|
Silver Denarius (18mm, 3.46g) Struck AD 161-162 Rome
Obv:IMP L AVREL VERVS AVG Barehead right
Obv: PROV DEOR TR P II COS II Providentia holding globe and cornucopiae
RIC IIII 482
ex. Vaughn Coins
|
The Obverse: The New Emperor's Face
- The Imagery: A beautifully detailed portrait of a bare-headed Lucius Verus facing right. He was famously proud of his thick, curly hair and full beard—characteristics that show up clearly on early issues like this one.
- The Legend: IMP L AVREL VERVS AVG (Imperator Lucius Aurelius Verus Augustus)
- The Meaning: It's a straightforward proclamation of his new supreme status. He has taken the name Aurelius to cement the family bond with Marcus, and holds the title Augustus to show absolute equality.
The Reverse: Divine Foresight
- The Imagery: The goddess Providentia (the personification of foresight and divine providence) stands facing left. She holds a cornucopia (horn of plenty) cradled in her left arm and holds a globe out in her right hand. On many variations of this type, she is pointing a wand (a radium) toward a globe at her feet.
- The Legend: PROV DEOR TR P II COS II (Providentia Deorum, Tribunicia Potestate Secunda, Consul Secundum)
- The Meaning: The text translates to "By the Foresight of the Gods," followed by his political titles marking his second year of tribunician power and second consulship.
The Real Message
Why pick Providentia Deorum (Foresight of the Gods) for a brand-new emperor?
This reverse choice was pure propaganda to reassure the public and the Senate. Having two guys at the top was completely new and could have looked like a recipe for a bloody civil war. By invoking Providentia, the coin tells the Roman people: "Don't worry, this dual-emperor setup wasn't a sudden, risky accident. It was the careful, divinely inspired plan of the gods and the late Antoninus Pius to ensure a smooth transition of power."
The globe represents the rule of the cosmos and the Roman world, while the cornucopia promises that this divine plan will bring prosperity, peace, and abundance to the empire.
It’s a beautiful piece of history that perfectly captures the nervous excitement of a major turning point in the Roman Empire.
|
