Four Emperors
Changing dynasty

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The Julio-Claudian dynasty which produced five emperors beginning with the reign of Augustus Caesar in 31 BCE, concluded following the emperor Nero's suicide in 68 CE. As Nero left no heir, the empire was left wondering who should succeed to the throne. Writing with the aid of hindsight, Tacitus in his "Histories" asserts that this unprecedented situation "had divulged a secret of state: an emperor could be made elsewhere than at Rome." [1] What followed proved a wonderful illustration of Tacitus' point: the infamous "Year of Four Emperors" had begun, in which Roman legions dispersed throughout the empire each vied to win their commander the prestigious title of Roman Emperor. Emperors were proclaimed in Spain, Germany, and as far east as Judaea. Military might had replaced lineage as a requisite for imperial ambition. By examining Vassar College's own ancient coin collection, we are able to view history through a unique medium. The coinage of the "military emperors" - Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian - highlight the civil strife Romans underwent during this turbulent period, though often indirectly. The significance of coin types is still quite open to interpretation. However when viewed in conjunction with ancient sources, implicit meanings begin to reveal themselves, providing an insight into what Romans expected of an emperor - a respite from civil warm, a yearning for the stability of hereditary succession and a seamless feeling of continuity.

[1] Tacitus, I.4.