DOI issue:
Artykuły/Articles
DOI article:The Roman Imperial Coinage Model for Some Provincial of Bithynia and Pontus Struck During the Reign of Trajan (98-117)
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57341#0138
BARBARA ZAJĄC
136
on any of the issues of Bithynia and Pontus during the time of Domitian.88 This
same image has been found on coins of Heraclea Pontica struck in two different
denominations during the reign of Trajan.89 Because this centre was located on
the coast, there is nothing strange about the fact that this motive is to be found on
these coins. The representation is rather standard for both imperial and provincial
coins. During the age of Domitian, Poseidon was represented with a dolphin and
a trident on the coins of Roman colonies like Corinth or Patras and on those from
the local centre in Dorylaeum.90 During the reign of Trajan, images of Poseidon
were used on coins from Corinth, Magnetes, Rhodes, Dorylaeum, Aradus, and
Alexandria;91 however, it was not always the same iconographic type that was used.
The coins from Heraclea with a representation of Poseidon were not modelled on
imperial coins but referred to a certain universal and well-known iconographic
tradition. Moreover, coins with this representation already appeared in Heraclea
during the reign of Claudius.92 During the reign of Trajan, the mint in Tium also
issued coins with the image of Poseidon93 but in a different iconographic type than
the representations on the coins of Heraclea. Interestingly enough, the obverse
showed the emperor with a radiate crown; the denomination is somewhat reminiscent
of a Roman dupondius, though it seems to be lighter (26 mm, 8-11 g).
On the smallest denominations (17 mm, 4-6 g) of imperial coins (perhaps
semisses) issued between 80 and 82, we can see a representation of a poppy head
between crossed cornucopiae.94 During the reign of Domitian, this exact same
iconographic type was not used on coins from Bithynia and Pontus but only one
that was very similar. On coins issued in Nicomedia, Tium, and Calchedon, we can
see representations of a poppy head between two corn ears; these coins were of
a denomination similar to the imperial coins.95 During the reign of Trajan, probably
only one series of coins with this image was issued, perhaps by the mint in Nicomedia
(coins without an ethnicon).96 It is worth noting that some iconographic types only
88 No coins in Bithynia and Pontus with this iconographic type have thus far been found.
89 RPC III 1174: 23-24 mm, 14 15g; RPC III 1170: 19-21 mm, 4-6 g.
90 Corinth RPC II 138, 182 (standing figure of a deity); 139-141, 150, 188-191 (sitting figure of a deity);
142-143, 192-193 (deity in biga); 148 (foot on rock); 183-187; 149 (foot on dolphin); Patras on a rock 244-246;
Dorylaeum RPC II 1414.
91 Corinth RPC III 111 -113; Magnetes RPC III 465; Rhodes RPC III 2184: Dorylaeum RPC III 2637; Aradus
RPC III 3818; Alexandria RPC III 4318, 4690, 4747, 4978.
92 RPC I 2090.
93 RPC III 1180.
94 RPC II 510, 543.
95 Nicomedia RPC III 663A (18-19 mm, 3-5 g); Tium RPC III 703 A (19 mm, 3-4 g); Calchedon RPC III
370A (22 mm, 4-5 g).
96 Uncertain mint RPC III 6548 (19 mm, 4-5 g).
136
on any of the issues of Bithynia and Pontus during the time of Domitian.88 This
same image has been found on coins of Heraclea Pontica struck in two different
denominations during the reign of Trajan.89 Because this centre was located on
the coast, there is nothing strange about the fact that this motive is to be found on
these coins. The representation is rather standard for both imperial and provincial
coins. During the age of Domitian, Poseidon was represented with a dolphin and
a trident on the coins of Roman colonies like Corinth or Patras and on those from
the local centre in Dorylaeum.90 During the reign of Trajan, images of Poseidon
were used on coins from Corinth, Magnetes, Rhodes, Dorylaeum, Aradus, and
Alexandria;91 however, it was not always the same iconographic type that was used.
The coins from Heraclea with a representation of Poseidon were not modelled on
imperial coins but referred to a certain universal and well-known iconographic
tradition. Moreover, coins with this representation already appeared in Heraclea
during the reign of Claudius.92 During the reign of Trajan, the mint in Tium also
issued coins with the image of Poseidon93 but in a different iconographic type than
the representations on the coins of Heraclea. Interestingly enough, the obverse
showed the emperor with a radiate crown; the denomination is somewhat reminiscent
of a Roman dupondius, though it seems to be lighter (26 mm, 8-11 g).
On the smallest denominations (17 mm, 4-6 g) of imperial coins (perhaps
semisses) issued between 80 and 82, we can see a representation of a poppy head
between crossed cornucopiae.94 During the reign of Domitian, this exact same
iconographic type was not used on coins from Bithynia and Pontus but only one
that was very similar. On coins issued in Nicomedia, Tium, and Calchedon, we can
see representations of a poppy head between two corn ears; these coins were of
a denomination similar to the imperial coins.95 During the reign of Trajan, probably
only one series of coins with this image was issued, perhaps by the mint in Nicomedia
(coins without an ethnicon).96 It is worth noting that some iconographic types only
88 No coins in Bithynia and Pontus with this iconographic type have thus far been found.
89 RPC III 1174: 23-24 mm, 14 15g; RPC III 1170: 19-21 mm, 4-6 g.
90 Corinth RPC II 138, 182 (standing figure of a deity); 139-141, 150, 188-191 (sitting figure of a deity);
142-143, 192-193 (deity in biga); 148 (foot on rock); 183-187; 149 (foot on dolphin); Patras on a rock 244-246;
Dorylaeum RPC II 1414.
91 Corinth RPC III 111 -113; Magnetes RPC III 465; Rhodes RPC III 2184: Dorylaeum RPC III 2637; Aradus
RPC III 3818; Alexandria RPC III 4318, 4690, 4747, 4978.
92 RPC I 2090.
93 RPC III 1180.
94 RPC II 510, 543.
95 Nicomedia RPC III 663A (18-19 mm, 3-5 g); Tium RPC III 703 A (19 mm, 3-4 g); Calchedon RPC III
370A (22 mm, 4-5 g).
96 Uncertain mint RPC III 6548 (19 mm, 4-5 g).