Tiberius 14-37 AD - AE Sestertius - RIC-66

Tiberius 14 – 37 AD
AE Sestertius 36-37, Rome
Obv. Empty horse-drawn quadriga r.; its side ornamented with trophy, Victory crowning trophy and captive.
Rev. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST P M TR POT XXXIIX around S C
RIC-66
BMCRE-130
Cohen-67

CNG Keystone Auction 4, Lot 147

The empty Quadriga probably alludes to the action of L. Vitellius against the Parthians, although no decision is known about the attribution of the Signa triumphalia to L. Vitellius. The father of the future emperor had been sent by Tiberius as legatus Augusti pro praetore to Syria, as in Armenia the Parthian king Artabanos III had used his son Arsakes. Lucius Vitellius was extremely successful, not only succeeded in establishing a king of Rome's mercy in Armenia, but also in Parthia himself to install a new king. Artabanos III had to flee to the Scythians.

E. A. Sydenham "Historical References to Coins of the Roman Empire" London, 1968, pp. 37

Not withstanding the fact that Tiberius spent the last six years of his life in seclusion at Capri, he never relaxed his hold of the government of the Empire. When the throne of Armenia became vacant on the death of Zeno (AD 35) an expedition was immediately sent out under L. Vitellius which succeeded in establishing Mithridates, the Iberian, as king of Armenia, and at the same time peace was concluded with Parthia. This successful result was probably the occasion with which the following coin should be connected.