ue to a fortunate purchase of over 12,000 Roman silver coins by the Jonathan K.

Kern Co. ancient department, we can now offer again our very popular Roman Empire
Denarii portrait gallery. These ancient Roman silver denarii (singular: denarius) were
struck in large quantities from about 200 B.C. to 235 A.D. The Roman Empire stretched
from Scotland to Arabia, from Morocco to Poland, from Germany to Egypt, and the
Mediterranean was known as the "Roman Lake." It was an empire like the world had
never known and has not known since. Dozens of aspiring generals and tyrants like
Justinian, Charlemagne, Napoleon, and Hitler tried and failed to recreate the Roman
Empire. "All roads lead to Rome." "When in Rome do as the Romans do." About every
third word in the English language had its start in the Roman Latin language. Libertas
was originally a Roman goddess, and she and her Liberty cap became standard on
American coins. The Mercury head dime is named after the Roman messenger god.The
fasces on the reverse is a symbol of Roman justice. The Roman Empire was the birth
culture of the Christian religion. All one has to do is visit modern Rome now and look
at the Colosseum built by Vespasian, the triumphal arches of Titus, Constantine,
and Septimus Severus, Trajan's Column, and the forum of Trajan.These are 2,000 year
old ruins which represent only a small fraction of the awe inspiring grandeur of this
amazing civilization.

he average weight is about 3.0 grams of good silver. They were hand struck with

the reverse die embedded in an "anvil"of log cross section and the obverse die was held
and struck with a hand sledge hammer. These silver jewels were struck in massive
quantities to fuel the economic needs of a vast thriving empire, and indeed as this hoard
demonstrates, the oldest denarii in the hoard passed from hand to hand for over
200 years before being buried.They were struck by hand engraved dies by skilled artists
known as celators. The portraits of all the different Roman emperors and their
family members are like a portrait gallery of miniature silver busts, or like a precious
metal three dimensional photo album. The reverse dies were also carefully engraved,
usually to depict all the gods, goddesses, heroes, and nymphs of Roman mythology.
Other reverse commemorated military victories, religious or political events, or just
plain propaganda.

he silver denarius was also the power base by which Roman emperors maintained

the loyalty of their legions. These paid professional legionaires, though proud to be part
of the Roman army, were just as happy serving a rival claimant to the Imperial Purple if
he happened to have a more generous war chest overflowing with denarii.Until the reign
of Septimus Severus the average standard pay for a legionnaire was 300 denarii a year.

ust by handling these treasures of the past one can almost hear the drums giving

a cadence to the tromp of the Legion's advance and the trumpets signaling the charge
against the enemy lines! But after the battles are over and the paymaster has distributed
the denarii to the surviving legions what happened then? For a denarius a Roman could
buy 12 large loaves of bread, or 24 small loaves. A serving of table wine (probably
watered, which was acceptable) cost an as, or 1/16 of a denarius. Vintage wine cost
1/4 a denarius a serving.In the Holy Land, an amphora of olive oil from the Galilee cost
one denarius. A bunch of grapes or 10 figs cost an as, or 1/16 of a denarius. An ox sold
for 100 denarii, and a calf 20 denarii, and a ram 8 denarii, and 5 sparrows cost 1/8
denarius. It could cost a trader 10,000 denarii to lease a ship (galley). A scribe, a highly
educated man, earned 12 denarii a week. He ate and drank for 4 denarii a week, and
his clothing also cost 4 denarii a week (he must have dressed quite well because a
commoner could buy sackcloth clothing which would last years for only 4 denarii).

he family of Septimus Severus and his wife Julia Domna ruled the Roman Empire

for over forty years. 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 town of Emesa. Their son
C a racalla 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.

everus came to power in 193 A.D. when the army he commanded on the Danube

proclaimed him emperor after the murder of Pertinax. Pertinax himself had just come to
the throne earlier that year after the assassination of the insane tyrant Commodus.
Between 193 and 197 A.D., Severus prevailed over a series of rivals to the throne
Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, and Clodius Albinus. In 197 A.D. Severus doubled the
legionaire's pay to 600 denarii a year, the silver for which was available from his various
conquests. It was normal to seize all the wealth and property from his vanquished foes
and their supporters and all their families. After consolidating his power, Severus spent
the remainder of his reign on campaign against Rome's external enemies in Syria and
Britain (the triumphal arch erected in his honor still dominates the ruins of the Roman
Forum).Before he died in Britain in 211 A.D., he urged his two sons, Caracalla and Geta,
to look to the army for their support.

nfortunately, the two heirs to the throne turned on each other. In 212 A.D.,

Caracalla arranged his brother's murder at a peace conference presided over by their
mother Julia Domna, in whose arms Geta died.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 A.D. 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 legionaire. His grant of citizenship may have been an effort
to broaden the tax base to meet the military payroll. Another deceptive maneuver to
stretch his bullion supplies was to introduce the double denarius, or "antoninianus"
named after the emperor, whose official name was Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. The
"ants" as they are popularly called were passed as two denarii but only had the weight
of 1.6 denarii.This was an obvious official inflation, and when in conjuction 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 A.D. 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.

fter seizing the throne, Macrinus soon made himself unpopular by concluding an

unfavorable peace with the Parthian Empire. When Julia Maesa, the sister of Julia
Domna, presented her eldest grandson Elagabalus of Emesa, Syria, as alleged son of
Caracalla, the Syrian legions revolted and quickly deposed Macrinus in 218 A.D.
Diadumenian, son of Macrinus, had been named Caesar (heir to the throne) was also
executed and the Severan Dynasty was reinstated.

lagabalus, whose official name was also Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, was a

hereditary priest of the sun god of Emesa, "El Gabal," from which derived his nick name.
The object of worship was apparently a "black stone from the sky" or meteorite, which
he blasphemously placed on the Palatine Temple alter in Rome when he arrived. Only
16 years old on his accession, he rapidly alienated his new subjects by his fanatical
devotion to this exotic Syrian deity and with his amazing array of debauched actions.
One of his denarii issues imitates the posthumous coinages of the deified Alexander the
Great, and it shows a horn growing from his head to show his divinity. He was a flaming
transvestite and a Roman critic accused him of turning the palace "into an infamous
brothel, where he wallowed with the excrement of the human race." He was married
briefly to Julia Paula and then Aguilea Severa, a Vestal Virgin from one of Rome's
temples. To save the dynasty, Julia Maeesa arranged to have her younger grandson,
Elagabalus'cousin Severus Alexander, designated Caesar. Alexander became emperor
in 222 A.D. when the praetorian guard, with the support of the Roman populace,
assassinated Elagablaus, and his mother Julia Soaemias. Their bodies were dragged
through the streets of Rome and thrown into the Tiber River.

everus Alexander ruled wisely and even handedly for the next 13 years. His father

had died early in his life and his mother raised him as far as possible from the corrupting
influences of his cousin.His monetary reform was an example of his competent rule. He
restored the quality of silver in the denarii and he did not issue the abusive double
denarius. A separate gold aurei hoard of Severus Alexander consisted of amazing high
relief gems with screaming luster. His silver coins frequently have wonderfully engraved
very high relief portraits with bold strikes and the gem uncirculated ones we offer here
were all picked for fresh, unworn reverse dies, which weaken faster than the obverses.

everus Alexander was accused of being weak willed.Coming to power at the age

of 17 certainly made him inexperienced, so he relied heavily on the advice of his wily
grandmother Julia Maesa (who died in 225 A.D.) and then his mother Julia Mamaea.
There is evidence that Mamaea was instructed in the Christian religion by the bishop
Origen of Alexandria and that Severus incorporated Christ into his personal selection of
higher powers, which included deified Caesars, Abraham, and Orpheus. Severus
Alexander married Orbiana in 225 A.D. but friction with her mother in law resulted in her
banishment to Africa. Peace prevailed until 232 A.D. when a new Persian dynasty
threatened the Eastern borders, followed by insurrections on the German frontiers.
When in Germany Severus Alexander and his mother Julia Mamaea were murdered
in a coup led by the Thracian giant and general Maximinus in 235 A.D. They were
mourned by the populace as the imperial purple once again passed to the shoulders of
a legionaire.

aximinus I, Thrax (i.e. Thracian) was born in that province in 173 A.D. to a

peasant household. In early life he was a herdsman. He was a giant of a man in the
literal sense. Over eight feet tall, and of immense strength he must have been a
fearsome foe. It was said he could uproot trees and grind pebbles with his fingers.
Maximinus was first recruited in the Imperial guard by Septimus Severus. He was
elevated to full centurion by Caracalla. Maximinus was not only huge, but quite clever,
and avoided the ugly court politics of the debauched Elagabalus. Severus Alexander
appointed him governor of Mesopotamia, and when the need arose, Maximinus was
sent with legions under his command to oppose the restless barbarians on the German
frontier. But now his true ambitions rose to the surface and he turned on his pacifist
emperor. Upon his seizing the title of Augustus, Maximinus immediately elevated his son
Maximus to Caesar, or heir to the throne. Paulina, the wife of Maximinus apparently died
before his rise to power, as all here denarii are posthumous.

AMAZING HOARD OF

JONATHAN K. KERN

Pertinax

Manlia Scantilla

Pescennius

Niger

Clodius Albinus

as Caesar

Septimus Severus

Divo Septimus

Severus

Julia Domna

Geta, as Child

Caesar

he "gigantic savage"now expressed his true hatred of the Roman aristocracy, and

with the legions at his back claimed the emperorship of the Roman empire. He was the
first Roman emperor to bypass the approval of the Roman Senate, and the bureaucracy
of the established government meant little to him. After taming the Germans of the
frontier, he assumed the victorious acclamation of "Germanicus." To buy the continued
support of his legions Maximinus confiscated the silver of wealthy Romans, and if he
were opposed, he responded with brutal bloodbaths of the Roman nobility. One of his
favorite tortures was to have his victims sewn alive in the hides of freshly killed cattle.

y 238 A.D. the Roman Senate responded with open revolt, proclaiming Gordian I

and II emperors, and Maximinus Thrax a criminal.The Gordians were defeated by the
legions of Maximinus, and the Senate proclaimed two new co-emperors of old Roman
nobility, Balbinus and Pupienus. Gordian III, the 13 year old grandson of Gordian I, and
nephew of Gordian II, was confirmed as Caesar, or heir to the throne. Maximinus, the
first Roman emperor who never actually entered Rome, now moved into Italy with his
legions to crush the Senate and its appointees. The siege of the important city of
Aquileia became drawn out and his troops wearied of his tyrannies, and probably fearing
for their own safety, mutinied, and executed the biggest of all Roman emperors and his
son. The Praetorian guard immediately supported the young Goridan III as supreme
ruler. The double denarius became common again during the reign of Gordian, and
the once supreme denarius was never again commonly issued after the end of his reign
in 244 A.D.

f only these coins could tell their story. Perhaps this treasure belonged to a wealthy

merchant traveling far from home. Stopping for the night, he buried his silver by the light
of the moon under that tree over there, as he prepared to finish off the amphora of
fine Thasos wine he had started several hours earlier. Or was it under that tree over
there? During the advance towards Rome perhaps paymaster of one of the giant's
legions buried the next month's payroll in his secret spot in the camp, but died in the next
day's skirmish with the troops of the Aquileian defenders, carrying his secret to his
grave. Mysteries of the past are part of the fun of ancient coin collecting, whether one
coin or hundreds.

AN ANCIENT COIN FOR THE COLLECTOR

WHO WANTS ONLY ONE!

ue to this fortunate purchase by the Jonathan Kern Co. we can now repeat a

special opportunity for the collector who always thought about buying an ancient Roman
coin but just had not seen the right coin. With this hoard of choice uncirculated, high
relief, well struck, and blazing white silver denarii you do not have to fret over a choice.
Ancient Roman denarii just don't come any better in this price range. Owning one of
these denarii could very well limit the number of ancient coins you might ever buy. It is
good for our company that the desire to own a piece of history usually overwhelms the
collector's natural instinct to only buy superb coins, so we sell thousands and thousands
of ancients in all grades from bits of blank metal on up to these screaming gems. In fact
if any collector orders a denarius from this advertisement and decides they don't want
to keep the coin, it should be returned within thirty days for a full refund PLUS we will
refund $15 extra for your postage, insurance and trip to the post office. We ran this offer
twice before, sold hundreds of coins and only paid out the $15. bonus one time.

Severus Alexander Denarius

Gem Uncirculated $177.

he obverse of these denarii (average weight 3.29 grams) depict a laureate

and draped bust of first the teenage Severus, then his older and lightly bearded image.
There are many different reverse designs available. Specific requests are possible but
not guaranteed.

Maximinus I Denarius

Gem Uncirculated $177.

he obverse of these denarii (average weight 3.12 grams) depict a bearded and

draped bust of the strong jawed Maximinus Thrax wearing a laureated wreath.A typical

legend around his portrait reads IMP (erator) MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG (ustus). One
reverse depicts the huge Maximinus holding a ten foot spear, while towering over his
legionary standards to the left and right. He is raising his right hand to hail his legions.
The letters PM TRP II COS PP around the reverse are abbreviations of the various titles
which Roman emperors would assume, as well as the PIVS, which he was not. On his
denarii these titles are meaningless formalities. The other reverse shows the goddess of
good health, Salus, enthroned, feeding her pet snake.

MORE DENARII FOR THE COLLECTOR WHO WANTS THEM ALL!

$15. BONUS REFUND PER ORDER FOR ANY RETURNED COINS.

ANCIENT ROMAN DENARII

441 S. Ashland Ave., Lexington, Kentucky 40502

To order, call

859-269-1614

between 9 AM & 5 PM EST

(Visits by appoinment)

Professional Numismatist · Bachelor of Arts in Numismatics

24-hour FAX only: 859-266-7900

email: JKernCoins@aol.com or jon@jkerncoins.com

1.All coins guaranteed as described.ANA and

common sense grading. Your satisfaction
guaranteed!

2. Fourteen 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.Office walk-in sales by appointment only.

MAIL ORDER POLICIES

JONATHAN K. KERN

AUTHENTICITY & SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.

ANA

Life Member

THE RISE OF SEPTIMUS SEVERUS

G+

Fine

Pertinax, 86 days in 193 A.D. .................................

877.

1750.

2750.

Didius Julianus, 66 days in 193 A.D. ......................

2750.

Manlia Scantilla, his wife.........................................

1775.

Pescennius Niger 193-194 A.D. in the East............

- 1077.

1750.

2750.

Clodius Albinus, as Caesar under

Septimus Severus, 193-195 A.D.......................

87.

177.

377.

577.

Albinus as Augustus ...............................................

377.

THE SEVERAN DYNASTY & MILITARY EMPERORS

Fine

Unc.

Septimus Severus 193-211 A.D..............................

27.

37.

47.

67.

147.

posthumous by sons, 211-212 A.D...................

297.

Julia Domna, his wife ..............................................

27.

37.

47.

67.

197.

Caracalla, boy as Caesar 196-198.........................

27.

47.

97.

197

boy as co-Augustus 198-205 A.D. ....................

27.

37.

47.

67.

197.

youth as co-Augustus 205-211 A.D. .................

27.

37.

47.

67.

197.

bearded, Augustus 211-217 A.D. .....................

27.

37.

47.

77.

197.

Plautilla, wife of Caracalla.......................................

47.

67.

97.

177.

377.

Geta, as Caesar 198-209 A.D.................................

37.

47.

67.

177.

377.

as co-Augustus 209-212 A.D............................

57.

77.

97.

227.

377.

211-212 A.D. with full beard..............................

57.

87.

127.

297.

Macrinus 217-218 A.D. ...........................................

177.

477.

Diadumenian, Caesar 217-218 A.D. .......................

377.

477.

777.

Elagabalus, Augustus 218-222 A.D. .......................

37.

47.

67.

97.

197.

insane, with horn on head................................

37.

47.

87.

147.

277.

Julia Paula, ex-wife in 220 A.D. ..............................

77.

117.

187.

277.

Julia Aquilea Severa, ex-Vestal Virgin.....................

Call

Julia Soaemias, his mother.....................................

47.

77.

117.

197.

Julia Maesa, sister of Julia Domna.........................

37.

47.

77.

117.

177.

Severus Alexander, 222-235 A.D............................

27.

37.

47.

67.

117.

Julia Mamaea, his mother.......................................

37.

47.

67.

87.

277.

Orbiana, wife of Severus Alexander.......................

Call

Maximinus I, Thrax 235-238 A.D.............................

27.

37.

47.

57.

117.

Maximus, as Caesar 235-238 A.D. .........................

277.

775.

Paulina, posthumous...............................................

977.

Gordian II, Africanus 238 A.D. ................................

3200.

Balbinus 238 A.D. ...................................................

677.

Pupienus 238 A.D. ..................................................

975.

Gordian III, as Caesar, 238 A.D..............................

377.

Gordian III, 238-244 A.D. ........................................

27.

37.

47.

67.

117.

Teen Ager

Adult 230 A.D.

Virtus rev.

Maximinus rev.

Salus rev.

All Coins Are Shown Actual Size

Boy Caracalla

as Caesar

Caracalla,

as Child

co-Augustus

Geta, co-Augustus

Mature Caracalla

Plautilla

Macrinus

Diadumenian