Tiberius
Augustus, A.D. 14-37
Provincial Bronze (AE26)
Spain, Emerita
Obv: TI CAESAR AVGVSTVS PON MAX IMP
Rev: COL AVGVSTA EMERTA - City gate
RPC 42
26mm, 10.9g.
 

Tiberius

The reluctant emperor--sullen, suspicious and secretive--Tiberius spent most of his reign trying to step out of and then hiding back under Augustus' intimidating and humbling shadow. He first tried to convince the Senate to take back some of the "emergency" powers it had granted to Augustus. We they proved unwilling to do this, he ended up leaving most of the chore of governing to his Prefect, the notorious Sejanus, who initiated a reign of terror against all enemies both real and perceived. Hiding from the clamor and conspiracies of Rome, Tiberius chose to remain a recluse on the Isle of Capri for most of his reign, which led to all sorts of scandalous rumors, some of which may actually have been true.

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