THE
ALEXANDRIAN COINAGE OF AUGUSTUS
By
J.G. MILNE
The
classification of the Alexandrian coins of Augustus
has one element of uncertainty which is unusual in
the series struck for Egypt under the Roman emperors,
in that the earlier issues are not dated. But it is
perhaps possible to arrive at a closer approximation
than has yet been published as regards the sequence
of these issues, and at the same time to investigate
the policy of Augustus as shown in his treatment of
the Egyptian currency.
A
few coins which have sometimes been ascribed to Augustus
will be excluded from consideration*.
They are all of small size, and do not bear either
the portrait of the emperor or his name : such are
D. 19 (crescent : star : 9 mm.), D. 20 (lotus-flower
: star : 10 mm.), D. 50 (ibis : Crocodile : 15 mm.).
The reason for their exclusion is that there is no
certainty that they are of the time of Augustus or
even that they are official issues : in the case of
D. 50, the only one which is at all common, the specimens
vary considerably in fabric, and some are struck from
unadjusted dies, while others appear to be cast, both
of which facts point to the pieces in question being
unofficial : it is true that they are dated LΚΑ,
but dates occur similarly on pieces which are certainly
unofficial, such as the leaden tokens of the third
century A.D.* The
same considerations apply to several of the small coins
without names which
have been attributed to later emperors, and notably
to one or two of those which have been given by Dattari
to the reign of Caligula, such as D. 112 (heron : bull)
: so that it seems safer to follow the British Museum
Catalogue in placing them apart, and to say that, while
some of them may have been struck about the time of
Augustus, others of the same types are most probably
much later and unofficial, and they cannot be used
to establish any conclusions as to the currency of
his reign*.
First
group. It
has been generally recognized that the first issue
of Augustus in Egypt consisted of bronze of two denominations,
but with the same types, only differentiated by a
letter in the field of the reverse. The obverse bears
the legend ΘΕΟΥ ΥΙΟΥ across
the field, with a bare head to right : the reverse
has ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡΟΣ,
with an eagle standing left on a thunderbolt, in
front of it being a cornucopiae,
behind the letter Π on
the larger coins and Μ on
the smaller. The larger coins are about 26 mm. in
diameter, with an average weight
of 17.2 gm. (10 specimens weighed) : the smaller
about 21 mm., with an average weight of 8.3 gm. (7
specimens). These are obviously in continuation of
the bronze issues of Cleopatra VII, which have the
same reverse type, symbol, and letters, and are about
the same average weight and size : the 38 specimens
of the Π coin of Cleopatra
catalogued with weights by Svoronos average 17.8
gm., the 28 specimens of the Μ coin
8.5 gm. A similar adoption of previous types in the
first issues of Augustus is to be found at other
important commercial centres in the East, e.g. Ephesos
and Smyrna—and this accords with his general policy
of carrying on local administrative traditions wherever
possible until he was sure of this standing.
Second
group. These
two types were presumably struck before the title
of Augustus was formally conferred on the emperor
in 27 B.C. : after this come several coins, still
with the bare head, but bearing the legends (as before,
across the field) CΕΒΑCΤΟC on
the obverse and ΚΑΙCΑΡ on
the reverse. The reverse types are oenochoe [D. 9],
temple of Mars Ultor [D.
14], triumphal arch [D. 13]—all three of about
26 mm. diameter—and pontifical instruments
[D. 10]—of
21 mm. : with these may be grouped coins with the
head of Livia and the legend ΛΙΟΥΙΑ CΕΒΑCΤΟΥ on
the obverse, the reverse types of which are cornucopiae
[D. 57] (26 mm.) and eagle [D. 56] (21 mm.). All
these, like the first group, are of the thick fabrick
characteristic of the Ptolemaic bronze, and the marks
of value Π and Μ are
continued on the coins of Livia, though not on those
of Augustus. Some smaller coins, of about 15 mm.,
evidently belong to the same group, as they are of
similar fabric and have the square form of the letter C which
is usual on most of the larger pieces : the legends
of obverse and reverse are those of the coins of
Augustus, though his portrait does not appear, the
types being in one case (obverse) circular altar
and (reverse) cornucopiae [D. 45], in another (obverse)
prow and (reverse) wreath enclosing legend [D. 48].
These pieces have also on the obverse the letter Κ,
which must be a mark of value, like Π and Μ on
the larger coins*:
as they represent a new denomination, there was more
reason for indicating
what this was. A still lower denomination may be
found in three smaller coins of about 12 mm. : one
with bare head on obverse and star on reverse [D.
12], which the bare head seems to mark as belonging
to this group, the others with star and prow respectively
as obverse types and the legend CΕΒΑCΤΟC in
two lines on the reverse [D. 18 and 21], which the
form of the letter C connects
with this group. The average weights are, for the
26 mm. size, 13.2 gm. (20 specimens) ; for the 21
mm., 6.4 gm. (10 specimens) ; for the 15 mm., 3.5
gm. (14 specimens) ; and for the 12 mm., .9 gm. (5
specimens). The date of this group, which may have
begun to be issued any time after 27 B.C., comes
down to 17 at least, as the types of the temple of
Mars Ultor and the triumphal arch are obviously copied
from those of silver cistophori struck at Ephesus
which are dated in the year 18/17 (Plate xxxi) :
a comparison of the coins leaves no room for doubting
that the Alexandrian engraver had before him the
Ephesian pieces and reproduced their types in a clumsy
and unintelligent manner*;
and they may well have been a year or two later.
Third
group. The
introduction of a laureate, in place of a bare, head
as the obverse type of the larger coins of Augustus
marks the commencement of a new series : the coins
are still undated*,
and the legends are normally ΚΑΙΣΑΡ on the reverse
type the head of Gaius Caesar with his name, the
title ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ naturally goes to the
obverse. With these may be grouped some coins of
Livia, which have her head, but no legend, on the
obverse. These pieces are of thinner fabric than
those of the two preceding groups, though the diameters
are about the same : the types which can be definitely
referred to this group are, in the largest size (25
mm.), the head of Gaius [D. 1] and, on coins of Livia,
the bust of Euthenia [D. 58] both rather rare and
the third size (15 mm.), ibis [D. 7], crown of Isis
[D. 8], and crescent and star [D. 11], all three
of fairly frequent occurrence ; some further types
which are known only from single examples [D. 5,
6 ; F. 546, 547, 548] may also belong here, but their
rarity and the fact that they are mostly of rather
abnormal design suggest that they were experimental
issues. The average weights show a marked fall as
compared with the second group : they are, for 6
specimens of the larger size, 8.3 gm., for 23 of
the smaller, 2.5 gm. The commencing date for this
series is not likely to have been before 10 B.C.,
as the introduction of the laureate head on the imperial
coinage most probably took place in that year, and
the Alexandrian mint throughout its history constantly
borrowed its designs from other mints. The head of
Gaius would not be placed on the coinage before 8
B.C.
Fourth
group. The
first certain instance of dating is on coins of year
8, i.e. 3/2 B.C. : these are all of the
smaller sizes, and do not bear the head of the Emperor.
The commonest is one of 15 mm. diameter, with the
legend ΚΑΙCΑΡΟC and
a circular altar, on which is the date LΚΗ,
on the obverse and on the reverse CΕΒΑ|CΤΟΥ in
a wreath [D. 47] : there are single examples of two
little pieces of about 10 mm., both of which have
the date in a wreath on the reverse, and on the obverse
one a crescent [F. 558], the other a star [Berlin],
which may have been issued in this year, but cannot
be definitely assigned to Augustus in view of the
absence of a legend. The fact that on the coins first
mentioned the legends are in the genitive, which
is rather unusual in the reign of Augustus, suggests
that a common coin, which has very similar types
and the same peculiarity of legends, belongs to the
same group" on this, which measures about 21
mm., there is an altar flanked by laurel branches,
with
ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ in the exergue, on the obverse,
and on the reverse ΚΑΙΣΑ|ΡΟΣ in a wreath
[D. 16] : the same consideration applied to two smaller
pieces of 15 mm., one with ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ and
a capricorn and star as obverse type, CΕΒΑCΤΟΥ and
cornucopiae as reverse [D. 17], the other with a
crocodile as obverse, CΕΒΑCΤΟΥ and
staff as reverse [Paris (Mi. 34]. These coins of
year 28 are probably earlier than a series which
is undated, but has the legend ΠΑΤΗΡ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΟΣ with
the laureate head of Augustus on the obverse : as
the title of Pater Patriae was only conferred on
him on Feb. 5 of his 28th Alexandrian year, and it
would take some weeks, in the winter, for the news
to reach Alexandria, this series, even if struck
at once in honour of the event, would only come out
late in the year. It includes coins of the two larger
sizes (25 and 20 mm.) : the reverse legend is ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ,
and the types are, in the first size, capricorn with
star [D. 53] and six ears of corn [D. 51]*,
in the second the ears of corn again [D. 54] : of
the first size there is also a coin of Livia, which
obviously belongs to the same series, with ΛΙΟΥΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ and
her head on the obverse, ΠΑΤΡΟΣ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΟΣ and
double cornucopiae on the reverse [D. 72]. All these
are fairly common, and of the same fabric as the
third group : the weights are very irregular, varying
in the first size from 13.1 to 6.8 gm., in the second
from 6.5 to 4.1, and in the third from 4.3 to 1.6
: the averages are resprctively 10.7 gm. (24 specimens),
5.6 (14 specimens), and 3.1 (10 specimens).
Fifth
Group. The
large undated issue, if not made in the latter part
of year 28, may have been in year 29 : in year 30
(1 B.C./1 A.D.) dated coins reappear, but at first
rather spasmodically : the types vary considerably,
and specimens are rare, till year 39. Those of year
30 are, in the two largest sizes, obv. laureate
head, rev. bust of Nilus [D. 32 (24 mm.),
33 (19 mm.)], in the smallest size, obv.
laureate head, rev. oak wreath enclosing
date [D. 36], and obv. star, rev. ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ round
date [Oxford]. In year 35 the only issue seems to
have been of the smallest size, with obv. crescent, rev.
similar to the last-mentioned of year 30 [D. 49].
The larger sizes recurred in year 38, all with laureate
head on obverse : the reverses are, in the first
size, ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ,
bull butting r., in ex. LΛΗ [D. 35], and capricorn
r., in ex. ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ,
to l. LΛΗ [D.
34] : the latter type is also found in the second
size [Paris (Mi. 16)] : in the smallest size there
is a coin of the same types as that of year 35 [Berlin].
The evidence as to weights in this group is too scanty
to make any conclusions of value : so far as it goes,
it agrees generally with the averages of the fourth
group.
Sixth
group. In
year 39 a more regular series began, and continued
till the last complete year of the reign of Augustus
: there are coins with his laureate head, or the
head of Livia, in the three larger sizes, with
several reverses, one being shared by the Emperor
and Empress : the types are, for Augustus, bust
of Euthenia r., with ΕΥΘΗ ΝΙΑ across
field, and date in exergue, and Nike flying l.,
with date in field ; for Livia, modius flanked
by torches, with date in exergue, and Athene standing
l. holding Nike and resting on shield, with date
in field ; for both, oak wreath enclosing date*.
The occurrence of these varieties, most of which
are fairly common, may be shown best in tabular
form.
|
|
|
Year
39 |
Year
40 |
Year
41 |
Year
42 |
Size
1 (24 mm.) |
Augustus |
Euthenia |
D.
22 |
D.
24 |
— |
— |
|
|
Nike |
— |
D.
25 |
D.
28 |
D.
30 |
|
|
wreath |
D.
37 |
D.
40 |
D.
42 |
— |
|
|
modius |
D.
69 |
— |
— |
— |
|
|
Athene |
— |
F.
575 |
D.
61 |
D.
63 |
|
|
wreath |
D.
66 |
BM.
31 |
D.
67 |
— |
Size
2 (19 mm.) |
Augustus |
Euthenia |
D.
23 |
— |
— |
— |
|
|
Nike |
— |
D.
27 |
D.29 |
D.
31 |
|
|
wreath |
D.
38 |
D.
41 |
D.
44 |
— |
|
Livia |
modius |
D.
71 |
— |
— |
— |
|
|
wreath |
D.
65 |
BM.
32 |
D.
68 |
— |
Size
3 (14 mm.) |
Augustus |
wreath |
D.
39 |
BM.
15 |
Hunter
16 |
— |
The
average weights of the three sizes are 9.0 gm. for
46 specimens of the first, 4.2 gm. for 11 of the second,
and 1.9 gm. for 14 of the third : the flans are much
thinner than those of the earlier groups, though the
diameters of the various sizes are not much reduced.
The
values attached to the different denominations in the
various groups remain to be determined : and for this
purpose the weights are only a rough guide, as the
coinage was purely a token one : but, taken in conjunction
with the sizes, they offer some clue. The first and
last groups provide most material for consideration,
and can accordingly be taken as a beginning.
The
first issue of Augustus, as already noted, was a continuation
of the latest Ptolemaic bronze coinage, of two denominations,
marked respectively Π and Μ,
which, as demonstrated by Regling*,
represented 80 and 40 copper drachmas. These, for purposes
of reckoning on the silver standard, would serve as
obols and half-obols, as the rate of conversion from
copper to silver was normally about 480:1 at this time.
The
latest series is clearly one of three denominations,
and by size and weight is linked to the bronze issues
of Tiberius and Claudius, which represented the diobol,
obol, and dichalkon of the silver standard*.
The superficial sizes of the two larger denominations
are not seriously reduced from those of the first issue,
but the weights are much lower.
It
appears therefore that during the reign of Augustus
a change was made in the basis of the bronze coinage
: and the point at which it was made, and the purport
of the change, may be ascertained more readily by setting
out the average weights for the various groups as detailed
above : the fifth group is omitted as offering no definite
evidence.
|
Size 1 |
Size 2 |
Size 3 |
Size 4 |
1st
group |
17.2 |
8.3 |
— |
— |
2nd
group |
13.2 |
6.4 |
3.5 |
9 |
3rd
group |
8.3 |
— |
2.5 |
— |
4th
group |
10.7 |
5.6 |
3.1 |
— |
5th
group |
9.0 |
4.2 |
1.9 |
— |
The
second group is on the same basis as the first, as
the marks of value are continued on some of the coins,
notably on the new denomination of 20 drachmas : but
there is a considerable reduction in the average weights.
In the third group there is a further fall in weight.
In the fourth, however, there is some recovery, though
the weights are still below those of the second. The
sixth again shows a drop, and also the average weight
of size 3, instead of being rather more than half that
of size 2, is less than half. It may be suggested that
the explaination of these facts is that in the second
group the old values of 89 dr. = 1 obol and 40 dr.
= 1/2 obol cointinued, with a 20 dr. = dichalkon and
a small piece, possibly of 5 dr. = 1/2 chalkus*,
and the first and third of these denominations were
still issued in the third group : but the weights had
gradually gone down to about half of what they had
been at the beginning of the reign, and in the fourth
group, which is one of the more extensive issues, the
values of sizes 1, 2 and 3 were doubled, making them
represent the diobol, obol, and half-obol, with some
increase of weight, though not proportionate to the
increase in value : in the sixth group the diobol and
obol continued, the weights again falling, but the
lowest denomination was the dichalkon instead of the
half-obol, as in later reigns. There was probably no
use in Roman times for anything smaller than the dichalkon*.
Further,
it is to be noted that in the reign of Augustus the Ptolemaic
system of accounting in "copper drachmas" dissappears
almost entirely from the statements in papyri and ostraca,
and the normal method of reckoning is on the silver standard
: isolated instances of the old formula occur down to the
beginning of the second century, but in all probability
they are only archaistic survivals such as are found in
many other connections in documents of the Roman period
from Egypt*.
This fact, taken in conjunction with the disappearance of
the marks of value on the bronze coinage and the presumed
revision of the valuation, points to the conclusion that
Augustus directed a reorganization of the bronze currency
on a silver basis, which took effect somewhere between 8
and 2 B.C. : his intention was doubtless to bring the Egyptian
monetary system into a fixed relation with that of the Empire
generally, and to stabilize the exchange, although he did
not touch what was the key of the latter problem—
the depreciated silver tetradrachm of the Ptolemies —
and so the real difficulty remained unsolved.
|