Hi Nicholas,
Looking through the
BMCRE volumes (which cover
Augustus to
Pupienus), there appears to be some reference to "
Pontifex Maximus" for most of the
Roman Emperors covered, but not all of them.
To answer your question, I can see it for
Claudius,
Vitellius and
Nero, but not for
Galba, or
Caligula (other than a "PON" in the
legend of a
quadrans at
BMCRE 79). Later, I definitely cannot see it for
Gordian II, or
Pupienus amongst others.
Assuming I am correct above and have not missed something, the reasons why is probably best left to someone like
Curtis Clay to answer.
For now, here is an example of a
Vitellius denarius which I acquired a few days ago. According to
Mattingly,
Vitellius was elected
Pontifex Maximus on 18 July in 69 AD, 3 months after being recognised as
Roman Emperor on 19 April. The
Pontifex Maximus is closely associated with the worship of
Vesta.
Vitellius,
Rome mint, 69AD, A
VITELLIVS GE[RM
IMP]
AVG TR P,
head of
Vitellius, laureate, right / [PO]NT MAXIM,
Vesta, veiled, draped, seated right on throne, holding
patera in right hand and
sceptre in left ,18.27mm, 3.2g, 6h,
BMCRE I 34-37;
RIC I 107;
RSC 72;
SRCV I 2200
Peter
