Replicas of Emperor Claudius’s Aureus, Emperor Augustus’s Denarius, the Sestertius, and the Dupondius
These reproductions of Emperor Titus’s denarius and Emperor Nero’s aureus are cast directly from the original coins and made of pewter. The aureus is plated with 22-karat gold.
The brochure-style packaging features openings on the front where the coins are housed in transparent blister packs. The front is adorned with a Roman mosaic motif, and additional Roman motifs can be found inside. The package includes information about each coin and its history. On the back, you’ll find information on how coins were used in ancient Rome as a means of spreading news, as well as a timeline.
During the reign of Emperor Nero , Boudicca, queen of the Iceni tribe in eastern England, led her famous revolt against the Romans. After the death of her husband, King Prasutagus, the Romans decided to seize the tribe’s territory, even though the late king had bequeathed his kingdom jointly to his two daughters and the Roman emperor.
The Romans’ brutal actions prompted Boudica to rise up in rebellion alongside her tribe and the neighboring Trinovantes. The rebels first attacked Camulodunum (modern-day Colchester) and then Londinium (London). Both cities were burned to the ground and their inhabitants slaughtered. The uprising subsequently spread to Verulamium, now St. Albans.
The Roman governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus eventually suppressed the uprising. According to ancient sources, tens of thousands of Britons perished, while Roman losses were significantly lower. Boudicca escaped from the battlefield and, according to Tacitus, subsequently took poison. This brought the rebellion to an end.
The reverse of Nero’s coin depicts the Roman god Jupiter, which was intended to symbolize the emperor’s divine protection.
Titus was the son of Emperor Vespasian. Around 60 CE, he served in Britain. After his father’s death in 79 CE, he became Roman emperor. During his short reign, which lasted approximately two years, Roman expansion in Britain continued. Titus died of a fever in 81 CE.
Roman coins were not merely a means of paying for goods. Their reverse sides also served to disseminate news and imperial propaganda. They commemorated military victories and significant events, or promoted the emperor’s status and attributes. For example, a ruler might have a deity depicted on a coin whose attributes he wished to be associated with. Because coins circulated throughout the Roman Empire, they helped spread news of events that took place even in very distant parts of the empire.
- Imports from Great Britain
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