Ancient Rome - 14-37 CE Tiberius AV Aureus NGC XF

The obverse displays the laureate head of Emperor Tiberius facing right. The reverse presents Livia as Pax, the goddess of Peace, seated upon a throne holding a scepter in her right hand, with an olive branch in her left. Produced at the Lugdunum Mint (Lyon, France).

The message on the obverse, TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVTVS (“Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of divine Augustus”), was essential in signifying transition of power in the early Roman Empire. The title helped Tiberius to publicize his inherited right to rule, as Augustus’ heir and deified first Roman Emperor. The reverse design showing a female figure who is normally assumed to be Livia, mother of Tiberius and Augustus’s wife of fifty-three years. Livia is depicted as the Roman goddess for peace, Pax. The writing around her, “PONTIF MAXIM”, refers to the title of Pontifex Maximus, a title held by each of the Roman Emperors that signified the religious power held by the Roman Emperor.

Marble portrait bust of Tiberius from the Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen. Photo: wikipedia.

The vast majority of Roman emperors spent much energy upon having a wide array of designs upon their coins, representing historic events and progress within the Empire. However, Tiberius employed a different tactic: he left a sole precious metal design to be used for almost his entire 23-year reign. Plus the type itself was taken from a late issue of Augustus, displaying how little care Tiberius placed upon his numismatic legacy. This type was among the most widely used of Roman numismatics and ranks as one of the most familiar coins of the ancient world. These Tiberius coins circulated as far away as India, and evidence tells us that they circulated into the second century CE.