Obverse: Portrait of the Emperor Crowned with a
Laurel Wreath
Reverse: Livia Enthroned as Pax, Holding Olive
Branch and Scepter
Tiberius was a tragic figure. He was an
outstanding military commander - the best of
his age - but he was neither interested in, nor
fitted for politics. Yet, as the son of Emperor
Augustus, he was doomed to be emperor. He
knew Augustus favored others over him and that
he was about the eighth choice. It was his
mother, Livia, who was determined that Tiberius
should succeed. He was unenthusiastic about
becoming emperor and ended by loathing his
position. Historically, he has a reputation for
being over suspicious to the point of paranoia,
constantly fearing plots against his life by
senators or popular rivals. In the latter part of
his reign, Tiberius moved to the island of Capri,
out of touch with Rome but still emperor.
How many hands have touched a coin in your
pocket or purse? What eras and lands have the
coin traversed on its journey into our
possession? As we reach into our pockets to pull
out some change, we rarely hesitate to think of
who might have touched the coin before us, or
where the coin will venture to after it leaves our
hands. More than money, coins are a symbol of
the state that struck them, of a specific time and
location, whether contemporary currencies or
artifacts of a long forgotten empires. This
stunning hand-struck coin reveals an expertise
of craftsmanship and intricate sculptural detail
that is often lacking in contemporary machine-
made currencies. This coin is more than a
commemoration to an individual leader, it is also
a glorious memorial to an entire ancient empire
passed from the hands of civilization to
civilization, from generation to generation.
- (C.3005)
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