Roman Collector Posted May 13 · Patron Posted May 13 If you could pick just twelve ancient roman coins, which would you choose? Twelve Caesars? Been done to death. How about twelve coins representing the entire history of the Roman empire? This new book uses coins as a portal to ancient Rome. 15 1 Quote
Dafydd Posted June 3 · Supporter Posted June 3 I am curious to see if have any of these coins in my own collection and to learn how they were selected. Sadly I already know that I don't have the cover coin! What an interesting concept. Quote
Steppenfool Posted June 3 · Member Posted June 3 (edited) If I had to tell the story of the Roman Empire (I don't know enough about Republican coinage). Here's 13 I would pick. Caesar Portrait Coin - The transition from Republic to Empire EID MAR - The Republicans strike back Augustus: DIVUS IVLIVS comet - Augustus' ambition and the end of Republic for good Augustus: Actium reverse - Augustus wins the Empire and consolidates Vespasian: Judaea Capta - End of the Julio-Claudians and arrival of the Flavians, destruction of the Temple has huge ramifications for Judaism and the nascent Christianity Antoninus Pius: Marcus Aurelius reverse - Adoptive emperors Caracalla: Antoninianus - Inflation is bad partly due to the Severans throwing money at the military, and Caracalla invents a new coin to try and hide it, also everyone is a citizen now? Elagabalus: Stone of Emesa - Religious ideas from the East, Roman culture being syncretised with others. Trajan Decius: Divi Series - Crisis of the third century, Decius attempts to ameliorate by appealing to tradition and persecuting Christians. Aurelian: Restitutor Orbis - Aurelian restores the world Diocletian: Tetrarchs Sacrificing - Diocletian has a cool new system of government that brings some stability Constantine: Eyes to Heaven DAFNE - Constanine is Christian, and the Empire is heading that way. Julian the Apostate: Bull - Paganisms last stand Edited June 3 by Steppenfool 12 Quote
AncientJoe Posted June 5 · Member Posted June 5 (edited) On 6/3/2024 at 4:08 PM, Steppenfool said: If I had to tell the story of the Roman Empire (I don't know enough about Republican coinage). Here's 13 I would pick. Caesar Portrait Coin - The transition from Republic to Empire EID MAR - The Republicans strike back Augustus: DIVUS IVLIVS comet - Augustus' ambition and the end of Republic for good Augustus: Actium reverse - Augustus wins the Empire and consolidates Vespasian: Judaea Capta - End of the Julio-Claudians and arrival of the Flavians, destruction of the Temple has huge ramifications for Judaism and the nascent Christianity Antoninus Pius: Marcus Aurelius reverse - Adoptive emperors Caracalla: Antoninianus - Inflation is bad partly due to the Severans throwing money at the military, and Caracalla invents a new coin to try and hide it, also everyone is a citizen now? Elagabalus: Stone of Emesa - Religious ideas from the East, Roman culture being syncretised with others. Trajan Decius: Divi Series - Crisis of the third century, Decius attempts to ameliorate by appealing to tradition and persecuting Christians. Aurelian: Restitutor Orbis - Aurelian restores the world Diocletian: Tetrarchs Sacrificing - Diocletian has a cool new system of government that brings some stability Constantine: Eyes to Heaven DAFNE - Constanine is Christian, and the Empire is heading that way. Julian the Apostate: Bull - Paganisms last stand I like your list and would add some of the following: - Romulus and Remus for the significance of the founding myth as a recurring theme on coins - Some architectural coin, maybe an AQUA MAR or one of the many under Trajan or a Colosseum/Ostia - I'd specifically choose a DICT PERPETUO of Caesar - Perhaps a coin of a Roman province or a coin from Hadrian's travel series to show the breadth of Roman rule - A militaristic coin, Praetorian Guard/Ad Locutio/others Edited June 5 by AncientJoe 4 Quote
Benefactor DonnaML Posted June 5 · Benefactor Benefactor Posted June 5 Trajan and his column to illustrate the height of the Empire? 2 Quote
David Atherton Posted June 5 · Member Posted June 5 3 hours ago, DonnaML said: Trajan and his column to illustrate the height of the Empire? Literally! Quote
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