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The Buckner Clay Endowment for the HumanitiesCenter for the Liberal Arts
Archaeological Institute of America
Archaeology WorkshopMarch 14, 2015
Roman coins, Roman history, and succession to power:UVA digital images and your classes
John DobbinsProfessor of Classical Art & Archaeology
McIntire Department of ArtUniversity of Virginia
Fun with Roman Coins!
Telling stories with Roman Coins!
The UVA Coin Website
coins.lib.virginia.edu
Caligula
Augustus Tiberius
Claudius Nero
Caligula
Caligula
Augustus 27 BC-AD 14 Tiberius 14-37
Claudius 41-54 Nero 54-68
Caligula 37-41
Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors
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
25 denarii400 asses
denarius
16 asses
assestertius
4 asses
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 out2. Have a son
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out2. Have a son3. Adopt an heir
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out2. Have a son3. Adopt an heir4. Turn it over to powerful women
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out2. Have a son3. Adopt an heir4. Turn it over to powerful women
5. Assassinate the emperor
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out.2. Have a son3. Adopt an heir4. Turn it over to powerful women
5. Assassinate the emperor5A. . . . and let the Praetorian Guard select a successor
1. Do nothing and let history work itself out.2. Have a son3. Adopt an heir4. Turn it over to powerful women
5. Assassinate the emperor5A. . . . and let the Praetorian Guard select a successor5B. . . . 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 son3. Adopt an heir4. Turn it over to powerful women
5. Assassinate the emperor5A. . . . and let the Praetorian Guard select a successor5B. . . . 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 son3. Adopt an heir4. Turn it over to powerful women
5. Assassinate the emperor5A. . . . and let the Praetorian Guard select a successor5B. . . . 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 son3. Adopt an heir4. Turn it over to powerful women
5. Assassinate the emperor5A. . . . and let the Praetorian Guard select a successor5B. . . . 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 power7. Retire and let your pre-selected successor take the job
Augustus 27 BC-AD 14 Tiberius 14-37
Claudius 41-54 Nero 54-68
Caligula 37-41
Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors
Augustus
Good planning -- Bad luck!
Term: exergue
Not UVA
Obv. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAECaesar Augustus, son of the Deified (Julius),
Father of the Country
Obv. CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAECaesar Augustus, son of the Deified (Julius),
Father of the Country
Rev. C L CAESARES AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINC IVVENTGaius 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 4Lucius: 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
As of Tiberius depicting his son Drusus
Upon the death of Germanicus in 19,Drusus the Younger became the newheir.
As of Tiberius depicting his son Drusus
DRVSUS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N
Upon the death of Germanicus in 19,Drusus the Younger became the newheir.
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!!!
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
SCSenatus consulto
By decree of theSenate
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 Youngersister of Caligula
Claudius Agrippina the YoungerPersuades Claudius to adopt
her son, Nero
Claudius Agrippina the Younger
The poison mushroom caper of 54. (This was not good for Claudius )
Nero Agrippina the YoungerNot UVA
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 27 BC-AD 14 Tiberius 14-37
Claudius 41-54 Nero 54-68
Caligula 37-41
Augustus and the Julio-Claudian Emperors
Civil War!
Year 68-69
“The year of the four emperors”
Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian
VesapasianTitus Flavius Vespasianus
Flavian Dynasty
Vespasian Titus Domitian
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