Explanation: The bust featured is of Julian the Apostate, the last pagan Roman Emperor. Julian the Apostate was an accomplished military commander who took the position of Emperor after the previous Emperor, fearful of his popularity, attempted to remove him. Departing from the policies of his Christian predecessors, Julian decreed religious freedom for the Empire and restored the pagan temples which had been looted by previous, Christian Emperors. He was a philosopher and a writer who admired the good Emperors of times past and revered the res publica as it was in the early days of the Roman Empire - the Principate.

He was Emperor in a period of the Roman Empire known as the Dominate - a period where the power of the Emperor had become supreme and monarchial. But Julian was a man whose heart laid in a prior age, and he ruled as the early Emperors did - as ‘First Amongst Equals’, arguing for bills to be passed in the Senate and enduring mockery and criticism with wit, not violence. He forgave the onerous back-taxes laid upon the people and reduced the tax rates, and restored the liberty of many Imperial cities, liberating them from the heavy financial and legal yokes laid upon them in the Dominate. He weakened the powerful landlords and bureaucrats and appointed men of the upper middle classes, such as scholars and educated businessmen, to replace the stagnant pseudo-aristocracy of the Dominate. He reformed the bronze currency used by the common people and sought to reduce the bloated court expenses which had risen to an inordinate burden on the treasury ever since the (pagan) Emperor Diocletian came to power almost a hundred years prior.

Unfortunately, either through uncertainty of the security of his position or a lust for glory, Julian embarked on the recurring futile quest of Roman Emperors - an attempt to conquer Persia. Through a series of mishaps, disasters, bad decisions and bad advice, Julian ended up retreating from the Persian capital, and during an ambush by Persian troops, was struck by a javelin while attempting to lead his men. He was in such a rush that he did not put on his armor before rushing to his attacked men, and because of that, died after lingering for three days. He was worshipped as a god by the common people for decades afterwards, despite reigning only two years, showing what draw he had by virtue of his convictions. Rest in peace, Princeps, you were too good for our sinful Late Empire…