will become praetor in 74 BC. This coin was actually an emergency coin as Rome was into
its second year of war ( Social War ). These coins had lots of control marks although not visible any more on this issue.
This coin depicts the Ludi Apollinaris, which was introduced for the first time in 212 BC by a forefather named
L. Calpurnius Piso. Roman setbacks in Social War. Lex Julia: Latins, Etruscans, and Umbrians remaining loyal to
Rome are given Roman citizenship.

88 BC. Moneyer. Cn. Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus. AR denarius, Rome, 18mm.
Obv. Mars met Corinth helm, sword belt and spear seen from back.
Rev. Victoria holding wreath in biga to right, in exergue CN LENTVL.
Ref. Albert 1205, Crawford 345/1, Sear 254.
Note. Lentulus will become consul in 72 BC.
Times: Social War ends with Rome defeating Italians. Death of Marcus Aemilius Scaurus and Publius Sulpicius Rufus.
Proposal to transfer command in Asia from Sulla to Marius by tribune Sulpicius Rufus. Sulla seizes Rome. Mithridates
overruns Asia Minor.

81 BC. Moneyer. C. Marius C.f. Capito. AR denarius ( serratus ), Rome 18mm.
Obv. CAPIT CIII, bust of Ceres right, wreathed with corn, symbol below chin.
Rev. C MARI C F, plowman with yoke of oxen plowing left. CIII above, SC in exergue.
Ref. Albert 1272 ( variant ), Crawford 378/1, Sear 300.
Times: Sulla appointed dictator of Rome starts constitutional reforms. Sertorius is driven out of Spain and Pompeius
defeats Marians in Africa.

80 BC. Moneyer. Gaius Poblicius Q.f. AR denarius ( serratus ), Rome, 3.56 gr., 18mm.
Obv. Head of Roma to right, draped with winged helmet. ROMA behind, control mark above.
Rev. Hercules strangling Nemean lion, club at this feet, bow and 2 arrows in quiver left, above X as control mark.
C POBLICI Q F.
Ref. Albert 1275, Crawford 380/1, Sear 308.
Times: Sulla becomes consul. Caesar leaves for military service to Asia. Start of Sertorian war in Spain.

79 BC. Moneyer. C. Naevius Balbus. AR denarius (serratus), Rome, 19mm.
Obv. Diademed head of Venus to right, behind SC.
Rev. Victory in triga to right. above control mark LVII ( actually the L is depicted by an inversed T ), below
C NAE BALB.
Ref. Albert 1277, Crawford 382/1, Sear 309.
Times: Lucius Cornelius Sulla lays down his dictatorship. Sertorius defeats Metellus Pius and drives him out of Hispania
Ulterior.

68 BC. Moneyer. C. Hosidius C. f. Geta. AR denarius ( serratus ). Rome. 19 mm.
Obv. Diademed and draped bust of Diana right. III VIR before, GETA behind. Bow and quiver on shoulder.
Controll mark 'R' on neck
Rev. Wild boar of Calydon right, speared and attacked by a dog. C HOSIDI C F.
Ref. Albert 1313; Crawford 407/1; Sear 347.
Times: Lucius Lucullus defeats Tigranes II of Armenia in the battle of Artaxata.

63 BC. Moneyer. L. Cassius Longinus. AR denarius. Rome. 18mm.
Obv. Draped and veiled bust of Vesta right; kylix behind, S before.
Rev. Togate male standing facing left, dropping tablet inscribed V into a cista; LONGIN. III. V behind.
Ref. Albert 1330; Crawford 413/1; Sear 364
Times: Caesar elected Pontifex Maximus, Cicero senior consul and Cato is tribune of the plebs

62 BC. Moneyer. L. Aemilius Lepidus Paullus. AR denarius, Rome, 19mm.
Obv. I. PAVLLUS LEPIDVS CONCORDIA, Concordia to right.
Rev. Trophy in center, togated man standing right ( L. Aemilius Paullus ), three prisoners right ( king Perseus of
Macedon and his two sons ). Above TER, in exergue PAVLLVS.
L. Aemilius Paullus became consul in 50 BC. With this issue Paullus commemorates his forefather ( also called
L. Aemilius Paullus ) who in 168 BC made an end to the third Macedonian War by winning the battle of Pydna.
King Perseus surrendered a few weeks later and was banished to a small town called Alba Fucens where he spend the
rest of his life.
Ref. Albert 1332, Crawford 415/1, Sear 366.
Times: Cicero defeats Catilina who commits suicide. Pompeius Magnus settles matters in the east, returns to Rome and
disbands his army.

55 BC. Moneyer. Q. Cassius Longinus. AR denarius, Rome, 18mm.
Obv. Bonus Eventus to right, scepter behind.
Rev. Eagle in center standing on thunderbolt, Lituus left and offer vase right. In exergue Q CASSIVS.
Ref. Albert 1355, Crawford 428/3, Sear 391.
Times: Second consulship of Crassus and Pompey. First stone theatre of Rome, built by Pompey on the Campus
Martius. Caesar bridges the Rhine, invades Germany, then Britain.

49 BC. Moneyers. Q. Sicinius and C. Coponius. AR denarius, Pompeian field mint in east., 16mm.
Obv. Diademed head of Apollo right, star below. Q SICINIVS before, III VIR behind.
Rev. Club or Hercules surmounted by facing lions scalp, arrow left, bow right. C COPONIVS PR SC.
Ref. Albert 1377; Crawford 444/1; Sear 413.
Coin: The praetor C. Coponius was the naval commander of Pompeius Magnus fleet operating in the East. This issue
might have been to pay the soldiers. The star on the obverse could signify the comet seen in that year. Q. Sicinius was
one of the 3 monetary quaestors ( III VIR ) for the year 49 BC. He decided to join Pompeys army to the east. The
place of mint is unknown but possible places considering the design on the reverse suggests Ephesus, Pergamum,
Sardis, Tralles and Apamea. Ephesus, as the residence of the proconsul, perhaps has the strongest claim.
***Special thanks to Steve Minnnoch for his comments on place of mint***
 

49 BC. Moneyer. Mn. Acilius Glabrio. AR denarius, Rome, 20mm.
Obv. Laureate head of Salus to right, behind SALVTIS.
Rev. Salus standing left holding a snake whilst leaning on a column. MN ACILIVS, III VIR VALETV
Coin: The gens Acilia commemorates with this issue how their ancestors brought the first physician in Rome. The reverse
is probably a copy of the statue of Salus of Nikeratos, which was standing in the temple of Concordia.
Ref. Albert 1376; Crawford 442/1; Sear 412
Times: Start of Roman Civil War when Caesar marches on Rome. Pompey and most of the senate flees to Epirus. After
defeating Massilia and Pompey's army in Spain, Caesar returns to Rome and is appointed dictator.

48 BC. Moneyer. C. Vibius C. f. C. n. Pansa Caetronianus. AR denarius, Rome, 18mm.
Obv. Libertas or Bacchus facing right, behind PANSA.
Rev. Ceres carrying torches, plow before. I. C VIBIVS C F C N.
Ref. Albert 1392; Crawford 449/2, Sear 421
Times: Caesar defeats Pompey Magnus at Pharsalus who flees to Egypt and is murdered. Caesar sails to Egypt and
allies himself with Cleopatra against king Ptolemy XIII and Queen Arsinoe IV. Siege of Alexandria is won by Caesar.

43 BC. Moneyer. Publius Accoleius Lariscolus. AR denarius, 3,41 gr., Rome, 18mm.
Obv. Diana Nemorensis to right. Behind P ACCOLEIVS, in front LARISCOLVS.
Rev. Triple cult statue of Diana Nemorensis ( consisting of Diana, Hekate and Selena ) standing facing, supporting
beam on which there are five trees.
Coin: Sear maintains that this coin commemorates the town of Aricia, the place of origin of the moneyer's family.
Diana Nemoerensis was the chief deity of Aricia, and the ruins of her temple there are still visible today.
Octavian's mother, Atia, was born in the town.
Ref. Albert 1542, Crawford 486/1, Sear 484.

43BC. Moneyer. Petillius Capitolinus. AR denarius, Rome, 19mm.
Obv. Eagle standing on thunderbolt, wings spread, head right. Above PETILLIVS, under CAPITOLINVS.
Rev. Hexastyle temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Palatine with armed figures on the pediment.
Ref. Albert 1544, Crawford 487/2, Sear 486.
Times: Hirtius and Pansa as consuls. They are killed in battle with Antony. The formation of the second triumvirate:
Antony, Octavian and Lepidus. Octavian's first consulship. The proscriptions. Execution of Cicero.

42 BC. Moneyer.  P.Clodius M.f. Turrinus. AR denarius. Rome. 19mm.
Obv. Laureate head of Apollo right, lyre behind. Bankers mark behind head.
Rev. Diana Lucifera with bow and quiver over shoulder holding lighted torch in each hand. P CLODIVS MF
Ref. Albert 1583, Crawford 494/23, Sear 492.
Coin: Diana Lucifera is the bearer of light, also called Hekate, carries the torch symbolizing spiritual resurrection and
illumination. The Greeks knew her as Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo, and daughter of Zeus and Leto. She was born
under Mount Cynthus in Delos and hence was also called Cynthia and Delia. She was the goddess of hunting, carried
a bow and quiver like her brother, and was especially fond of music and dance. Diana was never conquered by love,
and submitted to no man, hence she was the goddess of a "chaste" moon and, except for her family, tolerated only
female companions. Her priestesses were all chaste and this festival was celebrated with daily music and dance until
the kalends of June.
Times: Battle of Philippi on October 23: armies of Octavianus and Marcus Antonius defeat the armies lead by the
assassins of Caesar, Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Both committed suicide.

16 BC. Moneyer. C. Gallius Lupercus for Augustus. AE AS. Rome. 26mm. 9,68 gr.
Obv. CAESAR AVGVSTVS TRIBVNIC POTEST. Head of Augustus to right.
Rev. C GALLIVS LVPERCVS III VIR AAA FF - SC in centre.
Ref. Cohen 436; RIC 379; BMC 174
Coin: III VIR A A A F F, Triumoir or Triumviri (monetales), Auro, Argento, Aere, Flando, Feriundo. -One of,
or all, the three Roman Magistrates appointed to superintend the coinage of money.
Times: Noricum is incorporated into the roman empire. Augustus reorganizes German provinces making Trier their
capital.

27-14 BC. Moneyers. C. Pulcher, Statilius Taurus and Livineius Regulus. AE Quadrans. Rome. 18mm. 2,34gr.
Obv. PVLCHER TAVRVS REGVLVS. Two clasped hand and caduceus.
Rev. III VIR AAA FF SC.
Ref. Cohen 413, RIC 423.