The Westbury Sub Mendip Hoard Nerva AD 96-98 Silver Denarius

Nerva AD 96-98 Silver Denarius

16mm, 3.48g

This coin is part of the Westbury Sub Mendip hoard of 188 Roman silver denari, found during 2016 by a metal detectorist, the hoard was subject of an archaeological excavation and was declared Treasure under The Treasure Act. With no museum wishing to acquire the coins they were returned to the finder and made available to private collectors by us. View https://www.silburycoins.co.uk/hoards-and-research/the-westbury-sub-mendip-hoard/ for more information.

Nerva was born around AD 30 in the Umbrian hill town of Narnia. He became a distinguished lawyer as well as being a close friend to the emperor Nero. He was fortunate that this was not detrimental to his future career and he went on to hold 2 consulships under the Flavian emperors. Although he was implicated in the plot to assassinate Domitian he was immediately elevated to the throne.
Nerva made an inspired choice in appointing the most general of the day, Trajan, as his heir. Although Nerva only reigned for sixteen months he instigated a number of popular reforms and brought stability back to the administration. His coinage is of interest as some of his reforms are commemorated especially on the sestertius.
Nerva was considered to be the first of the five good emperors who ruled during the period when the empire was at the zenith of its power.