Ancient Coins: The Julio-Claudians

The Julio-Claudians were a dynasty of Roman emperors who ruled from 27 BCE to 68 CE. The dynasty was founded by Augustus, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, and included his successors Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero.

During the Julio-Claudian period, Roman coinage underwent significant changes. The early coins of Augustus continued the tradition of depicting the heads of Roman gods and goddesses on one side and images of military victories or imperial achievements on the other. However, as the dynasty progressed, the emperors began to place their own portraits on the coins, alongside images that celebrated their own achievements and military conquests.