Tiberius, 14-37 CE
The stepson that was never good enough eventually got the big job because Augustus couldn’t find anyone better. Betrayal, murder, and cunning of an ambitious mother paved the way for Tiberius to inherit the Roman Empire.
The man was a good General and shoudl get credit for being fiscally responsible as well. Tiberius did not waste away the accumulated wealth the empire on lavish parties and hopeless ego driven projects, as the next emperor Gaius would pursue.
Tiberius’s later years seemed to be mostly driven by jealously and anxiety about subordinates planning to kill him. He certainly had good cause to be paranoid and though a series of trials he purged the senate, nobles, and most of his friends of “traitors”. The state of affairs at the end of his time opened the door to the short cruel and disastrous rein of Gaius, Son of Germanicus.
Denarius, Rome Mint, 20mm, 3.61 grams
Obverse: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, Laureate head of Tiberius right.
Reverse: PONTIF MAXIM, Livis as Pax seated right on chair with ornate legs holding scepter ad olive branch.
Tribute Penny, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”