Two Roman hoards of coins from Egypt / by J.G. Milne

8/7/2019 Two Roman hoards of coins from Egypt / by J.G. Milne

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TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT.By J. G. MILNE, M.A.

The two hoards of fourth-century Roman bronze coins heredescribed were obtained in Egypt by Professor Petrie: and, as theycover a period on which not much work has been done, a detailedaccount of their contents may be of value.The classification adopted is by means of reverse types and mints.It does not seem necessary to refer at length to the obverse types,which exhibit little variation in most reigns concerned: any pointsof interest are mentioned in the notes prefixed to each list. Thetypes are arranged in what appears to be their chronological order:the earlier issues, mainly of Constantinus I and his sons, which arerepresented only by stray specimens, are grouped together.

HOARD A.NOTE -The obverse types of Julianus Caesar and ConstantiusGallus used at different mints vary, not only in minor details oftreatment of the bust, but in the division and titles of the legend.The legends of Julianus are:-Alexandria .... .... DNIVLIANVS NOBCAES.Antioch .... DNIVLIANV SNOBCAES.Constantinoplend Thessalonica . DNCLIVLIANVSNOBCAES.Cyzicus ...... .. DNFLCLIVLI ANVSNOBCS.Nicomedia .... .. DNIVLIANVS NOBCAESAR.Rome and Siscia . . .. DNCLIVL IANVSNC.

Those of Constantius Gallus are:-Alexandriaand Antioch .... DNCONSTANTI VSNOBCAES.Constantinoplend Nicomedia .DNFLCLCONSTANTIVSNOBCAES.Cyzicus . .. .. .. DNCONSTAN TIVSNOBCS.

The bust of Julianus at Rome and Siscia has a cuirass only:elsewhere, a paludamentum and cuirass.In the reverse type FELTEMPREPARATIO,he legend is at most mintsdivided -TEMP REPA-, but at Constantinople and Nicomedia thedivisions -TEMPRE PA- and -TEMPR EPA- are equally common:the latter also occurs rarely at Cyzicus.I. MISCELLANEOUS EARLIER ISSUES.

A.D. 333-5-Constantius(Caesar) .. GLORIAEXERCITVS (two standards) .. PSIS .. ..A.D. 335-7-Constantinus I .... GLORIAEXERCITVS (one standard) .. SMANA .. zA.D. 337-40.Divus Constantinus .. Emperor in quadriga ........ SMNE ..Veiled figure: VN MR ...... SMALr ..,, ,, , .. .. . SMANB .. IUrbs Roma ... .Wolf and twins .... . SMALF ..

,, .. .. .. . SMKE ..


2/16

TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT.A.D. 340-5.ConstantiusConstans

Constantiusor CcA.D 345-7-Constantius

.. .. VOT XX MVLT XXX)) ) ) )) . .VICTORIAEDDAVGGQNN

Onstans . , .. ... FELTEMPREPARATIO. Phoenix

. .. SMA[. .. SMKE. . RP (palm)

. ALEA (star r.).

II. FELTEMPREPARATIO. Soldier striking down foe.(a) Without letter in field.Alexandria.Constantius

Const. Gallus..Antioch.ConstantiusConst. Gallus..Julianus Caes.Constantinople.Constantius

Cyzicus.ConstantiusConst. Gallus..Nicomedia.ConstantiusConst. Gallus..Heraclea.ConstantiusThessalonica.ConstantiusSiscia.

Julianus Caes.Sirmium.ConstantiusRome. ConstantiusConst. Gallus..Julianus Caes.Mints illegible.ConstantiusJulianus Caes.

Alexandria.ConstantiusJulianus Caes...Antioch.Constantius

Constantinople.Constantius

Const. Gallus..Julianus Caes.Cyzicus.ConstantiusJulianus Caes...

..ALEA (2)-B (I)-r (7)-? (6)..

..ALE ? () .. .. .

..ANA (2)-B (2)-A (2)-H (i)-I (i)-AI (i)BI (3)-rI ()- I ()- ? (4) ... ANA (I)-AI (I). ANAI (4)-BI (3)- ? (3)..CONSO (2)-IA (2)- ? (I) ..

..SMKB (I)- () ..... SMKA (I). SMNA (I)-A (i)-S (I)-S (3)- ? (2)..SMNB (i)-A (i)-S (i)

..SMHA (i)-r (i).SMTS (in field) A () ....? SIS () ..

..BSIRM (i).. ..R (wreath) T (I) (2) R-M-Z (I) R ? (I)..R (palm) (i).. R'MS (i)

(b) With letter in field.(M) ALEA (4)-B (6)-r (4)-A (4)- ? (6).. ,, ALEA (8)- ? (5)

. (M) ANA (I)--r (3)-A (i)-S (3)-H (2)-AI (2)-BI (4)- ? (3) .. .. ....() CONSA (i)

(X) CONSB (i)- ? (I)(M) CONSO (I)-IA (I)- ? (3)..( ? ) CONSP (). (S) CONS ? (I).. (M) CONSB (I)-e (I)-IA (I)- ? (3)(M) SMKA (3)-B (I)-r (4)-- (I)-S (3)- ? (i).. ,, SMKA (2)..

IIIII2

I

16

.. I6

.. I - 17

.. 18.

O - 30-5 - 5

... I- 3.. 8

2 - 2

. . I - I

.. I - I

I - I

*- 5. . - 7

1. 2.. I - I3

9'

2413 - 37

'9I

5II6

132

- I

- 6

- 1

170


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TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT.Nicomedia.Constantius

Julianus Caes.Heraclea.ConstantiusThessalonica.ConstantiusJulianus Caes.Siscia. ConstantiusMints illegible.Constantius

Mints illegible.Constantius

Alexandria.ConstantiusJulianus Caes.Julianus Aug..Antioch.ConstantiusJulianus Caes.

Constantinople.ConstantiusJulianus Caes.Cyzicus.ConstantiusNicomedia.ConstantiusHeraclea.ConstantiusRome. ConstantiusJulianus Caes.

Mints illegible.Constantius

Constantinople.ConstantiusJulianus Caes.Cyzicus.ConstantiusJulianus Caes.Thessalonica.ConstantiusJulianus Caes.

. 3. 3. -

2

.. .. 2II -

. I -

. 38 -

.. (M) SMNP (i)- -i)- ? (i) .... ,, SMN, (i)- ? (2) ..

.. (M) SMHB (i)-S (I) ..

..(M) SMTSA (i)-B (i).. ,, SMTSS (I)

.. (M) ? SIS () .. ...(M) (35)(S)S ) (A) (I)

(a) or (b)... i6 - I6

III. SPESREIPVBLICE.(a) Without letter in field.

.ALEA (4)-B (io)-r (ii)-A (7)- ? (I3) . 45.ALEB (i)-r (2)-A (12)- ? (20) ... 35.ALEA (i)-B (2)-r (i)- ? (9) ...... 13

.ANB (2)-r (i)-A (3)- ? (3) .. .. .. 9.ANB () .......... .. .. I

.CONS ? (I) ......... .. I.CONSB (I)- ? (I) ......... 2.SMKB (2)-- (I)-S (3)- ? (4) .. .. .. o.SMNB () .......... I.SMHA (i)-B (3) .......... 4.R (star) P (2)-S (i)--? (I)- ? (3) R (wreath) Q (I)- (I)- ? (2) .... .... IR (star) P (2)- ? (I) R (wreath) S (I)- ? (2) 6

.40

(b) With letter or symbol in field.(C) CONS ? (i) .. ....... I, CONSA (I)-I (i) ........ 2(r) SMKB (i)-A (i)- ?) ... 3.. SMKF (I) ....... .. I(Star) SMTSr (r)- ? () .. .. .. ..2,, SMTS. () .... .... I

- 93- Io

3- To- I

4

-17- 40

I78

-3

4

- 3I0

There were also 202 entirely illegible, making a total of 650 coinsin the hoard.The date of the hoard can be fixed as the beginning of the reignof Julianus. Only his earliest issue, of the Spes Reipublicae type, is

171

62

3I

38'37


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TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT.

represented in it, and the coins of this type are only of the mint ofAlexandria. It was presumably secreted before there had beentime for any specimens struck at mints outside Egypt to drift intothe country.The evidence furnished as to the drift of coins into Egypt by thishoard is in general accordance with the conclusions stated in theaccount of a hoard of Constantinian coins from Egypt in Journ.Intern. d'Arch. Numism. (I914, pp. I-27). The figures for thedifferent mints may be summarised according to the groups:

I. II. III. III.(Julian.Aug.)Alexandria ? 3 54 80 13Antioch .. .. 3 49 10 -Constantinople .. - 21 6Cyzicus . ... 2 8 14 -Nicomedia .. .. I 17 I -Heraclea ... - 4 4Thessalonica .. - 4 3Siscia .. .. I 2 - -Sirmium .. .. - I- -Rome .. .. I 7 17

II I77 135 13These figures suggest that the drift of coins was a fairly slowprocess, but that there was a current setting towards Egypt which inthe course of five years or so brought appreciable numbers of coinsfrom the main centres of trade to Alexandria and the upper country.A very noticeable characteristic which appears on a survey ofthese coins is the extreme carelessness of striking which prevailedat the Alexandrian mint. In the great majority of instances ingroup III, the centring is bad, and frequently only a small portion ofthe type is on the flan: several other coins, which may be suspectedto be of this mint, show no more than a corner of the legend: thefresh condition of the lettering proves that these had not been longin circulation. Two or three pieces are absolutely blank.In this connexion it is perhaps not without interest to note that,shortly after the accession of Julianus, the Alexandrian mob slewcertain functionaries against whom it bore a grudge, amongst themDracontius the treasurer (Amm. Marc. xxii, I ). If Dracontius wasresponsible for the work of the imperial mint, the anger of the mobhad some justification. HOARD B.

NOTE :-The sequence of issues in the period 350-400 does notappear to have been worked out, and further evidence may lead tothe modification of the order adopted here, especially as regards

I72


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TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT. I73those types which were peculiar to Western mints, which are scantilyrepresented.

The usual practice of the mints was to strike with the samereverse types for all the Augusti, and consequently the Votis typesbecome somewhat confusing. For instance, the coins ofValentinianus II, Theodosius, and Arcadius with VOTx MVLT XXareclearly contemporary; but it is by no means clear to which emperorthe decennalia commemorated belong. As the series seems to beparallel in some respects to the issues for Flaccilla, it may perhapsbe taken to be for the decennalia of Valentinianus.There is little variation in the obverse types or legends in thereign of Valentinianus I and his successors. A break in the legend isusual in the Eastern issues, and is almost always at the same point:an exception occurs in the case of Valens, whose Alexandrian issueshave DNVALEN SPFAVG, instead of the DNVALENS PFAVG of neighbouringmints.Other points of variation which cannot conveniently be includedin the catalogue follow, arranged according to the numbers assignedto the series in the list:I. The Lugdunum coin of Constantius II of the the bust on the obverse. They are notVictories type has an uncertain monogram distinguishable in style from the others, andin the field: the Arelate coin has M. are of all three emperors: they have beenV. The Nicomedia coins of Valens have on the catalogued separately.reverse in the field r. Q. XVIII. On the reverse of this type there isVII. One of the Nicomedia coins of Valens has usually - in the field to 1. But on nearly allon reverse B in the field 1. : the Con- the examples from shop A of Alexandria thestantinople coin has a star in the same symbol becomes simply a pellet: on oneposition. (of Arcadius) there is nothling in the field.X. The Antioch coin of Theodosius has on At Nicomedia there is more variety: thereverse VOT X MVLT XXX: it is probably symbols are -,+, , or , and occasionallymeant for this type rather than XII. .tgXIII. Coins from the mint of Thessalonica seem Onoins of Heraclea there is no symbol.to read VICTORIA AVG-: the others have Two specimens of Valentinianus fromAVGGG. ^ Antioch show misspellings : one hasOn Rome coins there are usually two dots Antioh show misspellings: one hasbetween the Victories on the reverse : in one on the obver se,the therinstance (RS of Theodosius) only one dot is ATNA inexergue of the reverse.visible. XXII. The reverse legend is regularlyThis seems to be a purely Western type. CONCORDIA AVG at Alexandria,XIV. The mint numeral on this type (which is CONCORDIA AVGGG elsewhere. Thereonly represented by Thessalonica issues) is are two exceptions-an Alexandria coin ofusually in the field to 1.: but two specimens Theodosius has AVGGG, and a Constan-of Theodosius do not show any numeral. tinople coin of Arcadius AVG.XVI. Several of the coins of this issue, from the XXI and XXIII. There is a star behind the headmint of Alexandria, have a small T behind of Honorius on the obverse.

PRE-CO NSTANTIN IAN.(Radiate head r.Antiochus IV .. .. BAMIAEOZ ANTIOXOT. Female figure standing to frontholding sceptre..Tiberius

TIBEPIOT] KAICAP[OC]. Lituus.udaea:iberus t [L]IZ in wreath.Sidso.n Turreted head of Tyche r.o.Galley.

? Head r. (? Antoninus Pius).' Poppy between four ears of corn... CONSECRATIO. Altar.

Licinius (?) .. .. lovi Conservatori type.


6/16


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TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT. I75Mints illegible.Constantius .. .. (M) (x2): (nil) (3): (?) (8) .. .. .. ..23Julianus Caes. .. ..(M) (5) ........... 5 - 28Emperorsand mints illegible ... ..... .... 43 - 43

112

Alexandria.ConstantiusJulianus Caes.Julianus Aug.

Antioch.ConstantiusCyzicus.Constantius

Julianus Caes.Julianus Aug.Nicomedia.ConstantiusConstantinople.Rome. Constantius

? .

III. SPESREIPVBLICE...ALEA (i)-B (z)-Pr (i)-A (i) ..ALEA ()- ? () ..ALEB (I)

..ANA (i)-B (2)-F (i)-e (i)- ? (i)..

..SMKA (z)-S- (i)- ? (4)..SMK ? (i) ..SMKS (I)SMNA ()- ? () ..

.. R * P (i)-- ? (z)-- ? (i)- ? (z)Mints illegible.Constantius

Julianus Caes.Emperors and mints illegible

IV. RESTITVTORREIP.Antioch.Valentinianus I .. ANTA (i)-B (i)Constantinople.Valentinianus I .. CONSPB () ..Mint illegible.Valentinianus I.

V. GLORIAROMANORVM. Emperor dragging captive.4Alexandria.Valens ......ALEA (i)-r (i)- ? (i) ... 3? .................. ....3- 6Antioch.Valentinianus I ... .NTB (i)- (2)-A (i) .. .. .. .. 4Valens ...... ANTI' (i)-A (4)- ? (3) .. .. .. .. 8? .................. .... 4 - 6Nicomedia.Valens ....SMN ()- ? () .. 2

? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 - 4-4Mints illegible.Valentinianus I ...... ....8.. 8Valens ..5 .............. ....Emperors and mints illegible .33 - 3372

. 5? 3.. 7 - i6

64 - 107

.. I - 99

.. 2- 4I - I

64 - 10.. 32. I. I - 43.. 52 - 52

145

2 - 2

I - I

4


8/16


Antioch.Valentinianus I ..Constantinople.? ..Mint illegible.Valentinianus I ..

Alexandria.Valentinianus IValensGratianus? ....Antioch.

Valens? .. ..Cyzicus.Valens .

? ....Niconedia.ValensConstantinople.Valens .

? .. ..Thessalonica.Valentinianus I ..Rome.Valens

Tr?s.Treves.

VI. VOT V MVLT X... ANT ? (i) ..

.. I - I

. - I

3VII. SECVRITASREIPVBLICAE...ALEB (I)-r (4)-A (3). ALEA (2)-B (3)--F (5)-A.. ALEA (i)- ? (i) ..

.. ANT ? (3) .

.. SMK ? () ..

..SMNF (2)f-Ir'.T C! I> -_\

.. 8(6)- ? ( -II) .. 272

36 - 73.... . 3

. .I - z

.-. - 4-4. N. J i)Nb I

.. TESB (I)

.. RQVARTA (I). .. *

Valens .. .. .. TRP (I)..Gratianus . . TRS () ..Mints illegible.Valentinianus I .ValensGratianusEmperorsand mints illegible

VIII. CONCORDIAAVGGG.Cyzicus.Gratianus . .. SMKA (i)Emperor and mint illegible

IX. VOT V.Mint illegible.Gratianus .Emperor and mint illegible

X. VOT X MVLT XX.Antioch.Gratianus .. .. ANTA (t)- ? () ..Theodosius I .. .. ANTA (I)Cyzicus.Gratianus .. .. SMKB (I)

I76

I- I

..4.. . I - 2

530

5 - 50I17 - 117273

I - I.. I

I -- I.. .. - 2

2733

. I- I

4


9/16


Alexandria.Valentinianus II..Antioch.Cyzicus.Rome. GratianusValentinianus II..Theodosius ITreves.Valentinianus II..Mints illegible.Valentinianus II..Theodosius I

Antioch.Valentinianus II..Cyzicus.GratianusNicomedia.GratianusConstantinople.Theodosius IEmperorand mint illegible

XI. VOT XV MVLT XX... ALEB () ..

SMRB (2)SMRQ (i).. SMRP (z)TRS (i)

XII. VOT XX MVLT XXX.ANTA (4)- ? z ..

.. SMKA (i)-rF (i)- ? (i)..SMNB (I)

.. CONA (i)

XIII. VICTORIAAVGGG. Two Victoriesfacing.Thessalonica.Valentinianus II .. TES ? () ..Theodosius I .. .. TESA (i)Aquileia.Valentinianus II.. .. SMAQP (i)Rome.Valentinianus II .. .. RP (i)-Q (i) .. .Theodosius I .. .. RP )-S ()-T ()- ().

Mints illegibleValentinianus II..Theodosius IArcadius ..Emperorsand mints illegible

I - I

I - I

2I I

..2-5

22-4 4

13

64- io

io3 3

I -- 2

8I 2...... I -- II8

II - 2

I - I

.2. 4.,2- 8

3. 5I - 97 - 727

Thessalonica.Valentinianus IITheodosius IArcadius ..

?Mints illegible.Theodosius I

XIV. GLORIAREIPVBLICE. Gateway.A.. A

TES (z) (i) .. .. .. 4.. .. B A

B IrTES()() ..........2 1 - 12....2 2

14

177


10/16


XV. VOT V.Antioch.

Arcadius ..Cyzicus.Arcadius ..Nicomedia.Valentinianus II..Constantinople.Arcadius ..

? ....Heraclea.Arcadius ..Mints illegible.Theodosius IArcadius ..

..ANTA (2)

.. SMKB (i)-r (i)-A (I) ..

..SMNF (I)..CON ? (I) ......SMHB (2) .. ..

. 2 - 2

.. .. - 3.. - I

.. - 2

...... I

2- 2

.. . . 6 - 7I7

XVI. VOT X MVLT XX.Alexandria.Valentinianus II .. ALEA (i)-B (16)- ? (6)..Theodosius I.... . ALEA (4)-B (2)-1' (z6)-A (4)- ? (Ii)Arcadius ..... ALEA (22)- ? (9) ..

Valentinianus II (T) .. ALEB (8)- ? (5) .Theodosius I ,, .. ALEA (4)-r (5)- ? (5) ..Arcadius ,, .. ALEA (6)- ? (I) ..Antioch.Valentinianus II .. . ANA (8)-F (3)- ? (3)Theodosius I .. .. ANA (2)-- (7)-A7)-- (i)- ? (I) .Arcadius . ... . ANF (i)-A (2)-S (6)- ? (2) ..Theodosius I .. ANTA (6)- ? () . . ..Arcadius.... .. ANTA (5)Cyzicus.Valentinianus II .. SMKB (3)-F (I)- ? (3) ..Theodosius I .. .. SMKA (i)-B (2)-F (5)- ? (i)Nicomedia.Valentinianus II.. .. SMNA (2)Theodosius I .. .. SMNB (z)-r (i)-A (i)- ? (i)..Constantinople.Valentinianus II. .. CONA (z)Mints illegible.Valentinianus II..Theodosius IArcadius ..Emperorsand mints illegible

.. 23.- 47*. 3I. . I5.. 13. I3.. 14* 7.. I - 151.. 14.. i8S

. II7

.. - 6379 - I62

.. I - 82 - 2

23.. 25.. 8 - 56.. 9 - 19

315

xvIa. SALVSREIPVBLICAE. Victory seated.Antioch.Flaccilla ..... ANS (3) ...... . 3 - 3Nicomedia.

Flaccilla ..... SMNA () ........... - 2ConstantinopleFlaccilla...... CONe (2) .... . . .. .. 2 - 2Mints illegible.Flaccilla .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3- 3IO

178


11/16


XVII. VICTORIAAVGGG. Victory 1.Aquileia.Theodosius I .. AQT () ..Aries. Valentinianus II.. . PCON (i)Theodosius I .... SCON (r) T-(I)Arcadius . .PCON () T-(z) ? -(i)Lyons.Valentinianus II.. .. LVG ? () ..Arcadius ...... LVGP (I)Mints illegibleValentinianus II..HonoriusEmperorsand mints illegible

I79

.. I - I

.. 4- 7

. - 2. 9- 921

XVIII. SALVSREIPVBLICAE.Alexandria.Valentinianus II.. .. ALEB (7)-A (7)- ? (2) . ... .. i6Theodosius I.. .. ALEA (I3)--B (3)-- (2)-A (9)- ? (2) .. 29Arcadius..... ALEF (7)-A (2z)- ? (7) ...... 35Honorius ....LEA (2)- ? () .. . . 3?. ?. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 - io8Antioch.Valentinianus II. . . ANTA (32)- ? (3) . . . . .. 35Theodosius I .... ANTA (io)-B (i3)-A ()- ? (14) .. ..48

Arcadius . .. .. ANTA (3)--' (29)- ? (4) . . .. 36Honorius .... ANTA (3)- ? (i) .. .... .... 4? .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 -I I74Cyzicus.Valentinianus II... . SMKA (9)-B (5)- ?( ).... ..5TheodosiusI .. .. SMKA (25)-B (I5)-A (9)- ? (9) .. .. 58Arcadius . ... . SMKA (7)-F (i6)-A (2)- ? (7) .... 32Honorius...... SMKA ()-- ? (2) ..3. . 3

? ?... ?.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 2 --110Nicomedia.Valentinianus II .... SMNA (3)-B (12)- ? (I) 6. 16Theodosius I .... SMNA (i 8)--B (3)- ? (2) .. .. ..23Arcadius . ... . SMNA (6)-r (9)- ? (4) .. 9Honorius .... . SMNA (2)- ? (z) .. .. . 4? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 - 68Constantinople.Valentinianus II ..Theodosius IArcadius ..Honorius..Heraclea.Theodosius IArcadius ..HonoriusThessalonica.Valentinianus II ..Theodosius IAquileia.

Valentinianus II..Theodosius IArcadius ..HonoriusRome. Valentinianus II ..Arcadius ..? o. o

CONSA (2)-B (9)- ? (6) . . .. .. 17CONSA (i6)--B (z)- ? (4) .22CONSA (io)-B (9)-- (io)-A (6)- ? (I5) 50CONSA (I) . ............2.. -2 92SMHB (z)- ? (z2) ........ 4..SMHA (9)-B (4) ..... .....13SMHA (I) ...... ...... I --

..TESB (x) .. .. .. .. ..TESB (z)-A () .. .. .. .. . 3 - 4AQP (4)-S (i)...... ...... 5..AQP (r).. .. .. .. .. .. .. I.. AQ ? (i) .. .. .. .... .. IAQS (i) ............ -8RP () . .. .. ...... .. .R..2P () ..... .........


12/16

I80 TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT.Mints illegible.Valentinianus II. 51Theodosius I . . .77Arcadius .................... 72Honorius . .2 - 202Emperorsand mints illegible .................. 140 - 140

927

xix. GLORIAROMANORVM. Emperor riding r.Alexandria.Theodosius I ... .LEF (i)- ? (z) ...... 3Arcadius ...... ALEF (I) .. . .. . - 4Mint illegible.Theodosius I . . .....- I5

XX. VRBSROMAFELIX. Emperor holding Victory.Rome.Honorius ...... OF P S T 1... 3 - 13

SMROM (6) (2) (2) (3)Mint illegible.Theodosius I .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. I14

xxI. GLORIAROMANORVM. Three emperors.Mint illegible.Honorius .. I - II

Alexandria.Theodosius IArcadiusHonorius ...Antioch.Theodosius IArcadius ..Honorius ..Cyzicus.Arcadius ..Honorius ..Nicomedia.Theodosius IArcadius ..Honorius ..Constantinople.Theodosius IArcadius ..Honorius ..Heraclea.

Arcadius ..Mints illegible.Theodosius IArcadius ..

XXII. CONCORDIAAVG(GG). Cross.ALEA (16)- ? (4) ..ALEA (23)- ? (5) .ALEA (26)- ? (4) ..ANTA (2)-P (2)- ? () ..ANTA (3)-P (i)- ? (z) ..ANTA (5)- () ..

SMKA (3)..SMKA (3)SMNB (i)-A () .SMNA (i)-B (i)SMNA (I)CONS ? (I) ..CONSA (I)-B (I)-- ? (3)CONS ? () ..

SMHA (2)

Emperorsand mints illegible

202830'7 - 95

56.. 6

..- 25

33i 722I

I5

2 -- 9

2 2

6i6 - 22..8 - 18

i85

.o


13/16


XXIII. GLORIAROMANORVM. Two emperors.Heraclea.Honorius .. .. SMHA (I) ... .. . .. -Mint illegible.Honorius .... .. -

2

XXIV. VIRTVSEXERCITI. Emperor crowned by Victory.Mint illegible.Honorius . .... .... IEmperor and mint illegible .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 3

XXV. GLORIAROMANORVM. Emperordraggingcaptive.

OBVERSE BROCKAGES.. 3

.. .. .. I -4

BARBAROUS IMITATIONS.Securitas Reipublicae typeVictoria Auggg type (two Victories)Votis typeVictoria Auggg type (one Victory)Salus Reipublicae type ..Urbs Roma Felix typeConcordia type (cross)Rad. head r. 1Standing figure iUnidentifiableLead

Wholly unidentifiable ........

...... 12.. ..... *? *- * * 56

...... I2. 57.. ... .. .. .. .. 69

I133 - 215

....... .658This hoard was found at Hawara in the Fayum.As regards the date of deposit, many of the coins of Theodosius,Arcadius, and Honorius, especially of series xxII, were in very freshcondition. There were no types included which can be dated afterthe death of Arcadius, unless it is supposed that the barbarousimitations, most of which were little worn, were struck later. Butthese were all (so far as the origin of the types can be determined)copied from the coins of Honorius and earlier emperors, and there isno strong ground for considering them as other than virtually

contemporary with the imperial issues with which they circulatedand which they imitated. The hoard may therefore be taken to havebeen formed about A.D. 400-4Io.The following table gives the numbers of specimens of each seriesfrom the various mints of the empire. Series Ix, xxI, and xxIv areomitted, as no example in these three has the mint-name preserved.

i8i

Rome. Arcadius .. .. . RT (i) .......

I34

ArcadiusHonorius

. I - I


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MINT. I II III IV v VI vii viI x xinxii xiii xiv

Alexandria .. 8 19 16 - 6 - 73 - - I - - - - 151Antioch .. .. 6 I 10 2 6 I 18 - 3 I 10 - -. 2 66

Cyzicus .... 2 4 9 - - - 2 I I I 3 - - 3 16Nicomedia .. 4 4 4 4 - 4 -- - 2 - - I10

Heraclea . .....-i-2 -Thessalonica .. - - -- - - -

Aquileia .. ... I --Rome ....14 i 10 - - - 4 - - 5 - 8 - - -

Aries ..... ILyons .... ITreves .. .. 2 I

Total ..40 41 5? 3 2z z 106 I 4 9 I7 I Iz Io 247


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TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT.The presence of so many barbarous imitations of the imperialcoinage in this hoard lends it a special interest. Egypt was always a

happy hunting-ground of the forger of coins (see J.E.A. iv, 185):in Ptolemaic times plated silver tetradrachms and leaden imitationsof bronze were produced, and in the early part of the fourth centuryenormous quantities of cast bronze coins were in circulation. Butthe imitations of this period differ from the earlier ones in beingstruck, apparently from unfixed dies, as two specimens in the hoardfrom the same dies have them placed in reversed positions, and not afew show obverse and reverse at an angle. In the discussion ofhoard A it was pointed out that the work of the Alexandrian mintunder Julianus was exceptionally careless; and it might be supposedthat the mint had gone from bad to worse in the following fifty years,and that these barbarous issues actually represent the work of thegovernment officials. But there are many examples of the Alexandrianissues in this hoard, and these show that there was in fact someimprovement in the productions of the mint under Valens andTheodosius: at any rate it was able to turn out coins with an in-telligible legend. The specimens classed as barbarous sometimesshow a fair attempt at rendering the types, but the legends arealways hopelessly confused, varying from a meaningless jumble ofletters to a mere ring of dots. Some also are copied from types whichwere not struck at Alexandria officially, e.g. the Urbs Roma Felixtype of Honorius. It would seem probable that some enterprisingbut unskilful persons in Upper Egypt engraved dies and struck coinson their own account, imitating as best they could the official coinsin circulation.The degradation of types is interesting, as the whole process ofbreaking up a figure, e.g. Victory, into a few disconnected lines canbe traced.At first sight it appears strange that such extremely poor copiesof coins should have been accepted as current. But the compositionof the hoard shows that anything almost would pass muster, asindeed is the case to this day in some parts of the Near East. Abronze coin of Antiochus IV could have no sort of legal backing inthe fourth century A.D.,and would be technically on the same footingas the most recent imitation. And the presence in the hoard of threebits of lead bearing a superficial resemblance to coins suggests thatnot even good metal was guaranteed, apart from its possible token-value. Moreover, many of the coins of the imperial series were wornalmost smooth, so that the types could barely be distinguished, andchipped away at the edges: and there was a large number of piecesof bronze of which the most that can be said is that they have theappearance of having once been Roman imperial coins of the fourthcentury.As a matter of fact, the coins were merely current as tokens, with

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very little relation to their metal value. The depreciation of thecurrency in Egypt in the fourth century went forward at a pacewhich would have been thought extraordinary five years ago. Thebillon tetradrachm of the Alexandrian mint, which was reckoned asthe equivalent of the denarius, rapidly disappeared from circulationafter the reform of 296, and the statements of reckoning in papyri,which had previously been based on the drachma, began to be givenin denarii. The fall in the value of the denarius made it an impossiblysmall unit: as early as 316 the ' myriad' appears, and by 340 it hadbecome normal. The prices quoted in the fourth century show thatno lower unit than this would have been of any practical use-e.g. atOxyrhynchos in 362 the value of a hide was 750 myriads of denarii(P. Oxy. Io57).The only coinage current in Egypt was composed of the goldsolidus and this bronze: and the equations cited in the papyri givesome clue to the valuation of the bronze. In a late fourth-centuryletter (P. Oxy. 1223), the writer states that the solidus has droppedto 2020 myriads: and other papyri of the same period make thisequation seem probable. It would therefore appear likely that theselittle bronze coins of the time of Theodosius passed current as myriadsof denarii: there is nothing impossible in this from the point ofview of metal values, as the average weight of the coins is about onegramme, so that the equivalent of a solidus would be about 20 kilosof bronze coinage, and it is not probable that this weight of bronzewould be worth anything approaching a solidus as metal.The chaos of the Egyptian currency was indeed so great that inthe fifth century recourse had to be made to barter and payments inkind, and the myriad disappears from documents of account, to bereplaced as the century drew to a close by the gold nomisma as thestandard of reckoning, with fractional statements in carats.A representative series of coins from these two hoards has beenpresented to the British Museum by Professor Petrie.

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Two Roman hoards of coins from Egypt / by J.G. Milne

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Transcript of Two Roman hoards of coins from Egypt / by J.G. Milne