emperor was the last of the Flavian and Cæsarean families, and completes the list of emperors generally termed the twelve Cæsars.

The first example I shall cite of the large bronze of Domitian records the triumph decreed to him by the servile senate, when, in emulation of his brother's military fame, he entered Germany with a large army, and, after encountering no enemy, purchased slaves to personate in the triumphal procession, prisoners of the Catti, a tribe he had never seen. The obverse of this coin bears the laurelled head of Domitian with an amulet on his breast; the inscription is IMP(erator) CAES (ar) DOMIT(ianus) AVG(ustus) GERM (anicus) CO(n)s(ul) XII. CENS(or) PER(petuus) P(ater) P(atriæ): "the Emperor Cæsar Domitian Augustus Germanicus, Consul for the twelfth time, Perpetual Censor, and father of the country."

The type of the reverse is a trophy composed of " German Spoils," on one side of which stands a man with his hands bound behind him, and on the other side, is a sitting female figure weeping. Broken armour is strewed about, the inscription being, GERMANIA CAPTA: "Germany conquered."

The next specimen is a remarkably fine coin: the obverse bears an animated portrait of the emperor, very carefully executed, and the inscription IMP(erator) CAES (ar) DOMIT (ianus) AVG(ustus) GERM (anicus) CO(n)s(ul) XV. CENS(or) PER(petuus) P(ater) P(atriæ): "the Emperor Cæsar Domitian Augustus Germanicus, Consul for the fifteenth time, Perpetual Censor, and father of the country."

The reverse has a magnificent sitting figure of Jupiter, supporting with his left hand the wand of divinity, and holding in his right a Victory with a garland. The body is bare to the waist, excepting a robe, which descends from the left shoulder down the waist and back, and is gracefully folded over the thighs and legs; the inscription is IOVI VICTORI: "to victorious Jupiter." It is supposed that Domitian caused this device to be placed on the coinage, in honour of Jupiter, who preserved him in his defeat by the Marcomanni, for which disaster, terming it a victory, he triumphed at Rome.

The whole of the coinage of this reign is abundant, of all classes, but some rare reverses are sought by fastidious collectors, for which large prices are given; for instance, the

gold with the portrait of the Empress Domitia on the

reverse.

The coins struck in honour of Domitia are found on various classes of Roman coins, and even on the Roman large bronze, of which Captain Smith cites a fine example which there are good grounds for believing genuine.

Coins with the following device were struck both in gold and silver; they bear her effigy, with that of her deified son, sitting on a globe in the midst of seven stars. The Greek Imperial coins of Domitia are less rare.

NERVA, FROM 96 тo 98 A.D.

Marcus Cocceius Nerva was born 32 A.D. at Narnia, in Umbria. Triumphal honours had been conferred upon him by Nero, in 65 A.D., and he was unanimously chosen emperor on the death of Domitian in 96. He died of a fever in the beginning of 98 A.D.

The first of the large bronze coins of Nerva about to be described, refers to the unanimity with which he was elected, both army and navy concurring, with singular cordiality, in their preference for the wise and benignant Nerva.

The obverse bears an expressive laureated profile of Nerva, with the inscription IMP(erator) NERVA CAES(ar) AVG(ustus) P(ontifex) M(aximus) TR(ibunitia) P(otestate) Co(n)s(ul) III P(ater) P(atriæ): "the Emperor Nerva Cæsar Augustus, High Pontiff, (exercising) tribunitian power, Consul for the third time, father of the country."

The type of the reverse is two right hands joined the symbol of good faith. These hold a military trophy, which is planted on the prow of a ship, and surmounted by a garland and an eagle. This device indicates the unanimity of the army and navy in the election of Nerva. It has also CONCORDIA EXERCITVM: "the concord of the army."

The next coin described alludes simply to the good fortune of Nerva after his election. The type of the obverse is a bold laurelled head of Nerva, with IMP(erator) NERVA · CAES(ar) AVG(ustus) P(ontifex) M(aximus) TR(ibunitia) P(otestate) CO(n)s(ul) III. P(ater) P(atriæ): "the Emperor Nerva Cæsar Augustus, High Pontiff, (exercising) the tribunitian power, Consul for the third time, father of the country."

The reverse has a robed female standing with her right hand on a rudder, and her left supporting a cornucopiæ, emblematic of the goddess Fortune guiding the helm of the State, accompanied by the words, FORTVNA · AVGVSTI: "the fortune of Augustus."

One of the coins struck by Nerva most worthy of remembrance, was that issued on his (virtual) establishment of a poor-law; it is a medal, inscribed "Tutela Italiæ," being struck when the Italian cities were directed to feed their orphans and poor children at the public cost. Specimens of the coinage of Nerva are tolerably plentiful in all classes and metals, and very common in some.

TRAJAN, FROM 98 TO 117 a.d.

Marcus Ulpius Trajanus Crinitus was born at Italica, in Spain; he was adopted by Nerva, A.D. 97, as the most worthy to succeed him. He ascended the imperial throne, 98 A.D., and after a glorious reign of nineteen years, died from a paralytic stroke, 117 A.D.

The three coins of the large bronze series described below can scarcely be said to be among the most interesting of the noble series of this glorious reign, as those of high historical interest are so very numerous, but it is believed that they are such as would highly interest a young collector. The first no doubt refers to the defeat of the Dacian Prince Decebalus, who destroyed himself on the fall of his capital; the reverse of which records the assumption of the honourable title Optimus Princeps conferred upon Trajan by the senate. The obverse bears an animated portrait of the emperor, with part of a rich robe thrown over his left shoulder. It has the inscription IMP(eratori) CAES (ari) NERVAE TRAIANO AVG(usto) GER(manico) DAC(ico) P(arthico) P(ontifici) M (aximo) TR(ibunitia) P(otestate) CO(n) S(uli) v. P(atri) P(atria): "to the best Emperor Cæsar Nerva Trajan Augustus Germanicus Dacicus, High Pontiff, (exercising) the tribunitian power." The type of the reverse is the emperor on a richly caparisoned horse, who is darting a javelin at a prostrate enemy, who, from bearing the Dacian cap and trousers, may probably represent Decebalus; it has the legend s(enatus)

P(opulus) Q(ue) R(omanus) OPTIMO PRINCIPI: "the Roman Senate and people to the best Prince."

The next refers to the important historical events related by Dio, in the passage where, describing Trajan's arrival at Ctesiphon, he says, "he assembled the Romans and Parthians, and formally placed the diadem upon the head of Parthamaspates, thus conferring a sovereign upon the powerful people of Parthia."

The obverse of this remarkable coin has a very expressive laurelled portrait of Trajan, with the robe thrown over his shoulders, and the inscription IMP(eratori) CAES (ari) NER (væ) TRAIANO OPTIMO · AVG(usto) GER(manico) DAC(ICO) PARTHICO P(ontifici) M(aximo) TR(ibunitia) P(otestate) CO(n)s(uli) VI. P(atri) P(atriæ): "to the best Emperor Cæsar Nerva Trajan Augustus Germanicus Dacicus Parthicus, High Pontiff, (exercising) the tribunitian power, Consul for the sixth time, father of the country."

The type of the reverse is the emperor seated in a curule chair, with a military prefect standing beside him; the former is crowning a king, who is received by a kneeling personification of Parthia. The legend is REX PARTHIS DATVS: a king given to the Parthians." On the exergum is S(enatus) C(onsulto): "by decree of the Senate.”

The next example relates to the dedication of the famous Forum, the superb column in which, once supporting the statue of the Emperor, is still perfect, although St. Peter has displaced the imperial Roman on its summit.

The obverse has a laurelled portrait of Trajan, with the shoulders covered by the pallium, and the inscription IMP(eratori) CAES (ari) NERVAE TRAIANO AVG(usto) GER(manico) DAC(ico) P(ontifici) M(aximo) TR(ibunitia) P(otestate) CO(n)s(uli) VI. P(atri) P(atriæ): "to the Emperor Cæsar Nerva Trajan Augustus Germanicus Dacicus, High Pontiff, (exercising) the tribunitian power, Consul for the sixth time, father of the country."

The type of the reverse is a very elegant edifice adorned with sculpture, columns, and the trophies of war; it has, like the generality of Trajan's coins, on the reverse, S(enatus) P(opulus) Q(ue) R(omanus) OPTIMO PRINCIPI: "the Roman Senate and people to the best Prince." It has also in the

exergum, FORVM TRAIANI S(enatus) C(onsulto): "the Forum of Trajan; by decree of the Senate."

The coins of Trajan, of every size and metal, are easily obtainable, except such as bear significant reverses, and some of the coins of former reigns restored by him, which are highly prized.

Of the portraits of the imperial family placed on the coinage in this reign, those of Plotina, the virtuous and excellent empress, hold the first place. They are all, however, rare, both of Roman, colonial, and Greek mintage, the most remarkable being that with the appropriate compliment, ARA PVDICITIAE, inscribed on an altar.

The portrait of Marciana, the sister of the emperor, is found on coins, the inscription being SOROR. IMP(eratoris) TRAIANI: the sister of the Emperor Trajan." This coin is much sought by collectors.

There are also coins (the genuineness of which is disputed) bearing the portrait of Matidia, the daughter of Marciana.

HADRIAN, FROM 117 TO 138 A.D.

Publius Ælius Hadrianus was a Spaniard by birth, being the son of Hadrianus Afer, the cousin of Trajan. He was married to Sabina, the grand-daughter of Marciana, who was there. fore the grand-niece of Trajan. Hadrian was born in A.D. 76, he succeeded Trajan, A.D. 117, at the age of forty-one; and after a prosperous reign of twenty-one years, died at Baiæ in 138 A.D., at the age of sixty-two.

The coinage of this reign is one of the most important for number, variety, and art, of any in the whole Roman series, and it would be impossible to convey a just idea of it in the confined limits of the present volume. The following descrip tion of a few of the fine large bronze will, however, suggest the interest and importance of the general series.

The first example relates to the cancel of the old debt of the state, by the emperor, out of his own funds; which amounted to nine million sestertii.

The type of the obverse of this coin is a bold characteristic bust of Hadrian, laureated; it has the inscription IMP(erator) CAES (ar) TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG(ustus) P(ontifex) M(aximus) TR(ibunitia) P(otestate) CO(u)s(ul) II.: