Nerva (18th September AD 96 - 25th January AD 98)
Marcus Cocceius Nerva was born in the Umbrian hill town of Narni about AD 30. His brief reign was troubled by threats of military uprising stemming from his implication in the plot to assassinate the popular Domitian.
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The period between the accession of Nerva and the death of Marcus Aurelius is often referred to as the ‘High Point of Empire’ or ‘The Golden Age of Rome’. The Empire certainly reached its maximum size during this period and enjoyed many decades of wise and stable government under the Adopted Emperors. Rome’s power seemed impregnable; her authority undisputed in Western Europe and the Mediterranean. However, the beginning of this era was very different. Marcus Cocceius Nerva, who became emperor in the aftermath of Domitian’s assassination in AD 96, feared a repeat of the civil wars which followed the death of Nero 28 years earlier. Nerva avoided potential army rebellions by appointing the popular general, Marcus Ulpius Traianus, as his heir. This action diffused army opposition to the death of Domitian and secured Nerva’s position. The practice of adopting the best man as successor was thus established; Trajan, in turn, adopted Publius Aelius Hadrianus (Hadrian), who adopted Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus (Antoninus Pius), and Marcus Aelius Aurelius Verus (Marcus Aurelius). Unfortunately, the successor of Marcus Aurelius was his son, Commodus, who proved a tyrant and megalomaniac. His assassination on New Year’s Eve AD 192 began a new round of internal strife and civil war. James R. Wadman B.A., M.A. [History and Archaeology] for TimeLine Originals.
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 Roman Coin Main Menu |
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| Nerva 010513 | Stunning Portrait, Nerva 'Clasped Hands' Sestertius Brass, 25.75 grams, 35 mm. Rome. AD Jan-Sep 97. Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III PP; laureate head of Nerva right. Reverse: CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM S C; clasped right hands holding legionary eagle set on prow. RIC 80; BMCRE 102; CBN 95; C 30; RCV 3042. Good fine-very fine with an extremely fine bust. [This coin books at £485 in VF] | £350.00  |  |
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| Nerva 'Fortuna' AE As 016608 | Nerva 'Fortuna' AE As Bronze, 9.01 grams, 27.59 mm. Rome. 97 AD. Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P, laureate head right. Reverse: FORTVNA AVGVST S-C, Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae. RIC II, 60; Cohen 61; cf Sear 3063 (consular year). Good fine. | £110.00 |  |
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| Nerva 011313 | Rare Unpublished Nerva 'Unlisted Fortuna' Dupondius Brass, 13.28 grams, 28.81 mm. Rome. AD 98. Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG GERM P M TRP II; radiate head right. Reverse: IMP II COS IIII P P; Fortuna standing left; holding rudder and cornucopiae. RIC 105 var (unlisted as dupondius). Rare. (Note: the reverse legend in RIC for bronzes of AD 98 is incorrect and should read COS IIII, not COS III). Very fine/good. A significant coin which has been published on wildwinds.com | £175.00 |  |
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| Augustus restoration issue by Nerva 013194 | Rare Augustus restoration issue by Nerva 'Divus Augustus' AE As Bronze, 11.23 grams, 26.94 mm. Rome. AD 98. Obverse: DIVVS AVGVSTVS; bare head of Augustus right, with features of Nerva. Reverse: IMP NERVA CAESAR AVG REST; large altar; SC in exergue. RIC II 133 [Nerva]; Cohen 566; BMC 158. Very fine/fine. | £175.00 |  |
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| Nerva 010495 | Nerva 'Clasped Hands' AE As Bronze, 9.01 grams, 26.72 mm. Rome. AD 96. Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P: laureate head right. Reverse: CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM; clasped hands; SC below. RIC II 53; Cohen 17; Sear (1988) 0965. Fine/good fine. | £75.00 |  |
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| Nerva 012883 | Nerva 'Aequitas' AE As Bronze, 11.14 grams, 27.03 mm. Rome. AD 97. Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P; laureate head right. Reverse: AEQVITAS AVGVST; S C; Aequitas standing left; holding scales and cornucopiae. RIC II 77; Sear 3060; Cohen 7. Fine and better. | £75.00 |  |
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| Nerva 012649 | Nerva 'Public Liberty' AE As Bronze, 10.46 grams, 27.74 mm. Rome. AD 97-98. Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P II COS III P P; laureate head right. Reverse: LIBERTAS PVBLICA S C; Libertas standing left; holding pileus and vertical sceptre. RIC II, 100; Cohen 119. Nearly very fine. | £165.00 |  |
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| Nerva 010508 | Nerva 'Fortuna' As Bronze, 10.59 grams, 29.40 mm. Rome. AD 97. Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P II COS III P P; laureate head right. Reverse: FORTVNA AVGVST; Fortuna standing left; holding rudder and cornucopiae; S-C across fields. RIC II, 98; Cohen 73. Good fine. | £110.00 |  |
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| Nerva 010501 | Nerva 'Fortuna' As Bronze, 9.29 grams, 27.17 mm. Rome. AD 97. Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P II COS III P P; laureate head right. Reverse: FORTVNA AVGVST; Fortuna standing left; holding rudder and cornucopiae; S C across fields. RIC II, 98; Cohen 73. Good fine. | £90.00 |  |
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| Nerva 010510 | Nerva 'Clasped Hands' As Bronze, 12.27 grams, 28.93 mm. Rome. AD 97. Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P II COS III P P; laureate head right. Reverse: CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM; clasped hands; SC below. RIC II, 95, Cohen 23, BMC 128. Very fine/good fine. | £140.00 |  |
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| Nerva 003023 | Nerva 'Libertas' As Brass, 11.38 grams, 26.19 mm. Rome. Sep – Dec AD 96. Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II; laureate bust right. Reverse: LIBERTAS-PVBLICA S-C; Libertas standing left; holding pileus and sceptre. RIC 64; C 108. Good fine. A significant coin which has been published on wildwinds.com | £110.00 |  |
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| Nerva 003024 | Nerva 'Fortuna' As Brass, 10.22 grams, 26.77 mm. Rome. Sep – Dec AD 96. Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II; laureate bust right. Reverse: FORTVNA AVGVST S C; Fortuna standing left; holding rudder and cornucopiae. RIC 60; C 61; BM 125. Very fine. | £150.00 |  |
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| Nerva 006134 | Nerva 'Clasped Hands' As Copper, 10.20 grams, 28.33 mm. Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG PM TR P II COS III P P; laureate and draped bust of Nerva right. Reverse: CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM S C; clasped right hands. RIC 95; BMCRE 141; CBN 128; RCV 3061. Good Fine. | £65.00 |  |
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Main Roman Coin Book and Other References: RIC = Mattingly, Harold The Roman Imperial Coinage BMC = Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum RSC = Seaby, H A Roman Silver Coinage RCV = Sear, David R Roman Coins and Their Values Cr = Crawford, Michael The Roman Republican Coinage SB = Sear, David R Byzantine Coins and Their Values S = Coins of England and the United Kingdom WW = Wildwinds.com (reference & attribution site)
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