49-27 B.C.
| An intro to Roman Imperatorial Coins. The Imperatorial period extends from the outbreak of civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey in January 49 B.C. and ends early 27 B.C. when Caesar's adopted heir Octavian was given the title "Augustus" by the Senate, effectively making him the sole ruler of the entire Roman territory. The coinage of this period is a transition between the long established numismatic traditions of the Republic and the newly created "cult of the Emperors" which came about in the Imperial age. Imperatorial coinage is characterized by the bold use of coins as vehicles of propaganda, culminating in the first large scale use of lifetime portraits on coins in Roman times, beginning with Caesar in 44 B.C. In the years of civil war which ensued Sextus Pompey, Brutus, Labienus, Mark Antony, Lepidus and Octavian did not hesitate to follow Caesar's example by displaying their 'mugs' on the coins that were minted in their respective names. |
Julius Caesar
Dictator from 49 B.C., assasinated 44 B.C.
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GAIVS IVLIVS CAESAR , the great dictator, born July 12 or July 13, 100 B.C., was an important Roman military and political leader. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. His conquest of Gaul extended the Roman world all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, and he was also responsible for the first Roman invasion of Britannia in 55 BC. Caesar was widely considered to be one of the foremost military geniuses of his time, as well as a brilliant politician and one of the ancient world's strongest leaders. In 42 BC, two years after his assassination, the Roman Senate officially sanctified him as one of the Roman deities. Caesar fought in a civil war that left him undisputed master of the Roman world, and after assuming control of the government began extensive reforms of Roman society and government. He was proclaimed dictator for life, and he heavily centralized the bureaucracy of the Republic. Ironically, this forced the hand of a friend of Caesar, Marcus Junius Brutus, who then conspired with others to murder the great dictator and restore the Republic. This dramatic assassination on the Ides of March (March 15th) in 44 BC sparked a new civil war in Rome. (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) |
The Aurei
The Denarii
Mark Antony
Triumvir and Imperator
committed suicide 30 B.C.
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MARCVS ANTONIVS, (c. 83 BC – August 1, 30 BC), known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. He was an important supporter of Gaius Julius Caesar as a military commander and administrator. After Caesar's assassination, Antony allied with Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus to form the second triumvirate. The triumvirate broke up in 33 BC and the disagreement turned to civil war in 31 BC, in which Antony was defeated by Octavian at the Battle of Actium and then at Alexandria. Antony committed suicide along with his lover, Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt, in 30 BC. (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) |
The Cistophori
The Denarii
