142
3144
Nerva. Silver Denarius (3.4 g), AD 96-98.
Rome, AD 96. IMP
NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P, laureate head of Nerva
right.
Reverse:
CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM, clasped hands be-
fore aquila set on prow. RIC 3; BMC 8; RSC 25. Well struck and well
centered. Well toned with hints of iridescense.
Extremely Fine.
The Roman emperor Nerva came from a distinguished fam-
ily that was connected to the Julio-Claudian dynasty through
marriage. He served under Nero and was instrumental in un-
covering the Pisonian conspiracy in AD 65, and subsequently
served under each of the three Flavian emperors in turn. Upon
Domitian’s assassination in AD 96, the Senate proclaimed Ner-
va emperor solely on their own initiative, the first such instance
of the Senate exercising this prerogative during imperial times.
Upon his accession Nerva attempted to appease the Senate by
ending Domitian’s proscriptions and promising a general amnes-
ty to the conspirators, stating he would not have any senators put
to death. Additionally, he paid a large donative amounting to
5000 denarii a head to the Praetorian Guard. However, the Prae-
torians were dissatisfied, and in October AD 97 they laid siege
to the Imperial Palace and took Nerva hostage. They demand-
ed that the emperor hand over those responsible for Domitian’s
death, who were swiftly executed, and then forced Nerva to
give a speech publicly thanking them. This event damaged the
emperor’s authority beyond repair, and shortly thereafter Nerva
adopted as heir the popular general of the German frontier, Mar-
cus Ulpius Traianus. With this accomplished, Nerva all but abdi-
cated the throne, dying only three months later (January AD 98).
Estimated Value.......................................................... $1,000 - 1,300
3145
Nerva.SilverDenarius(3.3g),AD96-98.
Rome,AD97.IMP
NERVA CAES AVG P M TR POT II, laureate head of Nerva
right.
Reverse:
COS III PATER PATRIAE, sacrificial imple-
ments: simpulum, sprinkler, ewer and lituus. RIC 34; BMC
56; RSC 51. Boldly struck in high relief and perfectly cen-
tered. Attractive iridescent toning.
Superb Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value ............................................. $1,000 - 1,300
