Nerva Denarius Ancient Roman Empire Silver Coin 96AD Fortuna RIC 5

Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG PM TR P COS II P P, Head of Nerva, laureate, right
Reverse: FORTVNA P R, Fortuna seated left, holding corn-ears and sceptre. 
Date: 96 A.D. RIC II Nerva 5 (denarius)
Size: 18mm diameter, 3.29g weight
Composition: Silver

After the assassination of the tyrannical emperor Domitian, Nerva was chosen by the Roman Senate (as a senator himself) to become the new emperor. He was already an elderly man at the time, and was seen as a compromise candidate who could bring stability to the Roman Empire. As emperor, Nerva pursued a policy of reconciliation with the Senate and the people of Rome. He restored civil liberties and abolished some of the more oppressive policies of Domitian's reign. He also instituted a program of land reform to provide more opportunities for poor farmers and veterans. 

The Roman military and Praetorian Guard was unhappy with the Senate's choice of Nerva, and the Guard revolted and forced him to adopt the popular general Trajan as his heir. Nerva died shortly thereafter of natural causes, and Trajan succeeded him as emperor. Nerva was considered the first of the Five Good Emperors, a series of emperors in the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. who presided over a period of relative peace and stability for the empire.