Description

Tiberius 14-37 AD

Tiberius Marble Bust at Musée Saint Raymond. Between 14 and 23 AD

Tiberius Caesar Augustus, more commonly known as Tiberius, was the second Roman Emperor, reigning from 14 AD to 37 AD, following the death of his stepfather, Augustus.

The father of Tiberius was Tiberius Claudius Nero, a notable political figure, while his mother was the influential Livia Drusilla. Livia Drusilla ended her marriage with Nero to become the spouse of the soon-to-be emperor, Augustus, in 38 BC. When tragedy befell Augustus with the premature passing of his adopted successors and grandsons, Gaius and Lucius Caesar, Tiberius was named as the successor to Augustus’ throne.

Known for his reserved and reclusive nature, Tiberius was an efficient, though unpopular, leader. He improved Rome’s financial state by reducing taxes and carefully managing state expenses while overseeing notable military successes.

Despite his efficient administration, Tiberius was mistrusted by the Senate due to his aloof demeanor and the influence of the notorious Praetorian Prefect Sejanus. The later part of his reign was marked by perceived paranoia and brutality, with multiple trials and executions for treason.

Tiberius retired to Capri in 26 AD, leaving the administration of Rome mainly in the hands of Sejanus, whose ambitions and machinations led to a reign of terror until his fall in 31 AD. Tiberius died in 37 AD and was succeeded by his grand-nephew and adopted grandson, Caligula. Historically, Tiberius’s rule is often criticized due to his apathy towards ruling, his reclusive lifestyle, and the dark period of Sejanus’s influence.

Tiberius had two biological sons: Drusus Julius Caesar and Nero Claudius Drusus. Both were born to Tiberius and his first wife, Vipsania Agrippina, the daughter of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, a trusted ally of Augustus.

Due to their untimely deaths, neither son succeeded Tiberius, and the mantle of the Roman Empire eventually fell to Caligula.

Caligula, whose birth name was Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus, ascended to the position of successor to Emperor Tiberius through a combination of familial connections and political maneuvering. As the great-grandson of Emperor Augustus, he held a prominent position within the imperial family, and his mother, Agrippina, the Elder, had strong political influence.

Coin Details:

Obverse: TI . CAESAR DIVI AVG . F . AVGVSTVS. Laurel head of Tiberius

Reverse: TR . POT . XVII . IMP . VII, Tiberius in quadriga

Diameter: 18 mm

Material: 24k Gold plated