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#0139
THE ROMAN IMPERIAL COINAGE MODEL...
occurred on the smallest provincial coins.97 However, one should keep in mind that
this is not a hard and fast rule for all of the minting centres. The motive of a poppy
head between com ears could have been an image that was characteristic in particular
for the smallest denominations.
During the reign of Domitian, provincial coins made use of at least seven
iconographic types found on imperial coins struck between 80 and 82. These
motives were duplicated on coins issued mainly in Nicaea, Nicomedia, and Prusias
ad Hypium. Moreover, because the parameters of some provincial coins of Bithynia
and Pontus are similar98 to imperial coins with regard to their weight and diameter,
we can confirm that the former were modelled after the latter. During the age of
Trajan, the same motives were reflected on coins from these same mints but also on
ones from other centres in the province, which goes to show how far the individual
images travelled. The mint in Amastris issued five iconographic types from imperial
coins;99 similar to their Roman denominations, they were, however, lighter than them.
One coin issue, with a representation of an eagle standing on a globe, was struck
in a larger denomination (32 mm, 24 g). The minting centre in Juliopolis issued
coins with the same representations of Eirene, Ares, and Demeter on denominations
that were very similar to imperial coins. The same image of Elpis as well as that of
Demeter could be found on coins from Abonoteichos, but it is only the issue with
the former motive that has a similar diameter to sestertii. Apamea Myrlea and Prusa
ad Olympum struck coins with motives duplicating representations from imperial
coins issued between 80 and 82. Only the coins issued by the Roman colony in
Apamea reproduced the same image on a denomination that, with regard to its
diameter, was very similar to imperial coins.
It may be that provincial coins struck in Bithynia and Pontus during the reign
of Trajan - ones without an ethnicon (and which were probably issued mainly by
Nicaea and Prusias ad Hypium) but with images of Demeter, Elpis, Eirene, Nike,
Athena, an altar, or an eagle standing on a globe - were supposed to imitate imperial
coins that were commonly in circulation and recognized across the empire to some
extent. Thus, these coins might have been in circulation throughout the province
- and not only in the center of production - so as to satisfy the needs of cities that,
for example, could not issue their own coinage at the time in question.
97 For example, the smallest denominations had motives such as a lyre (Sestus 756; Apollonia ad Rhyndacum
RPC III 1598A; Thyatira RPC III 1830), the figure of Telesphorus (Cyzicus RPC III 1530; Hadnanotherae 1625;
Pergamum RPC III 1733-1734) or grapes (Tium RPC III 1184; Sala RPC III 2433, 2436A; Philadelphia RPC
III 3214).
98 They are not always the same.
99 Ares RPC III 1198; Elpis RPC III 1199; Demeter RPC III 1201-1202; Athena RPC III 1203; an eagle
standing on a globe RPC III 1204 1205.
occurred on the smallest provincial coins.97 However, one should keep in mind that
this is not a hard and fast rule for all of the minting centres. The motive of a poppy
head between com ears could have been an image that was characteristic in particular
for the smallest denominations.
During the reign of Domitian, provincial coins made use of at least seven
iconographic types found on imperial coins struck between 80 and 82. These
motives were duplicated on coins issued mainly in Nicaea, Nicomedia, and Prusias
ad Hypium. Moreover, because the parameters of some provincial coins of Bithynia
and Pontus are similar98 to imperial coins with regard to their weight and diameter,
we can confirm that the former were modelled after the latter. During the age of
Trajan, the same motives were reflected on coins from these same mints but also on
ones from other centres in the province, which goes to show how far the individual
images travelled. The mint in Amastris issued five iconographic types from imperial
coins;99 similar to their Roman denominations, they were, however, lighter than them.
One coin issue, with a representation of an eagle standing on a globe, was struck
in a larger denomination (32 mm, 24 g). The minting centre in Juliopolis issued
coins with the same representations of Eirene, Ares, and Demeter on denominations
that were very similar to imperial coins. The same image of Elpis as well as that of
Demeter could be found on coins from Abonoteichos, but it is only the issue with
the former motive that has a similar diameter to sestertii. Apamea Myrlea and Prusa
ad Olympum struck coins with motives duplicating representations from imperial
coins issued between 80 and 82. Only the coins issued by the Roman colony in
Apamea reproduced the same image on a denomination that, with regard to its
diameter, was very similar to imperial coins.
It may be that provincial coins struck in Bithynia and Pontus during the reign
of Trajan - ones without an ethnicon (and which were probably issued mainly by
Nicaea and Prusias ad Hypium) but with images of Demeter, Elpis, Eirene, Nike,
Athena, an altar, or an eagle standing on a globe - were supposed to imitate imperial
coins that were commonly in circulation and recognized across the empire to some
extent. Thus, these coins might have been in circulation throughout the province
- and not only in the center of production - so as to satisfy the needs of cities that,
for example, could not issue their own coinage at the time in question.
97 For example, the smallest denominations had motives such as a lyre (Sestus 756; Apollonia ad Rhyndacum
RPC III 1598A; Thyatira RPC III 1830), the figure of Telesphorus (Cyzicus RPC III 1530; Hadnanotherae 1625;
Pergamum RPC III 1733-1734) or grapes (Tium RPC III 1184; Sala RPC III 2433, 2436A; Philadelphia RPC
III 3214).
98 They are not always the same.
99 Ares RPC III 1198; Elpis RPC III 1199; Demeter RPC III 1201-1202; Athena RPC III 1203; an eagle
standing on a globe RPC III 1204 1205.