The Roman Empire
Domitian


Obverse
Enlarge  
  
Reverse
Enlarge  

Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description:
Grade: NGC Ch MS
Owner: Kohaku
 
Set Category: Ancients
Set Name: The Roman Empire
Slot Name: Domitian
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

Throughout his political career, Antonius Pius (86-161 AD) proved himself a consummate statesman, filling successive offices of quaestor, praetor, consul, proconsul of Italia, and proconsul of Asia. Thus, he earned the favor of Emperor Hadrian, who adopted him as son and heir. Upon Hadrian’s death in 138 AD, Antonius was promoted again, this time to Roman Emperor. One of his first decrees was that his predecessor be deified, earning Antonius the nickname “the Pius”. Antonius governed carefully, initially leaving Hadrian’s policies intact. He promoted the arts and sciences, bestowed gifts and honors to teachers of rhetoric and philosophy, and built temples, theatres and mausoleums. He did not participate in military activities directly, perhaps never even seeing any of his legions, leaving such matters at the discretion of his experienced generals. During his reign, the most peaceful of all the Principate, Antonius never left Italy. With regards to economic matters, Antonius maintained borrowing at a low 4% interest rate; however, the denarius continued its decline: silver was decreased from 89% to 83.5% content. Antonius was concerned over matters of human equality, and introduced new principles to this end in Roman law. He decreed that criminals should not be treated as guilty before their trial, which should occur (along with their punishment, if deemed necessary) in the same place as their crimes. After the death of his wife Annia Galeria Faustina, with whom he had a happy marriage and four children, Antonius founded a charity in her honor for orphaned girls. In 158 AD, Antonius entered into his third decennium as Emperor. To mark the occasion, special Denarii were issued, such as this one, the verso showing Antonius Pointifex Maximus (the highest priest) making a sacrificial vow to continue support. Antonius never did make it to his next decennium; even so, when he died in 161 AD of natural causes, his was the longest reign since that of Emperor Augustus. Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Antonius Pius, 138-161 AD, AR Denarius, NGC Grade: Ch MS, Obverse: laureate head right, ANTONIN VSP IVS AVG PP, Reverse: Antoninus Pius standing left, sacrificing at altar, VOTA SVSCEPTA DEC III, in exergue: COSIIII, References: RIC 283a, BMC 956.

To follow or send a message to this user,
please log in