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Roman Coins – Mass Media for Image Cultivation

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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. 1 von 20 www.sunflower.ch 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. 2 von 20 www.sunflower.ch 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. 3 von 20 www.sunflower.ch 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. 4 von 20 www.sunflower.ch 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. 5 von 20 www.sunflower.ch 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. 6 von 20 www.sunflower.ch 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 --- 7 von 20 www.sunflower.ch 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. 8 von 20 www.sunflower.ch 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). 9 von 20 www.sunflower.ch 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.
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