DOI issue:
Artykuły/Articles
DOI article:Okoński, Mateusz: Images of Central European "externae gentes" in Trajan's Monetary Iconography and Their Role in the Propaganda of the Imperial Era
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57341#0110
MATEUSZ OKOŃSKI
108
in their genesis to republican issues on which defeated people were represented
by portraying the leader of the enemies.78 The motif of the Roman rider attacking
a barbarian also became popular during the wars with barbarians in the second
half of the second and in the third centuries. Examples of such coins are issues
from the times of Marcus Aurelius, with a portrait of Lucius Verus on the obverse
and an interesting combination of characters on the reverse, as well as coins of
Caracalla, Geta or Probus.79 This type of image was present in Roman coinage
until the 4th century.80 Therefore, this motif appeared over a broad time spectrum
and was quite popular for several hundred years of the existence of the Roman
state, and was always associated with the military achievements of rulers. Another
theme that appeared in Trajan’s coinage were the images of a woman (personifying
Dacia) sitting in a mourning pose on a shield or a pile of weapons. Similar images
in which the motif of a distressed woman occur (depicted alone or with a male
companion) also occurred before Trajan’s time. Examples of such coins are issues
struck during Cesar’s campaign in Gaul,81 or the one issued by Vespasian and Titus
to celebrate their triumph in the Jewish war.82 Domitian’s coins with depictions of
Germania have already been mentioned. This motif also appeared later, although
not only in relation to Central European barbarians, but also eastern ones. For
example, Marcus Aurelius issued coins with the image of a seated and crushed
Armenia.83 The same emperor issued coins with a depiction of a defeated Germania
during the Marcomannic Wars.84 This type of image is also neither solely unique
nor characteristic for the time of Trajan. In the Best Emperor coinage an important
role, along with images of barbarians, was also played by Roman deities - Victor,
Pax, Mars or the personification of Rome, Roma herself. This motif also cannot
be considered to have been a Trajan innovation, although some specified forms
were unique and stood out from the issues of other rulers in his time. That group of
characters also had its roots in the republican era and occurred with varying intensity
during the empire. Let us briefly discuss the coins on which individual deities were
depicted, beginning with Victoria.
78 OSTROWSKI 1985: 66. Republican coins of this type include C. Fundanus quinarius minted in 91 BC
with the image of Teutobodus, the leader of the Teutons (BMCRR 16691703).
79 Cf. RIC III 545, 549, 567; ibidem 1405, 1406, 1407 (here this scene symbolizes fighting in Armenia);
RIC IV 108, 113, 155, 155; ibidem 64B, 68, 72: RIC V 818, 819, 877, 878.
80 Among others on coins of Constans, Constantius II and usurpers of Decentius and his brother Magnentius.
81 RCV 1405.
82 Vespasian, for example: RIC II 134, 163, 164, 165, 166, 233, 234. Titus, cf.: RIC II 57, 145-153, 184,
185, 186, 369, 500, 501.
83 RIC III 501, 505, 506, 609, 526.
84 Ibidem 1023-1027.
108
in their genesis to republican issues on which defeated people were represented
by portraying the leader of the enemies.78 The motif of the Roman rider attacking
a barbarian also became popular during the wars with barbarians in the second
half of the second and in the third centuries. Examples of such coins are issues
from the times of Marcus Aurelius, with a portrait of Lucius Verus on the obverse
and an interesting combination of characters on the reverse, as well as coins of
Caracalla, Geta or Probus.79 This type of image was present in Roman coinage
until the 4th century.80 Therefore, this motif appeared over a broad time spectrum
and was quite popular for several hundred years of the existence of the Roman
state, and was always associated with the military achievements of rulers. Another
theme that appeared in Trajan’s coinage were the images of a woman (personifying
Dacia) sitting in a mourning pose on a shield or a pile of weapons. Similar images
in which the motif of a distressed woman occur (depicted alone or with a male
companion) also occurred before Trajan’s time. Examples of such coins are issues
struck during Cesar’s campaign in Gaul,81 or the one issued by Vespasian and Titus
to celebrate their triumph in the Jewish war.82 Domitian’s coins with depictions of
Germania have already been mentioned. This motif also appeared later, although
not only in relation to Central European barbarians, but also eastern ones. For
example, Marcus Aurelius issued coins with the image of a seated and crushed
Armenia.83 The same emperor issued coins with a depiction of a defeated Germania
during the Marcomannic Wars.84 This type of image is also neither solely unique
nor characteristic for the time of Trajan. In the Best Emperor coinage an important
role, along with images of barbarians, was also played by Roman deities - Victor,
Pax, Mars or the personification of Rome, Roma herself. This motif also cannot
be considered to have been a Trajan innovation, although some specified forms
were unique and stood out from the issues of other rulers in his time. That group of
characters also had its roots in the republican era and occurred with varying intensity
during the empire. Let us briefly discuss the coins on which individual deities were
depicted, beginning with Victoria.
78 OSTROWSKI 1985: 66. Republican coins of this type include C. Fundanus quinarius minted in 91 BC
with the image of Teutobodus, the leader of the Teutons (BMCRR 16691703).
79 Cf. RIC III 545, 549, 567; ibidem 1405, 1406, 1407 (here this scene symbolizes fighting in Armenia);
RIC IV 108, 113, 155, 155; ibidem 64B, 68, 72: RIC V 818, 819, 877, 878.
80 Among others on coins of Constans, Constantius II and usurpers of Decentius and his brother Magnentius.
81 RCV 1405.
82 Vespasian, for example: RIC II 134, 163, 164, 165, 166, 233, 234. Titus, cf.: RIC II 57, 145-153, 184,
185, 186, 369, 500, 501.
83 RIC III 501, 505, 506, 609, 526.
84 Ibidem 1023-1027.