The family of Septimus Severus and his wife Julia Domna ruled the Roman Empire for over forty years and provide the
background for the introduction of the new silver double denarius. Their rise to power signaled the ascendancy of the
provincial nobility in the affairs of Roman government. Septimus Severus was an African from the seaport of Leptis Magna
in Libya. His wife was from the Syrian city of Emesa. Their son Caracalla, the inventor of the double denarius, would extend
roman citizenship to all free subjects of the Empire. The Severan Dynasty was also a critical period of transition in Roman
history, coming between the peace and prosperity of the Adoptive Emperors of the second century AD and the constant
warfare and social upheaval of the middle decades of the third century AD. Before Septimus Severus died in Britain in 211
AD, he urged his two sons, Caracalla and Geta, to look to the army for their support.
Unfortunately, the two heirs to the throne turned on each other. In 212 AD, Caracalla arranged his brother's murder at a
peace conference presided over by their mother Julia Domna, in whose arms Geta was stabbed. Caracalla extended his
violence against any followers of his dead brother and it is estimated that he executed as many as 20,000 Geta adherents.
Also in 212 AD he ordered the execution of his estranged wife, Plautilla. Caracalla bought the support of the army with a
50% pay raise to total 900 denarii a year for the average legionnaire. His grant of citizenship may have been an effort to
broaden the tax base to meet the military payroll. Very late in 214 AD a deceptive maneuver to stretch his silver bullion
supplies was the introduction of his new double denarius. Caracalla's official name was Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, so
sources have named his double denarius coin the "Antoninianus" after him. The "ants" as they are popularly called were
passed as two denarii but had a weight of about 4.6 grams which equaled only one and a half or fewer average denarii.
This was an obvious official inflation, and when in conjunction with a more secretive lowering of the fineness of the silver,
the emperor probably managed to double the nominal value of struck coinage. The reign of Caracalla continued in an
excess of paranoia and violence until he was assassinated in 217 AD by his praetorian prefect, Macrinus, who had
intercepted a message that denounced him as a traitor. Rather than submit to this usurper, Julia Domna committed suicide.
The consistent design of the double denarius shows the bust of the emperor wearing a radiate crown, like Apollo, the
sun god, presumably to make the quick distinction of double the value of a denarius. the empresses' bust rest on a lunar
crescent to make the same indication of value. In spite of the allusion to a celestial god the mature portrait of Caracalla
sneers with a brutal human hatred designed to inspire fear in any who opposed him.
Silver double denarius .............................
Fine
VF
EF
AU
Unc.
Julia Domna 193-217 AD.........................
117.
177.
277.
477.
--
Caracalla 198-217 AD .............................
67.
117.
177.
277.
--
Macrinus 217-218 AD ..............................
--
777.
--
--
--
Diadumenian Caesar 217-218 AD
very rare
Elagabalus 218-222 AD ...........................
47.
87.
147.
277.
--
The inflationary double denarius was not issued during the reign of Severus Alexander, a coinage
reformer, 222-235 AD and Maximinus 235-238 AD.
Balbinus 238 AD, 98 days ........................
177.
377.
577.
--
--
Pupienus co-ruler, 98 days ......................
usually 377.
577.
restocking
Gordian III 238-244 AD ............................
17.
27.
37.
57.
177.
Tranquillina, his wife .................................
excessively rare
Philip I 244-249 AD ..................................
17.
27.
37.
Otacilia Severa, his wife...........................
17.
27.
37.
57.
137.
Philip II 247-249 AD .................................
17.
27.
37.
57.
177.
Pacatian c. 248 AD ..................................
very rare
Jotapian c. 248 AD...................................
very rare
Trajan Decius 249-251 AD .......................
17.
27.
37.
57.
177.
Herennia Etruscilla, wife ..........................
27.
37.
47.
67.
277.
Herennius Etruscus, his son
As Caesar, 250-251 AD ...........................
47.
67.
87.
147.
277.
As Augustus, 251 AD...............................
restocking
Hostilian, as Caesar 251 AD....................
77.
--
177.
--
--
As Augustus 251 AD................................
restocking
Trebonianus Gallus,
as Augustus 251-253 AD ....................
27.
47.
77.
177.
--
Volusian as Caesar 251 AD .....................
--
377.
--
--
--
As Augustus, 251-253 AD........................
37.
67.
97.
177.
--
Aemilian Augustus 253 AD ......................
--
377.
--
--
--
Cornelia Supera, his wife? .......................
excessively rare
Valerian I 253-260 AD..............................
17.
37.
77.
177.
--
Mariniana, his wife ...................................
--
--
377.
--
--
Gallienus, 253-268 AD
Early good silver ......................................
27.
47.
87.
127.
--
Late, billion to bronze...............................
7.
12.
27.
77.
--
As Gallienus' reign progressed the silver in the double denarii declined from about 20% to an all time low
of under 2%, or as near a bronze coin as possible, usually very poorly struck with badly worn dies,
especially the reverses. Low grade examples always look bronze, and sometimes high grade coins have
no silvering.
Salonina, his wife, billion..........................
7.
12.
27.
77.
--
Valerian II
Caesar 253-255 AD .................................
37.
77.
--
--
--
Psthumous ...............................................
restocking
Saloninus Caesar 255-259 AD ................
37.
67.
--
--
--
Posthumous .............................................
restocking
Saloninus Caesar 255-259 AD ................
37.
67.
--
--
--
Fine
VF
EF
AU
Unc.
As Augustus 259 AD................................
restocking
Macrianus 260-261 AD ............................
restocking
Quietus 260-261 AD ................................
restocking
Regalianus c. 260 AD ..............................
excessively rare
Dryantilla, his wife? ..................................
excessively rare
Postumus 259-268 AD .............................
not rare, just restocking
Laelianus 268 AD ....................................
restocking
Marius 268 AD for 3 days? ......................
--
277.
--
--
--
Victorinus 268-270 AD .............................
17.
47.
--
--
--
Posthumous .............................................
restocking
Tetricus I 270-273 AD ..............................
17.
37.
--
--
--
Tetricus II Caesar 270-273 AD.................
17.
47.
--
--
--
Claudius II
Gothicus 268-270 AD ..............................
17.
27.
47.
97.
--
Posthumous .............................................
27.
--
--
--
--
Quintilles 270 AD .....................................
restocking
Aurelian 270-275 AD
Pro-reform................................................
9.
17.
47.
97.
--
Post reform, the new heavier, better silver, and more carefully struck double denarius
is sometimes called the "Aurelianus".
Gray billion to silver look .....................
17.
27.
47.
97.
197.
Severina, his wife ....................................
27.
57.
97.
197.
--
Zenobia, 267-271 AD...............................
excessively rare
Vabalathus, her son, as Rex, Imperator, and Dux Romanorum, but as vassal king of Palmyra under
Aurelian. 270-271 AD ..........................
37.
67.
177.
--
--
As Augustus, 271 AD...............................
restocking
Tacitus 275-276 Ad ..................................
27.
47.
77.
177.
--
Florianus 276 AD .....................................
57.
147.
227.
377.
--
Probus 276-282 AD .................................
9.
17.
27.
47.
177.
Carus 282-283 AD ...................................
37.
67.
97.
177.
--
Posthumous .............................................
47.
77.
97.
--
--
Numerian Caesar 282-283 AD ................
27.
47.
77.
137.
--
As Augustus 283-284 AD.........................
27.
47.
77.
137.
--
Carinus Caesar 282-283 AD....................
27.
47.
77.
137.
--
As Augustus 283-285 AD.........................
27.
47.
77.
137.
--
Magna Urbica, his wife.............................
very rare
Nigrinian, his son? ...................................
very rare
Julian of Pannonia 284-285 AD ...............
very rare
Carausius 287-293 AD ............................
47.
--
--
--
--
Allectus 293-296 AD ................................
47.
--
--
--
--
The Tetrarchy-Diocletian's coinage reform and the introduction of the new follies marked the end of the
double denarius in 295 AD.
Diocletian 284-305 AD .............................
7.
17.
27.
47.
177.
Maximianus 286-310 AD .........................
17.
27.
47.
67.
177.
Constantius I 293-306 AD........................
17.
27.
47.
67.
197.
Galerius 293-311 AD ...............................
17.
27.
47.
67.
--
The Roman Double Denarius Coinage in Transition
Caracalla's Scowl EF $177.
Julia Domna EF $277.
Elagabalus full borders EF $187.
Elagabalus AU $277.
Macrinus VF+ $777.
Balbinus EF $577.
Otacilia Severa Hippopotamus VF $147.
Philip II, son & father AU $97.
Trajan Decius Two Pannoniac goddesses Ch. AU $97.
Trajan Decius on horseback AU $67.
Trajan Decius Milan Mint Unc. $177.
Trajan Decius very heavy 5.7 gms. EF/VF $127.
75%
75%
75%
75%
75%
75%
75%
75%
75%
75%
75%
75%
Antioch Mint Gordian III EF $77.
Gordian III AU $57.
Philip I Peace with Persia VF $77.
Philip I Column, 1000 anniversary of Rome EF $147.
75%
75%
75%
75%
Herennia Etruscilla AU $67.
75%
Herennius Etruscus AU $147.
75%
Volusian VF+ $77.
75%
Trebonianus Gallus Temple VF $127.
75%
JONATHAN K. KERN
441 S. Ashland Ave., Lexington, Kentucky 40502 · To order, call 859-269-1614
W1039864 01/25/2002 4:15 PM Page a
JONATHAN K. KERN
441 S. Ashland Ave., Lexington, Kentucky 40502
To order, call
(859) 269-1614
between 9 AM & 5 PM EST
Professional Numismatist · Bachelor of Arts in Numismatics
24-hour FAX only: (859) 266-7900
Email: JKernCoins@aol.com
AUTHENTICITY & SATISFACTION GUARANTEED!
MAIL ORDER POLICIES
1. All coins guaranteed as described. ANA and common
sense grading. Your satisfaction guaranteed!
2. 14 day return privilege or approval service can be
arranged with proper references.
3. Personal checks of unknown customers must clear.
References may be required. VISA, MasterCard and
American Express accepted.
4. Kentucky residents add 6% sales tax.
5. All coins sent insured or registered! Orders less than
$200 please add $4.00 for postage and handling.
6. Most coins are one-of-a-kind. Second choices
appreciated.
7. Visits by appointment only.
Aemilian VF $377.
75%
Claudius II, Victory over the Goths, SPQR Mint AU PQ $677.
75%
Claudius II Unc. $277.
75%
Victorinus bronze VF PQ $77.
75%
Aurelian pre-reform Unc. $277.
75%
Aurelian post reform VF $27.
75%
Aurelian very heavy 7.0 gms. EF $127.
75%
Aurelian mostly blazing white pre-reform Unc. $277.
75%
Aurelian bust left EF $127.
75%
Vabalathus with Aurelian bronze VF $67.
75%
Aurelian post reform Unc. $197.
75%
Aurelian post reform Unc. $197.
75%
Severina EF $97.
75%
Florian Ch. AU $377.
75%
Tacitus AU $177.
75%
Probus mounted, spearing enemy Ch. AU $147.
75%
Carus Ch. AU $237.
75%
Carinus Augustus silvered Ch. AU $297.
75%
Carinus Augustus bronze Ch. AU $167.
75%
Numerian Augustus bronze Ch. AU $137.
75%
Numerian Augustus, Fides EF $97.
75%
Diocletian Ch. AU $127.
75%
Maximianus AU $67.
75%
Constantius I Caesar AU $67.
75%
Galerius Caesar AU $67.
75%
Probus very PQ AU $147.
75%
Probus temple AU $147.
75%
Probus, robed with scepter, facing 4 horse chariot of Sol,
the sun god Ch. AU $147.
75%
Probus with goddess Ch. AU $97.
75%
Another Ch. AU $147.
75%
Another Ch. AU $147.
75%
Probus on horse, captive beneath hoof AU $97.
75%
Another Ch. AU $147.
75%
Probus' Victory over the Germans Ch. AU $147.
75%
Valerian I EF+ $97.
75%
Big Valerian I copying Gaius and Lucius reverse of
Augustus denarius 2 BC EF+ $177.
75%
Valerian I bust left VF+ $177.
75%
Mariniana EF $377.
75%
Gallienus late but great silvering Unc. $277.
75%
Gallienus "loyalty of the legions" VF+ $127.
75%
Gallienus "loyalty of the Praetorian Guard" EF $327.
75%
Gallienus bronze hippocamp EF+ $77.
75%
Salonina goddess in temple EF $137.
75%
Saloninus VF+ $87.
75%
Valerian II EF/F+ $97.
75%
Marius bronze VF $277.
75%
Claudius II AU PQ $177.
75%
W1039864 01/25/2002 4:15 PM Page b
T
his moment in history described by the ancient historian Herodotus was
perhaps one of the greatest military undertakings in history given the
current technology. The accounts relate that the great Persian king, Xerxes
amassed an army of 1,700,000 men for his invasion of Greece in 480 BC. An
entire city was needed to feed the army just two meals, and an entire river
ran dry when they drank. And huge quantities of silver coins were struck to
finance the massive military payroll and all the expenses of huge military
operations. The Hellespont was the water way at least a mile wide connecting
the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea and separating Europe from Asia
Minor. In order to move his vast army, Xerxes commanded his engineers,
mostly Phoenecians and Egyptians, to build a bridge. To do this, 674 ships
were tied together in a double row and planks were laid over the decks. The
planks were covered with brushwood and dirt to create a road. Xerxes
invaded Greece and very nearly succeeded in conquering the civilized world.
A
s the Persians moved through northern Greece, they were met at the
pass of Thermopylae, where the 300 Spartans led by Leonidas fought to
the last man, and successfully delayed the Persian advance long enough for
the Greek cities to prepare. Although Xerxes captured Athens, the Athenians
had fled with their fleet to the nearby island of Salamis where the Persian
fleet was defeated by the more experienced Athenian navy. The army of the
allied Greek city-states, led by Spartans was able to defeat the Persian army
at Plataea in 479 BC and effectively ended Xerxes' attempted conquest of
Greece.
X
erxes is long dead, and his observations on the brevity of human
existence still applies today, even though we average more than twice
the usual life span of the ancients. By collecting, studying, and handling the
coins of the ancients, our human experience can be greatly enhanced. In our
hands we have relics of great kings who commanded huge armies to
conquer kingdoms now vanished. These huge treasures of precious metals
that are now unear thed from the paths of these ancient armies are
sometimes the only tangible links that we have. Now you can expand your
horizons to the Fifth Century BC with a modest contribution to the Jonathan
K. Kern Co.
T
his hoard of silver was composed of over 100 pounds of struck sigloi. A
single siglos averages 5.55 grams of nearly pure silver and depicts the
Great King of Persia as an archer in an action pose. Some interpret his
posture as the archaic art expression of running, and other describe him as
kneeling. These coins were struck with a heavy sledge hammer on very thick
oblong planchets, much like silver bullets, with a hand held upper die
depicting the archer. The lower die was probably imbedded in wood or stone
to secure it. The lower, or reverse die of these coins, was used in the manner
of the very first coins ever produced in the world. This lower die was a roughly
rectangular raised metal lump, appearing in hundreds of mysterious
variations. The raised reverse die creates hundreds of mysterious variations.
The raised reverse die creates an incuse impression for the backs of the
sigloi. Museum studies now in progress utilize the reverse incused
impressions for quick die referencing, since the obverse impression of the
Great King is frequently off center. These coins represented a huge explosion
in the production of coined money, and were struck rapidly to fill the need for
pre-weighed silver authorized by a powerful ruler.
T
he Great King is shown holding a spear and a bow on the sigloi attributed
to the Asia Minor mint of Sardeis, in Lydia and a bow and a dagger on the
other type which is possibly all from a different mint further south. Frequently
they are countermarked with tiny punches by merchants or bankers, possibly
to attest to the quality of the silver.
Spear and bow VF ............................................
$77.
Dagger and bow VF..........................................
$77.
One of each type in VF, the pair, only ........................................................................
$150.
One spear, one dagger, the pair in Fine......................................................................
$70.
Very unusual grade of XF each .................................................................................
$277.
Hoard lots, mixed grades, at least 1 XF, 20 VF's and 79 more. 100 coins only ..........
$2977.
Treasure of Xerxes
Huge Hoard of Silver Buried Circa 450 BC
And now, as he looked and saw the whole Hellespont covered with the vessels of his
fleet and all the shore and every plain about Abydos as full as possible of men, Xerxes
congratulated himself upon his good fortune; but after a little while he wept. His uncle
Artabanus, who was with him at the time, asked about this strange expression of
contradictory feelings. "I was thinking," Xerxes replied, "and it came into my mind how
pitifully short human life is...."
Herodotus VII, 45-46
Obverse
200%
Reverse 100%
Obverse
200%
Reverse 100%
Silver drachm of Shapur I, 240-270 A.D. Obv.: bust of Shapur. Rev.:
attendants flanking fire altar. This great Persian king was best
known for his capture of the Roman emperor Valerian I in 260 A.D.
As a captive in his court Shapur used Valerian as a footstool. After
Valerian's death Shapur had Valerian's body stuffed and displayed
in a Zooroastrian temple. EF $177.; VF-EF $117.; VF .............. $77.
Rare Sassanian Silver
100%
JONATHAN K. KERN
441 S. Ashland Ave., Lexington, Kentucky 40502
To order, call
(859) 269-1614
between 9 AM & 5 PM EST
Professional Numismatist · Bachelor of Arts in Numismatics
24-hour FAX only: (859) 266-7900 · Email: JKernCoins@aol.com
AUTHENTICITY & SATISFACTION GUARANTEED!
MAIL ORDER POLICIES
1. All coins guaranteed as described. ANA
and common sense grading. Your
satisfaction guaranteed!
2. 14 day return privilege or approval
service can be arranged with proper
references.
3. Personal checks of unknown customers
must clear. References may be required.
VISA, MasterCard and American
Express accepted.
4. Kentucky residents add 6% sales tax.
5. All coins sent insured or registered!
Orders less than $200 please add $4.00
for postage and handling.
6. Most coins are one-of-a-kind. Second
choices appreciated.
7. Visits by appointment only.
W1039864 01/25/2002 4:15 PM Page c