The Roman Empire
Domitian


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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description:
Grade: NGC F Strike: 3/5 Surface: 2/5
Owner: Kohaku
 
Set Category: Ancients
Set Name: The Roman Empire
Slot Name: Domitian
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

The typical synopsis of Flavius Ricimer (c. 405 – 472 AD) describes a ruthless and manipulative military commander ruling from behind the throne, making and unmaking several Western Roman Emperors. While historically descriptive, such views provide no insights into Ricimer’s complex character or motivations. To this end, more recent reviews on the subject portray a thoroughly Romanized general focused on Italy’s defense, rather than personal aspirations. Born of a mixed Suevic and Visigoth royal lineage, Ricimer sought a Roman lifestyle and enlisted into military service. He rose to prominence in the rebellion against western Augustus Avitus, who grabbed the throne after the 455 AD sack of Rome by King Geiseric and the Vandals. In particular, Ricimer joined with his military comrade Majorian and, backed by the Senate, ousted Avitus. Ricimer, although earning the title of magister militum (Master of the Soldiers, essentially western vicegerent), was viewed as ineligible as the next Augustus due to his barbarian background. On the other hand, Majorian, with familial ties to Rome’s military aristocracy, presented an ideal candidate for Emperor. Ricimer helped Majorian ascend the throne, lobbying for Eastern (and senior) Emperor Leo’s support. It is widely described that Ricimer intended Majorian as his puppet. For his part, Majorian viewed Ricimer as an ally, if not equal partner, towards Italy’s defense, at least initially. If Ricimer indeed regarded Majorian as his puppet, he found the strings very difficult to control. Majorian proved an aggressive ruler, greatly enlarging the western army and navy with new barbarian recruits. While Ricimer likely preferred to bolster the Italian peninsula, Majorian embarked on a re-conquest of Hispania and southern Gaul, meanwhile reducing the Visigoths, Burgundians and Suevi back to federate status. Majorian even set his sights on exacting revenge against Geiseric and his Vandals. The attempt might have succeeded, had it not been for Geiseric’s pre-emptive attack and capture of the Western Roman Empire’s naval fleet (incidentally, still docked in Hispana). Some speculate that Geiseric's attack involved some treachery on the part of Ricimer and the Senate, who were growing increasingly concerned about Majorian's actions. In any case, After Majorian’s embarrassing defeat, Ricimer managed to turn the Senate against him. Echoing Avitus’ fate, Majorian’s army was disbanded, and he returned to Rome in 461 AD only to meet capture, abdication, and execution. It is widely cited Ricimer removed Majorian to replace him with a more easily controlled puppet. According to an alternate explanation, Ricimer strove to avoid continued, risky expansion; Roman sensibilities dictated Majorian should be held accountable for squandering the west’s valuable military resources. For the next western Emperor, Ricimer needed someone more easily controllable, if not aligned with his own interests. After several months he chose Libius Severus (c. 420 – 465 AD), an undistinguished Senator, yet popular among Rome’s aristocracy. Expectedly, Constantinople did not recognize Severus. No matter for Ricimer, apparently satisfied with Italy’s wellbeing under his new shadow Emperor, although Geiseric and his pesky Vandals continued their coastal raids. Severus died in 465 AD, probably of natural causes, although at least one ancient source cites poisoning by Ricimer. During the interregnum between Severus’ death and installation of a replacement, Ricimer struck this ancient bronze, one of perhaps only two such issues. The coin’s main distinguishing feature is on the verso, wherein a monogram contains the letters R, C, M, and E, attributable to Ricimer. This trend of employing monograms on coinage was adopted by future barbarian leaders. The obverse, now hardly recognizable from wear, probably bore the pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust of Libius Severus. A second, more controversial possibility is that the obverse bore the bust of Ricimer himself, in which case this coin would be only the third known example. In any case, coins surviving with Ricimer’s monogram – in any condition – are extremely rare, not to mention interesting to contemplate. Ricimer, in consultation with Leo, hailed Anthemius as the next western Augustus. Abiding Constantinople’s terms, Ricimer placed himself at risk, perhaps the strongest evidence that he more highly valued Italy’s protection than his own. Probably to keep Ricimer’s power in check, Leo and Anthemius choose the Dalmatian general Marcellinus to serve as second in command. A new assault against the Vandals began, and this time both eastern and western Empire committed the forces in a joint operation. The effort failed spectacularly following the disastrous battle of Cape Bon, wherein most of the Empire's armada, estimated at over a thousand vessels, perished. Marcellinus fell at the hands of his own soldiers, perhaps at the bidding of Ricimer, who managed his own reinstatement as supreme western military leader. In the aftermath, the western Roman Empire once again plunged into civil war. The conflict ended in 472 AD, after Ricimer’s siege of Rome, and Anthemius’ assassination as he attempted escape disguised as a beggar. After Anthemius’ demise, Ricimer resumed playing the puppeteer. His next imperial choice, the blue-blooded Olybrius, turned out to be his last. In 472 AD, Ricimer died of natural causes, notable in and of itself for a leader of the late Western Roman Empire. Ricimer defended Italy for sixteen tumultuous years, a tenure that ranks respectably with his Theodosian-Valentinian predecessors. While the waning western Empire survived, and even resurged, under Ricimer’s influence, in his absence it soon dissolved into barbarium, an apposite legacy for Italy’s original godfather. Additional Reading: M Flomen, "The Original Godfather. Ricimer and the Fall of Rome," Hirundo, 2009, Vol 8, pp 9-17. Coin Details: Western Roman Empire, Ricimer, Patrician and Master of Soldiers, AD 456-472, AE4 (Nummus, 8 mm, 0.69 g), 465-467 AD, NGC Grade: F, Strike: 3/5, Surface: 2/5, Obverse: [Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right], Reverse: Monogram of Ricimer, References: RIC X 2716; G. Lacam, “Le monnayage de Ricimer,” SNL, pl. 5, Type 1.

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