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DOI article:Boruch, Wojciech: The language of propaganda of the year of the four emperors in the light of imperial coinage
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22229#0067
THE LANGUAGE OF PROPAGANDA OF THE YEAR OF THE FOUR EMPERORS...
degree, on numismatic sources, as the importance of money as a unique source of
information has been appreciated for a long time. Its value has been recognized by
several modem researchers, who have devoted their time and effort to a detailed
analysis of coins, their obverses and reverses* 9. Money rnust be considered as a very
important source of knowledge about the history of the Roman Empire. Apart from
its economic and commercial function, thanks to which it was able to reach all
corners of the Empire, it was a carrier of ideological, political, and sometimes also
military ideas. In the ancient world it functioned as a universal mass medium.
The materiał represented on Roman coinage from the years AD 68-69 is en-
tirely different from that observed earlier, especially during the reign of Nero10.
The approaching changes are already signaled in the so-called anonymous coinage11
assigned to Vindex12 and Galba, which is original in its content, i.e. inscriptions
Franęaise de Numismatiąue, 40, 1985, p. 590; J. B. HAINSWORTH, “Verginius and Vindex”, Historia, 11, 1962,
pp. 86-96; R. ALSTON, Aspects of Roman History, AD 14-117, London and New York 2006, pp. 145- 165.
9 From the enormously extensive literaturę on the subject (methodology of numismatic research), for the
above see, for instance: C.H.V SUTHERLAND, “The Intelligibility of Roman Imperial Coin Types”, Journal
of Roman Studies, 49, 1959, pp. 46-55; C.H.V SUTHERLAND. Roman History and Coinage 44 BC-AD 69,
Oxford 1987; M.P. CHARLESWORTH, “The Virtues of a Roman Emperor: Propaganda and the Creation of Be-
lief’, Proceedings of the British Academy, 23, 1937, pp. 105-133; M. GRANT, “Roman Coins as Propaganda”,
Archeology 1952, pp. 79-85; G.G. BELLONI, “Significati storico-politici delle figurazioni e delle scritte delle
monete da Augusto a Traiano (Zecche di Roma e ‘imperatorie’)”, Aufstieg und Niedergang der rómischen Welt.
Geschichte und Kultur Roms in Spiegel der neueren Forschung, II, 1, Berlin-New York 1974, pp. 997-1144;
D. MANNSPERGER, „ROM.ET.AUG. Die Selbstdarstellung des Kaisertums in der rómischen Reichspragung“,
Aufstieg und Niedergang der rómischen Welt. Geschichte und Kultur Roms in Spiegel der neueren Forschung, II, 1,
Berlin-New York 1973, pp. 919-996. Polish books on the subject include: L. MORAWIECKI, „Propagandowe
aspekty mennictwa starożytnego”, Wiadomości Numizmatyczne, 24, 1980, pp. 1-21; W. KACZANOWICZ, As-
pekty ideologiczne w rzymskim mennictwie lat 235—284 n.e., Katowice 1990, especially pages 7-35; A. KUNISZ,
« La propagandę de Fideologie monarchiąue sur les monnais romaines du ler siecle de n.e. », Actes du colloąue
International sur Fideologie monarchiąue dans Fantiąuite. Cracovie-Mogilany, du 23 au 26 octobre 1977, War-
szawa-Kraków, 1980, pp. 135-141; A. KUNISZ, „Program Klodiusza Macera, przywódcy powstania w Afryce
w 68 r. n.e.”, A. KUNISZ (ed.) Studia z dziejów starożytnego Rzymu, Katowice 1988, pp. 39-64; A. KUNISZ,
„Rola źródeł numizmatycznych w badaniach nad ideologią i propagandą w państwie rzymskim”, Rzym antyczny.
Polityka i pieniądz, 1, Katowice 1993, pp. 54-67; S. SKOWRONEK, „Pewne aspekty propagandy politycznej na
monetach Aleksandrii egipskiej”, Wiadomości Numizmatyczne, 10, 1966, pp. 144-152; S. SKOWRONEK, On the
Problems of the Alexandrian Mint. Allusion to the Divinity of the Sovereign Appearing on the Coins of Egyptian
Alexandria in the Period of the Early Roman Empire: lst and 2nd Centuries A.D., Warszawa 1967; B. LICHOCKA,
„Monety a propaganda. Funkcje monet w Cesarstwie Rzymskim”, Mówią Wieki, 19, 1976, pp. 1-5; B. LICHOC-
KA, Justitia sur les Monnais Imperiales Romaines, Warszawa 1974. The metrological aspects of minting in the
years 68-69 are discussed, for instance, in: K.W. HARL, Coinage in the Roman Economy, 300 B.C. to A.D. 700,
Baltimore and London 1996, pp. 91-92; see also: R. DUNCAN-JONES, Money and Government in the Roman
Empire, Cambridge 1994, p. 201; cf.: C.H.V. SUTHERLAND, The Roman Imperial Coinage, vol. I revised edition:
From 31 B.C. to A.D. 69, London 1999, pp. 217, 220-221, 257-258, 262-263 (later RIC2 voł. 1).
10 See recent work: R. WOLTERS, Nummi Signati. Untersuchungen zur rómischen Miinzprdgung und Geld-
wirtschaft, Miinchen 1999, pp. 266-308, especially 270-271 and 298.
11 The anonymous coins assigned to Galba - RIC2, vol. 1 (CW) Nos. 1-36; the anonymous coins attributed
to Vindex - RIC2, vol. 1 (CW) Nos. 37-80. Cf. MARTIN, Die anonymen Milnzen...; RIC2, vol. 1, pp. 197-200;
SUTHERLAND, Roman History and Coinage..., pp. 103-106 and 109-111; R.A.G. CARSON, Coins of the Ro-
man Empire, London-New York 1990, pp. 19-20; A. KUNISZ, Mennictwo w Cesarstwie Rzymskim w I wieku n.e.,
Katowice 1978, pp. 99-101; KRAAY, “The Coinage of Vindex and Galba...”, pp. 129-149.
12 For the revolt led by Vindex see morę in BRUNT, “The Revolt of Vindex...”, pp. 531-559; and HAINS-
WORTH, “Yerginius and Vindex”, pp. 86-96. As regards his coin making activities see KRAAY, “The Coinage of
degree, on numismatic sources, as the importance of money as a unique source of
information has been appreciated for a long time. Its value has been recognized by
several modem researchers, who have devoted their time and effort to a detailed
analysis of coins, their obverses and reverses* 9. Money rnust be considered as a very
important source of knowledge about the history of the Roman Empire. Apart from
its economic and commercial function, thanks to which it was able to reach all
corners of the Empire, it was a carrier of ideological, political, and sometimes also
military ideas. In the ancient world it functioned as a universal mass medium.
The materiał represented on Roman coinage from the years AD 68-69 is en-
tirely different from that observed earlier, especially during the reign of Nero10.
The approaching changes are already signaled in the so-called anonymous coinage11
assigned to Vindex12 and Galba, which is original in its content, i.e. inscriptions
Franęaise de Numismatiąue, 40, 1985, p. 590; J. B. HAINSWORTH, “Verginius and Vindex”, Historia, 11, 1962,
pp. 86-96; R. ALSTON, Aspects of Roman History, AD 14-117, London and New York 2006, pp. 145- 165.
9 From the enormously extensive literaturę on the subject (methodology of numismatic research), for the
above see, for instance: C.H.V SUTHERLAND, “The Intelligibility of Roman Imperial Coin Types”, Journal
of Roman Studies, 49, 1959, pp. 46-55; C.H.V SUTHERLAND. Roman History and Coinage 44 BC-AD 69,
Oxford 1987; M.P. CHARLESWORTH, “The Virtues of a Roman Emperor: Propaganda and the Creation of Be-
lief’, Proceedings of the British Academy, 23, 1937, pp. 105-133; M. GRANT, “Roman Coins as Propaganda”,
Archeology 1952, pp. 79-85; G.G. BELLONI, “Significati storico-politici delle figurazioni e delle scritte delle
monete da Augusto a Traiano (Zecche di Roma e ‘imperatorie’)”, Aufstieg und Niedergang der rómischen Welt.
Geschichte und Kultur Roms in Spiegel der neueren Forschung, II, 1, Berlin-New York 1974, pp. 997-1144;
D. MANNSPERGER, „ROM.ET.AUG. Die Selbstdarstellung des Kaisertums in der rómischen Reichspragung“,
Aufstieg und Niedergang der rómischen Welt. Geschichte und Kultur Roms in Spiegel der neueren Forschung, II, 1,
Berlin-New York 1973, pp. 919-996. Polish books on the subject include: L. MORAWIECKI, „Propagandowe
aspekty mennictwa starożytnego”, Wiadomości Numizmatyczne, 24, 1980, pp. 1-21; W. KACZANOWICZ, As-
pekty ideologiczne w rzymskim mennictwie lat 235—284 n.e., Katowice 1990, especially pages 7-35; A. KUNISZ,
« La propagandę de Fideologie monarchiąue sur les monnais romaines du ler siecle de n.e. », Actes du colloąue
International sur Fideologie monarchiąue dans Fantiąuite. Cracovie-Mogilany, du 23 au 26 octobre 1977, War-
szawa-Kraków, 1980, pp. 135-141; A. KUNISZ, „Program Klodiusza Macera, przywódcy powstania w Afryce
w 68 r. n.e.”, A. KUNISZ (ed.) Studia z dziejów starożytnego Rzymu, Katowice 1988, pp. 39-64; A. KUNISZ,
„Rola źródeł numizmatycznych w badaniach nad ideologią i propagandą w państwie rzymskim”, Rzym antyczny.
Polityka i pieniądz, 1, Katowice 1993, pp. 54-67; S. SKOWRONEK, „Pewne aspekty propagandy politycznej na
monetach Aleksandrii egipskiej”, Wiadomości Numizmatyczne, 10, 1966, pp. 144-152; S. SKOWRONEK, On the
Problems of the Alexandrian Mint. Allusion to the Divinity of the Sovereign Appearing on the Coins of Egyptian
Alexandria in the Period of the Early Roman Empire: lst and 2nd Centuries A.D., Warszawa 1967; B. LICHOCKA,
„Monety a propaganda. Funkcje monet w Cesarstwie Rzymskim”, Mówią Wieki, 19, 1976, pp. 1-5; B. LICHOC-
KA, Justitia sur les Monnais Imperiales Romaines, Warszawa 1974. The metrological aspects of minting in the
years 68-69 are discussed, for instance, in: K.W. HARL, Coinage in the Roman Economy, 300 B.C. to A.D. 700,
Baltimore and London 1996, pp. 91-92; see also: R. DUNCAN-JONES, Money and Government in the Roman
Empire, Cambridge 1994, p. 201; cf.: C.H.V. SUTHERLAND, The Roman Imperial Coinage, vol. I revised edition:
From 31 B.C. to A.D. 69, London 1999, pp. 217, 220-221, 257-258, 262-263 (later RIC2 voł. 1).
10 See recent work: R. WOLTERS, Nummi Signati. Untersuchungen zur rómischen Miinzprdgung und Geld-
wirtschaft, Miinchen 1999, pp. 266-308, especially 270-271 and 298.
11 The anonymous coins assigned to Galba - RIC2, vol. 1 (CW) Nos. 1-36; the anonymous coins attributed
to Vindex - RIC2, vol. 1 (CW) Nos. 37-80. Cf. MARTIN, Die anonymen Milnzen...; RIC2, vol. 1, pp. 197-200;
SUTHERLAND, Roman History and Coinage..., pp. 103-106 and 109-111; R.A.G. CARSON, Coins of the Ro-
man Empire, London-New York 1990, pp. 19-20; A. KUNISZ, Mennictwo w Cesarstwie Rzymskim w I wieku n.e.,
Katowice 1978, pp. 99-101; KRAAY, “The Coinage of Vindex and Galba...”, pp. 129-149.
12 For the revolt led by Vindex see morę in BRUNT, “The Revolt of Vindex...”, pp. 531-559; and HAINS-
WORTH, “Yerginius and Vindex”, pp. 86-96. As regards his coin making activities see KRAAY, “The Coinage of