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- Nerva Roman Coins (96 – 98 AD)
- Trajan Roman Coins (98 – 117 AD)
- Hadrian Roman Coins (117 – 138 AD)
- Aelius Roman Coins (136 – 138 AD)
- Sabina Roman Coins (Died 136 AD)
- Antoninus Pius Roman Coins (138 – 161 AD)
- Faustina I Roman Coins (138 – 141 AD)
- Faustina II Roman Coins (Died 175/6 AD)
- Marcus Aurelius Roman Coins (161 – 180 AD)
- Lucius Verus Roman Coins (161 – 169 AD)
- Lucilla Roman Coins (164 – 169 AD)
The period between the accession of Nerva and the death of Marcus Aurelius is often referred to as the ‘High Point of Empire’ or ‘The Golden Age of Rome’. The Empire certainly reached its maximum size during this period and enjoyed many decades of wise and stable government under the Adopted Emperors. Rome’s power seemed impregnable; her authority undisputed in Western Europe and the Mediterranean. However, the beginning of this era was very different. Marcus Cocceius Nerva, who became emperor in the aftermath of Domitian’s assassination in AD 96, feared a repeat of the civil wars which followed the death of Nero 28 years earlier. Nerva avoided potential army rebellions by appointing the popular general, Marcus Ulpius Traianus, as his heir. This action diffused army opposition to the death of Domitian and secured Nerva’s position. The practice of adopting the best man as successor was thus established; Trajan, in turn, adopted Publius Aelius Hadrianus (Hadrian), who adopted Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus (Antoninus Pius), and Marcus Aelius Aurelius Verus (Marcus Aurelius). Unfortunately, the successor of Marcus Aurelius was his son, Commodus, who proved a tyrant and megalomaniac. His assassination on New Year’s Eve AD 192 began a new round of internal strife and civil war. James R. Wadman B.A., M.A. [History and Archaeology] for TimeLine Originals.
