DOI Heft:
Artykuły/Articles
DOI Artikel:The Roman Imperial Coinage Model for Some Provincial of Bithynia and Pontus Struck During the Reign of Trajan (98-117)
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57341#0130
BARBARA ZAJĄC
128
of elements like the aegis); rather, they came about as a result of the development and
earlier history of the cities.17 Thus, it is necessary to take into account the importance
of the individual elements for the local community, the minting trends of the centre
in question, or, finally, the talent of the engraver producing the dies. However, based
on the titulature that was used or the imperial portrait, it would seem that some
provincial coins were based on imperial coins. Above all, this would have been
a relatively easy way to correctly execute the emperor’s image. Some of the imperial
portraits found on coins from the centres of Bithynia and Pontus could have been
modelled on these imperial issues, bearing in mind the way individual physiognomic
features are represented, not to mention the manner in which the dress is portrayed.18
However, great caution should be exercised in this regard. Very often the portraits
combine different elements of an image or else they reflect the individual style of
the engraver, one that is not present on the portraits from imperial coins.
We can use the imperial titulature on coins (whether imperial or provincial)
to aid us in coming up with a more precise chronology of the individual issues,
thus approximating the earliest point after which they were struck (the so-called
terminus post quern). During his reign, Trajan took on various nicknames, such as
Germaniens (as of 98), Dacicus (in December of 102), Optimus (in June of 114),
and Parthicus (in February of 116), which were also put on coins.19 Paul Strack and,
later, Bernhard Woytek came up with a different method for giving a more precise
date to certain imperial coins issued during the age of Trajan, one that was based
on changes in the portrait (the imperial portrait was also examined by Hill, Etienne,
Rächet, Besombes).20 The features of the image - whether it is more realistic or
more idealized, whether individual characteristics are emphasized and reflected -
made it possible to specify the date of the coins with an accuracy of up to a few
years.21 Thus far, this method has not been used to give a more exact description of
the chronology of individual provincial coins because of the different styles used
by the engravers and the individual character of the portrait.
The coins issued in Bithynia and Pontus also included Trajan’s nicknames,
which enables us to narrow down the chronology of the individual issues further.
It was only on certain coins struck in Apamea, Sinope, and Amisus that the dates or
number of consulships were also added. Separate issues of Sinope have been dated
17 AMANDRY, BURNETT et AL 2015: 843.
18 Later on, the article describes various types of portraits and their characteristic features with respect
to the shape of the head or bust; it also describes the appearance of such elements as the corona radiata or
the paludamentum.
19 AMANDRY, BURNETT et AL 2015: 791; BENNETT 1997 (2015): 25-26; WOYTEK 2010: 18.
20 HILL 1970; ETIENNE and RÄCHET 1984; BESOMBES 2008.
21 STRACK 1931: 26-29; WOYTEK 2010: 55-73.
128
of elements like the aegis); rather, they came about as a result of the development and
earlier history of the cities.17 Thus, it is necessary to take into account the importance
of the individual elements for the local community, the minting trends of the centre
in question, or, finally, the talent of the engraver producing the dies. However, based
on the titulature that was used or the imperial portrait, it would seem that some
provincial coins were based on imperial coins. Above all, this would have been
a relatively easy way to correctly execute the emperor’s image. Some of the imperial
portraits found on coins from the centres of Bithynia and Pontus could have been
modelled on these imperial issues, bearing in mind the way individual physiognomic
features are represented, not to mention the manner in which the dress is portrayed.18
However, great caution should be exercised in this regard. Very often the portraits
combine different elements of an image or else they reflect the individual style of
the engraver, one that is not present on the portraits from imperial coins.
We can use the imperial titulature on coins (whether imperial or provincial)
to aid us in coming up with a more precise chronology of the individual issues,
thus approximating the earliest point after which they were struck (the so-called
terminus post quern). During his reign, Trajan took on various nicknames, such as
Germaniens (as of 98), Dacicus (in December of 102), Optimus (in June of 114),
and Parthicus (in February of 116), which were also put on coins.19 Paul Strack and,
later, Bernhard Woytek came up with a different method for giving a more precise
date to certain imperial coins issued during the age of Trajan, one that was based
on changes in the portrait (the imperial portrait was also examined by Hill, Etienne,
Rächet, Besombes).20 The features of the image - whether it is more realistic or
more idealized, whether individual characteristics are emphasized and reflected -
made it possible to specify the date of the coins with an accuracy of up to a few
years.21 Thus far, this method has not been used to give a more exact description of
the chronology of individual provincial coins because of the different styles used
by the engravers and the individual character of the portrait.
The coins issued in Bithynia and Pontus also included Trajan’s nicknames,
which enables us to narrow down the chronology of the individual issues further.
It was only on certain coins struck in Apamea, Sinope, and Amisus that the dates or
number of consulships were also added. Separate issues of Sinope have been dated
17 AMANDRY, BURNETT et AL 2015: 843.
18 Later on, the article describes various types of portraits and their characteristic features with respect
to the shape of the head or bust; it also describes the appearance of such elements as the corona radiata or
the paludamentum.
19 AMANDRY, BURNETT et AL 2015: 791; BENNETT 1997 (2015): 25-26; WOYTEK 2010: 18.
20 HILL 1970; ETIENNE and RÄCHET 1984; BESOMBES 2008.
21 STRACK 1931: 26-29; WOYTEK 2010: 55-73.