,'',' " " ' '! 1001 M87+ /Go) fintTf CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ^ f W' * Cornell University Library CJ1001 .M87 + Twelve Caesars (Julius to Domitian), ill 924 029 792 458 olin Overs DATE DUE h±K f bv THE COINS OF THE Twelve Csesars B.C. 48 to A. D. 96. - X • ^ KNISHT fc LEONARD, PRINTERS, CHICAGO. £>3 < Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029792458 — THE TWELVE OAESAES (JULIUS TO DOMITIAN) ILLUSTRATED BY READINGS OF TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN OF THEIR COINS AND MEDALS. BY ROBERT MORRIS, LL.D., Secretary to the American Association op Numismatists; Correspondinq Member of The American Numismatic and Archaeo- logical Society, New York; The Boston Numismatic Society, Boston, Mass.; The New London Historical Society, New London, Conn., etc., and Editor of "The Numismatic Pilot." 'Eizidsi^arl \ioi dr/vapcov. fc jfe" A series of a ruler's coins is his life digested into annals.—Addison. Ancient coins provide its the means to promote the advancement of art among ourselves.— Winslow Lewis. The study of Scripture, as of all ancient annals, is promoted by cotemporary coins. They breathe new life through the sacred pages.- -Morris. Every fragment of history, every consonance and similarity of names, acquires new meaning under the searching light of coins.— The study of ancient coins, as compared with that of statues, columns and pyramids, is the use of the microscope in place of the telescope.— Coins are the most enduring, the most vocal monuments of antiquity.—Molt. I prize numis- matics both for the knowledge, and the grand recollections it involves, as well as the pure pleasure it inspires. In this occupation I forget the annoyances of human intercourse, the meanness, envy and calumny of rivals. Absorbed in such researches I pass my life in tranquillity, far from the tempests of the world and the insatiable ambition of men who esteem themselves great. Chevalier Riccio. LA GRANGE, KENTUCKY: PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR. 1877. — '. INTRODUCTION. This first attempt to introduce the science of an- but little more than the office of the money-changer. cient Numismatics into American study is respectfully A correct set of labels, and care in replacing the bits commended to all who prize the accuracy of history, of money in their proper nooks, and the work of such and would encourage home enterprise in a new and a teacher is done. With him, ancient coins are but expensive effort. It consists in supplying sets,— one curiosities, his cabinet but a museum of rarities. each,— of the original coins of The Twelve Caesars, Modern Numismatics, it may be observed, differs toto (Julius to Domitian, b.c. 48 to a.d. 96,) with scientific coslo from ancient; the latter alone, in any elevated "readings" of them, and of the accurate engravings sense of the term, is historical. An American or English of 217 more. Thus the privilege may be enjoyed here, coin, for instance, has nothing upon it to suggest the as it is by students abroad, of looking face to face year in which it was struck, save the figures express- upon those who have long occupied niches in the tem- ing the date; if they are abraded the date is lost. ple of History; of reading, in type and legend, the Nor is it of the least importance whether lost or found, religious aspirations of remote ages; of handling Ro- because it has no connection with any event that oc- man monuments that were old when civilization in curred the year of its coinage. To look for national other lands was new; and finally, of making good history in the issues of our mint, we must inspect advances in the science of Numismatics itself. To be Medals instead of coins. Coins now-a-days, in ever}r able to read these coins under sure instruction, so country, are but coins, bits of metal stamped by the that each letter and character yields its meaning, as sovereign power for purposes of traffic. But these it did to Greek and Roman eyes eighteen centuries coins, of which sets of twelve each are now offered to since, is an advance in Numismatic study worthy the American readers of history, were not only representa- beginning of a new century in American annals. tives of value, mediums of traffic, and marked as such The manner in which every coin, and each of the by the fingers of the millions whom, so many centu- 217 engraved coins, is "read," in the following pages, ries since, they faithfully served, but they correspond leaves but little call for an introduction. The Obverses with the modern idea of Medals, inasmuch as each one and Reverses supplement each other in making clear is a leaflet of history, one moiety being upon the the historical meaning of the monuments, and so, "show- Obverse, the other upon the Reverse of the monu- ing forth a knowledge which touches as well upon the ment. Vero dulce atqtte jucundum, hastens one of small as the great estates of men." Let it be borne the oldest college presidents in our country to say, in mind that historical Numismatics does not subsist " has been his study of these twelve coins and these 217 merely in explaining the coins; that is the less intel- engraved representatives of as many more by the light lectual business of the coin-dealer. But to make the of the exact and laborious readings, furnished in this monument give tongue,— to render it vocal, so to monograph." speak, in enriching history with those precious details " If we cast an eye over the whole circle of the productions of human genius, perhaps we shall that constitute its light and warmth,— this is the work per- ceive none of such grand importance and utility to of the true Numismatist, and herein lies the secret of mankind as history. Most of the other efforts of the the enthusiasm germane to the vocation. mind only interest individuals as such; but history, when executed with philosophic candor and propriety, It is here that American teachers— those who at concerns and instructs whole empires, indeed the whole much expense and trouble have provided themselves universe. By it, statesmen and states are taught, from the example of former and other nations, and that with genuine coins,— have halted and lost sight of of their own in preceding times, to propagate measures aim of the the real Numismatics. To describe coin is that contribute to the general welfare, and to guard INTRODUCTION. against evils which are often unforeseen, and in con- ficient variety necessary to due advance in coin-read- sequence not warded off, only because they are not ing. As it is, we are borne out in our opinion by known to have existed in ancient periods, nor the methods investigated which then prevented or miti- all who have gone over these pages, that a careful gated them. But the very basis of history is truth; comparison of our twelve coins and the 217 engrav- without which the causes of human action, nay the far to actions themselves, are disguised, and the instructions, ings, together with the letter-press, will go so arising from the narration, totally lost, or converted make one expert in the art of reading Greek and into an empty chimsera. Now the sole evidence we Roman coins, that future progress will be compara- can have of the veracity of a historian consists in such collateral documents as are palpable to all, and can tively swift and easy. admit of no falsification. Such, in modern times, are Loth to lay down the pen, we add, and the reader public memoirs, instructions to embassadors, letters of state, and the like vouchers, which every person allows will pardon us for repeating it,— that one of the to be irrefragable." greatest pleasures derived from the handling of ancient To these we may add, in the highest and noblest coins, is that they bring us en face with historical per- sense, historical coins. sons. They present themselves to us as entire mon- The art of reading Greek and Roman coins is a rare uments. With an original coin in legible condition, gift among American teachers. The quaint forms and the argument is complete. Statues, columns, pyramids, crowded state of the letters, the excessive abbreviations suffer from the ravages of barbarian force and the of words necessary to compress so much matter within inimical touch of time. Paintings are too ephemeral the limit, and the absence of punctuation-points, have for mention in this connection. But the 7netal, the rendered these monuments sealed pages to the most. dense heavy bronze particularly, which was the peo- In choosing 217 engraved models' for the make-up of ple's money, most abundant, most vocal with types, is this work, therefore, we have rather sought variety "faithful to its trust"; and the courtly poet at Rome, type of than elegance of workmanship. This will be fondly contemplating the immortality of his genius, apparent in inspecting, upon page 32, the coin-cuts could promise himself nothing better than that his of Nero. Nothing would be easier than to select from verses should be more enduring than the bronze coins his numismata in the three metals, elegant specimens lying before him that spoke the glory of Caesar and of numismatic art. But they would fail to afford suf- the beneficence of Augustus. V I N DE X. It is impracticable to make a thorough index to a work embodying so many details as this, nor will it be looked for.