In all great civilizations, ideas are born from strife and heartache. In ancient Rome, rivaling philosophies led to civil wars, political and military conquests, and assassinations that resulted in one of the greatest empires the world has ever seen.
Famed Roman citizen and historian Suetonius’s famous work, De Vita Caesarium, or The Twelve Casears, chronicles the biographies of the Roman Empire’s first twelve Caesars, capturing forever the lives of the founding men who began an empire that reigned over a golden age of human civilization.
From narcissistic to sadistic, from humble to kind, their legacies live on today. Now there is an opportunity to own tangible artifacts direct from their golden age. Much of what we know about our world and its origins is because of coinage, and there is truly no better way to begin your collection than with the Twelve Caesars.
Julius Caesar’s fame and accomplishments make his gold extremely difficult to find. Owning one of these coins is one of the most prestigious accomplishments for collectors of numismatic history.
Augustus struck coins in abundance, yet few have survived in high grade. A number of design types were produced under his rule, inspiring collectors to make an attempt at finding them all.
Tiberius Caesar is known for his conservative growth of the Empire. Demand for his coins is usually high because they were minted around the same time period as Christ’s crucifixion.
Caligula’s coins are exceedingly rare and are always in high demand. The rare availability of this coin can sometimes make it a stumbling block for collectors looking to complete their set.
The coins of Claudius are frequently in high demand. His silver and gold coins are rare and hard to find and most buyers seek portrait bronzes for their collection.
Nero’s coins were struck widely throughout the Roman Empire making them the most available coins from the collection. Even so, demand is high due to his infamy as one of Rome’s most ruthless Caesar.
Galba only ruled for seven months but issued many coins. His silver denarius coins can be found with little difficulty, however, his bronze and gold coins are a rare find.
Otho struck no Imperial bronzes which leave collectors with the option of either a silver denarius or a gold aureus. His denarii are quite scarce, and his aurei are extremely difficult to find.
Vitellius managed to produce a sizable coinage in a short period. Additionally, he resumed the striking of bronzes. Though available, his coins are difficult to find in high grade.
Coins struck during Vespasian’s reign served as propaganda throughout the Empire, depicting images of military victory and peace. He struck large quantities of gold, silver, and copper coins.
Despite his short reign as emperor, Titus struck many coins which makes it possible to acquire gold, silver, or copper coins of this good-natured emperor at a reasonable price.
Domaitian’s silver denarius coins represent the best value; nice examples of his gold and copper coins are surprisingly hard to find.