The Roman Empire
Domitian


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

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

Owner's Description

In 188 AD, Septimus Severus (then governor of Gallia Lugdunenis) and his wife Julia Domna became proud parents of their first child, Lucius Septimius Bassianus. For Severus, newly married and in his mid-40s at the time, the arrival warranted blessing. Equally joyous, Julia was pregnant again several months later, and in 189 AD gave birth to Publius Septimus Geta. Boths infant proved healthy, no small feat considering the relatively high neonatal mortality rate of ancient Rome. About 30% of infants failed to reach their first birthday, translating to about even odds for survival of both Bassianus and Geta. Given the cultural context, dating all the back to the parable of Romulus and Remus, it came as no surprise the two Roman brothers grow up amidst competition and tension. The competitive stakes were raised high in 193 AD when Severus rose to Augustus of the Roman Empire. Severus bolstered his power further by claiming descent from former Emperor Marcus Aurelius, and bestowed upon his eldest son the added cognomen Antoninus. Severus declared Antoninus his Caesar, and three years after that, promoted him to co-Augustus. He was only ten years old. At that time, the nine-year-old Geta was finally declared Caesar. Severus was logically positioning his two heirs according to seniority, presumably anticipating their future joint rule over the Roman Empire. However, Severus’ actions seemingly only worsened the rivalry between the two boys. This obverse of this denarius, struck in 201 AD Rome, depicts the bust of young co-Augustus Antonius with his epithet ANTONINVS PIVS AVG. The reverse portrays a tropaion, a monument adorned with armor and weaponry, erected to commemorated a victory over enemies (like so many other concepts, the Romans borrowed the idea from the Greeks). On either side of the tropaion, two bound captives sit dejectedly, adding to the impressive imagery. This powerful scene promotes the strong military potential of the young co-Augustus. Severus and Domna desperately encouraged their sons to get along. In 203 AD, Severus made both his sons co-consuls, hoping the experience would force them to cooperate. Unfortunately, the strategy failed and even further fueled their brotherly acrimony. Several years later, Severus tried the same experiment again, only to confirm that power sharing between the quarreling brothers was problematic. Forcing the issue, Severus took both his sons on the Britannia campaign, using the opportunity to promote Geta to co-Augusti. During this period, Antoninus gained the nickname of Caracalla, probably in reference to the Gallic cloak he wore. Once again, Severus’ strategy to unite his sons backfired. They continued squabbling, although the campaigns were largely successful. The situation between Caracalla and Geta came to head after Severus died of natural causes in 211 AD. The brothers were now jointly responsible for ruling the Empire. They returned to Rome, continuing their contention with one another. They split the royal palace, posting guards at the various intersections. Rumors of murder plots abounded. Domna tried to mediate between her two sons, and failed. After months of political strife and plotting, a final peace offering was conducted — final because Caracalla used the opportunity to have his brother murdered, one of many brutal massacres and persecutions he conducted throughout the empire. Ancient coinage affords a fascinating approach towards studying the transformation of Bassianus/Antoninus/Caracalla, and the progression of his conflict with his brother Geta. For illustration, consider the two examples of Caracalla’s coinage present in this collection. The current coin portrays the ten-year-old Antoninus, appropriately beardless and youthful, his visage almost suggesting an air of innocence, if not peacefulness. In contrast, consider the next coin in this collection, a denarius from 214 AD during Caracalla’s sole reign as Augustus. His hard-worn, bearded physiognomy now suggests ferocity, if not cruelty. In addition to these two extreme examples, coinage of intervening years can be pursued, and one can monitor the progression from childhood innocence to villainy though the artistry of ancient Rome’s unknown die engravers. It is also interesting to compare the Caracalla denarii to the Geta counterparts within this collection. The first exemplary Geta denarius, struck around the turn of the century 200 AD, depicts Caesar Geta at about 10 years of age, and the resemblance to the current coin of the young Antonius is striking. The second exemplary Geta denarius was struck about ten years later while he reigned as co-Augustus. Therein, Geta appears bearded and mature, suggesting intensity (rather than cruelty) tempered with wisdom. The above impressions are, of course, subjective, and one is encouraged to peruse first hand the extensive and vibrant numismatic legacy of the Severan brothers. Additional Reading: G. Halabi, “Caracalla from Innocence to Villainy: As Recorded by his Coin Engravers.” Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Caracalla, AD 198-217, AR Denarius (19mm, 3.55 g, 12h), Rome mint, Struck AD 201, NGC Grade: Ch MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Obverse: Laureate and draped beardless young bust right, ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, Reverse: Trophy; at base, bound captive seated at either side, PART MAX PONT TR P IIII, References: RIC IV 54b; RSC 175; BMCRE 262-3 (Septimius and Caracalla).

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