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