The Roman Empire
Domitian


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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description:
Grade: NGC AU Strike: 4/5 Surface: 4/5
Owner: Kohaku
 
Set Category: Ancients
Set Name: The Roman Empire
Slot Name: Domitian
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

The early 16th century writings of Machiavelli describe Marcus Cocceius Nerva as first in a succession of “five good Roman Emperors.” The accolade is notable, given that Nerva was chosen by the Senate, with little consideration or the opinions of Rome's military or lower classes. In fact, the Senate announced their decision the very same day that Emperor Domitian was killed in a palace conspiracy involving Praetorian guards. Not only that, it was the very first time that the Senate had actually elected a Roman Emperor. The choice was logical given Nerva’s record. He had faithfully served Emperor Nero, playing a vital role in foiling an assassination plot. Nerva also held important posts under Emperors Vespasian and Domitian, including two terms as consul. As an experienced Roman administrator, Nerva rapidly crafted his own imperial agenda towards improving Rome’s situation, not to mention his own public image. Emperor Nerva released and pardoned many political prisoners prosecuted under his predecessor. He also ensured that the wealth and properties confiscated by Domitian were returned to their rightful families. Nerva granted an extremely generous donativa to the Roman military, and also awarded a civil counterpart, called a congiarium. Various tax reformed were enacted, aimed at alleviating the burden for Rome’s poor, who were also granted land allotments worth many tens of millions of sesterces. To balance the decreased revenues, Nerva decreased spending, for example on state-sponsored religious events and other public galas. He forbade any money be spent on statues in his honor. Nerva was frugal on spending for civil projects; those supported were practical efforts, such as repair and expansion of Rome’s road system, aqueducts, and food storage facilities. The new Emperor also found additional, creative sources of imperial income, notably by auctioning off Domitian’s vast estate. Notwithstanding these reasonable efforts, Nerva’s popularity was not guaranteed, especially among the military. The latter viewed it dangerous to have such a sickly, old, and overly benign Emperor in Rome, and they had a reasonable point. Not helping matters, Nerva had yet to identify a successor. One major point of contention was that the military, in particular the Praetorian guards, clamored for revenge of Domitian’s murder. Nerva refused; it was against his policy of absolution. Matters came to a head in late 97 AD when the Praetorians besieged the royal palace, essentially holding Nerva hostage, and demanding prosecution of Domitian’s killers. Nerva had no choice but to submit to their demands. Furthermore, in a humiliating - but necessary - gesture to maintain the military’s loyalty, Nerva delivered a speech bestowing thanks and praise to his abductors. This denarius was struck shortly thereafter, among the last of Nerva' issues during his lifetime. Like much of Nerva’s coinage, the bust here is striking with its long, hooked nose and severe scowl, reminiscent of an old crone. No one recorded the engraver’s intent; in any case, the rendering is decidedly unflattering. The verso presents a more balanced motif, literally: Aequitas, the Roman embodiment of fairness (and a host of related concepts such as justice, equality, conformity, and symmetry) holding a cornucopia in one hand and a scale in the other. Considering Nerva’s reign, the imagery is appropriate. In spite of his balanced policies, Nerva's support was questionable, and he desperately needed to name an heir after the incident at the palace. To this end, Nerva finally announced his choice of Caesar, namely Marcus Ulpius Traianus. The decision proved timely, as Nerva died a few months later of natural causes and judicious. Moreover, Trajan advanced the Roman Empire to the greatest extent it had even seen. Nerva’s choice of successor based on merit, rather than bloodline, paid forward several more times, providing, at least for a while, the continued rule of good Emperors. Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Nerva, 96-98 AD, AR Denarius (3.23 g), Struck 98 AD, Rome mint, NGC Grade: AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5, Obverse: Laureate head right, IMP NERVA CAES AVG GERM P M (I?)TR P II, Reverse: Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae, IMP II COS IIII P P, Reference: RIC 44.

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