Roman

Provenance

European private collection, mid-20th century
UK private collection

Literature

Iustitia (Justice) appears on Roman coins holding a similar set of Trutina (balance scales), however the symbolic value of these scales also retained an association with money and commerce. From the mid-first century AD emperors began minting coins with the goddess Aequitas Augusti, meaning the equity and fairness of the emperor. The personification was to emphasise their intent to administer the monetary system of the Roman empire with impartiality in the interests of the people. The Flavians particularly used this symbolism on their coins, to emphasise the restoration of balance in the Roman economy after the corruption and extravagance of Nero's rule and the civil wars that followed his death. The proposed combination of Aequitas with Roma and Victoria, the personification of Victory, seems appropriate possibly to commemorate Vespasian's victory and accession as Emperor, thus ending the civil war of AD 69, the Year of the Four Emperors.