Fame & Infamy: Coins of Rome’s Best & Worst Emperors

Coins were more than just money in the Roman Empire. They were a way for emperors to spread their image, titles, and achievements. Coins helped these ancient emperors to be remembered long after their deaths, although not every emperor is remembered fondly. While some Roman rulers were strong and reliable leaders, others proved to be brutal and unstable. Here’s a look at some ancient coins that depict the best and worst Roman emperors.

Famous Emperors

Trajan: Tetradrachm

Emperor Trajan ruled from A.D. 98 to 117. Under his reign, the Roman Empire reached its largest size of around 2 million square miles. During this time, Trajan’s tetradrachm coins circulated. These silver coins depict Emperor Trajan on the obverse, and an eagle standing on a club on the reverse. Like most images of Roman emperors on coins, he is depicted wearing a laurel wreath. These coins were minted in Antioch, Syria, and were worth four drachmas.

Hadrian: Sestertius

Following Trajan’s reign, Emperor Hadrian ruled the Roman Empire from A.D. 117 to 138. Emperor Hadrian is most known for his construction projects, especially Hadrian’s Wall. This 73-mile-long marvel of engineering was built to protect the empire from northern invaders, and parts of it are still standing in northern Britain. While this wall was being constructed, Hadrian was depicted on a sestertius coin. One design of this coin features Hadrian on the obverse, and Fortuna, the Roman goddess of fortune, on the reverse. The sestertius was worth a quarter of the most common ancient Roman coin, the denarius.

Marcus Aurelius: Gold Aureus

Ruling from A.D. 161 to 180, Marcus Aurelius was the last of the “Five Good Emperors” of Rome. Known for his devotion to philosophy, Marcus Aurelius’s personal writings, a collection entitled Meditations, are still read today. During his reign, his image was used on a gold aureus. This coin depicts Marcus Aurelius on the obverse, and Felicitas, the Roman goddess of good luck, on the reverse. Valued at 25 denarii, the aureus was the standard gold coin of Rome until the 4th century.

Infamous Emperors

Caligula: Denarius

Known as the “Mad Emperor,” Caligula’s brief reign from A.D. 37 to 41 is characterized by corruption and instability. In addition to claiming to be a god, Caligula abused his power in bizarre ways, such as supposedly declaring war on the sea god Neptune. He is depicted on the obverse of a denarius, with his father Germanicus on the reverse. Germanicus is likely featured on this coin in an attempt by Caligula to legitimize his own claim to the throne.

Nero: As

Widely regarded as the most infamous Roman emperor, Nero ruled from A.D. 54 to 68. During his reign, the Great Fire of Rome destroyed two-thirds of the city. In addition to the other atrocities Nero is responsible for, it is rumored that he planned the fire to make room for his new palace. Nero is depicted on the obverse of a copper as, or assarius. The reverse of this coin features the music god Apollo playing the lyre. An interesting feature of this coin is that unlike most depictions of Roman emperors on coins, Nero is not wearing a laurel wreath. It is possible that he did this to further associate himself with Apollo, as Apollo represented the arts, while laurel wreaths signified military victory.

Commodus: Gold Aureus

During Emperor Commodus’s reign from A.D. 177 to 192, he was more interested in fighting as a gladiator and ordering assassinations than ruling effectively. Like his father, Marcus Aurelius, Commodus is depicted on the obverse of a gold aureus. The reverse of this coin portrays Securitas, a goddess who personifies stability.

Conclusion

These coins provide a glimpse into the past and a look at some of the most famous and infamous Roman emperors, whose reigns range from virtuous to violent.