Nerva              96 - 98 A.D.

Nerva's career as emperor ended less than two years after his accession to the throne. Up to that point he had been a long-time central politician under the various emperors before him, particularly Domitian and Nero. However, he started off as emperor under a precarious relationship with the army which rightly suspected him of being involved in the conspiracy against Domitian. He made things right in their eyes by presenting them with an embarrassingly apologetic speech and appointing Trajan as his successor. Trajan was at the time an admired general engaging the Germanic tribes. He died in 98 following a stroke and afterwards Trajan forced the Senate to consecrate him.

Obv-IMP NERVA CAES AVG PM TR P COS II Laureate head right. Rev-LIBERTAS PVBLICA Libertas standing left with pileus and scepter.	Obv-IMP NERVA CAES AVG PM TR P COS III PP Bare head right. Rev-AEQVITAS AVGVST SC Equity standing Right.