Notae Numismaticae - Zapiski Numizmatyczne (11.2016)

RECENZJE / REYTEWS

produced in Romę, but this specific aspect would cali for further, and morę
thorough, research. However, the policy of centralized production underwent
a change during Hadrian’s reign. Among other problems subject to consideration,
let us mention the names of individual denominations and the ąuantities
of the minted silver coinage in the respective periods. The name drachmai is featured
in inscriptions from that period, while denarii were in circulation throughout
the territories of the Roman Empire, except for Egypt. The information on the silver
coinage finds is generał and only given for some of the provinces; bibliographical
references are included. The silver coinage is distinguished in regards to individual
provinces or centres, with the most important details and characteristic nominał
units being provided. A morę problematic ąuestion is the bronze coinage and its
individual denominations, for these coins possess no uniform system distinguished
by diameter and weight values. The materiał used for production comprised bronze,
lead bronze, and brass. Some of these coins tend to repeat the pattem of minting
production employed in the Flavian period. The volume offers an interesting
view of bronze coinage as based on the individual provinces of the period.
This part is also supplemented with an appendix focusing on comparative analyses
of the silver content yielded in the process of various examinations as well as
the usage of diverse methods such as X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis, Atomie
Absorption Spectrometry, or Fast Neutron Activation Analysis.
The following chapter deals with the imagery and legends appearing on
Roman provincial coinage. The obverses depicted images of emperors or other
members of imperial families. A notable exception is the portrait of Antinous, who
was not related to the emperor’s family. His image was featured on provincial
coins struck by about thirty-one mints in Greece, Asia Minor, and Egypt.
The principal depictions would also include local worship characteristics,
architecture, the origins of the cities, emperors’ visits, and the connections between
particular municipalities. For the most part, they continued the imagery from
the Flavian period. Coupled with other archaeological sources or epigraphic
evidence, these depictions enable us to attempt a certain reconstruction of the
local history and traditions. The legends on the coins were written in Fatin, Greek,
or both. Some of those coins would be countennarked (for instance, in Cyprus).
Chapter 4 of the generał introduction is concemed with the ąuestions of
control and the minting activity in the provinces. During Emperor Trajan’s reign,
most probably in AD 107, the minting reform was carried out, but except for smali
modifications in the ąuantity of the silver coins from Antioch (perhaps due to some
local reasons), there is no sufficient evidence that the reform was implemented
at the provincial level. Determining the amounts of particular coins issued in
the reigns of Nerya, Trajan, and Hadrian is difficult. During Nerva’s reign, minting