DOI article:
Jellonek, Szymon: Roman foundation myths on colonial coinage
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49247#0111
ROMAN FOUNDATION MYTHS ON COLONIAL COINAGE
the plough (RPC III 2805) (Pl. 1, Fig. 4). In Ptolemais, in turn, it was the founder
Claudius who was depicted during the age of Nero (RPC I 4749) (Pl. 1, Fig. 5) and
that of Hadrian (RPC III 3912). In both these cases, there can be no doubt as to the
identity of the depicted figure, for the reverse is accompanied by the legend DIVOS
CLAVDIVS or-in its abbreviated version-DIVO CLAVD.38 InAeliaCapitolina, it
is Hadrian who is standing behind the yoke (RPC III 3964).39 It is likely that emperors
were depicted in other instances on coins of this type; unfortunately, however, dies
of weak artistic quality, the poor state of many of these coins, and the absence of
inscriptions make it impossible to identify them.
It is worth noting that foundation coinages were often the largest and heaviest
of all the coinages struck by a given mint, which no doubt bears testimony to their
great importance. This was the case with regard to the above-mentioned coinages of
Lampsacus and Emerita, but also to that of Berytus, where the foundation type was
used on the largest coinages from Augustus (RPC 14540) to Trajan (RPC III 3833).
It was later replaced by newly introduced types with the temple of Astarte (RPC III
3840) and with Poseidon (RPC III 3847), in this way becoming the third denomination.
In the case of Thracian Deultum, only one of seven dies presenting the priest with
oxen was used for a small denomination.40
An interesting situation took place in Antioch in Pisidia during the age of
Augustus, where three issues were released. Whereas the largest had the foundation
type (RPC 13529), and the one in the middle, two legionary eagles (RPC 13530), the
smallest one depicted the founder with the oxen on the obverse, but like the middle
issue it had, on the reverse, two legionary symbols (RPC I 3531) (Pl. 2, Fig. 13).
This tradition was continued with regard to Antioch all the way to the 3rd century:
among other things, the heaviest denomination during the age of Severus Alexander
weighed about 23 g. The reverses of these denominations depicted the she-wolf, the
emperor galloping, and also the foundation type analyzed above (RPC VI 6580).
The entire iconographic program was closely tied to Romanitas, and it is worth
noting here that the Roman-Italic element was exceptionally strong in Antioch.41
Other colonies with a significant Roman element were ones like Philippi,42
Cremna,43 and Berytus.44 However, in the case of these colonies, the foundation
type went out of use much faster than was the case in Antioch. These coinages were
38 MILLAR 2006: 184.
39 BELAYCHE 2009: 174.
40 DRAGANOV 2007: 101.
41 F1LGES 2015: 43-44.
42 KREMYD1-SICILANOU 2005: 100.
43 FILGES 2015: 45.
44 JONES-HALL 2004: 251; MILLAR 2006: 165.
107.
the plough (RPC III 2805) (Pl. 1, Fig. 4). In Ptolemais, in turn, it was the founder
Claudius who was depicted during the age of Nero (RPC I 4749) (Pl. 1, Fig. 5) and
that of Hadrian (RPC III 3912). In both these cases, there can be no doubt as to the
identity of the depicted figure, for the reverse is accompanied by the legend DIVOS
CLAVDIVS or-in its abbreviated version-DIVO CLAVD.38 InAeliaCapitolina, it
is Hadrian who is standing behind the yoke (RPC III 3964).39 It is likely that emperors
were depicted in other instances on coins of this type; unfortunately, however, dies
of weak artistic quality, the poor state of many of these coins, and the absence of
inscriptions make it impossible to identify them.
It is worth noting that foundation coinages were often the largest and heaviest
of all the coinages struck by a given mint, which no doubt bears testimony to their
great importance. This was the case with regard to the above-mentioned coinages of
Lampsacus and Emerita, but also to that of Berytus, where the foundation type was
used on the largest coinages from Augustus (RPC 14540) to Trajan (RPC III 3833).
It was later replaced by newly introduced types with the temple of Astarte (RPC III
3840) and with Poseidon (RPC III 3847), in this way becoming the third denomination.
In the case of Thracian Deultum, only one of seven dies presenting the priest with
oxen was used for a small denomination.40
An interesting situation took place in Antioch in Pisidia during the age of
Augustus, where three issues were released. Whereas the largest had the foundation
type (RPC 13529), and the one in the middle, two legionary eagles (RPC 13530), the
smallest one depicted the founder with the oxen on the obverse, but like the middle
issue it had, on the reverse, two legionary symbols (RPC I 3531) (Pl. 2, Fig. 13).
This tradition was continued with regard to Antioch all the way to the 3rd century:
among other things, the heaviest denomination during the age of Severus Alexander
weighed about 23 g. The reverses of these denominations depicted the she-wolf, the
emperor galloping, and also the foundation type analyzed above (RPC VI 6580).
The entire iconographic program was closely tied to Romanitas, and it is worth
noting here that the Roman-Italic element was exceptionally strong in Antioch.41
Other colonies with a significant Roman element were ones like Philippi,42
Cremna,43 and Berytus.44 However, in the case of these colonies, the foundation
type went out of use much faster than was the case in Antioch. These coinages were
38 MILLAR 2006: 184.
39 BELAYCHE 2009: 174.
40 DRAGANOV 2007: 101.
41 F1LGES 2015: 43-44.
42 KREMYD1-SICILANOU 2005: 100.
43 FILGES 2015: 45.
44 JONES-HALL 2004: 251; MILLAR 2006: 165.
107.