Unearthing History: How to Cherry Pick Roman Imperial Coins Like the Legendary ‘Twelve Caesars’ Collection

You Don’t Need a Dealer to Hold History in Your Palm

As I rummaged through an estate sale’s crusty coin bin last summer, my fingers closed around an unassuming bronze disc – thicker than a Lincoln cent yet smaller than a nickel. When a gentle rub revealed the ghostly profile of a laureled ruler and the telltale AVGVSTVS legend, my pulse quickened. There it was: every roll hunter’s dream realized. For less than a fancy coffee, I’d unearthed a 2,000-year-old artifact whispering tales of empire. Like Lord Marcovan’s legendary ‘Twelve Caesars’ collection proves, you need neither deep pockets nor dealer connections to assemble museum-worthy Roman history. The secrets lie in recognizing hidden potential within circulation finds, bulk lots, and overlooked treasures.

Striking Propaganda: Coins as Imperial Megaphones

The Twelve Caesars series captures Rome’s most seismic shift – Republic crumbling into Empire. These small metal canvases served as ancient mass media, their designs carefully crafted political messages:

• Julius Caesar’s lifetime denarius (Feb-Mar 44 BC): Struck by moneyer C. Cossutius Maridianus weeks before Caesar’s assassination, this revolutionary issue broke tradition by depicting a living Roman – an audacious act of self-deification that sealed his fate
• Augustus’ “boundary stone” as (7 BC): Minted under moneyer M. Salvius Otho, showcasing Octavian’s reclamation of territories from Cleopatra with striking iconography
• Tiberius’ “Tribute Penny” denarius: The very type Christ held when uttering “Render unto Caesar…” in Matthew 22:21
• Vespasian’s “Judaea Capta” denarius: Victory propaganda depicting mourning captives after Rome crushed the Jewish revolt – numismatic value skyrockets when you find one with intact eye appeal

“That deep banker’s punch seemed like damage at first, but now I see it as part of the coin’s story. The heart-shaped mark makes it uniquely mine – proof that imperfections often hold the most character.” – @NiceCurrency on embracing ancient flaws

The Pocket Field Guide to Imperial Portraits

Key Identification Features

When sorting through mixed lots, train your eyes to spot these defining characteristics:

• Julius Caesar: Distinctive aquiline nose and receding hairline, often accompanied by crude CAESAR lettering
• Caligula (Gaius): Delicate, youthful features – his coins rank among the rarest varieties due to his short reign and damnatio memoriae
• Nero’s dupondius (ca. 64 AD): Recognizable by its orichalcum composition’s reddish-gold luster and the emperor’s telltale “double chin”
• Otho’s denarius (69 AD): The ultimate cherry pick with just four months of production – seek military busts with detailed armor strike

Metal Composition Secrets

• Silver denarii: 3.5-4g weight with distinctive gray patina under crust
• Bronze as: 25-28mm diameter, often with beautiful malachite-green surfaces
• Orichalcum dupondius: Yellowish brass alloy frequently mistaken for common bronze

The Thrifty Collector’s Value Primer

While Lord Marcovan proved a complete set could be built affordably, here’s today’s reality for circulated-grade finds with collectibility potential:

“When I spotted that low-grade Augustus peeking out from a dealer’s junk bin, my partner’s eyes lit up. She immediately understood how this ‘imperfect’ coin completed our Twelve Caesars story.” – @nicholasz219 on shared collecting joy

Provenance Hunting: Where History Hides

Estate Sale Tactics

• Scour “world coin lots” – sellers often miss ancient identifiers among modern clutter
• Focus on collections assembled pre-1980s when Roman bronzes were still considered “common”
• Check jewelry boxes – suspension holes decrease numismatic value but increase accessibility

Bulk Lot Opportunities

• Late Roman bronzes often camouflage earlier Imperial coins – silver surfaces can hide under patina
• Dig through “cull” buckets at shows – that “junk” bronze could be a $200 Otho in disguise
• Search online auctions with terms like “unidentified Roman coin” – poor photography hides gems

Preservation Wisdom from Battle-Scarred Collectors

After decades-long forum debates, these storage insights stand the test of time:

• Mahogany boxes: Safe for long-term storage (low acid), unlike oak/walnut villains
• NGC slabs: Protective “sarcophagi” for key coins, but avoid for raw specimens you enjoy handling
• Air-Tites: Budget-friendly champions – use 38-40mm holders to preserve as/dupondii patina

“Modern proofs need climate control, but a well-patinated ancient? That survivor’s seen worse than your display cabinet.” – Lord Marcovan on preservation priorities

Building Your Legacy: Tools for Aspiring Caesars

• VCoins.com: Trusted marketplace with vetted authenticity
• Wildwinds.com: Indispensable visual database for attribution
• FORVM Ancient Coins: Essential community for spotting fakes
• BargainBinAncients.com: Curated affordable selections with collector notes

Conclusion: Your Empire Awaits

Lord Marcovan’s original $500/coin challenge proves the Twelve Caesars remain within reach for diligent collectors. Whether you’re elbow-deep in a dealer’s junk bin at the Chicago show or negotiating bulk lots from European sellers, remember: every legendary collection begins with a single coin. That thrill of recognizing Augustus’ profile in a $5 scrap pile, or spotting Nero’s orichalcum dupondius in Grandpa’s old collection – that’s the heartbeat of our hobby. Each worn surface tells an unbroken story spanning millennia. Start with one ruler. Study portrait nuances. Let each acquisition speak across centuries about power, persuasion, and the permanence of history struck in metal.

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