Portraits Of Power - The Faces Of Imperial Rome

Domitian, 81-96

As Caesar under Vespasian

CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, Laureate head right
COS V, She-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, boat below
Holed in antiquity for a bracelet or necklace pendant
(I swear I'm planning to add and upgrade some of these Flavians once @Orfew stops outbidding me on them! )

As Augustus

IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM PM TR P XV, Laureate head right
IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P, Minerva standing left, holding thunderbolt and scepter, shield at foot

Born in 51 AD, more than 12 years after his brother, Domitian was the youngest child of Vespasian, and grew up in his brother's shadow. He was too young to partake in the glorious campaigns of his father and brother, and led a quiet childhood of scholarly learning. He was described by his contemporaries as intelligent but odd and increasingly isolated, lacking the charisma of the other males of his family. He was eighteen years old when his father became emperor, and although he was granted titles and honors, he performed almost no actual functions of state as Titus was groomed as Vespasian's successor. Early in his reign, it was suggested by both Vespasian and Titus that Domitian should marry his niece, Julia Titi. Domitian turned down this offer, professing his love for and eventually marrying Domitia. Later during his rule, he would engage in a lengthy affair with Julia as his mistress.

Domitian became emperor suddenly and (reportedly) unexpectedly in 81 following the untimely death of his brother Titus. His first act was to deify his brother, and then moved swiftly to concentrate all power on himself, being the first emperor to openly challenge the notion that the emperor was merely the "first citizen" entrusted with special powers to ensure the efficient administration of the Republic. He was more or less openly resented by the Senatorial class whose powers and influence he publicly snubbed, so an unbiased interpretation of his character is nearly impossible from the existing sources which were written by historians of the Senatorial class. What is certain is that, at least at the beginning of his reign, Domitian was dedicated to both beautifying the city of Rome, and eradicating corruption and misconduct throughout the Empire. He was a meticulous micromanager, a firm believer in a sound fiscal policy, and convicted in his belief that the populace needed a Censor, or officer of morality--an office he entrusted to himself. This rubbed many the wrong way, and attempts on his life fueled his already deep paranoia. After putting down the rebellion of his governor Lucius Antonius Saturnius in 89, his rule seems to have taken a turn toward the more paranoid, and Domitian ordered numerous executions even for perceived threats to his power. Domitian met his end on 18 September 96 in a conspiracy orchestrated by his chamberlain Parthenius, whose close friend Domitian had executed. A court official, Stephanus, who had been feigning an injury for several days in order to conceal a dagger in the bandages, informed the Emperor of a plot on his life, and was granted audience. While Domitian read over the report, Stephanus stabbed the emperor, and was joined by the other conspirators, killing the emperor before his guard could be summoned. He was 44 years old.

Before I continue on, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has been keeping up so far!

re: Bob, I agree that Provincial Roman coins do get a bad rap, although admittedly my collection is heavily leaning toward Imperial, especially from here on out. Provincials are especially nice for the 12 Caesars through the Severans, depicting many more fascinating reverses than the typical Roman "God/goddess standing + boasting about titles" format. I may someday expand into provincials, but for now, they allow me to spend $100 or less on folks who would otherwise set me back $1,000+!

Anyway, the next few installments are some of my favorites are some of my favorites, so I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Trajan, 98-117


Trajan (Early reign)
AR Denarius
IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM, Laureate head right
P M TR P COS II P P, Victory seated left, holding patera and palm branch


Trajan (Later reign)
AR Denarius
IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS VI P P, Laureate head right
SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI / ARAB ADQ, Arabia standing left, holding fasces(?) and branch over camel
Minted to commemorate annexation of Nabatea to the Empire

Born in 53 AD in Hispania to members of the ancient Gens Marcia, Trajan was the nephew of Marcia Furnilla, the first wife of emperor Titus, and was thus related by marriage to the Flavian dynasty. Serving with his father in the army, Trajan distinguished himself as a capable commander, and was granted his first consulship in 91. Around this time he married his wife Pompia Plotina, ostensibly for political motives as most historians agree that Trajan was most likely homosexual; their marriage was stable, but emotionally distant and remained childless. Historians mention further military feats in passing, and Trajan again enters the forefront of politics upon his adoption by Nerva in late 97. Outwardly, the succession was peaceful, although some modern historians have suggested that Trajan's succession would be better characterized as a coup than a peaceful transition of power. However, there is no evidence of any foul play in Nerva's death. Trajan lingered for a time at his post in Germania before finally arriving in Rome in 99 and holding his third consulship the following year.

Although Trajan's rule was characterized by the increased autocracy exercised by the Princeps, all historians--ancient and modern--describe his reign as that of an enlightened despot. During his reign Rome enjoyed her greatest territorial expansions, most notably including the conquest of Dacia in two campaigns from 101-102 and 105-106, the bloodless annexation of Nabatea in 106, and a (fleetingly) victorious war against Parthia in 115-117. Securing booty, captives and the mines of Dacia brought unprecedented wealth to the Roman Empire, and in 105 the senate bestowed the unprecedented title SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, "Best Princeps of the Senate and People of Rome." During his nearly two decades in office, he undertook massive building projects in the city of Rome, many of which still stand to this day. With the full weight of the reputation of Rome backing her currency, he reduced the silver purity of the denarius from 90% to 80%, and ordered the recall of all old (pre-Neronic reform) denarii in circulation to be recoined at the new reduced standard; this effect is visible today in the comparative scarcity of all pre-Nero denarii. Unlike his predecessors, any subsequent increases to the fineness of the coinage was at best fleeting--this trend of increasing debasement would lead to the virtual disappearance of all silver from Roman coinage 150 years after Trajan's death. But, for the time being, his policies allowed him to stretch the limited money supply to keep up with Rome's booming economy, and the citizens enjoyed nearly a century of peace and prosperity under Trajan and his successors.

Between his campaigns, Trajan contributed substantially to the culture and leisure of Rome, hosting lavish games and festivals to keep the common citizen happy, upon which the orator and commentator Fronto remarked, "Neglect of serious matters can cause greater damage, but neglect of amusements greater discontent." Additionally, in a move that generated great praise, Trajan set up a financial pool from the state budget to offer relief and assistance to orphans and the poor of the city.

In early 117, and before he had appointed a successor, Trajan's health began to fail him. He set out for Italy from the East, but became increasingly weaker as the year wore on, and died of edema in Cilicia on August 8 of that year, aged 63. It was at this time that Hadrian emerged as the successor of Trajan, although ancient sources conflict on whether Trajan made the appointment himself, or if the succession was engineered by his widow Plotina - Cassius Dio states, via secondhand sources, that Plotina hid her husband's death from the public and hired a voice impersonator to give orders from behind a curtain until she could secure a successor.

Plotina, wife of Trajan, d. 121


Plotina
AE17 of Gordos-Julia, Lydia
ΠΛΩTEINA CEBACTH, draped bust right
EΠI ΠOΠΛIOY ΓOΡΔHNΩ, Zeus seated left, holding patera and sceptre.

Pompeia Plotina was born in Hispania, probably in the 60s AD, and hailed from an aristocratic Roman family. She was wed to Trajan at an unknown date prior to his rise to prominence. Their marriage was stable, but remained childless, as many modern and contemporary historians suspect that Trajan was homosexual or asexual.

As empress, Plotina strove to be the silent embodiment of virtue; very little is mentioned of her in the surviving histories, save that, approaching the imperial residence, she addressed the crowd, "I enter here the kind of woman I would like to be when I depart."

Although she did not directly take part in her husband's politics, Plotina served to shape the remainder of the second century AD as she played the matchmaker to set up Trajan's nephew once removed, Hadrian, with Trajan's grand-niece Sabina. When Trajan died without officially naming an heir, it is said that Plotina conspired to not only forge her late husband's will to adopt and name Hadrian as his successor, but also to cover up his death for at least several days while preparations were being made.

After being widowed, Plotina is known to have had a hand in selecting the new head of the Epicurean school at Athens. She died of illness probably soon after, around 121.

Like the majority of the Julio-Claudian women, all coins of Plotina are rare, but Imperial coins are particularly so; hence why I've selected a provincial coin, which, while still not easy on the budget, didn't set me back $1,000+

Sabina, Wife of Hadrian, d. 136


Sabina
AR Denarius
SABINA AVGVSTA, Draped bust right
CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia seated left, holding scepter and patera

Born in 83 to Trajan's beloved niece Matidia, she was arranged to marry the future emperor Hadrian in about 100 in a move engineered by the empress Plotina and approved of by her mother. Her marriage to Hadrian, however, was deeply unhappy as her husband was more or less openly homosexual, and denied her virtually any affection. Early in Hadrian's reign, she engaged in an affair with her husband's secretary, the renowned historian Suetonius. The affair was discovered, Suetonius dismissed, and Sabina's husband grew ever distant. She was however granted the title of Augusta in 128. Hadrian is recorded as remarking of his wife that her ill-temper and irritability would have been grounds for divorce, were he not the Emperor. She died of unspecified causes in 136, and was deified in a public ceremony by Hadrian.

All are great but that Hadrian portrait, in particular, is exceptional.

Antoninus Pius, 138-161

As Caesar under Hadrian

Titus Aelius Antoninus Caesar
AR Denarius
IMP T AEL CAES ANTONINVS, Bare head right
TRIB POT COS, Diana standing right, holding arrow and bow

As Augustus

Antoninus Pius
AR Denarius
ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, Laureate head right
IMPERATOR II, Victory standing left, holding patera and palm
Minted to commemorate completion of the Antonine Wall


Antoninus Pius
AE Sestertius
ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, Laureate head right
SALVS AVG S C, Salus standing left, feeding snake rising from altar with patera

Posthumous

DIVVS ANTONINVS, Bare head right
CONSECRATIO, Wedding cake Funeral pyre

Born in 86, Antoninus Pius was the last emperor to have lived during the Flavian period. His family was of new prominence, having been granted honors and privileges for being loyal and early supporters of Vespasian. He entered public life at a young age, and was said to have been a close friend of Pliny the Younger. He married his wife Annia Galeria Faustina sometime between 110-115 and the couple had four children, of which only his daughters Aurelia Fadilla and the future empress Faustina the Younger seems to have survived to marriageable age (Aurelia Fadilla was married, but died in her teenage years). Antoninus served as consul in 120, and was appointed as one of the four proconsuls to administer Italy by Hadrian. Impressed with his performance, Antoninus was made proconsul of Asia from 134-135.

Antoninus was adopted by Hadrian in early 138, on the condition that he adopt Lucius Verus, son of Aelius Caesar, and Marcus Aurelius, nephew of Faustina the Elder. After a brief stint as Caesar under Hadrian, the emperor died and the 52 year old Antoninus became emperor. One of his first acts was to pardon most of those whom he felt had been wrongly sentenced to imprisonment or death by Hadrian. He also asked the Senate to deify Hadrian, but facing resistance from the Senate (who had never warmed up to Antoninus' predecessor), he threatened to step down from the Principate. Impressed by this show of dedication, the Senate granted his request and bestowed the honorific Pius ("The Faithful") to Antoninus.

Antoninus Pius ruled over one of the most placid stretches of Roman history, and never left Italy for the duration of his more than 22 1/2 year reign. He is widely celebrated for his just, rational rule, and the worst insult his detractors could find was to call him a big softie; overly lenient on criminals and especially tolerant toward Christians. His beloved wife Faustina died in 141, which caused Pius a great deal of distress. He had the Senate deify her memory and erect a temple to the Divine Faustina (which still stands to this day) as well as an unprecedented array of deification coinage, arguably the largest in mintage, variety, and length of any Roman deification coinage; these coins are nearly as common as Pius' issues. Although he did take on a mistress later in life, Pius refused to remarry, even though he was permitted to do so under Roman law.

A few minor rebellions or incursions occurred during Pius' reign, none of them significant enough to require him to do any more than give orders to the provincial governors. Possibly the largest military event was a raid on Hadrian's Wall from the Caledonians which prompted a reactionary campaign that captured further territory and led to the construction of the secondary "Antonine Wall" that was abandoned a few decades later. Without major military expenses to consider, Pius spent most of his time focusing on building projects within the city of Rome, and also instituting public welfare programs and rewriting Roman law to mitigate some injustices he saw. Notably, he improved the conditions under which slaves could be subjected to by their masters, required trials before punishments for slaves, and instituted the principle that all citizens and slaves alike be considered innocent until proven guilty. Pius was also the last Roman emperor to actively engage in diplomatic relations directly with the far-off kingdoms in India (e.g. the Kushans) and is said to have been the only Roman emperor to successfully send and envoy to China (although they did not arrive until 166), which to the Romans was a fantastical land (Serica) well beyond the borders of the known world from which the finest of their coveted silks came; to the Chinese, Rome was "Da Qin," a balancing force to China's hegemony in the East.

Despite Hadrian's apparent assumptions that Pius would be dead within a few years of taking the Principate, clearing the way for youthful Aurelius and Verus to rule, Pius' reign ultimately became the second-longest in Roman history up to that point, and Aurelius and Verus spent the majority of their adult lives as his Caesares. In March of 161, while staying at his private estate outside of Rome, historians note that Pius ate a large amount of cheese, had a fit of vomiting, and died a day or two later, on March 7, 161 at the age of 74. He was buried with his wife Faustina in Hadrian's mausoleum, and Faustina's temple was rededicated to her now divine husband as well.

Annia Galeria Faustina the Elder, Wife of Antoninus Pius d. 141

Lifetime

AR Denarius
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, Draped bust right
CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae

Posthumous

DIVA FASTINA, Draped bust right
AVGVSTA, (Faustina as?) Juno seated right, holding long scepter

Born around 100 AD, Faustina the Elder was the granddaughter of Matidia and niece of empress Sabina. She was the daughter of the influential Marcus Annius Verus, and sister of Marcus Aurelius' biological father, also named Marcus Annius Verus. She married future emperor Antoninus Pius when she was young, sometime between 110-115 AD. She bore two sons, Marcus Aurelius Fulvius Antoninus, and Marcus Galerius Aurelius Antoninus, both of whom died young, although the latter appears on a provincial coin, indicating that he may have died around the time his father became emperor. Her two daughters by Antoninus were Aurelia Fadilla, who reached marriageable age but died in her teenage years, and Annia Galeria Faustina Minor, future wife of Marcus Aurelius. Somewhat unusual for imperial marriages, Faustina and Pius seem to have been deeply infatuated with each other, and Faustina received universal praise for her beauty, wisdom, and charitable spirit. She received the title of Augusta in 138 upon her husband's accession, but died soon afterward in early 141. Pius was devastated by her death, and had her deified and sponsored a temple to her memory, in addition to erecting numerous statues, establishing charities in her honor, and minting an immense number of posthumous coins; nearly as many as he had minted for himself.