Emperors of Rome - A (Chronological) Portrait Gallery

[Furryfrog02]

Here is my one and only Nerva. I think it has a pretty nice portrait. Especially with regards to that schnoze.

[Spaniard]

Picked this one up to complete my 5 good Emperors set...Loved the nose and reverse depiction..

Nerva AR Denarius. Rome, AD 97.
Obverse..IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR POT, laureate head right
Reverse..COS III PATER PATRIAE, Priestly emblems: simpulum, aspergillum, guttus, and lituus.
RIC 24; RSC 48. 3.12g, 17mm, 6h.
Near Very Fine.
 

[Roman Collector]

This denarius is among the first coins issued by Nerva, in AD 96, shortly after the death of Domitian on 18 September. Coins issued later that year bear the titles COS II and DES III, and on 1 January, AD 97, begin the COS III issues.

Nerva, AD 96-98.
Roman AR denarius, 3.18 g, 17.5 mm, 7 h.
Rome, AD 96, shortly after 18 September.
Obv: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P, laureate head, right.
Rev: FORTVNA AVGVST, Fortuna, draped, standing left, holding rudder in right hand and cornucopia in left hand.
Refs: RIC 4; BMCRE 10-11; RSC/Cohen 59; RCV --; CBN --.

[Zarco]

Sorry, I'm a bit late to the party with my coins of Domitian.

 

 

Domitian, AD 81-97.
AE as, 9.81 g, 28.3 mm, 6 h.
Rome mint, AD 88.
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII CENS PER P P; Head of Domitian, laureate, right.
Rev: COS XIIII LVD SAEC FEC S C; Domitian standing left over altar; victimarius with bull left; flute and lyre players right; hexastyle column behind.
Refs: RIC 625, RCV 2802.
Acquired from Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 420, Lot 448, 9 May 2018.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 194 (20 August 2008), lot 237.

 

Domitian, AD 81-97.
AR Denarius, 3.5 g, 17.8 mm, 5 h.
Rome mint, AD 88-89.
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII; Laureate head of Domitian, right.
Rev: IMP XIX COS XIIII CENS P P P; Minerva right, in fighting stance, holding spear and shield.
Refs: RIC 667.
Acquired from Civitas Galleries, 12 August 2020.
Ex Freeman & Sear Mail Bid Sale 7, Lot 776.

 

Domitian, AD 81-96.
AR denarius, 3.4 g, 18.5 mm, 6 h.
Rome mint, AD 92.
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XI; Head of Domitian, laureate, right.
Rev: IMP XXI COS XVI CENS P P P; Minerva standing left, holding thunderbolt and spear; shield at side.
Ref: RIC 732.
Acquired from Zurqieh, December 2022.

 

Domitian, AD 81-96.
AR denarius, 3.4 g, 18.7 mm, 6 h.
Rome mint, AD 88-89.
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P VIII; Head of Domitian, laureate, right.
Rev: IMP XVII COS XIIII CENS P P P; Minerva standing right on top of rostral column, holding spear and shield; owl right.
Ref: RIC 657.
Acquired from Zuzim, December 2022.

[Jay GT4]

My only Nerva

IMP NERVA CAES AVG PM TR P COS III P P
Head of Nerva right

CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM
clasped right hands

Rome January-September 97 A.D.
3.51g
Sear 3020, RIC 14, RSC 20
Ex-Forum

 

[znmto]

[Shea19]

A surprisingly handsome-looking Nerva:

Nerva, Antioch, circa 96-98, AE “As” (25.5mm., 14.34g). Laureate head right/ Rev. Large S C; below, Θ ; all within wreath. McAlee 421i. RPC 3487.

And then a more traditional-looking Nerva:

Nerva, AR Denarius (17 mm, 3.45 g), Rome, 97. Laureate head of Nerva r. /Rev. LIBERTAS PVBLICA Libertas standing left, holding pileus in right hand and scepter in left. RIC 19

[Jims,Coins]

- Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome during the reign of NERVA in 97 A.D. Obv. IMP.NERVA.CAES.AVG.TR.P.COS.III.P.P.: laur, hd. r. Rev. FORTVNA.AVGVST.: Fortuna stg. l., holding rudder and cornucopia. RCS #953. RSCII #66 pg. 79. RICII #16 pg. 224. DVM #8. RCVSII #3025.

[DonnaML]

Here are my only two Nervas. (Once we get to Trajan and Hadrian, I'll have to start being a little more selective: I have 55 coins between the two of them!)

Nerva AR Denarius, Rome Jan-Sep 97 AD. Obv. Laureate head right, IMP NERVA CAES AVG PM TRP COS III P P / Rev. Two clasped hands in front of legionary eagle left at top of standard resting on prow left, CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM. RIC II Nerva 15, RSC II (Cohen) 29, BMCRE III Nerva 29, cf. Sear RCV II 3021 (COS II, otherwise same). 18 mm., 3.37 g. Purchased from Patrick Guillard Collection, Paris, France, May 2021.

Nerva AR Denarius, Rome Jan-Sep 97 AD. Obv. Laureate head right, IMP NERVA CAES AVG PM TR P COS III P P/ Rev. Fortuna standing left holding rudder & cornucopiae, R FORTVNA AVGVST. RIC II-1 Nerva 16 (2007 ed.); old RIC II 16 (1926 ed.), RSC II 66. 18.6 mm., 3.45 g.

[Severus Alexander]

I have two coins in my portrait slot for Nerva.  The dupondius displays a rather cartoonish schnozz, while the denarius, although still very beaky, is a bit more lifelike:

I'd love to get a sestertius with a more interesting reverse, but they tend to get pricey!

[Limes]

Two denarii with a good portrait:

But my favorite is this sestertius: 

To alleviate taxation Nerva exempted the people of Italy from paying the Vehiculatio, a tax levied to defray the cost of imperal posting on the main roads. Hencefort, the costs were transferred to the state, so far as Italy was concerned. The Vehicuatio was continued for the provinces. 

[Qcumbor]

Two portraits I like for Nerva : the dupondius for its patina giving strenght to his facial features, the antoninianus, minted under Trajan Decius for both nose and Adam's apple 🙂 

 

 

Q

Edited January 21, 2023 by Qcumbor

[shanxi]

Nerva
Alexandria
Billon-Tetradrachm
Obv.: AVT NEPOVAΣ KAIΣ ΣEB, Laureate bust right.
Rev.: L - A=year 1 (96/97), Alexandria with elephant headdress
Billon, 12.43g, 26mm.
Ref.: Dattari 630, Kampmann/Ganschow 26.3
Ex Dionysos Numismatik

[maridvnvm]

Nerva denarius

Obv:- IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P, laureate head right
Rev:- IVSTITIA AVGVST, Justitia seated half-right, holding sceptre and branch
Minted in Rome, A.D. 97
Reference:- BMC 44. RIC II 18. RSC 101.

Nerva Ar Drachm

Obv:- AVTOKPAT NEPOYAC KAICAP CEBACT, Laureate bust right; L-Y across field
Rev:- YPATOY TRITOY, Two lyres (chelyes), owl above
Minted in Lycia, Lycian League. A.D. 97
Reference:- SNG Cop. 44; SNG von Aulock 4266; BMC Lycia p. 39, 6

Some surface lamination issues.

[mc9]

1 Denarius :

IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P, laureate head right

CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM, clasped right hands

Rome, AD 97,  RIC II 14, Denarius

and 1 As :

IMP NERVA CAES AVG - P M TR P COS III PP  : laureate  head r.

LIBERTAS - PVBLICA S|C : Libertas standing  left, holding pileus and sceptre

Rome, A.D.98, RIC II 64, As

[Prieure de Sion]

I have only one coin from Nerva...

 

Marcus Cocceius Nerva as Imperator Nerva Caesar Augustus
Denarius of the Roman Imperial Period 97 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 18mm; Weight: 3.42g; Mint: Rome; Reference: RIC II Nerva 24; Obverse: Head of Nerva, laureate, right. The Inscription reads: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR POT for Imperator Nerva Caesar Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestate (Imperator Nerva, Caesar, Augustus, high priest, holder of tribunician power); Reverse: Simpulum, sprinkler, ewer and lituus. The Inscription reads: COS III PATER PATRIAE for Consul Tertium, Pater Patriae (Consul for the third time, father of the nation).

 

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Type: Billon Tetradrachm, 25mm, 12.7 grams, mint of Alexandria year 96-97 A.D. Obverse: Bust of Nerva facing right, KAIS SEB AVT NEPOVAS Reverse: Agathodaemon serpent coiled with head right, holding caduceus and grain ear within coils, wearing the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt. In exergue, LA. Reference: Milne 542, Dattari 638 This coin is listed as "rare". 

 

[kapphnwn]

Nerva Ar Cistophoric Tetradrachm Asia Minor 97 AD. Obv Head right laureate Rv Diana of Perga within Distyle temple RIC 116 RPC 1301 10.76 grms 25 mm Photo by W. Hansen

 

[John Conduitt]

I’m still posting ‘favourite portraits’ without actually having a choice 😁

Nerva Denarius, 96
Rome. Silver, 16mm, 2.84g. Head of Nerva, laureate, right; IMP NERVA CAES AVG PM TR P COS II P P. Aequitas, draped, standing left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopiae in left; AEQVITAS AVGVST (RIC II, 1 (denarius)). Found Tyne and Wear.

[Coinmaster]

I think the time of Nerva is an interesting one, also described as a bridge from Domitianus to Traianus.
For those who want to know more I recommend this great - if not best - article:
https://web.archive.org/web/20210906064817/http://www.roman-emperors.org/nerva.htm.

For a while I'm looking out for a nice AND affordable denarius from Nerva, but haven't found one yet. It seems that the denarii minted in Rome are all somewhat worn. Does anyone have an explanation for this?
By the way, taste is personal of course, but for me I like the old face and hooked nose of Nerva like the below example. 
 

[LONGINUS]

Awesome Nerva portraits, @CPKand forum friends 👍 !

I have 4 coins featuring the Good Emperor Nerva. Here are my 2 favorites.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 21, 2023 by LONGINUS

[Spaniard]

@LONGINUS...I do like that S&P portrait! 😍

[CPK]

2 hours ago, John Conduitt said:

I’m still posting ‘favourite portraits’ without actually having a choice 😁

 

Nerva Denarius, 96
Rome. Silver, 16mm, 2.84g. Head of Nerva, laureate, right; IMP NERVA CAES AVG PM TR P COS II P P. Aequitas, draped, standing left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopiae in left; AEQVITAS AVGVST (RIC II, 1 (denarius)). Found Tyne and Wear.

I am continually impressed that you've built such a nice collection solely from coins found in Britain. I think that is very cool! 👍

[Roman Collector]

2 hours ago, Coinmaster said:

For a while I'm looking out for a nice AND affordable denarius from Nerva, but haven't found one yet. It seems that the denarii minted in Rome are all somewhat worn. Does anyone have an explanation for this?

The period from Nerva through Marcus Aurelius was the most prosperous in Roman history. Business was booming and coins weren't immediately hoarded because of frequent debasement. Coins -- especially bronze ones -- circulated for several decades. That's why you should be extremely skeptical of any EF or MS bronzes from the period. A great many of them (most?) have been tooled or smoothed.

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

6 minutes ago, Roman Collector said:

The period from Nerva through Marcus Aurelius was the most prosperous in Roman history. Business was booming and coins weren't immediately hoarded because of frequent debasement. Coins -- especially bronze ones -- circulated for several decades. That's why you should be extremely skeptical of any EF or MS bronzes from the period. A great many of them (most?) have been tooled or smoothed.

And also they are even being marketed as such! "Some light smoothing in the field, etc." when the lettering has clearly been tooled. This is even happening on the large provincial bronzes!