The Roman Empire
Domitian


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

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

Owner's Description

This sivered antoninanus was struck sometime between 283-284 AD under Numerian, the 50th ruler of the Roman Empire. Numerian and his older brother Carinus rose to rank of co-Caesars under their father, the 60-year-old Augustus Carus. Leaving Carinus in charge of the west, Carus took Numerian east, to war against the Sassanid Empire. The father and son duo were so successful, they earned the title Persicus Maximus. However, during the campaign Carus died (probably of natural causes), and afterwards Numerian planned to travel back to Rome in order to formally claim the throne alongside with brother. As fate would have it, Numerian died in his coach during the trip (again, probably of natural causes), and one of his generals, Diocletian, was declared the new Augustus by the troops. Although Numerian ruled for only a year and half, the duration was sufficient to have coins struck in his name across the Empire. This particular coin’s pedigree is Ticinum (modern daty Pavia, Italy), which opened around the middle of 3rd century BC. The mint was later closed down by Constantine I after his final victory against Licinius, part of a larger reorganization involving other mints and relocation of the Empire’s capital to Constantinople. On this coin, the obverse portrait of the radiate, draped, and cuirassed Numerian is very typical for the period. On the reverse stands Providentia, the divine personification of the ability to make provision. According to an alternate, related interpretation, the figure represents Annona, the divine personification of Rome’s grain supply. Providenita/Annona is flanked by a grain stalk; in one arm she carries a cornucopia, her other hand dangles corn ears over a basket known as a modius. The imagery, along with the legend, PROVIDENT AVG, promotes that the Augustus will provide sustenance for people of Rome. Many Emperors employed a similar theme on their coinage, and for good reason: feeding Rome was an important business. By the time of Numerian, Rome’s population, although declining, was still well over a million people. Sustaining Rome’s citizens required importation of foods, particularly grains, from other parts of Italy as well as the outer provinces such as Sicily, North Africa and Egypt. These regions provided Rome up to an estimated 60 million modii (over a half million ton) of grains annually. Not surprisingly, the shipping lanes providing Rome’s supply played a strategic role in many civil and foreign wars. Many Roman Emperors provided greatly subsidized or free grain to keep their populace fed and satisfied. The annona (grain dole) was used as a political tool, often associated with chariot races, gladiatorial games, and other entertainments at various venues from the Circus Maximus to the Coliseum. From first century Rome and to this day, the metaphor “bread and circuses” refers to approval not owing beneficial service or policy, but rather gained through diversion, distraction, or satisfaction of immediate need. Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Numerian, 283-284 AD, Billon aurelianianus (silvered antoninianus) (23 mm, 3.56 g), Ticinum mint, 6th officina, NGC Grade: Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5, Obverse: Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, NVMERIANVS P F AVG, Reverse: Providentia (Annona?) standing left, stalks of grain in right, cornucopia in left, modius at feet, PROVIDENT AVG, VIXXI in exergue, Reference: RIC V: 446.

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