step four money talks exercise
EXPLORING REVERSE DEPICTIONS OF OCTAVIAN/AUGUSTUS ON COINAGE
Before further analysis, I would like you to try your hand at writing your own numismatic catalogue entry (i.e. full coin description) for each of these coins.
See Figures 1-5 here.
What type of leadership role is being represented on each coin?
We have discussed the meaning of the legend CAESAR DIVI F(ilivs). What does the praenomen imperatoris mean? Although Octavian was officially granted this title by the Senate only in 29 BC, already by 38 BC an obverse coin legend reads IMP CAESAR DIVI IVLI F.
Although Figs 1-3 are indeed overtly militaristic, notice that there are slight differences in Octavian’s role. Can you expand on these subtleties and what led you to your conclusions (e.g. the employment of some iconographic attribute on one coin, but not on the other)?
OCTAVIANIC/AUGUSTAN OBVERSE PORTRAITS AND TITLES
See Figures 11-14
Octavian/Augustus appears bare-headed, laureate, or wearing an oak wreath. Many of the coins we’ve discussed so far are bare-headed or laureate. FIG.11 shows an obverse portrait of Augustus wearing an oak wreath.
*When does he start wearing an oak wreath? Why? (hint: refer to 8a in Settlementof28-27BC-Sources.pdf)
After Drusus’ untimely death in 9 BC, Tiberius went on to Germany and was again victorious. He earned his second imperatorial acclamation and his first triumph in 8 BC which was then celebrated in 7 BC. Some bronze coins minted in Rome in 7 BC refer to Tiberius’ triumph. Mattingly calls these bronzes “victory coinage.” The obverse depicts the laureate head of Augustus, sometimes with a globe at the point of neck truncation, crowned by Victory behind, bearing a cornucopia in her left hand (FIG.12).
Why do you think Augustus is being celebrated here for Tiberius’ triumph?
Many Augustan coins bear the obverse legend PONT MAX after he became Pontifex Maximus in 12 BC and the title of PATER PATRIAE which was awarded to him by the Senate and the people of Rome in 2 BC. For instance, PONT MAX is seen on asses minted in Lugdunum c. 12-after 10 BC (FIG.13). PATER PATRIAE is seen on aurei and denarii also minted in Lugdunum from 2 BC to AD 9 (FIG.14).
Why are these two titles significant?
FURTHER READING
Sear, D. (1998) The History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators 49-27 BC, London, 250-265.
Salmon, E. (1956) ‘The evolution of the Augustus’ principate’, Historia 5: 456-478.
Lacey, W.K. (1996) Augustus and the Principate: The Evolution of the System, Leeds.
REVERSE TYPES WITHOUT IMAGES OF OCTAVIAN/AUGUSTUS THAT REFLECT AUGUSTUS’ LEADERSHIP
Figs. 6-10
What do the crocodile and the AEGYPTO CAPTA legend refer to on FIG.6? How does this coin type reflect Augustus’ leadership?
What does the title Augustus mean? What do each of the three images on the reverse of FIG.7 stand for, and how does this reverse type reflect the so-called First Settlement of 27 BC (hint: refer to Settlementof28-27BC-Sources.pdf)?
Why does Augustus emulate Numa on FIG.8? Why do you think that Romulus does not appear on Augustan coinage despite the fact that Augustus clearly associated himself with both Romulus and Numa? What does the title of tribunicia potestas mean on Augustus’ obverse portrait?
FURTHER READING
Győri, V. (2013) ‘Augustus and Numa: the asses of 23 BC’, in Rosati, G. and Labate, M. (eds.) La costruzione del mito augusteo, Heidelberg, 89-108.
NUMAVG.pdf
NUMAVGimages.pdf
What is the significance of the Capricorn and the legend SIGNIS RECEPTIS on FIG.9a ?
What temple is represented on FIG.9b? How do these two coin types reflect Augustus’ leadership?
We will look more closely at the theme of SIGNIS RECEPTIS and the temple of Mars Ultor in the following units.
FURTHER READING
Győri, V. (2014) ‘The Aurea Aetas and Octavianic/Augustan Coinage’, in Lopez, C. (ed.), Les 2000 ans de la mort d'Auguste (Revista Numismática OMNIN.8), Spain, 36-55.OMNI8_V13.pdf
Rich, J.W. (1998) ‘Augustus’ Parthian honours, the temple of Mars Ultor, and the arch in the Forum Romanum’, PBSR 66: 71-128
Why do you think Rome was in a “better and more tranquil state” in 16 BC on FIG.10 (hint: What Roman “victory” occurred in 20 BC? What significant religious event took place in Rome in 17 BC?)?
OCTAVIANIC/AUGUSTAN OBVERSE PORTRAITS AND TITLES
See Figs. 11-14
Octavian/Augustus appears bare-headed, laureate, or wearing an oak wreath. Many of the coins we’ve discussed so far are bare-headed or laureate. FIG.11 shows an obverse portrait of Augustus wearing an oak wreath.
When does he start wearing an oak wreath? Why? (hint: refer to 8a in Settlementof28-27BC-Sources.pdf)
After Drusus’ untimely death in 9 BC, Tiberius went on to Germany and was again victorious. He earned his second imperatorial acclamation and his first triumph in 8 BC which was then celebrated in 7 BC. Some bronze coins minted in Rome in 7 BC refer to Tiberius’ triumph. Mattingly calls these bronzes “victory coinage.” The obverse depicts the laureate head of Augustus, sometimes with a globe at the point of neck truncation, crowned by Victory behind, bearing a cornucopia in her left hand (FIG.12).
Why do you think Augustus is being celebrated here for Tiberius’ triumph?
Many Augustan coins bear the obverse legend PONT MAX after he became Pontifex Maximus in 12 BC and the title of PATER PATRIAE which was awarded to him by the Senate and the people of Rome in 2 BC. For instance, PONT MAX is seen on asses minted in Lugdunum c. 12-after 10 BC (FIG.13). PATER PATRIAE is seen on aurei and denarii also minted in Lugdunum from 2 BC to AD 9 (FIG.14).
Why are these two titles significant?
FURTHER READING
Salmon, E. (1956) ‘The evolution of the Augustus’ principate’, Historia 5: 456-478.
Lacey, W.K. (1996) Augustus and the Principate: The Evolution of the System, Leeds