This new “Journal Entry” provides an update on the second Page of my NGC Ancient Custom Set entitled “The Roman Empire.”  It is satisfying to report that, following the grading results of my Herod The Great ancient bronze, and after finalizing my Owner’s Comments of that coin… Page #2 is now COMPLETE!

Here is a link to the Collection…

https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinCustomSetGallery.aspx?s=16365

Here is the synopsis for the Page, entitled "GENESIS"…

Following civil war with Mark Antony, Cleopatra, and other of Rome's elite, Octavian becomes Augustus and the Republic transitions into an Empire dominating the Mediterranean basin including client kingdoms such as Judaea, Nabataea, and Mauretania.

The following is a brief description of the coins I choose to include and why.

1. The first coin on this Page an ancient obol (the only example of such a denomination in this collection) struck by Lepidus, graded as AU with a 4/5 Strike and a 3/5 Surface.  You might be asking – who was Lepidus? I must admit, before I started this collection, my recollection of my history was a little fuzzy there.  Lepidus does not rank nearly as renown as his sidekicks Octavian (aka Augsustus) and Marc Antony, who together formed a Triumvir’s reboot.   I can’t resist re-using this excerpt from my Owner’s Comments: “If the name isn’t familiar, no wonder, Lepidus turned out the prototypical persona non grata of Roman politics. Borrowing sic erat scriptum the tagline of a late, modern-day comedian, he didn't get no respect.”
2. A rare quinarius struck by Marc Antony featuring his third wife, Fulvia, graded Ch F, Strike = 4/5, Surface = 3/5.  Fulvia was a most remarkable person, and she holds the distinction of the first living Roman women appearing on a coin (although not non-ambiguously).  She was prominent enough that Octavian felt threatened by her, at least to the point the he and his troops resorted to juvenile-like name-calling on their glans (if you are intrigued, see my Owner’s Comments for more, juicy details).
3. An example of Marc Antony’s fleet coinage featuring his fourth wife, Octavia Minor, who was Octavian’s sister.  I personally find such fleet coinage fascinating as a group of ancients.  This example graded VF, Strike = 3/5 Surface = 3/5.  Octavia was one of the most influential women of her time, and she set a standard for an exemplary Roman noblewoman.   Based on history, we can’t say the reciprocal statement for her husband Antony.
4. A fabulous Marc Antony Legionary denarius, graded AU, Strike = 5/5, Surface = 4/5.  Antony’s legionary denarii are probably the most recognizable of all ancient coinage, and they are fascinating as well as historically significant.  They directly relate to the final conflict between Antony and Octavian that led to Rome’s transformation from Republic to Empire.  Some enthusiasts focus on collecting all the varients, and I certainly can appreciate the allure of that.  Alas, given the breadth of this collection, I only included the one example!
5. An ancient Egyptian bronze featuring perhaps the most famous lovers of all time, Marc Antony on one side and Cleopatra on the other.  This coin graded XF, Strike = 4/5, Surface = 3/5.  It is thrilling to hold this one in hand, especially for the very clear portraiture for both subjects.  Unlike the ancient coin featuring conjoined portraits of Antony and Octavia found elsewhere in this NGC Ancients collection (#3 above), herein Cleopatra demands equal billing, as if not willing to sharing the flan with Antony.
6. Of course, Cleopatra deserves her own slot in the collection!  She played an important role in the story of Rome's genesis into an Empire, and, besides, she is one of the most famous woman of all time.  This ancient bronze graded Ch XF, Strike = 5/5, Surface = 4/5.  It among the scarcest of the rare in this collection – only three examples are known.  Also, this one is a “plate” coin, that is, its image appears in RPC, and, I must admit, that gives its current owner an extra thrill!
7. I decided to include an example ancient bronze struck by Herod the Great (and I devoted a few slots to his descendants as well).  This coin's grade is relatively low,  graded as F, Strike = 4/5, Surface= 3/5, but that does not change my enjoyment of owning it.  It is particular special to me for its provenance; its previous owner was the author of a seminal reference book on biblical coinage (Hendin) that I referenced.  Herod was a fascinating fellow, whose legacy comprises equal elements of tyranny and grandeur, as befits the most famous of all the Roman Empire’s client kings.
8. Another example of a Roman client’s coinage, this one is an ancient bronze attributed to Syllaeus and Aretas IV of Nabataea, graded NGC Ch VF Strike =  4/5 Surface =  3/5.    The story of Syllaeus and Aretas is fascinating (see my Owner’s Comments for details), and their interactions with Herod and Augustus provide some interesting insights into the political atmosphere as Rome transformed from Republic to Empire. 
9. This slot is an admittedly ecelectic choice – an ancient bronze featuring Vedius Pollio, graded F Strike = 5/5, Surface = 3/5.  It is tough to find, so I don’t mind the grade.  Besides, I couldn’t resist including this coin after I researched that  Pollio was famous in his time as a epicurean.  Pollio's greatest claim to fame was an incident wherein he threatened to torture one of his servants by immersing him into a pool of eels.  A pool of eels, you might be wondering about that...well, what famous Roman epicurean wouldn't want to have fresh seafood on hand for entertaining important guests?  In this case, the guest was Augustus himself, who saved the servant from piscine persecution.  I used this coin to provide some insight into Roman cuisine, a fascinating topic in and of itself.  As it turns out, the ancient Romans were pioneers of aquaculture, and ancient ruins suggest that they raised carp long before the Japanese developed nishikigoi such as those depicted in my profile picture.
10. An example denarius of an important Roman client king, Juba II of Mauretania.  This specimen graded AU, Strike =  4/5, Surface = 4/5.  The story of Juba (and his wife Cleaopatra Selen, a pairing arranged by Augustus) is a fascinating tale of two fated soul-mates.   At the time of Juba’s reign, Mauretania was at its zenith, renown for its arts and sciences. 
11. This ancient Roman provincial bronze, graded NGC VF Strike = 4/5 Surface = 3/5, features Augstus’ only biological child, his daughter Julia.  Her coins are rare, and worth procuring in any condition available.  She had quite the personality, as famous for her wit as her alledged sexual escapades.  To hear more about her rebellion against parental authority, see my owner’s comments.
12. This denarius features Octavian and Divus Julius Ceasar, graded XF, Strike=  4/5, Surface =3/5.  It is one of the most historically important coins in the collection (besides, astronomy is one of my personal interests).  At least a 100-million-to-1 coincidence (?), one of the all-time (as recorded by humans, that is) brightest comets appeared at the same time Octavian hosted funeral games for his adoptive father Julius Caesar.  Octavian seized that opportunity to create a new religion, one that allowed for a man to be god, in turn fostering the conversion of the Roman Republic into an Empire.  If that sounds like a stretch for a thesis, consider the impact of religion in our modern world.
13. This slot is an ancient bronze featuring Augustus and yet another client king, Rhoemetalces I of Thrace.  Besides that Thracian King's interesting backstory, I also used this slot as an opportunity to discuss Augustus' strategy for building client states, to be, at need, gradually absorbed into the Empire as provinces.  Given the many decades long he managed to rule, and the many centuries his successors managed to maintain an Empire, it appears the strategy was effective.  
14. This slot is an ancient Roman provincial bronze featureing the Roman Empire's first First Couple, Augustus and Livia.  It graded as Ch XF, Strike = 5/5, Surface = 3/5.  This coin is even more rare that the Cleopatra bronze mentioned above (#6) - in this case, only two specimens are known.  Livia fell in love and stayed faithfully devoted (for 40 years) to a man who should have been her mortal enemy.  She set the standard as a model Roman matron, and played a very important role in the genesis and early decades of the Roman Empire. 
15. Wrapping up the story of the Roman Empire's genesis is a well-preserved quadrans, graded AU, Strike = 5/5, Surface = 4/5.  Its beautiful color and striking presence are difficult to capture in a digital image.  It features the harmonious imagery of clasped hands, and I used it to discuss the "Pax Romana", the extended period of peace and prosperity brought to Rome as Octavian emerged as Augsutus and the Republic transformed into an Empire.