Transcript Roman Coins - University of Virginia

The Buckner Clay Endowment for the Humanities
Center for the Liberal Arts
Archaeological Institute of America
Archaeology Workshop
March 14, 2015
Roman coins, Roman history, and succession to power:
UVA digital images and your classes
John Dobbins
Professor of Classical Art & Archaeology
McIntire Department of Art
University of Virginia
Fun with Roman Coins!
Telling stories with Roman Coins!
The UVA Coin Website
coins.lib.virginia.edu
Caligula 
Augustus
Claudius
Tiberius
Caligula
Nero
Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors
Caligula 
Augustus 27 BC-AD 14
Claudius 41-54
Tiberius
14-37
Nero 54-68
Caligula 37-41
Ancient coins are “struck.”
They are not “cast.”
1. Engrave two dies: obv. &
rev.
Ancient coins are “struck.”
They are not “cast.”
1. Engrave two dies: obv. &
rev.
2. Set the obv. die into the anvil
and the rev. die onto a punch
Ancient coins are “struck.”
They are not “cast.”
1. Engrave two dies: obv. &
rev.
2. Set the obv. die into the anvil
and the rev. die onto a punch
A precious metal coinage
Gold Silver
Orichalcum (brass: copper , zinc, cadmium) Bronze (copper & tin)
aureus
denarius
sestertius
25 denarii
400 asses
16 asses
4 asses
as
From The Roman Imperial Coinage, vol. 1, revised edition, 1984, p. 3
The problem of succession in the Roman empire
The problem of succession in the Roman empire:
Lacking a systematic policy, what are
the possibilities for achieving the
transition from one emperor to the next?
YOUR LIST:
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out
2. Have a son
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out
2. Have a son
3. Adopt an heir
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out
2. Have a son
3. Adopt an heir
4. Turn it over to powerful women
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out
2. Have a son
3. Adopt an heir
4. Turn it over to powerful women
5. Assassinate the emperor
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out.
2. Have a son
3. Adopt an heir
4. Turn it over to powerful women
5. Assassinate the emperor
5A. . . . and let the Praetorian Guard select a successor
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out.
2. Have a son
3. Adopt an heir
4. Turn it over to powerful women
5. Assassinate the emperor
5A. . . . and let the Praetorian Guard select a successor
5B. . . . and let the Praetorian Guard auction off
the empire to the highest bidder.
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out.
2. Have a son
3. Adopt an heir
4. Turn it over to powerful women
5. Assassinate the emperor
5A. . . . and let the Praetorian Guard select a successor
5B. . . . and let the Praetorian Guard auction off
the empire to the highest bidder.
5C. . . . and take power yourself!
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out.
2. Have a son
3. Adopt an heir
4. Turn it over to powerful women
5. Assassinate the emperor
5A. . . . and let the Praetorian Guard select a successor
5B. . . . and let the Praetorian Guard auction off
the empire to the highest bidder.
5C. . . . and take power yourself!
6. When there is a power vacuum, seize power
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out.
2. Have a son
3. Adopt an heir
4. Turn it over to powerful women
5. Assassinate the emperor
5A. . . . and let the Praetorian Guard select a successor
5B. . . . and let the Praetorian Guard auction off
the empire to the highest bidder.
5C. . . . and take power yourself!
6. When there is a power vacuum, seize power
7. Retire and let your pre-selected successor take the job
Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors
Augustus 27 BC-AD 14
Claudius 41-54
Tiberius
14-37
Caligula 37-41
Nero 54-68
Augustus
Good planning -- Bad luck!
Term: exergue
Not UVA
Obv. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE
Caesar Augustus, son of the Deified (Julius),
Father of the Country
Obv. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE
Caesar Augustus, son of the Deified (Julius),
Father of the Country
Rev. C L CAESARES AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT
Gaius and Lucius Caesar, sons of Augustus, consuls
designate, leaders of the youth
Obv. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE
Rev. C L CAESARES AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENT
Gaius: b. 20 BC; d. AD 4
Lucius: b. 17 BC; d. AD 2
Not UVA
Rev. TI CAESAR AVG F TR POT XV
Tiberius Caesar, son of Augustus,
with tribunician power for the 15th time
How did Tiberius plan? He didn’t, at least not initially.
Augustus meddled and planned for him.
Drusus Germanicus Drusus the Younger
How did Tiberius plan? He didn’t, at least not initially.
Augustus meddled and planned for him.
Drusus Germanicus Drusus the Younger
Germanicus died in 19
Upon the death of Germanicus in 19,
Drusus the Younger became the new
heir.
As of Tiberius depicting his son Drusus
Upon the death of Germanicus in 19,
Drusus the Younger became the new
heir.
As of Tiberius depicting his son Drusus
DRVSUS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N
Obv. DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N
Drusus Caesar, son of Tiberius Augustus,
grandson of the deified Augustus
Good news!
Also in 19, Drusus and his wife Livilla give birth to twin sons,
Tiberius Gemellus & Germanicus Gemellus!!!
SC
Senatus consulto
By decree of the
Senate
Rev. DRVSVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N PONT TR POT II
Drusus Caesar, son of Tiberius Augustus, grandson of the
Deified Augustus, Priest, with tribunician power for the
second time
Drusus and his son, Germanicus Gemellus die in 23.
Tiberius must make new plans.
Key words: Caligula, Capri, Tiberius Gemellus, Sejanus
Tiberius dies in 37
Caligula (Gaius) 37-41
Caligula & his mother, Agrippina the Elder
Not UVA
Caligula (Gaius) 37-41
Caligula & his mother, Agrippina the Elder
Caligula & his mother, Agrippina the Elder
Agrippina: grand daughter of Augustus
Caligula & his mother, Agrippina the Elder
Agrippina: grand daughter of Augustus
Germanicus (C’s father): son of Tiberius’ brother;
grandson of Livia
Caligula & his mother, Agrippina the Elder
Agrippina: grand daughter of Augustus
Germanicus (C’s father): son of Tiberius’ brother;
grandson of Livia
Caligula: great grandson of Augustus
great grandson of Livia
A brief summary of Caligula’s reign: excess, incest, and unfinished aqueducts
Assassinated in 41
Not UVA
Claudius 41-54
Claudius
Agrippina the Younger
sister of Caligula
Claudius
Agrippina the Younger
Persuades Claudius to adopt
her son, Nero
Claudius
Agrippina the Younger
The poison mushroom caper of 54. (This was not good for Claudius  )
Not UVA
Nero
Agrippina the Younger
Obv. Agrippina, wife of the deified Claudius, mother of Nero Caesar
Obv. Agrippina, wife of the deified Claudius, mother of Nero Caesar
Rev. For Nero Caesar Augustus Germanicus, son of the deified Claudius,
imperator, with tribunician power
By decree of the Senate
Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors
Augustus 27 BC-AD 14
Claudius 41-54
Tiberius
14-37
Caligula 37-41
Nero 54-68
Civil War!
Year 68-69
“The year of the four emperors”
Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian
Vesapasian
Titus Flavius Vespasianus
Flavian Dynasty
Vespasian
Titus
Domitian