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#0141
THE ROMAN IMPERIAL COINAGE MODEL...
that would confirm that a union of these three cities existed. Despite the number of
similarities, especially with regard to the iconography and certain denominations,
it is not possible to conclude that a centralized monetary system existed in Bithynia
and Pontus. During the age of Trajan, certain monetary tendencies were popularized
and made use of by individual mints. However, coins with other images were still
issued, ones that reflected local traditions. Each city had its own monetary system,
which was not standardized for the entire province.
CONCLUSIONS
Some of the images on coins from Bithynia and Pontus issued during the reign
of Trajan were modelled on imperial coins. These similarities and identical motives
were reproduced from coins struck during the age of both Trajan (mostly portraits)
and that of Domitian (the images on issues struck between 80 and 82). Because certain
elements are absent on provincial coins (other legends are used or the attire is different),
researchers are generally inclined towards the opinion that these provincial coins were
not based directly on imperial coins; however, this would have been a much easier
and more practical way to reproduce the emperor’s image on the obverse as well as
the titulature. Some portraits of Trajan on the coins of Bithynia and Pontus reflect
certain features from imperial coins, thus enabling us to give a more exact description
of the time at which a given issue was struck. Trajan’s likenesses on the coins from
Prusa with the nickname Dacicus have features that are characteristic of early portraits
of the emperor and were struck after 102 at the earliest. The coins from Nicaea were
issued after 105. Some issues from Byzantium could have been modelled on dupondii
from between 103 and 107. The portraits on coins from Heraclea and Tium reproduce
elements of the image from imperial coins struck after 102, 105, and 107.
In particular, our attention is drawn by the fact that, during the reign of Trajan,
the reverses of provincial coins from particular centres in Bithynia and Pontus have
the same motives of Eirene, Ares, Elpis, Demeter, Nike, Athena, an eagle standing
on a globe, and an altar. However, this tradition has its origin in the age of Domitian.
At that time, Nicaea, Nicomedia, and Prusias ad Hypium duplicated images from
imperial issues struck between 80 and 82 at a mint that is still not known but which
probably existed in Thrace. During the reign of Trajan, certain motives became
more widespread, beginning to appear on coins from Apamea, Juliopolis, Amastris,
Abonoteichos, and Prusa ad Olympum. The denominations on which the images
of Eirene, Ares, and Elpis appear are very similar to imperial sestertii. Moreover,
certain issues from Juliopolis, Amastris, and probably Nicaea are reminiscent of
Roman dupondii in terms of their denomination.
In relation to the past, however, particular images were used on a much greater
number of denominations. Despite the fact that certain cities in Bithynia and Pontus
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that would confirm that a union of these three cities existed. Despite the number of
similarities, especially with regard to the iconography and certain denominations,
it is not possible to conclude that a centralized monetary system existed in Bithynia
and Pontus. During the age of Trajan, certain monetary tendencies were popularized
and made use of by individual mints. However, coins with other images were still
issued, ones that reflected local traditions. Each city had its own monetary system,
which was not standardized for the entire province.
CONCLUSIONS
Some of the images on coins from Bithynia and Pontus issued during the reign
of Trajan were modelled on imperial coins. These similarities and identical motives
were reproduced from coins struck during the age of both Trajan (mostly portraits)
and that of Domitian (the images on issues struck between 80 and 82). Because certain
elements are absent on provincial coins (other legends are used or the attire is different),
researchers are generally inclined towards the opinion that these provincial coins were
not based directly on imperial coins; however, this would have been a much easier
and more practical way to reproduce the emperor’s image on the obverse as well as
the titulature. Some portraits of Trajan on the coins of Bithynia and Pontus reflect
certain features from imperial coins, thus enabling us to give a more exact description
of the time at which a given issue was struck. Trajan’s likenesses on the coins from
Prusa with the nickname Dacicus have features that are characteristic of early portraits
of the emperor and were struck after 102 at the earliest. The coins from Nicaea were
issued after 105. Some issues from Byzantium could have been modelled on dupondii
from between 103 and 107. The portraits on coins from Heraclea and Tium reproduce
elements of the image from imperial coins struck after 102, 105, and 107.
In particular, our attention is drawn by the fact that, during the reign of Trajan,
the reverses of provincial coins from particular centres in Bithynia and Pontus have
the same motives of Eirene, Ares, Elpis, Demeter, Nike, Athena, an eagle standing
on a globe, and an altar. However, this tradition has its origin in the age of Domitian.
At that time, Nicaea, Nicomedia, and Prusias ad Hypium duplicated images from
imperial issues struck between 80 and 82 at a mint that is still not known but which
probably existed in Thrace. During the reign of Trajan, certain motives became
more widespread, beginning to appear on coins from Apamea, Juliopolis, Amastris,
Abonoteichos, and Prusa ad Olympum. The denominations on which the images
of Eirene, Ares, and Elpis appear are very similar to imperial sestertii. Moreover,
certain issues from Juliopolis, Amastris, and probably Nicaea are reminiscent of
Roman dupondii in terms of their denomination.
In relation to the past, however, particular images were used on a much greater
number of denominations. Despite the fact that certain cities in Bithynia and Pontus
139