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Roman Coins and Their Values Volume 2 (Millennium Edition ) by David R. Sear London
2002, 696 pages; illustrations throughout; valuations in at least two grades. Casebound,
hard cover, cloth, full color jacket, 14.5 x 22 cm.Volume I of Roman Coins and their
values, published in 2000, covered a period of approximately 375 years, from the origins
of the Roman coinage in the Republican period, to AD 96. Volume II now extends coverage of
the Imperial series from Nerva, the thirteenth Caesar and first of the Adoptive
emperors, down to the overthrow of the Severan dynasty in 235 and encompasses what may
justifiably be termed the golden age of the Roman imperial coinage.The original
edition of Roman Coins and Their Values was published in 1964, and subsequently went
through four revisions (1970, 1974,1981 and 1988). However, the publication of Volume I of
the Millennium Edition in 2000 marked a radical departure from the previous traditions
of this popular work. An expansion of the listings and an increase in the number of
illustrations, now fully incorporated into the text, necessitated a new multiple-volume
format. Volume I covered a period of approximately 375 years, from the origins of the
Roman coinage in the Republican period, to AD 96.Volume II now extends coverage of the
Imperial series from Nerva, the thirteenth Caesar and first of the Adoptive
emperors, down to the overthrow of the Severan dynasty in 235. It encompasses what may
justifiably be termed the golden age of the Roman imperial coinage. The full
development of the Augustan system of coin denomination and perfection of the method by
which government propaganda was communicated to the citizenry through the medium of
coinage both reached their peak during these fourteen decades. The preceding coinages of
the Julio-Claudian and Flavians periods had seen much experimentation with the currency
system and tentative early steps in the development of the propaganda potential of the
reverse types. The coinages of the Adoptive emperors and those of the Antonine and Severan
dynasties saw the ultimate fulfilment of this process resulting in a coinage of
unprecedented volume and complexity.The number of types included in the listings shows a
dramatic increase and the proportion of illustrated coins is much greater than before.
Throughout the catalogue the current market valuations have been expressed in two
currencies (pound sterling and US dollars) and in at least two grades of preservation -
usually VF and EF for precious metal coins, and F and VF for the billon
and bronze issues of Roman Egypt. For regular aes denominations (sestertii, dupondi,
asses, etc.) valuations in three grades (F. VF and EF) have normally been
provided.Another feature not present in earlier editions is the inclusion of the mint and
precise date of each type. The biographical sketches at the commencement of each reign and
under certain subsidiary headings have been fully revised. ISBN 1 902040 45 7. 696 pages;
illustrations throughout; valuations in at least two grades. Casebound. Laminated jacket.
Review by the author David R. Sear: Millennium Edition (in three volumes) by David R. Sear
Volume II: Adoptive Emperors to Severans The second volume of the fully revised and
expanded general catalogue of Roman coins extends coverage of the Imperial series from the
accession of Nerva (first of the Adoptive Emperors) in AD 96 down to the violent overthrow
of the Severan Dynasty fourteen decades later. The introductory articles are again
included in this volume and, as in the case of Volume I, the Imperial biographies have
been entirely rewritten and enlarged. There has been a major expansion of the catalogue
listings which is especially noticeable for gold aureus types and the three major base
metal denominations - sestertius, dupondius and as. Once again, great emphasis has been
placed on the place of mintage and precise date of issue of each catalogue entry, making
this book a far more valuable source of information than previous editions (or any other
general work on the subject). The vast 2nd century coinage of Roman Egypt, struck at
Alexandria, is also covered comprehensively in this volume, in continuation of the format
established in Volume I. The number and quality of the illustrations incorporated in the
text has been dramatically increased to over 1,200 out of a total listing of more than
5,000 types. |
