My Journey to Completing the Twelve Caesars Set!

I began hunting for coins of the Twelve Caesars about a year ago, and wow—what a rush to finally complete this legendary set! It turned into this fantastic adventure that somehow felt more doable than I’d imagined, packed with clever finds and personal victories.

Building My Set Without Breaking the Bank

My proudest moment? Keeping the whole collection under $2,000. The secret sauce was mixing things up: six silver and six bronze coins, plus a balance of imperial and provincial mintings. This approach saved cash and made the set way more interesting. Here’s how it worked for me:

• Snag coin lots at auctions or online—I got my Antioch bronze of Otho in a bundle with 17 other bronzes, easily my cheapest score
• Save up for the big names first—like that Augustus denarius. Pricey? Absolutely. But it’s the foundation of the whole collection
• Time your final purchase—I deliberately chose Vespasian’s victory denarius last. Felt like celebrating my own win!

Treasures That Made It Special

Every coin whispers stories, and I adore photographing them—especially those chunky bronzes that show all the details. That Augustus denarius? Pure magic. The bargain Otho bronze? Still makes me grin. Finishing in under a year felt incredible, and handling each piece connects me to those wild Roman power struggles in such a tangible way.

Handy Advice If You Start Collecting

Caught the Twelve Caesars bug? Here’s what I’d tell you:

• Blend metals and mints—it keeps costs down and makes your set visually exciting without losing authenticity
• Stick strictly to Suetonius’ twelve emperors for historical truth—no substituting Marc Antony!
• Read Suetonius alongside your hunt—his gossipy tales (Tiberius’ cruelty, Nero’s theatrics) make the coins feel alive
• Begin with common emperors and research the rare ones—patience pays off big time

What’s Next on My Collecting Radar

With this set proudly displayed, I’m squirreling away funds for my next grail: an Athenian owl tetradrachm. Another ancient icon calling my name, and I’m itching to use all the tricks I learned from this chase!

Completing the Twelve Caesars has been an absolute blast. If this set calls to you, go for it—with some clever planning and genuine passion, it’s totally within reach!