Coins of Rome's Golden Age, the Adoptive Emperors

This is the 2nd century AD when the best emperors were chosen by adoption of the previous emperor. It's known as the Adoptive Era.
"The Golden Age" term was coined by Cassius Dio (historian & Senator) & ends with the Ascention of Commodus in 180 AD.

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click on the coin for a view of both sides





Rome Flavian Dynasty
Rome: Military Crisis of the 3rd Century
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Antonius Pius r. 138 - 161 AD
bronze As
Terry Nix coll.

Test of p

Antoninus Pius bronze As, rev Britannia Seated with "BRITANNIA" fully spelled out
full legends: ANTONINVS AVG. PIVS P.P. TR.P. XVIII/
"BRITANNIA COS. IIII SC", Sear 1188, struck 154 - Feb 155 AD

weight ----


Marcus Aurelius r. 161 - 180 AD
AE 36 of Amaseia or Amasya Pontes
struck 163/164 AD

reverse: M.Aurelius with Lucius Verus; his co-Emperor.



Nick Economopoulos, ca. 1990

Weight = 21.947 grams. This is the weight of a standard Roman sestersius of M. Aurelius which is typically 22 to 26 grams.

Translation notes
AYT KAIC M AYΡ ANTΩNINΩ CEB = IMPERATOR? Marcus Aurelius (as AUGUSTUS), CEB or CEP =??
AΔΡ AMAC NEΩK K MHT K ΠΡΩ ΠONT, exergue: ET ΡCΘ = possibly? in honor of, + the city name + the year of M.A.'s reign


This coin is listed on WildWinds.
It is found here, under the Pontos Amaseia page where it is the 3rd coin down under Marcus Aurelius.
wildwinds.com/coins/greece/pontos/amaseia/i.html

All coins of Marcus Aurelius
wildwinds.com/coins/ric/marcus_aurelius/i.html

Marcus Aurelius is known as the Stoic Roman Emperor and his Meditations survive as an example of this philosophy.


Julian, also known as Julian the Apostate or Julian II, may have also embraced Stoicism as he seemed to practice that philosophy but didn't write about it.


Stoic groups can be found here. It uses logic, what was known about human psychology in ancient times, and the pursuit of wisdom as a good, as a guide.


Commodus r. 180 - 192 AD
bronze As showing Commodus wearing the Lion Skin headress of Hercules

purchased from Terry Nix, Houston, TX, ca. 1999.

Commodus, son of Marcus Aurelius


The deified Commodus: (obv)

Debased (40%) silver antoninianus issued by Trajan Decius as part of a set of 12 commorative antoninainii. Commodus was the only "bad Emperor" in the group.

Note that the antoninianus was 1st issued during the reign of Caracalla in 215 AD. Thus an antoninianus of Commodus had to have been issued postumusly. This coin appears to be silver throughout, unlike my latter issues which appear to be just silver plated.


Didius Julianus r. 193 A.D.
sestersius
abt extremely fine
Heritage auctions 2011
text -----
Rome Flavian Dynasty
Rome: Military Crisis of the 3rd Century
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