THE
SHOPS OF THE ROMAN MINT OF ALEXANDRIA
By
J.G. MILNE
During the fourth century A.D. the coins issued from the different
mints of the Roman empire commonly bore, in addition to the
name of the city where the mint was situated, a letter or
number indicating the particular shop of the mint in which
each coin was struck. In a recent article* I
made a study of the tetradrachms issued at Alexandria during
the first twelve years of the reign of Diocletian—i.e.
till the date when the Egyptian currency was assimilated
to that of the rest of the empire—to see what evidence
could be found as to the existence of marks distinguishing
the shops in this series: and I propose now to pass the whole
of the Roman tetradrachm issues of Alexandria in brief review
for the same purpose.
The
bronze coinage will not be taken into account, as it
practically ceased about a century earlier than the
billon tetradrachms, and was always more irregular
in its distribution: and, as the present investigation
must depend to some extent on comparison of different
periods, the best evidence will clearly be derivable
from the fullest and most continuous series.
In
the first place, the conclusions of the article already
cited may be recapitulated. During three years of the
period considered numerals were placed in the exergue
of the reverse, to denote the shops, in the same manner
as was done on the bronze coinage of the following
century : and there appeared reason to suppose that,
before the introduction of the numerals, a star in
the field of the reverse was used as a shop-mark. The
probable organisation of the mint, after the association
of Maximian in the government during the
second year of Diocletian, was :—
Years
2 (part)—6. Four shops, two striking for Diocletian,
two for Maximian : one of each pair using the star
as its mark.
Years
7—8 (part). Two shops, one of Diocletian, one
of Maximian : the latter using the star.
Years
8 (part)—10 (part). Four shops, using numeral
letters : two (Α and Β) of Diocletian, two
(Γ and Δ) of Maximian.
Years
10 (part)—11. Two shops (?).
Year
12. One shop (?).
In
the first year of Diocletian, and in the second till
the association of Maximian, no shop-marks are ascertainable.
It
further appeared that the number of shops varied frequently
and that the evidence did not show that this variation
bore any relation to the total output of the mint :
also that the outputs of the different shops were not
necessarily equal, but at times one shop was much more
active than another.
It
might be thought that a simple way of distinguishing
the issues of different shops, at a mint where several
reverse-types were often in concurrent use, would have
been to appropriate special reverse types to each shop.
But this was clearly not the case in the years when
the shops were marked by numerals : shops Α and Δ of
Diocletian have the same reverse-types as a rule, and
so have shops Β and Γ of Maximian : and,
though there is more difference between the reverses
of the two emperors, some types are common to all four
shops. At other periods a classification of the coinage
between shops by reverse-types may be negatived by
the evidence of the use of different reverse-types
with the same obverse-die : for instance, in year 4
of Valerian, when six reverse-types in all were employed
Helios, Homonoia, Nike, Tyche, Sarapis, and eagle —I
have noted examples of an obverse-die being associated
with different reverses in the following pairs— Homonoia
and Nike; Homonoia and Tyche; Homonoia and eagle; Tyche
and eagle; Sarapis and eagle : so that it would be
out of the question to suppose that in this year particular
reverse-types were appropriated to particular shops.
And the constant tendency of the Alexandrian mint was
to use fewer distinct reverse-types when the total
output was larger : thus, in the busiest year the mint
ever had year 12 of Nero only two reverse-types were
used, while in many years of which the coins are comparatively
rare from ten to twenty different reverse-types can
be found : so that on general grounds it does not seem
that the types of the reverses will give much guidance
in discriminating between shop issues.
We
may now proceed to consider the tetradrachms of each
reign and see whether any points of distinction can
be found for separating coins of a particular year
into two or more series.*
The
tetradrachms of Tiberius are constant in their legend
and in their types the head of Tiberius on the obverse
and that of the deified Augustus on the reverse. The
earliest issue, of year 7, has both heads to r. : but
afterwards the heads of obverse and reverse are in
different directions, and, after year 11, in each year
when tetradrachms were struck—years 14 and 18
to 23 inclusive—except in year 23, examples occur
with the head of Tiberius r. and that of Augustus l.
and vice versa : so there were two clearly marked parallel
series. In year 21 a lituus is found in the field of
the reverse of some coins
of both series : this seems a casual introduction,
but is of some importance in relation to the issues
of Claudius.
There
are no Alexandrian tetradrachms of Caligula : under
Claudius these coins were struck, in considerable quantity,
in years 2 to 6 inclusive. The regular reverse type
is Messalina with her children: in year 2 the bust
of Antonia is also found. There are two possible clues
for division of the issues. The coins with the Messalina-type
fall into two classes, according as they have or have
not a lituus in the field of the reverse : the class
without the lituus is much the commoner in each year.
Further, the legend on the obverse ends alternatively —ΑΥΤΟΚ or —ΑΥΤΟΚΡ :
this variation is not due to bad spacing on the part
of the engravers, as the shorter legend occurs in cases
where there is plenty of room for another letter. But
the variations of these two distinguishing marks are
not consistent : in years 2, 3, and 4, the coins without
the lituus on the reverse regularly have the longer
obverse legend, which is also that of the coins with
the Antonia reverse-type, which never had the lituus
: but in year 5 the shorter legend is the only one
found, both with and without the lituus on the reverse
: and in year 6, though both forms of legend are used,
they occur indifferently with and without the lituus.
On a few coins of year 4 the lituus is placed, not
on the reverse, but on the obverse, behind the head
of the emperor : these have the legend —ΑΥΤΟΚΡ.
On the whole, the lituus seems to be the more consistently
used of the two distinctions, and is more likely to
be a shop-mark: though the practice of the first three
years might be held to show that the variation of the
legend was an equally important test, and in that case
in year 5, when the issue was greatly reduced, the
shops were combined and used the same form of legend,
while in year 6, when the output increased again, the
old combination was not renewed. Statistics from three
large hoards (the numbers for which are given separately)
will show the comparative size of the two series.
| |
Rev.
without lituus
|
Rev.
with lituus
|
Lituus
on obv.
|
| Year
2 |
49
: 24 : 11
|
8
: 1 : 6
|
|
| Year
3 |
81
: 34 : 18
|
10
: 12 : 3
|
|
| Year
4 |
41
: 24 : 8
|
6
: 3 : 1
|
11
: 9 : 2
|
| Year
5 |
15
: 7 : 1
|
6
: 2 : 4
|
|
| Year
6 |
21
: 71 : 15
|
12
: 1 : 4
|
|
A
variation in the treatment of the emperor's head on
some specimens should also be noted, in view of a similar
phenomenon in a later reign. Occasionally one end of
the ties of the wreath, instead of hanging straight
down, which is the normal position in the Alexandrian
portrait of Claudius, is brought forward across the
neck. This is, however, very rare, and as the examples
which I have noted, belonging to years 3 and 4, appear
to be from dies executed by the same hand, I am inclined
to think that it is merely an idiosyncrasy of the artist.
The
first period of the tetradrachm issues of Nero runs
from year 3 to year 6 : and the same set of reverse-types
is used in each year. The only noteworthy change is
in the legend of the obverse : in year 3 it runs ΝΕΡΚΛΑΥΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΓΕΡΑΥΤΟ :
the same form is found in year 4, and also ΝΕΡΚΛΑΥΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑΓΕΡΑΥΤΟ :
this is continued in year 5, and another, ΝΕΡΩΝΚΛΑΥΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑΓΕΡΑΥΤΟ also
appears : the last only is used in year 6. These changes
seem to be successive rather than concurrent, and are
therefore hardly likely to be shop-marks. After a brief
interval, the mint resumed issues in year 9, apparently
under new direction, as not only the types, but the
whole style and execution of the coins are altered.
The output was very small, and specimens are rare :
but it is noteworthy that a star occurs on the reverse
in some cases, while others have similar reverse-types
without the star. It would, however, hardly be safe
to draw conclusions as to the meaning of this symbol
from the scanty evidence available for this year. During
the next three years, on the other hand, there are
abundant coins, but no clear series. Year 10 has three
obverse types, each used with a distinct reverse-type,
viz. :
(A)
|
ΝΕΡΩΚΛΑΥΚΑΙΣΣΕΒΓΕΡ
|
Head
r. laur. (Rev.,
bust of Nilus.) |
(B)
|
Do.
|
Head
r. rad. (Rev.,
bust of Sarapis.) |
(C)
|
ΝΕΡΩΚΛΑΥΚΑΙΣΣΕΒΓΕΡΑΥ
|
Head
r. rad. (Rev., bust of Poppaea.) |
[The
explanation of the difference in legend between (B)
and (C) is doubtless that the reverse-type used with
(B), like that with (A), has the legend ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑ.]
In
year 11 (B) and (C) recur, with the same reverse-types,
and a fresh obverse and reverse are found.
(D)
|
ΝΕΡΩΚΛΑΥΚΑΙΣΣΕΒΓΕΡ
|
Bust
r. rad. wearing aegis. (Rev., eagle l., palm across.) |
the
reverse-type sometimes having a simpulum in the field.
Year 12 shows only (D), with the eagle-type, always
accompanied by the simpulum, and a new type, the bust
of Alexandria. (D) continues into year 13, when it
is used with fresh reverses—busts of Apollo and
of Roma : and in the same year a new series begins;
but before this is discussed some statistics of the
numbers of examples belonging to the years 9 to 13
and falling under the foregoing types may be considered.
They are drawn from the same three hoards as those
cited for Claudius.
| Year
9 |
with
star
|
|
8
: — : 1
|
| |
w/o
star
|
|
— : — : —
|
| Year
10 |
(A)
|
|
7
: 1 : —
|
| |
(B)
|
|
167
: 71 : 9
|
| |
(C)
|
|
145
: 64 : 92
|
| Year
11 |
(B)
|
|
77
: 49 : 68
|
| |
(C)
|
|
101
: 50 : 49
|
| |
(D)
|
without
simpulum |
309
: 208 : 110
|
| |
(D)
|
with
simpulum |
78
: 32 : 18
|
| Year
12 |
(D)
|
Alexandria
(without simpulum) |
582
: 425 : 293
|
| |
(D)
|
Eagle
(with simpulum) |
30
: 19 : 6
|
| Year
13 |
(D)
|
without
simpulum |
64
: 49 : 42
|
There
is such wide variation in the number of coins of each
type in any one year that it seems to be adverse to
the conclusion that might be drawn from the number
of types considered alone—that in year 10 there
were three shops, using types (A), (B) and (C) respectively
: in year 11 the place of (A) was taken by (D), and
this type was shared by two shops, one of which had
the simpulum as its distinctive mark : in year 12 the
'simpulum' shop continued, but only one other group
was struck, the three other shops possibly combining
to produce the enormous output of the Alexandria reverse-type
: while in year 13 one shop may have still used (D)
and others the new obverse-type. This is
(E)
|
ΝΕΡΩΚΛΑΥΚΑΙΣΣΕΒΓΕΡΑΥ
|
Bust
l. rad. wearing aegis |
which
is the main obverse type of year 13 and the only one
of year 14 and in both years is associated with a set
of reverse-types derived from the Greek oecumenical
games— Zeus Olympios, Zeus Nemeios, Poseidon
Isthmios, Hera Argeia, Apollo Aktios, and Apollo Pythios:
also, in year 13, the heads of Augustus and Tiberius
and the imperial galley occur. The issues of year 13
of this series show no differentiating marks : but
in year 14 all types are found with and without a star
on the reverse, and this star may well be a shop-mark.
The specimens of this series in the three hoards used
above are:
| Year
13 |
|
423
: 306 : 222
|
| Year
14 |
(without
star) |
119
: 60 : 70
|
| Year
14 |
(with
star) |
124
: 66 : 56
|
so
that in year 14 at any rate there seems to have been
a fair balance between the issues with and without
the star. On the other hand in year 13 the number of
coins with obverse (E) is greatly in excess of those
with obverse (D), though the disproportion is not so
extreme as that between the two types of year 12.
The
coinage of Galba has been fully described in a previous
article,* and
reference may be made to that for the classification.
But the conclusions then reached appear to require
modification as regards the subject of the present
paper. In the first issue of Galba, which comprises
practically all the tetradrachms of year 1 the legend
of the obverse ends alternatively —ΑΥ or —ΑΥΤ,
examples of al types being about equally common with
either ending. I formerly suggested that the variation
was due to careless workmanship : but I am now inclined
to think that it was intentional, as in the case of
the ending of the obverse legend of Claudius, and may
have been designed to distinguish the shops. Further,
the coins of year 2 after a rare and anomalous group,
have a stable obverse legend, but are differentiated
by a symbol in the field of the reverse, some bearing
a star and others a simpulum. I regarded these symbols
as marking distinct issues, of which that with the
simpulum was the later : but they might well be shop-marks,
a symbol on the reverse being used as a distinction
in the second year instead of a variation in the obverse
legend as in the first. The numbers of 'star' and 'simpulum'
coins found in hoards are about equal.
A
few examples of 'simpulum' coins occur in the issues
of Otho, under whom the mint continued to use the same
five reverse-types as for Galba : but normally his
tetradrachms bear no symbol on the reverse, those with
a simpulum being only about one in ten. There is no
variation in his obverse-legends.
The
obverse-legend of Vitellius is also constant, and only
one reverse-type— Nike is used for him. This
type is, however alternatively to right or to left,
and, on the analogy of the coins of Tiberius, this
variation may be regarded as a shop-mark. The type
to l. is much the commoner : on an average seven specimens
of it occur for one of the type to r.
The
tetradrachms of Vespasian show very little variation.
The obverse legend is constant in each year, though
altered after year 1 : and the reverses have no symbols.
The types on the reverse are the same in each of his
first three years—standing figures of Eirene,
Eleutheria, Nike, Roma, and Alexandria, and the bust
of Titus : only the last occurs afterwards, in year
8. The sole possible mark of distinction that I know
is in the treatment of the ends of the tie of the wreath
on the emperor's head : sometimes both ends hang straight
down, sometimes one is brought forward on the neck.
An isolated instance of such a variation has been noted
in the reign of Claudius : it may be regarded as more
important in the issues of Vespasian, especially in
year 2, when the output of the mint was largest
: a hoard contained, for the first three years respectively
6, 48, and 4 specimens with one end forward to 1, 26,
and 1 with both ends straight.
Coins
of Titus are rare, and only of years 2 and 3 : his
obverse legends show no modifications, but in year
3 a star is sometimes found in the field of the reverse.
The number of specimens in one hoard was—year
2, 9 ; year 3 (without star) 19, (with star) 3.
The
tetradrachms of Domitian are so few* that
they may be disregarded for the present purpose : the
mint was mainly occupied with the issue of bronze coins.
Under
Nerva there was a fairly large output of billon; but
there are no marks of differentiation either on obverse
or reverse.
No
tetradrachms were struck for Trajan till his fifth
year : and thereafter, although issues were made in
every year except 13 and 17, they were usually very
small till year 15. The coins of years 5 and 6 are
more numerous than those of any of the next eight years
: but on none of them is there anything that could
be regarded as a shop-mark. In year 15 the point of
breakage of the obverse-legend is occasionally varied
: normally it runs ΑΥΤΤΡΑΙΑΝC ΕΒΓΕΡΜΔΑΚΙΚ,
but about one specimen in thirty has —CΕ Β— :
this is probably an accidental variation, and occurs
also in year 16. More importance may be attached to
the division of the obverse-legend in years 18, 19
and 20 : the commonest form in years 18 and 19 is ΑΥΤΤΡΑΙΑΝΑΡΙ CΕΒΓΕΡΜΔΑΚΙΚ,
but the break is also made at the points —ΑΝ ΑΡΙ—, —Α ΡΙ— and —CΕ Β— :
the numbers of examples of these respectively, in hoards
I have examined, are 18, 2, 1, and 5 belonging to year
18, and to year 19 13 of —ΑΡΙ CΕΒ— and
1 of —CΕ Β—.
The head of the emperor on these coins is laureate,
but in year 19 a radiate head is found with the same
legend, which is always of the form —ΑΡΙ CΕΒ—.
Later, in years 19 and 20, the title ΠΑΡ is
added to the legend, which is always associated with
a radiate head : the breakage-point is (a) —ΑΡΙ CΕΒΓ—,
(b) —ΑΡΙC ΕΒΓ—,
(c) —ΑΡΙCΕ ΒΓ—,
(d) —ΑΡΙCΕΒ Γ—,
of which the specimens in the hoards cited above were
:—in year 19, (a) 5, (b) 2, (C) 5, (d) 1; in
year 20, (a) 4, (b) 11, (c) 17, (d) 16, together with
3 of a new form, —CΕΒΓ ΕΡ—.
This evidence in itself would not be conclusive as
to attaching any meaning to the variations, but reason
will be shown later for regarding them as possibly
indicative of distinct shops. On all the tetradrachms
of the last three years there is a star in front of
the bust on the obverse : but, as this symbol is invariably
present, it cannot be regarded as a shop-mark. There
is very occasionally a departure from the normal in
the treatment of the ends of the wreath-tie, but too
rarely for any significance to be traced.
For
the early coinage of Hadrian reference may be made
to a recent article,* from
which it will be seen that in year 2 there were several
forms of obverse-legend employed, each of which showed
some variation in the breakage-point : also on some
issues there is a star on the obverse. Either or both
of these might be regarded as shop-marks; and I should
be inclined to treat the former at any rate as such.
In year 3 the breakage-point of the obverse-legend
is constant; the star still occurs on the obverse,
and there seem to be two parallel series, with and
without star, using the same reverse types. Similarly
in year 4, when a new obverse-type comes in, two series
may be distinguished, the differentiating mark being
a crescent on the obverse : in years 5 and 6 however,
though the same type is continued, and the issues were
fairly large, the crescent is always present, and so
ceases to be a differentiation. A fresh mark is found
in year 8, when one series still has the crescent,
and another a serpent in its place. But after this,
from year 9 to year 16, the obverse-type shows no variation,
and no symbol occurs : coins of these years are common,
but there is no obvious clue for separating the outputs
of different shops: the reverse-legend in years 9,
10 and 11 is divided irregularly, but I have not been
able to trace any method in the variation. Fresh obverse-types
come in in years 17 and 19 : it is not till year 20,
however, that parallel series can again be distinguished,
the differentiation in this case being in the form
of the obverse legend, which is alternatively (A) ΑΥΤΚΑΙCΤΡΑΙΑΝ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟCCΕΒ and
(B) ΑΥΤΚΑΙCΤΡΑ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟCCΕΒ,
both occurring with the same reverse-types. In year
21 the latter form is again found, with (C) ΑΥΤΚΑΙCΤΡΑΙΑ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟCCΕΒ as
an alternative; and both are used with the head of
the emperor either r. or l. A similar variation in
the position of the head, with legend (B) only, occurs
in year 22. If these series are parallel, however,
there is some disproportion between the number issued
in each series, according to the statistics derived
from five hoards—
| Year
20 |
Leg.
(A) |
Head
l. |
20
|
| |
Leg.
(B) |
Head
l. |
106
|
| Year
21 |
Leg.
(B) |
Head
r. |
55
|
| |
Leg.
(B) |
Head
l. |
20
|
| |
Leg.
(C) |
Head
r. |
3
|
| |
Leg.
(C) |
Head
l. |
6
|
| Year
22 |
Leg.
(B) |
Head
r. |
48
|
| |
Leg.
(B) |
Head
l. |
6
|
The
coinage of Antoninus Pius, unlike that of Hadrian,
presents a most complicated variety of obverse-types.
The portrait of the emperor may be to right or left,
a head or a bust, and, in the latter case, in front
or back view : it is usually laureate, but often in
years 2 and 3, and occasionally in years 11 and 12,
bare, and in year 23 sometimes radiate : and in most
years there are two or more of these varieties used
concurrently. The legends are even more confusing in
their divisions: in year 2 the full normal legend is ΑΥΤΚΤΑΙΛΑΔΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟCCΕΥCΕΒ,
which is also used in year 3 : but most coins of year
3 have ΑΥΤΚΤΑΙΛΑΔΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC,
and this continues through year 4 into year 5 : then
in the course of year 5 a fresh legend appears, ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CΕΒΕΥCΕΒ,
and this is used for the rest of the reign. But these
legends are arranged in a manner which is particularly
curious in the earlier forms : the fixed point is that
: the name ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC always
begins in front of the head or bust of the emperor,
and the rest follows with an apparently capricious
break : thus such readings as ΒΑΥΤΚΤΑΙΛΑΔΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟCCΕΥCΕ or ΤΚΤΑΙΛΑΔΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟCΑΥ constantly
occur : with the later legend there is not the same
unnatural look in such schemes as ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝ ΟCCΕΒΕΥCΕΒ.
To provide further variations, the emperor’s
name was frequently in years 9 to 11 spelt ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC,
and the form ΕΥCCΕΒ occurs
for ΕΥCΕΒ :
mistakes and retrograde legends are also numerous.
In view of all these facts, it seems hopeless at present
to trace any shop distinctions in the tangle of obverse-types
of Antoninus Pius : the subordinate issues of Marcus
Aurelius as Caesar are almost equally confused, although
the types of Faustina II under Antoninus are fairly
stable.
For
the same reasons the coinage of Aurelius and Verus
cannot be satisfactorily classified : though one of
the elements of complication found under Antoninus
is not present, as the legends, normally ΜΑΥΡΗΛΙΟC ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟCCΕΒ and ΛΑΥΡΗΛΙΟC ΟΥΗΡΟCCΕΒ,
are almost invariably divided naturally, there is a
tendency with the titles of both emperors to drop one,
two or three letters at the end of each half of the
legend, thus giving such forms as —ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟ, —ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟ,
or —ΑΥΡΗΛ, and —ΟCCΕ, —ΟCC,
or —ΟC :
and both are represented by a head or a bust, in front
or back view, to right or to left, laureate or bare-headed.
After year 10 of Aurelius, there was a gap of ten years
in the billon issues of the Alexandrian mint, except
for a few coins struck in year 17 : and when it recommenced
the production of tetradrachms in year 21 of Commodus,
it seems to have recovered its stabillity to some extent.
The portrait of the emperor is regularly a laureate
head to right, and the only variation in the obverse
is in the spelling of the legends. In 21 to 23 the
normal form is ΜΑΥΡΗΚΟΜΜ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟCCΕ but
this is modified by the substitution of —ΑΥΡ— for —ΑΥΡΗ—, —ΚΟΜΜΟ or —ΚΟΜ for —ΚΟΜΜ,
and —ΟCC or ΟC— for—ΟCCΕ :
and as two or more of these alternatives may come on
the same coin, there is a considerable range of possible
readings : I have noted eleven. In year 24 the legend
is changed to ΜΑΚΟΜΑΝΤΩ CΕΒΕΥCΕΒ,
which is only varied by —ΚΟ— for —ΚΟΜ— in
years 24 and 25, and —ΕΥCΕΒΗC for —ΕΥCΕΒ in
year 26* :
thereafter it is constant till year 311 when a new
style is adopted of ΛΑΙΛΑΥΡΚΟΜ CΕΕΥCΕΕΥΤΥ,
the second half also appearing as ΕΥCΕΕΥΤΥ.
The
very rare Alexandrian issues of Pertinax and Pescennius
Niger do not furnish any evidence for our purpose:
and there is not much to be derived from those of Septimius
Severus, whose tetradrachms are also uncommon except
in years 2 to 6. The legend of years 2 and 3 is ΑΥΤΚΛCΕΠΤCΕΟΥ ΗΡΟCΠΕΡΤCΕΒ,
which is varied by being broken —CΕΟ ΥΗΡ— or —CΕ ΟΥΗΡ— :
in year 4 it is ΑΥΤΚΛCΕΠCΕΥΗΕΥ CΕΠΕΡΤCΕΒΑΡΑΑΔΙ,
and this also shows variety in the breakage-point, —ΕΥCΕ ΠΕΡΤ— occurring.
There are a fair number of coins of Domna of years
2 to 6, but on these the legend is constant. After
year 6 the issues of Severus and Domna, and likewise
those of Caracalla, Geta, and Macrinus, are too sporadic
and rare to be of any use here.
With
the accession of Elagabalus billon coinage begins to
be plentiful again. In the obverse-types of the emperor
himself there is little variation : the legend is normally ΑΚΑΙCΑΡΜΑΑΥΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC ΕΥCΕΒ,
the last word being under the head, but in year 1 the
break at the bottom is sometimes —ΕΥ CΕΒ or —ΕΥC ΕΒ,
and in year 2 —Ε ΥCΕΒ occurs
as well as these two varieties, : after this the legend
is constant, though in year 5 the portrait is a bust
instead of a head : there is also some change in the
treatment of the ends of the wreath-tie, both of which
at first hang down, but in year 2 one is occasionally
curled upwards : in year 3 one is brought forward sometimes,
and this is the regular arrangement in year 4 : the
two schemes are about equally common in year 5. The
subordinate coinage of Julia Paula (years 3 and 4),
Aquilia Severa (years 4 and 5), Annia Faustina (year
5), Julia Soaemias (years 4 and 5) and Alexander Caesar
(year 5) have no variations at all in their obverses.
But that of Julia Maesa is different in this respect:
in year 2 the legend is, like that of Elagabalus in
the same year, variable, and has two main forms: one, ΙΟΥΛΙΑ ΜΑΙCΑCΕΒ,
is stable, but the other, normally ΙΟΥΜΑΙCΑ CΕΒΜΗCΤΡΑ,
sometimes reads ΙΟΥΛ— for ΙΟΥ—, CΕ— for CΕΒ—,
or —ΜΗΤ— for —ΜΗ— :
in year 3 the regular legend is ΙΟΥΛΜΑΙCΑ CΕΒΜΗCΤΡΑ,
with the variant —ΜΗ—: the same
continues in year 4 : and in year 5 it becomes ΙΟΥΛΜΑΙCΑ CΕΒΜΗCΤΡΑ or —CΕΒΑΜΗCΤΡΑ.
It is difficult to trace any significance in these
changes: and the exact relation of the subordinate
coinage to those of the emperor is not clear: it may
be noted that the reverse types of Maesa in year 2
are distinct from those of Elagabalus, and in year
3 several reverse types are shared by Maesa and Paula
which do not occur on coins of
Elagabalus: but in years 4 and 5 the same reverse-types
are used for all members of the imperial house. The
output in the names of Maesa and Paula in the years
when they had their own reverses was comparatively
larger than that for any of the other subordinate issues,
except that for Alexander Caesar, as will be seen from
the following list of specimens in four hoards.
| |
Year
2
|
Year
3
|
Year
4
|
Year
5
|
| Elagabalus |
46
|
52
|
96
|
30
|
| J.
Paula |
—
|
14
|
1
|
—
|
| A.
Severa |
—
|
—
|
1
|
3
|
| A.
Faustina |
—
|
—
|
—
|
6
|
| J.
Soaemias |
10
|
12
|
—
|
—
|
| Alexander
Caes. |
—
|
—
|
—
|
29
|
The
series of Severus Alexander begins with some very stable
types. The legend on the obverse in year 1 is ΑΚΑΙΜΑΡΑΥΡCΕΥΗΡΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟCΕΥCΕΒ,
running round usually without a break, but occasionally
interrupted —ΟC ΕΥCΕΒ,
the last word being under the bust: the latter form
of the legend is the normal one in year 2 : in year
3 a second break is introduced above the head at the
point —ΥΗΡ ΑΛ—.
The portrait is throughout a bust to right, but is
varied each year, becoming older in appearance: this
annual modification continues into year 4. In years
3 and 4 the breakage point above the head is sometimes —ΥΗΡ ΑΛ— or —Υ ΗΡΑΛ— and —ΑΥ— occurs
in place of —ΑΥΡ—. The original
form of legend without a break is also used in year
4, with a smaller bust, the lettering being so arranged
that no part is below the bust : this continues into
year 5. A very similar bust is found in years 5 and
6, with the legend ΑΚΑΙΜΑΑΥΡCΕΥΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟCΕΥ :
but this legend, unlike the previous one, shows many
variations, in the use of —ΚΑ— for —ΚΑΙ—, —ΜΑΡ— for —ΜΑ—, —ΑΥ— for —ΑΥΡ— and
the endings —ΟC, —ΟCΕ, —ΟCΕΥC, —ΟCΥCΕ,
or —ΟCΥCΕΒ besides
some obvious blunders: there are at least 19 different
forms In year 5 also an obverse-type of very distinct
style, with the legend ΑΚΑΙΜΑΥΡCΕΟΥΗΡΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟCΕΥCΕΒ,
was introduced, and used during years 6 and 7 : I have
discussed this elsewhere,* and
it may certainly be regarded as representing a break
in the traditions of the mint and belonging to a special
set of workmen and probably to a separate shop. In
year 7 what may be called the ordinary series has the
bust in front view, that of all previous years being
in back view : the legend is ΑΚΑΙΜΑΡΑΥCΕΥΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟCΕΥ,
with variants of —ΜΑ— for—ΜΑΡ—, —ΑΥΡ— for —ΑΥ—,
and —ΟC or —ΟCΕΥC for —ΟCΕΥ :
this type covers also years 8 and 9. The disposition
of the bust in the type of year 10 which is used till
year returns to that of the earliest series : the legend
is ΑΚΑΙΜΑΡΑΥΡCΕΥΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟCΕΥ,
with common variations in the termination as —ΟC, —ΟCΕ,
and —ΟCΕΥC :
there are also rarer instances of —ΚΑ— for —ΚΑΙ—, —ΜΑ— for —ΜΑΡ—,
and —ΑΥ— for —ΑΥΡ—,
and occasional misspellings. The legend is the same,
with the same variations (except —ΟCΕΥC)
in the termination, in year 14, when the bust is again
turned to the front. The subordinate issues of Orbiana
are unimportant: but those of Mamaea show an interesting
parallelism with her son's. Her types are at first
stable : in year 3 the legend is ΙΟΥΜΑΜΑΙΑΝ ΜΗΤCΡCΕΒ,
in year 4 ΙΟΥΜΑΜΑΙΑΝ CΕΒΜΗΤCΤΡΑ,
the Ν being occasionally omitted in the latter
year : in year 5 there are, as in the case of Alexander,
two issues, one with the legend ΙΟΥΛΙΜΑΜΕΑCΕΒΜΗΤCΤΡΑ,
and another with ΙΟΥΛΙΜΑΜΗΑCΕΜΗΤCΤΡΑ :
in year 7 the legend becomes ΙΟΥΜΑΜΕΑ C Ε Β Α ΜΗΤCΤΡ :
then, after one or two apparently exceptional types,
in year 10 a fresh series begins with the legend ΙΟΥΜΑΜΑΙΑ CΕΒ ΜΗΤΕCΕΒΚCΤΡΑ,
which, like the contemporary series of Alexander, has
regular variations in the termination of —CΤ or —CΤΡ,
besides such forms as ΜΗΤ— for ΜΗΤΕ—, —CΒ— for —CΕΒ—,
and —CΕΚ— for —CΕΒΚ—,
with more obvious misspellings. This series goes on
to year 13, and in year 14 the same legend is used
but without a break. The blunders in the legends are
so numerous that any conclusions drawn from the variants
can only be accepted with hesitation : but the parallel
treatment of the terminations in the legends of Alexander
and Mamaea from year 10 onwards seems significant.
The
issues of Maximinus and his son are more easily classified.
The obverse legend of the emperor in years 1 and 2
is ΑΥΤΟΜΑΞΙΜΙΝΟCΕΥCCΕΒ :
in years 3 and 4 the form —ΕΥCΕΒ is
also used, both
forms being associated with the same reverse-types
and about equally numerous. The coinage of Maximus
Caesar begins in year 2, with the legend ΓΙΟΥΛΟΥΗΡΜΑΞΙΜΟCΚΑΙ :
in year 3 there is also a second form, with the spelling —ΟΥΡ— for —ΟΥΗΡ— :
in year 4 a variant is produced by the ending —ΑΙ for —ΚΑΙ.
The simultaneous introduction of alternative legends
both for father and son is important.
The
Alexandrian coins of Gordian I are fairly common, and
have a legend with a variant termination, ΑΚΜΑΝΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟCCΕΜΑΦΚΒ or —ΕΥCΕ being
found in much the same proportion of specimens and
with the same types on the reverse. The issues of Gordian
II, Balbinus, and Pupienus are too rare to furnish
any evidence : but those of Gordian III as Caesar are
commoner, and also show alternative terminations of
the legend, which runs ΜΑΝΤΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟCΚΑΙC or —ΚΑΙCΑ.
The
tetradrachms of Gordian III as Emperor fall into two
groups. The first runs from year 2 to year 5, and the
obverse legend is ΛΚΜΑΝΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟCΕΥCΕ or —ΕΥC,
very rarely —ΕΥCΕΒ :
the portrait is a bust to right, in back view on one
of the series of year 2, in front view on the other
and on those of the next three years. In year 5 the
legend is changed to ΑΚΜΑΝΤΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟCΕΥC or —ΕΥ :
in years 6 and 7 the termination is always —ΕΥ but
the legend is broken in most cases at the points —Γ ΟΡΔ— or —ΓΟ ΡΔ—,
rarely —ΓΟΡ Δ— the
unbroken form occurs frequently in year 6, but rarely
in year 7. These facts suggest that the variation in
the break of the legend was intended to serve the same
purpose on the later coins as the variation in the
termination : the number of specimens of the different
types found in two hoards will illustrate the point.
| |
Year
2
|
Year
3
|
Year
4
|
Year
5
|
Year
6
|
Year
7
|
| ΑΚΜΑΝΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟCΕΥCΕΒ |
1
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
— ΕΥCΕ
|
18
|
28
|
20
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
— ΕΥC
|
4
|
8
|
27
|
9
|
—
|
—
|
| ΑΚΜΑΝΤΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟCΕΥC |
—
|
—
|
—
|
3
|
—
|
—
|
— ΕΥ
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
34
|
26
|
5
|
— Γ ΟΡΔ —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
11
|
20
|
— ΓΟ ΡΔ —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
16
|
33
|
— ΓΟΡ Δ —
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
2
|
The
coins of Tranquillina show less variation : they belong
to years 5, 6, and 7, and usually have the legend CΑΒΤΡΑΝΚΥΛΛΕΙΝΑCΕΒ,
sometimes broken —ΝΚ ΥΛ— or —ΝΚΥ Λ— in
year 6, and ending —CΕ on
one or two examples of year 5.
The
foregoing classification of the issues of Gordian III
into two groups is borne out by the evidence derived
from those of Philip I. Here the first group, covering
years 1 to 3, has a legend differentiated in the same
manner as on the later coins of Gordian by changes
in the breakage-point : the forms are ΑΚΜΙΟΥΦΙΛΙΠΠΟCΕΥCΕΒ,
unbroken, or broken —Φ ΙΛΙΠ—, —ΦΙ ΛΙΠ—, —ΦΙΛ ΙΠ— or —ΦΙΛΙ Π— :
very rarely the legend ends —ΕΥCΕΥCΕΒ.
In the second group, covering years 4 to 7, the differentiation
of the legend, which is always unbroken, is by the
termination, varying between ΑΚΜΙΟΥΦΙΛΙΠΠΟCΕΥCΕΒ, —ΕΥCΕ, —ΕΥC, —ΕΥ,
and —Ε. The following statistics are drawn
from the same two hoards as in the figures for Gordian
:—
| |
Year2
|
Year
3
|
Year
4
|
Year
5
|
Year
6
|
Year
7
|
Year
8
|
| ΑΚΜΙΟΥΦΙΛΙΠΠΟCΕΥCΕΒ |
8
|
88
|
48
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
— ΦΙΛΙ Π —
|
5
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
— ΦΙΛ ΙΠ —
|
24
|
5
|
3
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
— ΦΙ ΛΙΠ —
|
18
|
16
|
23
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
— Φ ΙΛΙΠ —
|
—
|
5
|
3
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
| ΑΚΜΙΟΥΦΙΛΙΠΠΟCΕΥCΕΒ |
—
|
—
|
—
|
8
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
— ΕΥCΕ
</ | |
