Go to Index, Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI, Part XII, Part XIII, Part XIV, Part XV, Roman Coins: Republic and Principate, Roman Coins: Empire, Greek Coins, Coins from the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, Coins from the Hunterian Museum
The following photographs of the study collection of Roman coins at the National Museum in Warsaw, Poland, were taken by Barbara F. McManus. The VRoma Project is very grateful to Janina Wiercińska, Curator of Roman Coins, for permission to photograph these coins and for her gracious assistance with this project.
copper as of Tiberius, mint of Rome, 23 CE
The obverse contains a
portrait of Drusus the Younger, son and apparent heir of the emperor Tiberius; however, Drusus died on 14
September 23 CE, probably poisoned by his wife Livilla and her lover Sejanus, the Praetorian Prefect. The
inscription reads DRVSVS CAESAR TI[beri] AVG[usti] F[ilius] DIVI AVG[usti] N[epos].
The reverse bears a large
SC (Senatus Consulto) encircled by the inscription PONTIF[ex] TRIBVN[icia] POTEST[as] ITER[um; this coin was
probably minted to celebrate the second conferral of tribunican power on Drusus in April of 23 CE.
Warsaw, National Museum, Numismatic Study Collection. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2011
copper as of Caligula, mint of Rome, 37-41 CE
The obverse bears a portrait
of Agrippa, trusted general of Augustus and grandfather of Caligula; he wears a rostral crown (note the small
ship's ram at the top of his head). The inscription reads M[arcus] AGRIPPA L[uci] F[ilius] CO[n]S[ul]
III.
On the reverse, the
sea-god Neptune stands with a trident in his left hand and a dolphin in his right, naked except for a mantle
loosely draped over his arms. There is no inscription except for the S[enatus] C[onsulto] typical for this
denomination.
Warsaw, National Museum, Numismatic Study Collection. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2011
brass sestertius of Nero, mint of Rome, 65 CE
The obverse bears an excellent
portrait of Nero wearing a laurel leaf crown; the inscription reads NERO CLAVD[ius] CAESAR AVG[ustus]
GER[anicus] IMP[erator] (the remaining letters are not legible but presumably refer to his tribunician power
and role as Pontifex Maximus).
On the reverse, the helmeted
goddess Roma sits on a pile of shields with her right foot resting on a helmet; she holds a small winged
Victory in her outstretched right hand, while her left arm rests on a sword in a scabbard. Roma is portrayed
here as an Amazon with her right breast bare.
Warsaw, National Museum, Numismatic Study Collection. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2011
brass dupondius of Domitian, mint of Rome, 85 CE
The obverse contains a
portrait of Domitian wearing the radiate crown typical of this denomination; the inscription reads
IMP[erator] CAES[ar] DOMIT[ianus] AVG[ustus] GERM[anicus] CO[n]S[ul] XI CENS[oria] POT[estas] P[ater] P[atriae].
On the reverse, an
allegorical personification of the grain dole (annona) wearing a long tunic and mantle, sits on a
throne. With her right hand, she holds in her lap many long stalks of wheat, while a male child standing
before her (symbolizing the impoverished Roman recipients of the dole) reaches for the grain. Behind her is
the large stern of a ship (a reminder that the emperor imported grain from the provinces to ensure a
sufficient supply). The inscription reads ANNONA AVG[ugusti] S[enatus] C[onsulto].
Warsaw, National Museum, Numismatic Study Collection. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2011
copper as of Nerva, mint of Rome, January-September, 97 CE
The obverse contains a
portrait of Nerva (emphasizing his prominent "Roman nose") wearing a laurel leaf crown; the inscription reads
IMP[erator] NERVA CAES[ar] AVG[ustus] P[ontifex] M[aximus] TR[ibunicia] P[otestas] CO[n]S[ul] III P[ater]
P[atriae].
On the reverse stands the
goddess Fortuna wearing a diadam, long tunic, and mantle; she holds a ship's rudder in her left hand and a
cornucopia in her right. The inscription reads FORTVNA AVG[ugusti] S[enatus] C[onsulto].
Warsaw, National Museum, Numismatic Study Collection. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2011
silver denarius of Hadrian honoring Sabina, mint of Rome, 134-38 CE
The obverse contains a
portrait of the emperor's wife Vibia Sabina wearing a diadem; her hair is simply arranged and pulled back
into a loose braid hanging down her neck. The inscription gives her title, SABINA AVGVSTA.
On the reverse stands the
goddess Juno, queen of the gods, with her mantle pulled over her head as a veil, holding a patera
(shallow bowl for pouring libations) in her outstretched right hand and a scepter in her left. The
inscription reads IVNONI REGINAE.
Warsaw, National Museum, Numismatic Study Collection. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2011
brass sestertius of Antoninus Pius, mint of Rome, 142 CE
The obverse contains a portrait
of Antoninus Pius wearing a laurel leaf crown; the inscription reads ANTONINVS AVG[ustus] PIVS P[ater]
P[atriae] TR[ibunicia] POT[estas] CO[n]S[ul] III.
On the reverse stands an
allegorical personification of the grain dole (annona) wearing a long tunic and mantle; she holds
symbols of abundance--a cornucopia in her left arm and stalks of wheat in her right. Behind her is the prow
of a ship (a reminder that the emperor imported grain from the provinces to ensure a sufficient supply) and
at her feet is a modius, a vessel used to measure grain. The inscription reads ANNONA AVG[ugusti]
S[enatus] C[onsulto].
Warsaw, National Museum, Numismatic Study Collection. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2011
brass sestertius of Antoninus Pius, mint of Rome, 150-51 CE
The obverse bears an excellent
portrait of Antoninus Pius wearing a laurel leaf crown; the inscription reads IMP[erator] CAES[ar] T[itus]
AEL[ius] HADR[ianus] ANTONINVS AVG[ustus] PIVS P[ater] P[atriae].
On the reverse, the helmeted
goddess Roma sits on a throne with her feet on a cushion; her left arm rests on a sword in a scabbard above a
large shield, while her right holds a spear. Roma is portrayed here as an Amazon with her right breast bare.
The inscription reads TR[ibunicia] POT[estas] XIIII CO[n]S[ul] IIII ROMA S[enatus] C[onsulto].
Warsaw, National Museum, Numismatic Study Collection. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2011
Go to Index, Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI, Part XII, Part XIII, Part XIV, Part XV, Roman Coins: Republic and Principate, Roman Coins: Empire, Greek Coins, Coins from the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo, Coins from the Hunterian Museum
August 2011
