No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
Some Historical Roman Coins of the First Century A.D.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 September 2012
Extract
Obv. Head of Caligula, bare, r. c caesar avg germ p m tr pot cos.
Rev. Head of an Emperor, radiate, r. Star, 1. and r. in field.
No legend.
av. 8; 119 gr. B.M.
Struck at Lugdunum, A.D. 37, soon after the accession of Caligula (March 18th)—the first issue of the new reign. The features of the Emperor on the rev. are those of Tiberius, as seen on coins of about the years A.D. 22–23. Other specimens of this aureus show features which suggest Augustus rather than Tiberius and, in the next issue, this rev. type gives place to a radiate head r. without stars and with legend ‘divvs avg pater patriae.’
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © H. Mattingly 1920. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies
References
page 37 note 1 The radiate crown of the Sun God was first given to ‘divus Augustus’ and remained thenceforward the characteristic sign of the ‘divus.’
page 37 note 2 At Rome; not in the Empire at large.
page 38 note 1 The ‘IVPPITER CUSTOS’ type was struck in gold and silver at Rome from A.D. 65 to A.D. 68: it probably referred directly to Nero's escape from the conspiracy of Piso.
page 38 note 2 The worship of ‘Ζεὺς ελευΘέριος’ goes far back into Greek history; it is found after the defeat of the Persians in 479 B.C., after the expulsion of the tyrant Thrasybulus from Syracuse in 466 B.C., above all, after the deliverance of Sicily by Timoleon (cp. coins of Agyrium, Eryx, Syracuse.)
page 38 note 3 Henderson, G., Nero, p. 391 ff, p. 495Google Scholar (notes); Zeitschrift für Num. 1890, p. 180 ffGoogle Scholar; Sydenham, , Coinage of Nero, p. 126Google Scholar; Berliner phil. Wochenschrift, Jan. 26, 1889, pp. 106–7.Google Scholar
page 38 note 4 Letronne, , Inscr. grecques et latines d'Egypte, i, p. 143Google Scholar.
page 39 note 1 Normally, of course, only as one or other, not as both. Only the evidence of coins is considered here.
page 39 note 2 e.g. the rev. legend LIBERI IMP GERMANICI.
page 40 note 1 Mommsen's demonstration of the legality of the appointment of an Emperor by the soldiers is really meaningless to the plain man.
page 40 note 2 The restoration of the obv. is uncertain: the usual Roman title is ‘A VITELLIUS GERM (A, AN, ANICVS) IMP AVG P M TR P.’
page 40 note 3 The coins with similar rev. quoted by C. 108, 109 have been tooled and have no value as evidence.
page 40 note 4 e.g. on denarii of Julia Domna and Caracalla.
page 40 note 5 ‘Urbs’ under the Empire certainly denotes Rome ‘par excellence’: but it can stand for any important town. Cp. rev. legends of the period: ROMA RENASCENS, ROMA RESURGENS, ROMA RESTITUTA.
page 41 note 1 The mint of Lugdunum, which issued large quantities of brass under Nero and Vespasian, appears to have been entirely inactive under Galba. It resumes activity, but not with any vigour, under Vitellius.