![]() ![]() ![]() Perhaps our most exciting offering is the ultra-rare Titus Bronze Sestertius, which features an aerial view of the Colosseum and a portrait of the seated Emperor Titus. These are among the most desirable ancient coins in the world, and building a complete set has been a rewarding challenge to collectors for centuries. Today – for the first time ever through Blanchard – you have the chance to purchase and hold in your hand the coins of these famous Twelve Caesars. A month later, a group of Roman senators stabbed Julius Caesar to death. A month later, he issued a portrait coin with the title “Dictator for Life” on it, which crossed the line for some in the senate. When Caesar issued the first portrait coins in his name in January 44 BC, he was thus making a statement. The Romans had been uncomfortable with having living rulers on their coinage since overthrowing their kings in 509 BC. The coins paid tribute to them, asserted their power throughout the empire, and financed wars. From Suetonius we know that Caligula believed himself to be a living deity, Nero played the lyre and sang while Rome burned, and the balding Julius Caesar wore his hair in a comb-over.Įach of these 12 famous rulers issued coinage during their rule. They are known today principally from one of the great historical works of antiquity, The Twelve Caesars, a series of biographies written by the historian Suetonius. And through it all ruled the Twelve Caesars, an eclectic group of rulers who guided Rome’s transition from republic to all-powerful empire. It was a time of upheaval, political intrigue, civil war, assassination, and chaos. ![]()
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