In 2019, three coins were found in the same stratum in a large Roman villa called the Villa of Titus, which was constructed between the late first century BC to the early first century AD. Two of the coins are bronze asses and one is a copper quadrans, all of which were struck under the emperor Claudius and range in date from AD 41-54. This thesis, through the use of methodologies, determines as much information as possible about the coins and the stratum within which they were found in order to learn more about the villa’s past. In the first chapter, the main methodologies that are used to examine the coins and context will be examined in detail, which include iconographic, epigraphic and archaeological analyses. The second chapter uses iconographic analysis, along with epigraphic analysis, to examine the coins found at the Villa of Titus. First, there is an overview of the Roman mint and imperial coinage with a focus on Claudius’ coinage; since, all three coins are struck under Claudius. Then, a synopsis of Claudius’ iconography on all of his coinage is used to determine where the villa coins fit in his iconography. The historical context is also surveyed in order to determine why certain images were chosen for the coins. In the third chapter, the archaeological context in which the coins were found is examined. First, two case studies on coins in the archaeological context are studied to determine how coins are interpreted differently depending on the context in which they are found. Then, the methodologies from these examples are used to analyse the Villa of Titus context, which includes taking a detailed look at the materials found in the stratum, determining the function, determining the depositional process and finally describing the interpretation of the stratum. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

The primary goal of this thesis is to collect, record and interpret the available coin evidence from the territory of modern Bulgaria during the late Hellenistic and early Roman Imperial period, from an archaeological, historical and numismatic perspective. In so doing the work documents the transition and integration of the monetary system of ancient Thrace to that of the Roman world. The evidence examined covers over 250 years, from the establishment of the province of Macedonia in 146 BC down to the reign of Trajan (AD 98-117). Of foremost importance in this process are the introduction, distribution and use of the denarius in the local coin market. The evidence under study was collected from the area of ancient Moesia and Thrace, an area recognized as a frontier zone in the early Roman Empire. Previously Thrace was never the subject of a comprehensive numismatic study that integrated the existing archeological and historical record for such a critical period of time. The purposely studied coin finds (both hoards and single coins, over 48,000 pieces) allowed for the application of statistical analysis to the coin data, revealing important military, economic and fiscal tendencies. The results document a culture well accustomed to the use of coins as means of payment long before the arrival of the Roman currency. Given these circumstances, it is no surprise that as denarii were introduced during the 1st century BC, the market quickly adjusted to new economic relations. Tracing the regional use and distribution of coins, the study bears witness to how local communities benefited from their strategic location and native resources. The main contribution of this work lies in the systematic comparison between the Late Hellenistic, Thracian, Celtic and Roman coinages that circulated together in a region that was of great strategic importance to the Roman Empire. Mechanisms of introduction and acceptance of Roman coins as financial tools have been documented and interpreted both from a chronological and geographical standpoint. Based on comprehensive analyses, this thesis concludes that the nature of the Thracian and Moesian society and economy, as well as the supply of coins, followed the Imperial and interregional trends as an integral part of the Roman Empire.

This thesis argues that the iconography on Seleucid coins was created in order to appeal to the various ethnic groups within the empire and thereby reinforced the legitimacy of the dynasty. It first examines the iconography of Seleucus I and argues that as Seleucus became more secure in his rule he began to develop a new iconography that was a blend of Alexander’s and his own. This pattern changed under Antiochus I. He replaced the Zeus of Alexander and of Seleucus with Apollo-on-the-omphalos. At approximately the same time, a dynastic myth of descent from Apollo was created and promulgated. It is argued that in addition to the traditional view that Apollo was readily identifiable to the Greco-Macedonians within the empire he was also accessible to the Babylonians through the god Nabû and to the Persians as a Greek (or Macedonian) version of the reigning king. This ambiguity made Apollo an ideal figure to represent the multi-ethnic ruling house. This also explains the dynasty’s reluctance to deviate from the iconography established by Antiochus I. This thesis continues to explore the role of Apollo and other gods in creating an iconography which represented Seleucid power ending with the reign of Antiochus III. This thesis also incorporates the numismatic representations of the king as divine into the debate on ruler cult. This evidence suggests that the Seleucids may have had some form of ruler cult before the reign of Antiochus III.

Inaug.-diss.--Giessen. / Lebenslauf.

'Antigonos Gonatas: Coinage, Money and the Economy' is a presentation and systematic analysis of the precious metal coinages in the name of `king Antigonos'. Most of these issues, including (a) gold staters and silver tetradrachms with the types of Alexander III and (b) silver with individual Antigonid types (tetradrachms, `Pans' and 'Poseidons'; a few drachmae, `Pans' and 'Zeus'; pentobols, `Zeus'), are traditionally assigned to the Makedonian king Antigonos Gonatas (r. 283/277-239 BC). However, their relative chronology and their respective presence in hoards allow for their wider distribution from Gonatas to his later homonym, Antigonos Doson, and for their production at a single mint, demonstrating thus a strong sense of dynastic continuity among Gonatas' successors(chapter 2). It is argued that the numismatic iconography aligns itself with the main threads of the Antigonid international policy established by Gonatas: the Antigonids, following the example of the Temenids, deliberately emphasised their Hellenic identity and piety, in order to become assimilated to the military and political `debates' both in mainland Greece and on an international level. The introduction, in particular, of the second Antigonid tetradrachm type, the Poseidon-head, meant the resumption of the naval claims of Monophthalmos and Poliorketes in the Aegean concomitantly to Gonatas' victorious naval battle against the Ptolemaic fleet at Andros (chapters 2.1,2.4). The analysis of the numismatic material (chapters 3-6) is a prerequisite for a tentative estimation of its approximate quantity and for a better assessment of its distribution pattern. The disproportion between the low annual production rate of these issues and the Antigonid financial requirements may be explained by the use of other precious metal coinages following the Attic weight standard (chapter 7). It is therefore argued that the exercise by the Antigonids of pro-active economic and administrative control was limited and that the introduction of the Antigonid individual issues was inspired by political alongside economic forces.

Thesis (doctoral)--Freie Universität, Berlin, 1997/98. / At head of title: Forschungsstelle Asia Minor im Seminar für Alte Geschichte der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (doctoral)--Freie Universität, Berlin, 1997/98. / At head of title: Forschungsstelle Asia Minor im Seminar für Alte Geschichte der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--New York University.

This master’s thesis looks at how Rome paid its soldiers and the impact of this payment on the Roman economy. The research will make a significant contribution to the classics field in its focused exploration of how Roman soldiers were paid, the payment sources and how these payments contributed to the Roman Empire's vast military operations. This thesis will further analyze how the payment of soldiers impacted Rome’s inflation during the Republic and Augustan and Flavian periods of the early Empire. The author uses numismatic evidence to support his arguments. In chapter 1, the author uses research by Duncan-Jones and Michael Crawford’s hoard evidence to support the line of inquiry on how much it cost to pay the Roman army. In chapter 2, the author argues for and provides support on using Dutch excavation findings to illustrate the types of coins used and when they were used to pay the Roman military. Previously, scholars relied on excavations in German forts along the main part of the Rhine for such evidence. The author’s use of numismatic evidence in this unique way provides further support that the use of the denarius was the government's standard currency. He includes pictures of similar coins from the McMaster Museum of Art’s Bruce Brace Coin Collection to help the reader visualize the currency. Finally, in chapter 3, the author looks at the economic impact of such massive payments to pay Rome’s ever-expanding army. There, he uses numismatic evidence to look at issues of debasement, inflation and the bi-metallic standard. Again, he returns to the Dutch fort excavations for additional evidence on debasement. In each chapter, the author looks at the socioeconomic impacts of these issues on the soldiers, especially the foot soldiers, and asks the question of how Rome valued its army. From this thesis, readers will gain insight into how paying the military negatively impacted Rome’s economy. The inflation that resulted had a significant impact on Roman culture, and this thesis focuses on the specific impact on Roman soldiers. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA) / This master’s thesis looks at how Rome paid its soldiers and the impact of this payment on its economy. The research will help our field to explore how soldiers were paid, where the money came from and how these payments to its vast military operations impacted Rome’s inflation during the Republic and Augustan and Flavian periods of the early Empire. The author uses numismatic evidence in a unique way to support his arguments on issues including the costs of paying the army, the use of the denarius as the government's standard currency and the impact on the economy of such massive payments, including its association with debasement, inflation and the bi-metallic standard. In each chapter, the author looks at the socioeconomic impacts of these issues on the soldiers, especially the foot soldiers, and asks the question of how Rome valued its army.

The aim of this discussion is to examine the coins from a selection of both Classical and Hellenistic Greek federal states in order to identify potential patterns in how the coins were used. This is done through an in-depth analysis of coin hoard data, focusing on hoards which contain the coins from a league alongside coins from poleis within that league, taking into account hoard contents, approximate deposit date, and the hoard findspot. This data is then compared to the data from hoards containing coins from the poleis of a league, regardless of whether the hoards contained coins from the league or not. The study finds that, while each league examined is unique, certain patterns can be identified. The leagues typically mint coins not just to the same standard as their poleis, but in the same denominations, such as the triobols of the Achaean League and her member-poleis. The hoards containing coins issued from a league show a strong preference for regional circulation, which is highlighted when juxtaposed with the hoards containing the civic coinage, which have findspots across the ancient Mediterranean world. This shows that the coins minted by the leagues served a separate and more regional purpose than the coins the poleis were minting. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)