Greek and Roman: Coins

The Topic:

Greek and Roman coins are part of the field of study called "numismatics" and are useful because they are examples of both material culture and pieces of art history. Inscriptions and individuals appearing on coins tell us their date, and are helpful when found in archaeological contexts. However, the decoration on coins - from Athenian statesmen to emperors' faces to monuments - can be particularly informative about topics including: politics, imperial propaganda, contemporary architectural monuments, cult practice, military functioning, and - as you'd suspect - economic matters in the ancient world. To students (and secretly scholars as well), the field of numismatics is either extremely interesting or extremely boring. You'll have to study a few coins to decide for yourself!

Suggested Reading Method from Noreña, C. 2011 (cited fully below):

The best introduction to coinage in the ancient Greek and Roman world is Howgego 1995. For the Roman coinage, Burnett 1987 covers the central coinage, and Butcher 1988 the local coinages of the empire; shorter introductions include Pobjoy 2006 (republican coinage) and Metcalf 2006 (imperial and provincial coinage). The major reference works on the central coinage are, for the republic, Crawford Roman Republican Coinage (RRC), and for the empire, Roman Imperial Coinage (RIC) and Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum (BMCRE). The most important current research project on Roman coinage is the multi-volume Roman Provincial Coinage (RPC), of which several volumes have appeared; updates to the project, as well as a database with images, can be found at the RPC Online: Roman Provincial Coinage Project site: http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/project/.

Bibliography:

* Indicates particularly important studies. Please read above for recommendations for acquainting yourself with the topic.

Adkins, L. & R. 1994. “Coinage” In Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome, 305-14. New York: Oxford University Press.

Alföldi, A. 1956. "The Main aspects of political propaganda on the coinage of the Roman Republic." In Carson and Sutherland 1956: 63-95.

Archibald, Z. 2001. Hellenistic Economies. CITY: Psychology Press. (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Bastien, P. 1972. Le Buste monétaire des empereurs romains. 3 Vols. Wetteren: Édition Numismatique Romaine, Essais, recherches et documents 19. (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Bay, A. 1972. “The Letters SC on Augustan aes coinage.” JRS 62: 111-122. (Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/298932)

Berk, H. 2008. 100 Greatest Ancient Coins. (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Burnett, A. 1977. “The Authority to Coin in the Late Republic and Early Empire.” Numismatic Chronicle 137: 37-63. (Unavailable)

*---. 1987. Coinage in the Roman World. London: Seaby. (Available at ___) (Should provide a suitable chapter for RoS)

---. 2002. "Latin on Coins of the Western Empire." In A.E. Cooley, Ed. Becoming Roman, Writing Latin? Literacy and Epigraphy in the Roman West. Portsmouth, R.I.: Journal of Roman Archaeology, Supplement 48, 33-40. (Available at ___) (Should provide a suitable chapter)

---. 2005. "The Roman West and the Roman East." In Howgego, Heuchert, and Burnett. 2005: 171-80. (Ask me for a digital copy)

*Butcher, K. 1988. Roman Provincial Coins: An Introduction to the 'Greek Imperials.' London: Seaby. (Available at ___) (Should provide a suitable chapter)

---. 2004. Coinage in Roman Syria: Northern Syria, 64 BC - AD 253. London: Royal Numismatic Society. (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Buttery, T. V. 1972. "Vespasian as Moneyer." Numismatic Chronicle 7th ser. 12: 89-109. (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Carradice, I. 1983. Coinage and Finances in the Reign of Domitian AD 81-96. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports. (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

---. 1995. Greek Coins. (Available at ___) (Should provide a suitable chapter)

Carson, R.A.G., and C.H.V. Sutherland, Eds. 1956. Essays in Roman Coinage presented to Harold Mattingly. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (Unavailable)

Charlesworth, M. 1937. "The Virtues of a Roman Emperor: Propaganda and the Creation of Belief." Proceedings of the British Academy 123: 103-133. (Available at ___) (Should provide a suitable chapter)

Crawford, M.H. 1970. "Money and Exchange in the Roman World." JRS 60: 40-8. (JSTOR Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/299412)

---. 1983. “Roman Imperial Coin Types and the Formation of Public Opinion.” Studies in Numismatic Method.

---. 1985. Coinage and Money under the Roman Republic. Berkeley: University of California Press. (Should provide a suitable chapter)

Dahmen, K. 2007. The Legend of Alexander the Great on Greek and Roman Coins. London and New York: Routledge. (Well-illustrated and excellent current study) (Should provide a suitable chapter) (Ask me for a digital copy.)

Duncan-Jones, R. 1994. Money and Government in the Roman Empire. Cambridge: University Press. (Should provide a suitable chapter)

Ellul, J. 1973. Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes. New York: Vintage Books. (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Evans, J. 1992. The Art of Persuasion: Political Propaganda from Aeneas to Brutus. Chapter 1 (Available at ___)

Grant, M. 1958. Roman History from Coins. Cambridge England: University Press. (Rather dated, so not the best choice) (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Harl, K. 1987. Civic Coins and Civic Politics in the Roman East A.D. 180-275. Berkeley: University of California Press. (Available at ___) (Should provide a suitable chapter)

---. 1996. Coinage in the Roman Economy, 300 BC – AD 700, Part 700. (Available at ___) (Should provide a suitable chapter)

Harris, W.V. 2006. "A Revisionist View of Roman Money." JRS 96: 1-24. (Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20430486)

*---, Ed. 2008. The Monetary Systems of the Greeks and Romans. Oxford: University Press. (Available at ___) (Should provide a suitable chapter)

Hasler, K. 1980. Studient zu Wesen und Wert des Geldes in der römischen Kaiserzeit von Augustus bis Severus Alexander.

Hekster, O.J. 2003. “Coins and Messages: Audience targeting on coins of different denominations?” In L. de Blois, Ed. The Representation and Perception of Roman Imperial Power, 20-35. Amsterdam: Gieben. (Available at ___) (Should provide a suitable chapter)

Heuchert, V. 2005. "The Chronological development of Roman Provincial Coin Iconography." In Howgego, Heuchert, and Burnett 2005: 29-56. (Ask me for a digital copy)

Hill, P. 1989. The Monuments of Ancient Rome as Coin Types. Seaby: London (Includes the Ara Pacis) (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Hölscher, T. 1980. "Die Geschichtsauffassung in der römischen Repräsentationskunst." Jahrbuch des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts 95: 265-321.

---. 1982. "Die Bedeutung der Münzen für das Verständnis der politischen Repräsentationskunst der späten römischen Republik." In T. Hackens and R. Weiller, Eds., Actes du 9ème Congrès International de Numismatique. Louvain-la-Neuve: Association Internationale des Numismates Professionnels. 269-82.

---. 1984. Staatsdenkmal und Publikum: vom Untergang der Republik bis zur Festigung des Kaisertums in Rom. Konstanz: Konstanzer althistorische Vorträge und Forschungen 9.

Howgego, C. 1990. "Why did Ancient States Strike Coins?" Numismatic Chronicle 150: 1-25. (Unknown availability)

*---. 1992. "The Supply and Use of Money in the Roman World 200 B.C. to A.D. 300." JRS 82: 1-31. (Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/301282)

*---. 1994. "Coin Circulation and the Integration of the Roman Economy." JRA 7: 5-21. (Ask me for a copy)

---. 1995. Ancient History from Coins. London and New York: Routledge. (Should provide a suitable chapter)

---. 2005. "Coinage and Identity in the Roman Provinces." In Howgego, Heuchert, and Burnett 2005: 1-18. (Ask me for a digital copy)

*Howgego, C., V. Heuchert, and A. Burnett. 2005. Coinage and Identity in the Roman Provinces. (Excellent recent study. Available at ___. Excerpts available under Burnett 2005, Heuchert 2005, and Howgego 2005)

Jones, A.H.M. 1956. "Numismatics and History." In Carson and Sutherland 1956: 13-33. (Above)

Jones, T.B. 1963. "A Numismatic Riddle: the so called Greek Imperials." Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 107: 308-47. (Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/985674) (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Katsari, C. 2011. The Roman Monetary System: The Eastern Provinces from the First to the Third Century AD. (Discussion of the system and not iconography, but provides a good recent bibliography) (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

King, C.E. 1999. "Roman Portraiture: Images of Power?" In Paul and Ierardi 1999: 123-36. (Below)

Kraay, C. 1978. "The Bronze Coinage of Vespasian: Classification and Attribution." In R.A.G. Carson and C. Kraay, Eds., Scripta Nummaria Romana: Essays Presented to Humphrey Sutherland. London: Spink and Son, 47-57.

Kraft, K. 1972. Das System der kaiserzeitlichen Münzprägung in Kleinasien. Berlin: Gebr. Mann Verlag.

Le Rider, G. 2007. Alexander the Great: coinage, finances, and policy. (Available at ___)

Levick, B. 1982. “Propaganda and the Imperial Coinage.” Antichthon 16: 104-16. (Unavailable locally)

Mattingly, H. 2004. From Coins to History: selected numismatic studies. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. (Should provide a suitable chapter)

Meadows, A. 2001. “Moneta and the Monuments: coinage and politics in Republican Rome.” JRS 91: 27-49. (Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3184768)

Meadows, A. and K. Shipton. 2004. Money and its uses in the ancient Greek world. Oxford: University Press. (Especially Ch. 4, 6, and the plates) (Available at Auraria?)

Metcalf, W.E. 1989. "Rome and Lugdunum Again." American Journal of Numismatics 1: 51-70. (Available at ___)

---. 1993. "Whose Liberalitas? Propaganda and Audience in the Early Roman Empire." Rivista italiana di numismatica e scienze affini 95: 337-46. (Unavailable locally)

*---. 2006. "Roman Imperial Numismatics." In D.S. Potter, Ed. A Companion to the Roman Empire. Oxford: Blackwell, 35-44. (Ask me for a copy)

Millar, F. 2004. "Cash Distributions in Rome and Imperial Minting." In H. Cotton and G. Rogers, Eds. Government, Society and Culture in the Roman Empire, vol. 2 of Rome, the Greek World, and the East. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 89-104. (Ask me for a copy)

Noreña, C. 2001. "The Communication of the Emperor's Virtues." JRS 91: 146-68. (Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3184774)

---. 2003. "Medium and Message in Vespasian's Templum Pacis." MAAR 48: 25-43. (Available at ___)

*---. 2011(a). “Coins and Communication.” In The Oxford Handbook of Social Relations in the Roman World. Michael Peachin, Ed., 248-68. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. (Ask me for a copy)

*---. 2011(b). Imperial Ideals in the Roman West. (Available at LoC, Georgetown) (Ask me for a copy of Chs. 1-2, which are suitable for Review of Scholarship)

Paul, G.M., et al. 2002. Roman Coins and Public Life Under the Empire. (Available at ___, should provide a suitable chapter)

Peachin, M. 1986. "The Procurator Monetae." Numismatic Chronicle 146: 94-106. (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

*Pobjoy, M. 2006. "Epigraphy and Numismatics." In N. Rosenstein and R. Morstein-Marx, Eds. A Companion to the Roman Republic. Oxford: Blackwell, 51-80. (Ask me for a copy)

Polanyi, K. 1968. "The Semantics of Money-Uses." In G. Dalton, Ed. Primitive, Archaic and Modern Economies: Essays of Karl Polanyi. Garden City: Doubleday Anchor, 175-203. (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Rich, J. and J. Williams. 1999. "Leges et iura P.R. restituit: A New Aureus of Octavian and the Settlement of 28-27 BC." Numismatic Chronicle 159: 169-213. (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Ripollès, P. 2005. "Coinage and Identity in the Roman Provinces: Spain." In Howgego, Heuchert, and Burnett 2005: 79-93. (See above)

Sayles, W. 2007. Ancient Coin Collecting III: The Roman World – Politics and Propaganda. (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Seltman, C. 1949. Masterpieces of Greek Coinage: Essay and Commentary. (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Stewart, R. 1997. "The Jug and Lituus on Roman Republican Coin Types: Ritual Symbols and Political Power." Phoenix 51 (2): 170-189. (Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1088493) (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Strack, P. 1931-1937. Untersuchungen zur römischen Reichsprägungen des 2. Jahrhunderts. 3 vols. Stuttgart: W. Kohlhammer.

Sutherland, C.H.V. 1951. Coinage in Roman Imperial Policy, 31 BC - AD 68. London: Methuen. (Ch. 2-4) (Dated) (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

---. 1974. Roman Coins. (Should provide a suitable chapter)

Tameanko, M. 1999. Monumental Coins: buildings and structures in ancient coinage. (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Trillmich, W. 1988. "Münzpropaganda." In M. Hofter, Ed. Kaiser Augustus und die verlorene Republik. 474-528. Mainz: Philipp von Zabern.

Van Meter, D. 2000. Handbook of Roman Imperial Coins. (Unavailable)

Von Reden, S. 2010. Money in Classical Antiquity. (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Walker, D.R. 1988. Roman Coins from the Sacred Spring at Bath. Oxford: University Committee for Archaeology. (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

Wallace-Hadrill, A. 1981. "Galba's Aequitas." Numismatic Chronicle 141: 20-39. (Unavailable locally) (Unsuitable for Review of Scholarship)

**---. 1986. "Image and Authority in the Coinage of Augustus." JRS 76: 66-87. (Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/300366)

Weiss, P. 2005. "The Cities and their Money." In Howgego, Heuchert, and Burnett 2005: 57-68. (See above)

Wolters, R. 1999. Nummi Signati: Untersuchungen zur römischen Münzprägung und Geldwirtschaft. Munich: Verlag C. H. Beck.

---. 2003. "Die Geschwindigkeit der Zeit und die Gefahr der Bilder: Münzbilder und Münzpropaganda in der römischen Kaiserzeit." In G. Weber and M. Zimmermann, Eds. Propaganda - Selbstdarstellung - Repräsentation im römischen Kaiserreich des I. Jhs. n. Chr. Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag, 175-204.

Depictions of Alexander:

Start here:

Dahmen, K. 2007. The Legend of Alexander the Great on Greek and Roman Coins. London and New York: Routledge. (Ask me for a copy)

For a commentary on Dahmen, see:

Ireland, S. 2007. "Review of: Karsten Dahmen, The Legend of Alexander the Great on Greek and Roman Coins. London and New York: Routledge, 2007." BMCR 2007.07.55 (URL: http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2007/2007-07-55.html)

Sources from Dahmen's bibliography:

Arnold-Biucchi, C. 2007. Alexander's Coins and Alexander's Image. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Art Museums. (Available at LoC)

Bauslaugh, R.A. 2000. Silver Coinage with the types of Aesillas the Quaestor. ANS Numismatic Studies 22. New York. (LoC, UVA)

Bellinger, A.R. 1961. Troy: The Coins. Supplementary Monograph 2. Princeton: University Press. (LoC)

---. 1963. Essays on the Coinage of Alexander the Great. ANS Numismatic Studies II. New York. (LoC, UVA)

Bieber, M. 1964. Alexander the Great in Greek and Roman Art. Chicago: Argonaut. (LoC)

Boardman, J. 1993. The Oxford History of Classical Art. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. (Review the chapter on the Hellenistic world for relevant information.) (Available at NOVA)

Bosworth, A.B. 2002. The Legacy of Alexander: Politics, warfare and propaganda under the successors. Oxford: University Press. (GMU DE86.B67 2002)

Burnett, A., U. Wartenberg, and R. Witschonke, Eds. 1998. Coins of Macedonia and Rome: Essays in Honour of Charles Hersch. London: Spink (must be requested via ILL)

Gardiakos, S. et al. 1981. The Coinages of Alexander the Great. Chicago: Obol International. (UVA)

Holt, F.L. 2003. Alexander the Great and the mystery of the elephant medallions. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. (GMU CJ385.H65 2003 in the Johnson Center)

Howgego, C.J. 1985. Greek Imperial Countermarks. The Royal Numismatic Society. London. (UVA)

---. 1995. Ancient History from Coins. London and New York: Routledge. (Fairfax County Public Library, GMU)

Morkholm, O. 1991. Early Hellenistic Coinage from the accession of Alexander to the peace of Apameia (336 - 186 BC). Cambridge: University Press. (Georgetown, LoC)

Moreno, P. 1995. Lisippo: L'Arte e la Fortuna. Exhibition Catalogue Rome. Milan: Fabbri. (Lysippos made a number of portraits of Alexander and was the ruler's preferred artist) (Georgetown, LoC)

Price, M.J. 1981. "A Portrait of Alexander the Great from Egypt." In NNF-NYTT (The Norwegian Numismatic Journal). 10: 32-7. (Unavailable)

---. 1991a. The Coinage in the name of Alexander the Great and Philip Arrhidaeus. Zurich and London: British Museum Press and The Swiss Numismatic Society. (Smithsonian libraries)

---. 1991b. "Circulation at Babylon in 323 BC." In W. Metcalf, Ed. Mnemata: Papers in memory of Nancy M. Waggoner. New York, 63-72. (LoC)

Smith. R.R.R. 1988. Hellenistic Royal Portraits. Oxford: Clarendon Press. (GMU DF235.3.S64 1988)