Roman Denarius Coin

Inv. No.: c082
Date: A.D. 96.
Weight: 3.52g
 
Obv.: Nerva, laureate.
IMP.NERVA CAES.AVG.P.M.TR.P.COS.II P.P.

Rev.: Fortune standing, holding rudder and cornucopiae.
FORTVNA AVGVST.

AVGVST. is an abbreviation of the genitive AVGVSTI: the personification, and, therefore, the quality it represents, is attributed to the Emperor. Indeed, the Fortuna Augusti seems to have been regarded almost as equal to the emperor genius, or guardian spirit. The coin suggests that, with Nerva in control, the ship of state is sailing a course of peace, prosperity and good government. The reverse type, like so many others of Nerva, was used by Galba (see RIC, Galba 140). n several respects Nerva accession may be said to resemble that of Galba. Both men were adopted by the Senate on account of their advanced age and generally discreet reputation as a palliative to the popular indignation aroused by their immediate predecessors. Nero and Domitian alike fell foul of the Senate and succeeded in stirring up violent hostility on the part of the more conservative party in Rome. Their reigns had been marked by reckless extravagance; and on their downfall it fell to the lot of their successors to devise a policy of retrenchment.?(RIC, vol. 2, pp. 221-222) The coins of both give expression to this noble aim.

Comparanda:
RIC, Nerva 4.

Rev.: Jupiter in quadriga (four-horse chariot).
AES ROMA

Gragulus is the first moneyer who uses the mark (see under chin).

Comparanda:
S 451.