Roman Coins Research Articles

Architects of Memory: Information and Rhetoric in a Networked Archival Age

Architects of Memory: Information and Rhetoric in a Networked Archival Age

Myth and History in Celtic and Scandinavian Traditions

Myth and History in Celtic and Scandinavian Traditions

Вірменія та Месопотамія в римській східній політиці та ідеології доби Антонінів: проблеми термінології латиномовної традиції

The article is devoted to the analysis of the terminology used by the Latin Roman tradition of the 2nd century CE. The texts associated with coin legends represented the policy of the Roman Empire in the East, in particular in the context of the eastern campaign of Marcus Ulpius Trajan, which ended with the short-term transformation of the territory of Armenia and Northern Mesopotamia into Roman provinces. Not only large texts by Roman authors such as Tacitus, but also small inscriptions on coins were used to characterize the transformation of the territories of Armenia and Northern Mesopotamia into Roman territories. The author offers an original approach to the interpretation of some of the legends found on the issues of Roman coins of the Trajan era and which were associated with attempts to incorporate Armenia and Northern Mesopotamia into the Roman Empire. The formula “IN POTESTATEM P R REDACTAE” finds certain analogies in the texts of the Late Roman Republican era and the time of the Early Empire, which were connected, in particular, with the transformation of Ptolemaic Egypt into a Roman province. In the 2nd century CE the formula was already used to represent the accession of Armenia and Mesopotamia to Rome.The author, unlike A. Kefelian, who proposed to connect the relevant terminology with legal analogies and property rights in the texts of Roman lawyers, offers his own interpretation. The used terms, in his opinion, were connected with the concept of “deditio in potestatem”, which had close ties with the foreign policy aspect of Roman activity, in particular in the East. Coin legends and inscriptions combine two main trends – we can see an appeal both to the victories of the Romans in the East and to the creation of new provinces in the context of the activity of the ruler, in particular through the category of delegated “power of the Roman people” along with “surrender” and “transfer” of certain territories and states under the “power of the people”, the symbolic and actual expression of which in the 1st–2nd centuries CE was connected with the Emperor. The corresponding study of terminological problems is one of the components of the study of the East image in the Western tradition, in particular in the Classical period.

Coinage in the Roman Provinces: the RPC and CHRE projects

Roman coinage forms an astoundingly rich body of material. That applies to coins struck by the centre as much as so-called provincial coinage. The latter can be roughly categorised as 1) coins struck by cities in the east of the Roman Empire, and for the Julio-Claudian period also in the west (in the western provinces, cities stopped issuing coins around the end of Claudius’ reign); 2) coinages issued in the name of federations of cities (koina) or coins celebrating alliances between cities (so-called homonoia-coins); 3) coins struck by ‘friendly kings’; and 4) so-called ‘provincial issues’ — mainly drachms, didrachms and tetradrachms, but also bronzes — that were mostly struck by important mints such as Alexandria, Antioch and Caesarea (in Cappadocia), probably under the supervision of Roman magistrates, to circulate in specific provinces.1

Hellenistic and Roman Gerasa: The Archaeology and History of a Decapolis City. Edited by Achim Lichtenberger and Rubina Raja. Turnhout: Brepols 2020. Pp. xviii + 390. €110. ISBN 978-2-503-58504-8 (paper).

<i>Hellenistic and Roman Gerasa: The Archaeology and History of a Decapolis City</i>. Edited by Achim Lichtenberger and Rubina Raja. Turnhout: Brepols 2020. Pp. xviii + 390. €110. ISBN 978-2-503-58504-8 (paper).

New Finds of Roman Coins from the Przeworsk Culture Settlements in the Nidzica and Szreniawa River Basins / Nowe znaleziska monet rzymskich na osadach kultury przeworskiej w dorzeczu Nidzicy i Szreniawy

The article presents new discoveries of Roman coins made during regular surface surveys on Przeworsk culture settlements located in the northern part of the loess highlands of the Western Lesser Poland region. A total of ten Roman coins were found in five sites, most of them issued during the Antonine dynasty. In almost all cases, they were accompanied by artefacts illustrating the variety of settlement contexts related to monetary finds. The majority of such finds constitute accurate date stamps showing the chronology of the settlement development, which may be an additional argument in the discussion on the influx of Roman coins into the Central European Barbaricum.

On the Search for Damnatio Memoriae on Ancient Roman Numismatic Artefacts. Research Assumptions / O poszukiwaniach damnatio memoriae na starożytnych rzymskich numizmatach. Postulaty badawcze

The article concerns the possibilities and limitations of including numismatic sources in studies of the phenomenon of the condemnation of memory (damnatio memoriae) in ancient Rome. The presented findings show the need for extended analyses that would consider all of the Roman coinage and use statistical modelling, quantitative approaches, and the findings’ archaeological context.

Numismatics & Bibliographic Description: How Rutgers University Libraries Described Coins with MODS

Realia pose challenges when utilizing bibliographic metadata standards. Rutgers University Libraries, in collaboration with Rutgers University’s Classics Department, created a large digital library collection of ancient Roman coins in RUcore, Rutgers University’s Community Repository. RUcore records use Metadata Object Description Standard (MODS) for descriptive metadata and many custom fields. Therefore, it was necessary to adapt numismatic description to fit this structure. During the planning stage of the project, Numismatic Description Standard (NUDS), a numismatic database standard implemented and maintained by the American Numismatic Society (ANS), and VRA Core, an art-centered XML metadata standard created by the Visual Resources Association, provided valuable insights. However, this project faced challenges in terms of interoperability and time constraints that required altering the team’s approach to this unique set of resources in a digital library environment. Key issues were encoding B.C.E. dates in a machine-readable format for optimal searching and browsing, developing local controlled vocabularies, providing subject access to the iconography on coins, and the research-intensive work of metadata description. This article provides “how to” information, as well as a critical analysis of lessons learned and opportunities for improvement as the linked data landscape has changed both bibliographic and numismatic description.

Multi-analytical approach for an archaeometric study on orichalcum coins

Orichalcum is a Cu-Zn based alloy known since the 1st millennium BC. The cementation was the ancient technique used for its production. The PhD project here presented aimed to characterise this alloy and to evaluate its degradation: for this purpose, non-destructive, nano-invasive and destructive techniques were used on a collection of ancient coins issued from the 1st century BC to the end of the 1st century AD. In particular, a multi-analytical approach was used: to investigate the patinas and their corrosive patterns, to study the alloy microstructures and their degradation, to describe the dezincification process and grouping the coins by emission. In addition, quantitative analyses allowed a complete characterization of this ancient alloy. The multi-analytical approach allowed to review the previous theories used for dating samples in orichalcum. This project wanted to contribute to the current knowledge on Roman coinage and to attempt to investigate the mechanisms of corrosive processes affecting ancient alloys.

An unpromising dynastic succession in the third century: Hostilian and Volusian as principes iuventutis on Roman coinage (AD 251)

An unpromising dynastic succession in the third century: Hostilian and Volusian as principes iuventutis on Roman coinage (AD 251)

"Indianisation" of a Roman coin design in Early Historic India: a study of an imitation from the British Museum

Roman aurei and solidi in India led to imitations of gold being produced there of these coins, with a gradual infiltration of indigenous elements observed in the iconography of some examples. An imitation of a Roman aureus, now in the British Museum collection, demonstrates how the Roman coin design was renegotiated to fit an Early Historic Indian cultural landscape. Specifically, the design of the reverse of this specimen finds no prototype in Roman coinage of the times. It must have been a local development, with the Indian craftsman reworking a representation of a female deity known from issues of the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius and adding a temple to it. The Indian form of the building suggests that the figure should be interpreted as a Hindu goddess, possibly Lakshmi, shown in the act of blessing her temple.

A Trajanic denarius from a modern grave in Inowrocław and the possibilities of its interpretation

The article is devoted to the interpretation of a 16th-17th century burial of a woman discovered in Inowrocław, who had a medallion made from a Trajanic denarius (RIC 6) placed around her neck. In one of the publications of this find it was stated that the owner wore the medal because she believed that it depicted the head of St. John the Baptist. According to written sources from the 16th and 17th centuries, the people in Poland called the Roman coins they found Saint John’s heads. In this article, such an interpretation is considered plausible, but it is not the only one. It is also possible that the medal was con sidered a beautiful item no matter what it depicted.

MONEY CIRCULATION OF OLBIA PONTIUS AT THE FINAL STAGE OF CITY’S HISTORY

The aim of the study is to explain the unusually high for provincial city percentage of Roman denarii among the coins of ancient Olbia. Research methodology – principles of science, historicism, objectivity, generalization, historical-genetic and historical-typological. Scientific novelty. Some researchers of Olbia connected the final stage of its history with presence of barbarians, carriers of the Chernyakhiv culture (the second third of 3rd – the beginning of 5th c., the dominant population – the Goths). Other researchers believed that the material culture of the city retains its ancient character to the end. Modern analysis of finds from the late Roman layers of Olbia and its surroundings demonstrates undeniable Chernyakhiv analogies and shows the inclusion of the city in political and economic system of barbarians. The truth of this statement can be verified by comparing the numismatic materials of Chernyakhiv culture and Olbia of Roman times. In the area of this culture within the borders of former USSR, finds of more than 26 thousand Roman coins have been recorded. Coins modern to this culture (3rd – 4th c.) are a minority, and 78,7% are represented by earlier silver denarii of the 1st – 2nd c. The barbarians received these denarii from Rome as military contributions and subsidies or wage to military units. Some coins were put into circulation for internal payments. P. Karyshkovsky made statistical calculations of coins of the 1st – 4th c. from Olbia and found some local peculiarity. Unlike other ancient cities of Northern and Western Black Sea coast, among the Roman and provincial coins found in Olbia, the majority are denarii of the 1st – 2nd c.: 53,5% of finds. However, in Histria city (Western Black Sea Coast) denarii make only 17,3%. The peculiarity of Olbia collection can be explained by the history of this city. After the Gothic conquest (between the late 250s and early 270s), Olbia was reborn as small fortified town, a trade and craft center inhabited by Goth barbarians. The distribution of coin finds from the second half of 3rd to the beginning of 5th c. corresponds to the situation in Chernyakhiv culture. Issues of coins of that time came to its population in small quantities. However, the barbarians owned a large mass of old denarii of 1st – 2nd c. Some of them fall into the cultural layer of Olbia, which creates a false picture of money circulation of the city in early Roman times. The percentage of such denarii in Olbia without the participation of the later “Chernyakhiv” addition should be close to the percentage of denarii in Histria (17,3%). Conclusions. A feature of the money circulation of Olbia in Roman times is relatively large number of finds of denarii of the 1st – 2nd c. This can be explained by the fact that in the third quarter of 3rd c. the city was included into political and economic system of Chernyakhiv culture, where the main currency was the silver denarii of the 1st – 2nd c., which by that time were out of circulation in the Empire. The Olbia collection of Roman coins should be divided into the “Ancient” and “Chernyakhiv” (or “Late Antique”) periods, and the latter, in addition to coins of the second half of 3rd – 4th c., contains most of the denarii of the 1st – 2nd c.

LATE ROMAN COIN FINDS IN UKRAINE: HISTORY OF RESEARCH

Analyzing the published researches by previous researchers of new finds of coins of the different periods we were determining as one of the actual directions of research in the medieval numismatics in Ukraine. Examining the scientific achievements of the Ukrainian numismatists, we have determined a significant gap in the focus of research on the findings of coins of the Western Roman Empire and the territory of Ukraine, in particular, the sporadic conclusions are also published by researchers analyzing the existence of Roman coins in this period. The aim of the study. The main purpose of the article is to discover the historiography of the study of the findings of coins of the Western Roman Empire in the period of the IV – the beginning of the V cent. in Ukrainian historiography. Research methodology. In the process of scientific research of the topic the general scientific methods were used: analytical, chronological, and topographic, as well as special methods: critical, metrological and iconographic. The scientific novelty is that for the first time conclusions of scientific current development of the topography of finds of late Roman coins on the territory of Ukraine were introduced into scientific circulation, some observations on the introduction of these finds into scientific circulation were given.&#x0D; The Conclusions. Most of the finds introduced by numismatists into scientific circulation belong to those found in the nineteenth century, about only part of which are preserved information about their transfer to museum collections. Subsequently, almost the same published finds were re-introduced into scientific circulation, republished in various topographies of finds, somewhat supplemented by new discoveries of coins of the Western Roman Empire. It should also be noted that in most cases the descriptions of the finds contain sufficiently abbreviated and concise information, there are no descriptions of coins, an indication of their varieties, mostly the issuer is indicated, the denomination, less often – the legend is transmitted. It is an unfortunate fact that severely damaged coins are found, the identification of which becomes possible only approximately, and in the topographies of such messages processed by the authors a rather significant number.&#x0D; The most famous treasures and finds of coins, which have been published by a number of authors and mentioned in numerous popular science publications, are the treasure from the village of Laski, the dubious treasure of Roman coins from historical Obolon, the find in the Uspensky and Vydubichi Cathedrals – information about which compilations and all compiled archaeological maps of numismatists during the twentieth century – thus becoming a classic treasures.&#x0D; In modern Ukrainian the numismatics and scientists publishing the findings discovered during the official archaeological professional searches, as well as unauthorized amateur and accidental finds. At the present stage of studying this issue, it is necessary to compile a complete topographic map of the findings of Roman coins of IV-V centuries with their analysis to obtain conclusions on the distribution and existence of these coins in Ukraine. &#x0D; Finds of the Roman gold coins always attract a special and more attention, so there are several separate examples of similar finds in Ukraine, published by scientists. The finds of Roman gold medallions deserve special attention, because each of them is extremely rare. Information on individual numismatic finds in the process of official archaeological exploration with available coins of the Western Roman Empire was published by archaeologists. In ancient times, it was common to use coins as jewelry – giving them a «second life». In the outlined chronological period, the coin finds also differed in a significant number of silver and gold coins with available soldered ears – turned into pendants, neck ornaments. &#x0D; As the prospects of further research we see we see the introduction into scientific circulation and processing of new finds of Roman coins of this period in Ukraine to display the highest quality and complete topographic map.

NEW DATA ABOUT THE HOARDS OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE HRODNA REGION OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

The article provides information on five new locations of Roman coins from the Hrodna region of the Republic of Belarus: three hoards, as well as two collective finds that can be interpreted as parts of hoards. All of them are represented by denarii of the Roman Empire. Only in one of the deposits – from the village of Bačancy – there is a hybrid barbarian imitation of the imperial denarius. Another of the hoards, found near the village of Varanki, contains, in addition to denarii, fragments of cut silver items, which dates to the beginning of the Migration Period, which makes it possible to determine the date of hiding of this complex in the 5th century.&#x0D; All these finds were made in the course of illegal searches and, unfortunately, only one hoard (Bačancy) almost entirely ended up in the museum collection. The rest of the deposits went to private collections, which hinders their detailed study.&#x0D; Along with new finds in the Hrodna region, there are from 9 to 13 hoards of antique coins. Most of them consist of denarii of the Roman Empire (sometimes along with barbarian imitations). Of the other deposits, the most interesting are the hoard of Roman Republican denarii from under the village of Luckaŭliany, a complex of bronze Alexandrian tetradrachms from under the village of Turec and a hoard (?) of perforated aurei from under the village of Ambileŭcy.&#x0D; Most of the hoards of Roman coins from the Hrodna region can be associated with the East Germans (Pszeworsk and Wielbark archaeological cultures), who penetrated into the Neman River basin inhabited by Baltic tribes in the first half of the 1st millennium AD. It is with the Germans that the vast majority of the hoards of Roman Imperial denarii found on the territory of Barbaricum are associated. It is also possible that some of the hoards could have been deposited by the Balts, which are under powerful East German influence.

ON THE QUESTION OF THE BASIC PERIODIZATION OF IMITATIONS OF THE ROMAN IMPERIAL DENARII IN THE CHERNYAKHIV CULTURE AREA: THE CONCEPT OF TWO «WAVES»

Imitations of Roman coins, the findings of which are very numerous and diverse in Ukraine, have already attracted the attention of researchers. The material accumulated over the last two decades, when taking into account its scale and diversity, allows us to state that imitations of Roman coins in the area of Chernyakhiv culture, is an unique and large-scale phenomenon, visible on the imaginary «map» of ancient numismatics. In this context, the growing number of new findings of imitations actualizes the task of more detailed and meaningful categorization of the accumulated material, in order to create a certain integral «canvas» of such a phenomenon as the imitations of Roman coins from the area of Chernyakhiv culture.&#x0D; The article is devoted to the improvement of the existing typology and periodization of imitations of Roman imperial denarii, which were made in the area of Chernyakhiv culture during the II - IV centuries. To solve this problem, the authors proposed and used an analytical scheme, consisting of a set of classification parameters for the typology of imitations of Roman coins in the area of Chernyakhiv culture. The use of this scheme allowed to form «profiles» and to substantiate the presence in the general set of imitations of two large, non-intersecting groups («waves») of imitations.&#x0D; Further analysis allowed to describe and compare these two «waves» of imitation in more detail. It was found that the first «wave» refers to the period of gradual entry of the Roman silver coins into the area of Chernyakhiv culture (II - early III century), which significantly clarifies the common view, according to which all imitations belong to the second half of the III century or even later. The second «wave» of imitations really refers to the second half of the III - early IV century, as it was established in the literature.&#x0D; Thus, the results of the study substantiated a comprehensive approach to the classification of imitations of Roman coins in the area of Chernyakhiv culture and significantly clarified the chronological framework of their production. In the future, the concept of two «waves» and the analytical scheme proposed by the authors may contribute to a more accurate classification and periodization of the whole array of imitations of Roman coins, which were made in the area of Chernyakhiv culture

Non-destructive analyses of copper alloys and silver items from Voitenki. The recycling of metal in Cherniakhov culture

Brooches, belt buckles and other metal objects with a specific design are considered characteristic of Cherniakhov culture. In contrast with well-known typologies, the metal composition of these objects has rarely been investigated. Forty-four artefacts from the settlement and cemetery at Voitenki (east Ukraine) were chosen for metal analysis. The fibulae selected, for example, consist of crossbow tendril brooches, crossbow brooches with a closed catch-plate, brooches with a high catch-plate, and other types. A total of 38 finds were made of non-ferrous metal; for six objects, silver was presumed. The precise metal composition was determined by PIXE (particle-induced X-ray emission) analysis. Based on this method, copper, bronze and brass could be determined as material for the brooches and buckles. The bronze objects were divided into forged bronze and cast bronze; furthermore, mixed material was detected. But these groups and subgroups of metal do not coincide with archaeological types. Crossbow tendril brooches were first of all made of copper, although some consist of bronze or brass. Cast bronze was used for manufacturing some cast types of brooches. The producer probably intentionally selected this material to cast. But on the other hand, it seems that the producer used the material that was available, for example, cast bronze for forged brooches. For silver finds, the PIXE analysis detected a high content of this metal. A comparison of the results with analyses of Roman silver denarii led us to the hypothesis that such Roman coins were used as ‘raw material’ for manufacturing these silver items.

The story of the Serakhovychi hoard

This paper presents the complex history of the hoard of Roman coins found in the Serakhovychi village, Starovyzhivs’kyi district, Volyn’ region, Ukraine in 1935. The hoard's discovery circumstances have never been clarified, while the hoard itself disappeared during World War Two. The ambiguity of discovery details even led to suggestions of the existence of two hoards and several versions of discovery. One version references the elusive J. Pasternak card index but proved uninformative. It is likely that the card index only recorded the basic fact of the discovery. Another version is based on A. Cynkałowski’s account which includes a wealth of fascinating details that were never verified. This account tells of a dugout boat that contained a leather purse or bag with silver coins and amber pieces. Another version of the discovery circumstance is presented by the documents held at the National Archaeological Museum, Warsaw. It lists silver belt fittings or horse bits and coins among the finds. There is no mention of amber, although the museum obtained the hoard only a year after its discovery and after some of its elements were already given away to private individuals. An invaluable aspect of the hoard’s discovery is provided by a participant of these events, who describes her account of events and the find's composition. This first-hand account allows a reconstruction of the discovery circumstances, and the process of the hoard's transition to the museums, and to clarifies the identity and roles of the people that participated in these events. Analysis of all accounts allows for the identification of the exact discovery location and identification of the hoard as a mixed assemblage of coins and jewellery. The available information suggests that the A. Cynkałowski's account is based on a tale fabricated by a person who was not an eyewitness to the events and took it upon himself to embellish the story. This made-up version entered the local folklore and exists to this day. Key words: Serakhovychi, hoard, Roman coins, J. Pasternak, A. Cynkałowski.

Rimske kovanice iz depoa Muzeja Sarajeva sa lokaliteta Aquae S... / Roman Coins from the Museum of Sarajevo depot from site of Aquae S...

The paper presents an analysis of Roman coins from site of Aquae S... deposited in the Muzej Sarajeva. Of the 69 coins presented in this paper, 41 could be analysed fully, 6 could be only partially analysed due to reduced legibility, while the rest of the coins, namely 22, could not be analysed. From the coins that could be analysed 2 were dated to the 1st century AD, 6 to the 2nd century AD, 16 to the 3rd century AD, and 17 to the 4th century AD. Following types of coins were observed: 1 denarius, 6 sestertius, 1 quadrants, 12 antonianus, 20 AE coins and 1 siliqua. Another two coins could potentially be identified as sestertius, but their identification is not certain due to their poor condition.

Silver isotope and volatile trace element systematics in galena samples from the Iberian Peninsula and the quest for silver sources of Roman coinage

Abstract Silver played a key role in the progressive monetization of early Mediterranean civilizations. We combine Pb and Ag isotopes with volatile trace elements (Bi, Sb, and As) to assess whether, during the Roman occupation of Iberia, galena constituted a significant source of silver. We find that the Pb and Ag isotopic compositions of 47 samples of galena from eight different Iberian mining provinces, many of them exploited during Roman times, are uncorrelated. This indicates that their respective isotopic variabilities depend on different petrogenetic processes. Moreover, the range of Ag isotopic abundances is approximately six times wider than that displayed worldwide by silver coins in general and Roman silver coins in particular. Although galena from the Betics provides the best fit for Pb isotopes with Roman coins, their fit with Ag isotopic compositions is at best sporadic. We suggest that, together with Sb, Bi, and As, silver is primarily derived from fluids boiled off from differentiated mantle-derived magmas. These fluids, in turn, reacted with preexisting galena and functioned as a silver trap. Lead sulfides with ε109Ag of ~0 and unusually rich in Ag, Sb, Bi, and As were the most probable sources of ancient silver, whereas samples with ε109Ag departing significantly from ~0 reflect low-temperature isotopic fractionation processes in the upper crust.