Dupondius (2 Asses). _O._ Hd. of _R._ Prow of
Pallas; ship. Mark of value II
Tripondius (3 Asses). " " " III
Decussis (10 Asses). _O._ Head of Roma. " " X
The above types are those of the coins of Rome itself. The æs grave of
the other Italian states had different types.
The As first issued in Rome is said to have weighed one pound, hence
it was called the As Libralis. The earliest known specimens of the
Libral series date from about B.C. 400. As time went on, it was
gradually reduced in weight, at first to 4 ounces, about B.C. 268
(_Triental Reduction_), and subsequently, B.C. 217, to 1 ounce (_Uncial
Reduction_), and somewhat later even to 1/2 an ounce.
§ OF THE SILVER “CONSULAR” COINAGE.
(2) Silver money was first struck in Rome about B.C. 268. It consisted
of the following denominations:--
The Denarius (= 10 Asses). _Obv._ Head of Roma;
_Rev._ The Dioscuri. Mark of value X
The Quinarius (= 5 Asses). Similar types " V or Q
The Sestertius (= 2-1/2 Asses). " " IIS
Afterwards another denomination called the Victoriatus was added:
_Obv._ Head of Jupiter; _Rev._ Victory crowning a trophy. This was
a coin of Campanian origin, and its value was 3/4 of the denarius.
The types of the silver money, at first constant and uniform, were
subsequently varied according to the pleasure of the officers entrusted
with the supervision of the coinage. The types of the Roman denarii of
the last century of the Republic generally contain allusions to past
(but never or very rarely to contemporary) events connected with the
family of the moneyer. Hence such pieces may be called Family coins,
but to give this name to the whole series of Republican denarii is
incorrect.
At first it is supposed that the direction of the Roman mint was
entrusted to the Consuls themselves, but it was not long before
special magistrates were appointed from time to time to superintend
the currency. These Triumviri or Tresviri Monetales were officially
designated as Tresviri auro argento aere flando feriundo, a title
abbreviated on some coins to IIIVIR. A. A. A. F. F. The adjective
Monetalis referred to the temple of Juno Moneta, in which the mint was
situated, and from this epithet of Juno our modern word “Money” is
derived.
It is usual, though not strictly scientific, to arrange a cabinet of
Roman Republican denarii under the _family_ names of the moneyers, in
alphabetical order. As the family name does not always occur upon the
coin, the following table of surnames and of the families to which they
belong will be found useful to the young collector in arranging his
coins.
_Surname._ _Family._
Acisculus Valeria.
Agrippa Luria.
" Vipsania.
Ahala Servilia.
Ahenobarbus Domitia.
Albinus Postumia.
Antiaticus Mænia.
Aquinus Cæcilia.
Asiagenes Cornelia.
Atratinus Sempronia.
Augurinus Minucia.
Bala Ælia.
Balbus Acilia.
" Antonia.
" Atia.
" Cornelia.
" Nævia.
" Thoria.
Bassus Betiliena.
Bibulus Calpurnia.
Blandus Rubellia.
Blasio Cornelia.
Brocchus Furia.
Brutus Junia.
Buca Æmilia.
Bursio Julia.
Cæicianus Cassia.
Cæpio Servilia.
Cæsar Julia.
Caldus Cœia.
Capella Nævia.
Capito Fonteia.
" Maria.
" Oppia.
Capitolinus Petillia.
Carbo Papiria.
Casca Servilia.
Cato Porcia.
Catullus Valeria.
Celer Cassia.
Celsus Papia.
Censorinus Marcia.
Cerco Lutatia.
Cestianus Plætoria.
Cethegus Cornelia.
Chilo, Cilo Flaminia.
Cinna Cornelia.
Cocles Horatia.
Cordus Mucia.
Cossus Cornelia.
Costa Pedania.
Cotta Aurelia.
Crassipes Furia.
Crassus Licinia.
" Canidia.
Crispinus Quinctia.
Croto Metilia.
Dossenus Rubria.
Fabatus Roscia.
Faustus Cornelia.
Felix Cornelia.
Flaccus Rutilia.
" Valeria.
Flavius Decimia.
Florus Aquillia.
Fostulus Pompeia.
Frugi Calpurnia.
Gal[eria] Memmia.
Galba Sulpicia.
Gallus Asinia.
" Caninia.
Geminus Aburia.
Geta Hosidia.
Grag[ulus] Antestia.
Gracchus Sempronia.
Hemic... Flavia.
Hypsæus Plautia.
Judex Vettia.
Junianus Licinia.
Kalenus Fufia.
Labeo Fabia.
Labienus Atia?
Læca Porcia.
Lamia Ælia.
Lariscolus Accoleia.
Lentulus Cornelia.
Lepidus Æmilia.
Libo Marcia.
" Scribonia.
Licinus Porcia.
Limetanus Mamilia.
Longinus Cassia.
Longus Mussidia.
Lucanus Terentia.
Lupercus Gallia.
Macer Licinia.
" Sepullia.
Magnus Pompeia.
Malleolus Poblicia.
Marcellinus Cornelia.
Marcellus Claudia.
Maridianus Cossutia.
Maximus Egnatia.
" Fabia.
Mensor Farsuleia.
Messalia Valeria.
Metullus Cæcilia.
Molo Pomponia.
Murcus Statia.
Murena Licinia.
Mus Decia.
Musa Pomponia.
Naso Axia.
Natta Pinaria.
Nerva Cocceia.
" Licinia.
" Silia.
Nomentanus Atilia.
Nonianus Considia.
Otho Salvia.
Pætus Ælia.
" Considia.
Palikanus Lollia.
Pansa Vibia.
Paullus Æmilia.
Philippus Marcia.
Philus Furia.
Pictor Fabia.
Piso Calpurnia.
Pitio Sempronia.
Pius Cæcilia.
" Pompeia.
Plancus Munatia.
" Plautia.
Platorinus Sulpicia.
Pulcher Claudia.
Purpureo Fabia.
Quinctilianus Nonia.
Reginus Antistia.
Regulus Livineia.
Restio Antia.
Rocus Creperia.
Rufus Aurelia.
" Cordia.
" Lucilia.
" Mescinia.
" Minucia.
" Plotia.
" Pompeia.
" Pomponia.
" Sulpicia.
Rullus Servilia.
Rus[ticus] Aufidia.
Sabinus Minatia.
" Tituria.
" Vettia.
Sabula Cossutia.
Salinator Oppia
Saranus Atilia.
Saserna Hostilia.
Saturninus Appuleia.
Saxula Clovia.
Scæva Junia.
Scarpus Pinaria.
Scaurus Æmilia.
" Aurelia.
Scipio Cornelia.
Secundus Arria.
Ser ... Manlia.
Silanus Junia.
Silianus Licinia.
Silus Sergia.
Sisenna Cornelia.
Spinther Cornelia.
Stolo Licinia.
Strabo Volteia.
Sufenas Nonia.
Sulla Cornelia.
Sulpicianus Quinctia.
Surdinus Nævia.
Talna Juventia.
Tampilus Bæbia.
Taurus Statilia.
Thermus Minucia.
Tod.. ...
Torquatus Manlia.
Trigeminus Curiatia.
Trio Lucretia.
Trogus Maria.
Tubulus Hostilia.
Tullus Mæcilia.
Turdus Papiria.
Turpilianus Petronia.
Unimanus Claudia.
Vaala Numonia.
Varro Terentia.
Varus Vibia.
Vetus Antistia.
Vitulus Voconia.
Volusus Valeria.
§ OF THE MONEY OF THE EMPIRE.
(3 and 4.) Imperial coins. The Imperial series may be said to commence
in B.C. 2, when Augustus was made Pater Patriæ. From this time forward
the names of the moneyers cease to appear on the coinage.
The portrait of the emperor, or of some member of the Imperial family,
now almost always occupies the obverse of the coin. The reverse
type is, as a general rule, some allegorical figure, such as Spes,
Justitia, Salus, Pietas, etc., etc., or the representation of some one
of the many provinces of the empire, _e.g._ Britannia, Judæa, etc., or
again some military subject, _e.g._ legionary standards, or the emperor
addressing his soldiers, together with a great variety of types, to
mention which would occupy far more space than we have here at our
disposal.
The inscriptions on the Imperial coins contain in an abbreviated form
the date of their issue, calculated by the number of times which the
Tribunitia Potestas, or Tribunitian power, had been conferred upon the
emperor. This office was renewed annually on the first day of January.
The formula is TR. POT. or TR. P., followed by a numeral, as, on a
coin of Trajan, TR. P. XX. COS. VI. IMP. XI. This means that the coin
was struck when the emperor was in the possession of the Tribunitian
power for the 20th time, of the consulship for the 6th time, and of the
Imperatorship for the 11th time. Now, as Trajan had the Tribunitian
power for the first time in A.D. 98, we get the date A.D. 116 for the
coin in question. The other offices mentioned were not annual.
* * * * *
The following is a list of the Roman emperors, and other members of
the Imperial families, arranged in the order in which it is usual to
classify their coins, which is, as far as possible, chronological:--
Augustus B.C. 27-A.D. 14
Livia or Julia, wife of Augustus Agrippa
A.D.
Tiberius 14-37
Caius
Caius and Lucius
Drusus senior
Antonia
Drusus junior
Germanicus
Agrippina, wife of Germanicus
Nero & Drusus, sons "
Caligula 37-41
Claudius 41-54
Britannicus
Agrippina, w. of Claudius
Nero 54-68
Galba 68-69
Otho 69
Vitellius 69
Vespasian 69-79
Domitilla, w. of Vespasian
Domitilla, daughter of Vespasian
Titus 79-81
Julia, daughter of Titus
Domitian 81-96
Domitia, wife of Domitian
Nerva 96-98
Trajan 98-117
Plotina, wife of Trajan
Marciana, sister of Trajan
Matidia, daughter of Marciana
Hadrian 117-138
Sabina, wife of Hadrian
Ælius, adopted by Hadrian
Antoninus Pius 138-161
Faustina I., w. of Ant. Pius.
M. Aurelius 161-180
Faustina II., w. of M. Aurelius
L. Verus 161-169
Lucilla, w. of L. Verus
Commodus 180-192
Crispina, w. of Commodus
Pertinax 193
Didius Julianus 193
Manlia Scantilla, w. of Did. Julian.
Pescennius Niger 194
Clodius Albinus (in Britain) 193-197
Septimius Severus 193-211
Julia Domna, w. of S. Severus
M. Aurel. Antoninus (Caracalla) 211-217
Plautilla, w. of Caracalla
Geta, brother of Caracalla 211-212
Macrinus 217
Diadumenian, son of Macrinus
M. Aurel. Antoninus (Elagabalus) 218-222
Julia Paula, w. of Elagabalus
Aquillia Severa, w. of Elagabalus
Annia Faustina, w. of Elagabalus
Julia Soaemias, mother of Elagabalus
Julia Mæsa, grandmother of Elagabalus
M. Aurel. Severus Alexander 222-235
Barbia Orbiana, w. of Sev. Alex.
Julia Mamæa, mother of Sev. Alex.
Uranius Sulpicius Antoninus (in the East)
Maximinus I. 235-238
Paulina, w. of Maximinus
Maximus, son of Maximinus
Gordian I. 238
Gordian II. 238
Balbinus 238
Pupienus 238
Gordian III. Pius 238-244
Tranquillina, w. of Gordian III.
Philip I. 244-249
Otacilia, w. of Philip I.
Philip II., son of Philip I. 244-249
Trajan Decius 249-251
Herennia Etruscilla, w. of Traj. Decius
Herennius Etruscus, son of Traj. Decius 251
Hostilianus, son of Traj. Decius 251
Trebonianus Gallus 251-254
Volusianus, son of Treb. Gallus
Æmilianus 253-254
Cornelia Supera, w. of Æmilian.
Valerianus I. 253-260
Mariniana, w. of Valerian I.
Gallienus 253-268
Salonina, w. of Gallienus
Saloninus, son of Gallienus
Claudius II., Gothicus 268-270
Quintillus, brother of Claudius II.
Aurelianus 270-275
Severina, w. of Aurelianus
Postumus (in Gaul) 258-267
Postumus II., son of Postum.
Lælianus (in Gaul)
Victorinus I. (in Gaul) 265-267
Marius (in Gaul) 267
Tetricus I. (in Gaul) 267-273
Tetricus II., son of Tetric. I.
Macrianus I. (in the East) 260-262
Macrianus II., son of Macrianus I.
Quietus, son of Macrianus I. 260-262
Tacitus 275-276
Florianus 276
Probus 276-282
Carus 282-283
Carinus 283-285
Magnia Urbica, w. of Carinus
Nigrinianus, son of Carinus
Numerianus 283-284
Julianus
Diocletianus 284-305
Maximianus I., Hercules 286-305
Carausius (in Britain) 287-293
Allectus 293-296
Domitius Domitianus (in Egypt)
Constantius I., Chlorus 305-306
Maximianus II. 305-311
Valeria, w. of Maximian. II.
Severus II. 306-307
Maximinus II. (Daza) 308-313
Maxentius 306-312
Romulus, son of Maxentius
Licinius I. 307-323
Licinius II., son of Licinius I.
Martinianus 323
Constantinus I., the Great 306-337
Fausta, w. of Constantine
Crispus, son of Constantine
Helena, mother of Constant.
Theodora
Delmatius, nephew of Constantine
Hanniballianus, brother of Delmatius
Constantinus II. 337-340
Constans 337-350
Magnentius (in Gaul) 350-353
Decentius, brother of Magnentius
Nepotianus 350
Vetranio 350-356
Constantius II. 337-361
Constantius Gallus
Julian II. (The Apostate) 361-363
Jovianus 363-364
Valentinian I. 364-375
Valens 364-378
Procopius (in the East) 365-366
Gratianus 375-383
Maximus II. (Britain and Gaul) 383-388
Victor, son of Maximus II.
Valentinian II. 375-392
Theodosius I., the Great 379-395
Flaccilla, w. of Theodosius
Eugenius (in Gaul) 392-394
Honorius 395-423
The above list is not quite complete, even as far as it goes, but it
includes the names of all the emperors whose coins are at all likely to
be met with by the young collector.
The series of the large brass coins, which is more interesting than the
others, ceases after the reign of Postumus.
§ ROMAN MEDALLIONS.
(5) Imperial medallions. As illustrations of the life and religion of
the Romans under the Empire, as well as of the history of the times,
no numismatic monuments which have come down to us can compete with
the large bronze medallions. They are to be distinguished from the
current large brass coins by the absence of the letters s.c. (_senatus
consulto_), as well as usually by their larger size, higher relief, and
finer work. As, however, the prices fetched by good medallions are,
as a rule, very high, they are practically out of the reach of the
collector of moderate means.
§ HOW TO DISTINGUISH TRUE FROM FALSE