16(12) Roman Coins – Mass Media for Image Cultivation12) Roman... · At the time of the Roman Republic, coins were issued on behalf of the senate by a committee of moneyers. These

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Roman Coins – Mass Media for Image Cultivation Unlike modern coins, Roman money was characterized by an enormous diversity of coin images. This reflected not so much the desire for change, however, but rather an often very purposeful policy of concrete self-interests.

At the time of the Roman Republic, coins were issued on behalf of the senate by a committee of moneyers. These men decided independently what motifs their coins were to bear, and, from the late 2nd century BC, used this liberty often for family propaganda. Later, during the time of the Firs and second triumvirate (60 to 32 BC), coins were issued by several powerful Romans or their adherents. These pieces were not republican any more, but imperatorial, and used mainly for the representation of political dispositions and ambitions. In imperial times finally (from 27 BC), the rulers of Rome were in charge of the issuance of money. Naturally, they used the large Roman coins for the artful conversion of political propaganda and self-manifestation as well.


Roman Republic, L. Caecilius Metellus Diadematur (or Delmaticus), Denarius, 128 BC

Denomination: Denarius Mint Authority: Moneyer Lucius Caecilius Metellus Diadematus

(?) Mint: Rome Year of Issue: -‐128 Weight (g): 3.94 Diameter (mm): 18.0 Material: Silver Owner: Sunflower Foundation This denarius bears on the obverse a traditional motif, the head of Roma, the goddess and personification of Rome, wearing a winged attic helmet; behind her is the mark XVI for the value of 16 asses.

The reverse depicts a goddess driving a biga, a two-horse racing chariot. The driver is holding a scepter and a branch. Underneath the horses is the mint control mark in the form of an elephant's head. The elephant refers to Lucius Caecilius Metellus Diadematus as moneyer of this coin. During the First Punic War (264-241 BC), one of his ancestors had achieved a victory over the Carthaginians; on that occasion, the war elephants of the Carthaginians had been captured and displayed in the ancestor's triumph in Rome.


Roman Republic, C. Fonteius, Denarius, 114 or 113 BC

Denomination: Denarius Mint Authority: Moneyer C. Fonteius Mint: Rome Year of Issue: -‐114 Weight (g): 4.01 Diameter (mm): 23.0 Material: Silver Owner: Sunflower Foundation The Gens Fonteii originated from Tusculum in Latium, a region of Italy. Tusculum was an important centre of the cult of the Dioscuri, the divine twins Castor and Pollux. After the defeat of the Tarquinians at Lake Regillus around 496 (where, as legend had it, the twins plaid a decisive part in the victory of the Romans), Tusculum became an alley of Rome. Around 380 BC, Tusculum received Roman citizenship.

Coins from moneyers of the Gens Fonteii often featured the heads (although sometimes only the caps) of the Dioscuri. On this coin, the heads of the two brothers are represented as a single Janiform head. Gaius Fonteius, the man responsible for this issue, held the office of a moneyer in the years 114 and 113 BC. His name appears in abbreviated form as C. FONT on the reverse, beneath a galley with a captain and rowers at their oars.


Roman Republic, L. Pomponius Molo, Denarius, c. 97 BC

Denomination: Denarius Mint Authority: Moneyer L. Pomponius Molo Mint: Rome Year of Issue: -‐97 Weight (g): 3.95 Diameter (mm): 19.0 Material: Silver Owner: Sunflower Foundation This denarius was minted by Lucius Pomponius Molo. The obverse shows the head of the Greek god Apollo with the inscription L. POMPON. MOLO, an abbreviation of the moneyer's name. The reverse depicts Numa Pompilius, the semi-legendary second king of Rome (c. 715-672 BC), who was believed to have instituted the Roman religious system. He is standing before a lighted altar, about to sacrifice a goat led by a youth.

By Roman belief, Numa improved the Roman calendar by dividing the year into twelve instead of ten months as hitherto. He also established the constitution of the priests, called Pontifices, and founded numerous temples and cults. In later Roma tradition, Numa was deemed as wise legislator and ideal king, and celebrated for his natural wisdom and piety.

Our moneyer's dynasty was the Pomponia family who claimed descent from Pompo, one of the sons of Numa Pompilius.


Roman Republic, C. Mamilius Limetanus, Denarius Serratus, 82 BC

Denomination: Denarius Serratus Mint Authority: Moneyer C. Mamilius Limetanus Mint: Rome Year of Issue: -‐82 Weight (g): 3.87 Diameter (mm): 20.0 Material: Silver Owner: Sunflower Foundation The obverse of this denarius serratus depicts the bust of Mercury, the god of travel, trade and commerce, with a winged cap and a caduceus, a herald's staff. The reverse shows the hero Ulysses, holding his staff and greeting the dog Argus. The inscription C. MAMIL LIMETAN refers to the moneyer.

The design alludes to the moneyer's family claim to be descended from Mamilia, the daughter of Telegonus, who was the son of Ulysses and Circe. According to Greek mythology, Argos was Odysseus' faithful dog; he waited for his master's return to Ithaca for over twenty years and was the only one to recognize Odysseus and to greet him when he finally arrived.


Roman Republic, L. Cornelius Sulla and L. Manlius Torquatus, Denarius, 82 BC

Denomination: Denarius Mint Authority: Imperator L. Cornelius Sulla and Proquaestor L.

Manlius Torquatus Mint: Undefined (Traveling Military Mint) Year of Issue: -‐82 Weight (g): 3.82 Diameter (mm): 19.0 Material: Silver Owner: Sunflower Foundation In 82 BC, the conservative general and politician Lucius Cornelius Sulla seized power in Rome and had himself appointed dictator by the senate. This silver denarius was struck by Sulla as Imperator (82-79 BC) and Lucius Manlius Torquatus as Proquaestor in the very year of the accession to power.

The design on the obverse of the denarius deliberately harks back to that of early Republican coins. With this Sulla wanted to show that he did not intend to overthrow the Republic and to establish a permanent dictatorship. It portrays Roma, the goddess and personification of Rome. The reverse depicts Sulla as Triumphator – as victorious general in a quadriga (a vehicle drawn by four horses), entering the city of Rome in a procession. A flying Victory is approaching, ready to crown him. Below is the inscription L. SVLLA. IM for Lucius Sulla, Imperator.


Roman Republic, Denarius, 56 BC

Denomination: Denarius Mint Authority: Moneyer Faustus Cornelius Sulla Mint: Rome Year of Issue: -‐56 Weight (g): 4.22 Diameter (mm): 19.0 Material: Silver Owner: Sunflower Foundation ---


Roman Republic, Marcus Junius Brutus, Denarius, 54 BC

Denomination: Denarius Mint Authority: Moneyer M. Junius Brutus Mint: Rome Year of Issue: -‐54 Weight (g): 3.73 Diameter (mm): 21.0 Material: Silver Owner: Sunflower Foundation It is unusual for a coin of the Roman Republic to depict two heads – and none of them belongs to a deity. The gent on the obverse is Lucius Junius Brutus, an ancestor of the moneyer of this denarius, who had allegedly been the first consul of the Roman Republic in 509 BC. The reverse illustrates Gaius Servilius Ahala; he was famous for having killed Spurius Maelius, a plotter aiming for tyranny in 439 BC, and thus having saved the republic. The authenticity of both men may be doubted.

Lucius Junius Brutus and Gaius Servilius Ahala were known to every Roman for their fight against autarchy and for their rescue of the republic. Like this our moneyer showed his republican attitude. The image was connected to rumors according to which Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus had the ambition to become dictator of Rome.


Roman Republic, Imperatorial Issue, Gaius Julius Caesar (*100, † 44 BC), Denarius, 49-‐48 BC

Denomination: Denarius Mint Authority: Imperator C. Julius Caesar Mint: Undefined (Traveling Military Mint) Year of Issue: -‐49 Weight (g): 3.9 Diameter (mm): 19.0 Material: Silver Owner: Sunflower Foundation In January of 49 BC, Gaius Julius Caesar and his legions crossed the River Rubicon. This was equal to a declaration of war against Rome, because only three days earlier, the Senate had ordered Caesar to dissolve his army and not to set foot on the Italian Peninsula. Over the following four years, Caesar waged a remorseless civil war against his main enemy Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. He quickly conquered Rome, and then followed Pompey to Spain, where he defeated his enemy's legions.

On this coins Caesar always emphasized the imperium, the highest military power. The obverse of this denarius shows an elephant (Caesar and his legions) trampling down a dragon (the enemy). On the reverse we see priestly symbols. They pointed out that Caesar held the office of Pontifex maximus, the highest Roman priest, and as such had the attention of the gods. Depicted are a dipper (a simpuvium), an aspergillum, a sacrificial axe (securis), and a priestly cap (apex).


Roman Republic, L. Hostilius Saserna, Denarius, 48 BC

Denomination: Denarius Mint Authority: Moneyer L. Hostilius Saserna Mint: Rome Year of Issue: -‐48 Weight (g): 4.13 Diameter (mm): 19.0 Material: Silver Owner: Sunflower Foundation The conquest of Gaul was a milestone in the career of Gaius Julius Caesar. It granted him the backing of the army, prestige in front of the people and, above all, huge amounts of valuable booty like gold, slaves, and livestock. All this could easily be transformed into chinking coins so convenient for bribery, and thus for Caesar's future.

This denarius broadly announces Caesar's triumph over the Gauls. The obverse shows the disheveled head of a Gallic warrior with a Celtic shield behind him. The reverse depicts a biga driven by a charioteer and bearing a warrior holding a shield and hurling a spear.


Roman Republic, M. Lollius Palicanus, Denarius, 45 BC

Denomination: Denarius Mint Authority: Moneyer M. Lollius Palicanus Mint: Rome Year of Issue: -‐45 Weight (g): 3.74 Diameter (mm): 19.0 Material: Silver Owner: Sunflower Foundation This denarius, minted in 45 BC by the moneyer Marcus Lollius Palicanus, is an example on how propaganda for a person long deceased and propaganda for a person still alive could be brought in line on coins of the Roman Republic.

On the one hand, the depiction of Libertas on the obverse, and the rostrum on the reverse, commemorate the father of our moneyer, who as a tribune of the people in 71 BC opposed the constriction of plebeian tribunes enforced at that time. On the other hand, our denarius celebrates the most powerful Roman of 45 BC, Gaius Julius Caesar. In March that year, Caesar had ended the Roman Civil War with a victory near Munda in southern Spain, and like this had brought "freedom" back to Rome. After this victory, Caesar was able to return home and govern as dictator. Hence the Battle of Munda eventually led to the end of the Roman Republic.


Roman Republic, Imperatorial Issue, Sextus Pompeius, Denarius, 42-‐40 BC

Denomination: Denarius Mint Authority: Imperator Sextus Pompeius Mint: Undefined in Sicily Year of Issue: -‐42 Weight (g): 3.78 Diameter (mm): 18.0 Material: Silver Owner: Sunflower Foundation This denarius was issued between 42 and 40 BC by Sextus Pompeius. The obverse depicts Sextus' father Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus with a pitcher and a staff. These two items were symbols of the Roman Augurs, a position that Pompey the Great had held.

The reverse shows Neptune, the god of the sea, placing his foot on a prow. On either side are the Katanean brothers, one bearing his father on his shoulders. Neptune alluded to the fact that the Senate had made Sextus Pompey "Praefetus classis et orae maritimae," a "commander of the fleet and the sea coast." In this function he was to secure the shipping of grain to Rome, since he held power over the sea routes to Italy from his position in Sicily. The image of the Katanean brothers stood for Sextus' father, or rather for his son's fidelity towards him. It was a well-known legend in ancient Rome that the two brothers Amphinomos and Anapias had saved their parents lives during an outbreak of Mount Aetna. With this heroic deed, they became a symbol for the Roman virtue of pietas, of duty towards parents, particularly to the father.


Roman Republic, Imperatorial Issue, Octavianus and Marcus Antonius, Quinarius, 40 BC

Denomination: Quinarius Mint Authority: Imperators Octavianus and Marcus Antonius Mint: Undefined in Gaul (Traveling Military Mint) Year of Issue: -‐39 Weight (g): 1.7 Diameter (mm): 15.0 Material: Silver Owner: Sunflower Foundation In the year 40 BC, Octavian (the later Emperor Augustus) and Mark Antony contracted a formal alliance in which they reassured each other of their mutual friendship and assistance. This pact is the topic on our quinarius. The obverse depicts Concordia, the goddess of harmony, while the reverse shows two hands in a handshake. The inscription makes it clear whose hands they are: M. ANTON and C. CAESAR it says. Above the hands is a caduceus, a so-called wand of Hermes; among other things, it symbolized the fusion of conflicting forces in ancient times.


Roman Empire, Tiberius (14-‐37 AD) for Livia Drusilla (58 BC-‐29 AD), Dupondius, 22-‐23 AD

Denomination: Dupondius Mint Authority: Emperor Tiberius Mint: Rome Year of Issue: 22 Weight (g): 14.76 Diameter (mm): 30.0 Material: Bronze Owner: Sunflower Foundation Livia Drusilla, the wife of Emperor Augustus, was Rome's first empress. From a former marriage she had a son, Tiberius, whom Augustus adopted. When Tiberius became emperor, he had three bronze coins issued in honor of his then 80-year-old mother.

The coins depicted a youthful Livia with an idealized Greek profile in the guise of the goddess Justitia. This representation – the personification of a goddess by a woman's portrait – was to have a strong future influence indeed. The design inspired the coinage of modern France as well as of that of the US, and the representation of Helvetia on the Swiss coins also shows a striking resemblance with Livia Drusilla's portrait.

We know from Livia that she, quite flirtatiously, changed her hairstyle several times and also liked to wear wigs made of the much-sought after hair of blond Germanic female slaves. From now on the fashion in Rome was: women style their hair like the empress.


Roman Empire, Nero (54-‐68), As, 64 AD

Denomination: As (Oriachulum) Mint Authority: Emperor Nero Mint: Rome Year of Issue: 64 Weight (g): 9.62 Diameter (mm): 27.0 Material: Bronze Owner: Sunflower Foundation The Roman Emperor Nero was more interested in art than in politics. This preference is clearly expressed on his coins. On the one hand, they are surprising for the variegated and high artistic quality of their motifs. On the other hand, the emperor liked to be depicted as Apollo – as can be seen on this as. Nero went through a lot of time and effort to learn to play the lyre which he is playing on the reverse of this coin.

As much artistic attention was paid to Nero's small change as the more valuable money. Some of the small coins also indicate their value. The digit I on the reverse of this coin distinguishes it as an as.


Roman Empire, Nero (54-‐68 AD), Sesterce, c. 65 AD, Lugdunum

Denomination: Sesterce Mint Authority: Emperor Nero Mint: Lugdunum (Lyon) Year of Issue: 65 Weight (g): 27.22 Diameter (mm): 32.0 Material: Bronze Owner: Sunflower Foundation The Roman emperors paid particular attention to the production of their sesterces. Thanks to their large surface, these coins were ideal for political propaganda. On this piece, Nero demonstrated his successes as pacifier of the Mediterranean.

The reverse depicts the temple of Janus with closed gates. For the Romans this was the sign of peace throughout the empire. Janus was one of the oldest Roman deities, the god of new beginning and the patron of city gates. His temple has not been preserved, yet the coins depict a shrine in the form of a round archway with two gates facing each other on each side. These gates were open in wartime and closed in times of peace – which was not often the case in Roman history, however.


Roman Empire, Galba (68-‐69 AD), Sesterce, 68-‐69 AD

Denomination: Sesterce Mint Authority: Emperor Galba Mint: Rome Year of Issue: 68 Weight (g): 26.83 Diameter (mm): 36.0 Material: Bronze Owner: Sunflower Foundation Galba was appointed to the throne of the Roman Empire in 68 AD. After 14 years under Nero's rule, Rome was close to ruin and collapse. Now, Rome hoped that Galba would be able to reestablish political and economic order.

On his march to Rome and in Rome itself, Galba had coins minted with his portrait to let people know that he had been declared emperor and that he was willing to accept the appointment. However, he was the first of four luckless emperors who ascended the throne in the so-called four-emperor year. Already on January 15 of the year 69, a new emperor was proclaimed and Galba was publicly executed.


Roman Empire, Hadrian (117-‐138), Sesterce, c. 122, Rome

Denomination: Sesterce Mint Authority: Emperor Hadrian Mint: Rome Year of Issue: 122 Weight (g): 27.8 Diameter (mm): 35.0 Material: Bronze Owner: Sunflower Foundation Hadrian was one of Rome's great emperors. He conducted important reform programs and personified the ideal of the optimus princeps. This sesterce shows a very fine portrait of Hadrian.

Hadrian was the first emperor to be depicted with a full beard – and in doing so set a trend, that was maintained until the time of the Severan dynasty (193-235). On his coins, he was depicted with a noble profile, for which his fondness for everything Greek might have been decisive, for his portrait complied with the idealized style of classical Greek art.


Roman Empire, Marcus Aurelius (161-‐180), As, 177 AD

Denomination: As Mint Authority: Emperor Marcus Aurelius Mint: Rome Year of Issue: 177 Weight (g): 11.48 Diameter (mm): 28.0 Material: Bronze Owner: Sunflower Foundation In the fall of 176, Marcus Aurelius returned to Rome from an inspection journey through the east of the empire. On the way he had a narrow escape in a shipwreck. After his arrival in Italy, he had a series of bronze coins struck to pay tribute to the Roman "ars navalis," the art of shipbuilding and navigation. On its stern stands the god of the sea, Neptun, holding a trident and a dolphin.


Roman Empire, Diocletian (284-‐305), Medallion

Denomination: Medallion Mint Authority: Emperor Diocletian Mint: Rome Year of Issue: 290 Weight (g): 32.48 Diameter (mm): 37.0 Material: Billon Owner: Diocletian was one of the great soldier-emperors of Rome. He worked incessantly on reorganizing the gigantic empire. That is why his term is described as "Rome's recovery."

Most important was Diocletian's coin reform: He raised the weight of the gold aureus, introduced a pure silver coin, and created the copper coin follis for daily use on the market.

This monetary system is illustrated on the reverse of this medallion. The three women with their different hairdoes symbolize each one of the three new coins, one made from gold, one from silver, and one from copper.

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16(12) Roman Coins – Mass Media for Image Cultivation12) Roman... · At the time of the Roman Republic, coins were issued on behalf of the senate by a committee of moneyers. These