Ancient Coin of the Day: A lovely aureus of Vespasian from AD 70, celebrating the restoration of peace to the Roman world. Following fighting in the streets of Rome itself in AD 69, advocating 'Peace' would be a key Vespasianic focus. #ACOTD #Vespasian
Image: RIC Vespasian 1130
Image: RIC Vespasian 1130
That being the 'restorer of peace' was to be a key aspect of Vespasian's imperial persona is unsurprising, and he had a ready precedent in the actions of Augustus following his own victory in a civil war.
Josephus tells us of the hunger of the Roman people for peace, and their enthusiasm for Vespasian, as they "...believed that they could now finally be freed from their sufferings and could again enjoy their former peace and prosperity" (Jewish War 7.66).
But this coin does not allow us to forget what would maintain Vespasian's peace - the threat of retribution. Hence on the Reverse, it is Nemesis holding a caduceus over a serpent which is surrounded by the Legend PACI AVGVSTI - 'To the Peace of Augustus'.
This very much fitted with a Roman view of their role as arbitrators of the world. Pliny (Natural History 27.3) notes that he feels the gods "have given the Romans as a second source of light for the affairs of human beings."
Thus it may well be better to speak not of a 'Roman Peace', but rather a 'Roman Pacification', as indicated by Vespasian's closing of the doors of the Temple of Janus to mark 'peace' following his Jewish Triumph (Orosius, 7.9.8-9). #ACOTD #Vespasian
Image: RIC 2.1 Vespasian 1127
Image: RIC 2.1 Vespasian 1127
