27BC-68 AD Ancient Roman Coins

Ancient Roman coins are fun collectors items. In ancient Rome emperor faces were imprinted on coins during their reign. These are known as imperial coins. You can buy ancient roman emperor coins and own a real piece of history.

The First Three Roman Emperors

Have you often heard people refer to the three roman emperors? There were more then 3 right? Of course there were. However, there was a period of time in which three were ruling Rome at once. But first let's see what Rome was like at the beginning.

Rome was located in a strategic location with a great climate and fertile ground. Rome itself was originally a people heavily influenced by Greece but over time these people became a independent Republic.Nobles dominated the senate but the average Roman citizen was simple farmer with a small piece of land. There were many violent political struggles. Over time poorer citizens gained more power in the political arena.

Around 241 BC the first of three Punic wars ended. The third wars ended around 149 BC and Rome was the victor. These wars between Carthage and Rome began the decay of the Republic and Rome was well on its way to becoming an empire.

Around 55 BC a man by the name of Julius Caesar took command of the army near Gaul. Most everyone has heard of Julius Caesar but probably do not understand the significance of his reign. Julius Caesar was assassinated but that is not what makes him special. Throughout the history of Rome there were plots to assassinate or overtake the throne.

Although the Punic Wars had already started transforming Rome into an empire it wasn't until after Caesars reign that the transformation was complete. Under Caesar, the Roman Republic was still there but power had become more centralized and there had been irreversible changes to Rome. Julius Caesar became a dictator and his reign forever changed Rome.

Octavian noticed these changes and took action. After the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC by Marcus Brutus, there were three men fighting for the rule of Rome; Marcus Lepidus, Marc Antony, and Octavian. Although not technically three emperors, these men were the 3 ruling authorities of Rome until 31 BC.

Octavian was Caesars great-nephew and adopted heir. He began Romes transformation first by hunting down and murdering Caesar's assassins. Marc Antony caused his own downfall by beginning a love affair with Cleopatra in Egypt in 42 BC. This affair was not approved by Rome. Lepidus was eventually forced to give up his power to Octavian in 36 BC. Finally, Octavian fought the Barlle of Actium defeating Antony and Cleopatra who ended up committing suicide in Alexandria.

The three Roman emperors had now become one. After returning to Rome with the support of his old soldiers, Octavian accepted the imperial title of Augustus in 27 BC by the Senate and officially ended the Roman Republic.

After Augustus accepted the Imperial title, his power continued to grow and he relied on his soldiers and paid civil servants. The Caesars had become the first family to lead Rome replacing a small class of politicians.

When Augustus died in 14 AD he was declared a God, as was Julius Caesar. Augustus was remembered as the bringer of peace and restorer of old Roman ways.

Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Emperors Of The Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Rule	Name	Life
27 BC - AD 14	Gaius Octavius (Augustus)	63 BC - AD 14
14 - 37 AD	Tiberius	42 BC - AD 37
37 - 41	Caligula	12 - 41
41 - 54	Claudius I	10 BC - AD 54
54 - 68	Nero	37 - 68