"While the emperor was tarrying in Antioch a terrible earthquake occurred" — Cassius Dio, Epitome of book LXVIII, referring to Trajan.

atural disasters are very disturbing events. If they are large enough, there are many deaths and much relief work is needed. People elsewhere become more fearful that it will happen to them. Perhaps, afterwards, coins were struck to send messages to the population. Here are a couple of possibilities that relate to earthquakes.

The reverse of a denarius of Trajan showing Jupiter protecting the emperor.

assius Dio gives a very graphic description of the terror of the earthquake experienced by the emperor Trajan, the deaths, and the miraculous survivors. Many distinguished Romans had gathered in Antioch to gain access to Trajan while he spent the winter of 114-115 CE there, so the quake affected the whole of Roman society. But the emperor survived. He exited his room through a window. Dio says "Some being, of greater than human stature, had come to him and led him forth, so that he escaped with only a few slight injuries" — and this denarius, struck a year later, shows Jupiter with Trajan under his protecting arm.

The reverse of a denarius of Gordian III showing Jupiter protecting the emperor.

It seems very likely that this was supposed to send the message that Jupiter's protection of the emperor was very real, and to reassure the population accordingly.

lthough that particular coin probably referred to the earthquake, the same type was used by other emperors without the need for any specific disaster; for example, Macrinus, Severus Alexander, Gordian III.

The antoninianus on the left was struck by Gordian III in 238-239 CE, and shows the new young emperor under the powerful protection of Jove the Preserver – IOVI CONSERVATORI, as the dedication in the legend says. This was probably intended to help establish the new ruler in his position.

The reverse of a denarius of Hadrian showing Tellus cultivating grain.

RIC IV notes that on some of these coins, the emperor is carrying a flower in the attitude of Spes, personification of Hope; a typical reference to the expectations which would be fulfilled during a new reign. These coins might also be making the point that that the emperors were supreme under Jupiter, the chief god of the Romans, and the thunderbolt he carries awaited their enemies.

he legend on this denarius of Hadrian from 133 CE, TELLVS STABIL, refers to the stability of the earth, so, like Trajan's coin, it has been conjectured that it might have some reference to the aftermath of an earthquake. Hadrian was known to have provided disaster relief for at least one quake, in Nicomedia, which had been shaken shortly before he arrived there for the winter of 123-124. But that was long before this coin was issued.

The less romantic truth is more likely to be that it was a simple tribute to the stability of his reign. Tellus, a personification of The Earth, is shown holding a rake and a plough, with corn growing alongside; the bountiful earth, the simple necessity of a stable empire.