Gift of the Society for International Numisma* '
I i
*
A
'
A DICTIONARY OF ROMAN COINS.
A
DICTIONARY OF ROMAN COINS,
REPUBLICAN AND IMPERIAL:
COMMENCED BY THE LATE
SETH WILLIAM STEVENSON, F.S.A.,
MEMBER OF THE NUMISMATIC SOCIETY OF LONDON ;
REVISED, IN PART, BY
C. ROACH SMITH, F.S.A.,
MEMBER OF THE NUMISMATIC SOCIETY OF LONDON J
AND COMPLETED BY
FREDERIC W. MADDEN, M.R.A.S.
/ / • /
MEMBER OF THE NUMISMATIC SOCIETY OF LONDON; ASSOCIE ETHANGER DE LA SOCIETE ROYALE DE LA NUMISMATIQUE BELGE J FOREIGN CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE NUMISMATIC AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA;
FELLOW OF THE NUMISMATIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF MONTREAL.
ILLUSTRATED BY UPWARDS OF SEVEN HUNDRED ENGRAVINGS ON WOOD, CHIEFLY EXECUTED BY THE LATE
F. W. FAIRHOLT, F.S.A.
i
LONDON:
GEOROE BELL AND SONS, YORK STREET, C'OVENT GARDEN.
1889.
NORWICH
NORFOLK CHRONICLE MARKET
COMPANY, LIMITED, PLACE.
PREFACE.
This voluminous work, corresponding in size with Smith’s “ Dictionaries,” was left incomplete, as to the last letters [UV — Z] at the time of Mr. Seth Stevenson’s death, and its publication has been mainly delayed by the difficulty of finding anyone sufficiently versed in the subject and willing, as well as able, to devote the necessary time to the task. His son, the late Mr. Henry Stevenson, took a deep interest in the completion of the work, and with his assistance the proprietors obtained the valuable co- operation of Mr. F. TV. Madden, M.R.A.S., formerly (1861- 1868) one of the Editors of the “ Numismatic Chronicle,” and author of “The Handbook of Roman Numismatics” (18(51), “Coins of the Jews” (8vo., 1864; 4to., 1881), &c., by whom the work has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion. The woodcuts necessary for this portion of the Dictionary have been elfectively executed by Mr. Miller Smith, of Norwich.
Mr. F. W. Madden desires to record his best thanks to Mr. H. A. Grueber, F.S.A., Assistant in the Department of Coins and Medals, British Museum, and to Mr. Bernard Jackson, B.A., for much valuable assistance.
Amongst the Numismatic friends of the author who took a warm interest in this laborious undertaking during his life- time, may be mentioned the late Dr. Lee, F.R.S., F.S.A., President of the Numismatic Society, and the late Mr. J. Y. Akerman, 'F.S.A., Secretary to the Society of Antiquaries,
VI
rKKFACE.
Loud. ; and of those still surviving, Mr. John Evans, D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S., F.S.A., now President of the Numismatic Society; and Mr. C. Roach Smith, F.S.A., &c., Temple Place, Strood. The latter, whose practical acquaintance with the Dictionary extended to a revision of the remaining MS., from letter L to letter T, and furthering, so far, the completion and printing of the volume, remarks, in a short memoir of Mr. Stevenson in his recently- published “Retrospections,”
The descriptions arc lucid and comprehensive ; and the style is easy and attractive. Altogether the Dictionary is just the work wanted, not merely for the young student but also for the more experienced numis- matist. To both it is as indispensable as the dictionary of a lauguage is to the most educated, as well as to the schoolboy.
The scope and object of the work itself will be best understood by a perusal of the Original Prospectus written by the Author, and issued at the time when the earlier portions were passing through the Press.
THE PUBLISHERS.
ORIGINAL PROSPECTUS.
It is admitted by all, who are really conversant with the subject, that no branch of Archaeology offers greater intellectual advantages than that which leads to a correct knowledge of Ancient Coins in general, and of the Monetu Romana in particular. The last-named department of numismatic research opens, indeed, a field replete with instruction, no less valuable than varied, no less useful than interesting — a field which enables those who enter it, in the proper spirit of inquiry after truth, to share the benefits of that reciprocation, by which History so often throws its explanatory light on the hidden meaning and mysterious import of certain monetal devices and inscriptions — whilst those metallic monuments of antiquity serve, in their turn, to stamp on facts narrated in numerous passages of the old historians, otherwise left in doubt and uncertainty, the strongest and most striking impress of corroboration and support. — To facilitate and encourage the study of Roman coins, as well of the Republic as of the Empire, there already exist some excellent Manuals which may be regarded as the Grammars, and also some very complete Catalogues which equally well constitute the Nomenclatures and descriptive classifications of the science. With the exception, however, of the Spaniard Gusseme’s work, and of that wonderful monument of human patience and laborious perseverance, the voluminous Lexicon of the German Rasche, both which professedly take a range through the res universa of antique medals, there is no Dictionary that treats of Roman Numismatics — certainly there is not as yet any publication exclusively devoted to them, in that form and in the English language.
A Dictionary, therefore, written in our vernacular tongue, and entirely limited in its aim at affording information, to those products of the Roman Mint, which bear Latin legends, seems still to be a desideratum. And the continued non-appearance of any such literary undertaking, by a more competent hand than his own, has at length induced the Author of this prospectus to do his best towards supplying the deficiency, by venturing, as he does with unaffected diffidence, to submit the result of what has been his leisure hours’ occupation for the last ten years, to the indulgent consideration and patronage of the educated public. — Ir. making this attempt, it has been the object of the compiler, if not to “popularise” the study of Roman Coins and Medallions, at least to assist in rendering it sufficiently attractive to the taste, and familiar to the acquaintance, even of the classical scholar. Rut the chief hope which influenced him to begin, and has incited him to
ORIGINAL PROSPECTUS.
viii
pursue liis task, is that by thus offering the gist of authentic observations, scattered over, and as to all general good intents and purposes, buried, in no small heap of Latin, French, Italian, and English tomes, his humble endeavours may prove acceptable to that numerous class of his countrymen, and countrywomen too, who do not come within the category of “ learned ” persons, but who, nevertheless, possessing intelligent and well-cultivated minds, may yet desire to initiate themselves in the above-named branch of the Medallic Science.
The volume, whose subject matter is briefly set forth in its title, will, when published, be found to contain, in alphabetical order of arrangement — •
1. An explanation of the principal types, symbols, and devices, which appear on Coins with Latin legends and inscriptions, minted under the government of Ancient Home, both consular and imperial, including those struck in the Colonies.
2. Biographical, Chronological, and Monctal References to the Emperors, Empresses, and Crasars, from Julius (b.c. 44) to Mauricius (a.d. 602).
3. Mythological, Historical, and Geographical Notices, in elucida- tion of curious and rare obverses and reverses.
The whole has been compiled, with careful attention to the descriptions, and commentaries of the most eminent writers, from the times of Ursinus, Tristan, Vaillant, Patin, Seguin, Morell, Spanheim, Ilavercamp, of the elder and middle school ; Banduri, Liebe, Pellerin, Beauvais, Froelich, Khell, of a subsequent period ; down to Eckiiel (Facile princeps artis numarije), Mionnet, Akerman, Hennin, and others, whose works have successively appeared during the last half century — works not of greater elaborateness, nor of profounder erudition, nor evincing more of zealous ardour in the cause of Numismatology than are displayed in the productions of their predecessors ; but whose respective authors, from superior advantages accruing fo themselves, through greater experience and in a wider scope of investigation, have been enabled to secure more of that first essential, accuracy ; to exhibit clearer views, together with more judicious discrimina- tion and less fanciful discursiveness, and consequently to impart to their labours a more decided character for practical utility, and for trustworthy reference.
The work will form one volume of about 1,000 pages, printed uniformly with the Dictionaries of “ Greek and Roman Antiquities,” and of “ Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.” The illustrative wood-cuts, exceeding seven huudred in number, will, in every instance where an original specimen is accessible, be engraved either from the coins and medallions themselves, or after casts skilfully made from them in sulphur.
A DICTIONARY
ROMAN COINS.
M'
A. A. A. F. F.
A, the first letter of the Latin Alphabet, which consists of 21 letters, very often occnrs as a single letter on Homan coins. Sometimes it serves as the initial of a City, an Emperor, a Consul, &c. Sometimes it seems to be used as a mint-mark, and to have many other signifi- cations.
A. is written in various ways on Homan Con- sular coins. — Sec Eckhel, Dud. num. vet., vol. v. p. 73.
A. — Aulus , a prenomen . a. vitei.l. Aldus Vitellius.
A. AHrarium. AD. A.D. Ad ararium de- tufisset : concluding letters of inscription oil denarius of Augustus. — Rasclie, Lexicon rei num. vet. — A. in the exergue denotes the first mint, as ant. a. coined at Antioch, in the first mint. — Akerman, Numis. Manual.
A. A. A. F.F. A tiro, Argento, Aire, Flando , Feriundo. This alludes to the monctal trium- virs, appointed for the coining and stamping of gold, silver, and brass money of the Homans. It was their office to take care that the public coinage should not be counterfeited, nor its ma- terial adulterated, nor its proper weight dimi- nished.— On a consular denarius of Cossutius, one of Julius C.csar’s moneyers, we read, c. cossvtivs maridianvs, followed by a.a.a.f.f. in the field. There is also a second brass of Au- gustus, which bears on its obverse, caesar AVGVSTVS TRIBUNI. FOTES. (Tribunitifv potes- tate) ; and on the reverse, c. plotivs rvfvs mviR. a.a.a.f.f In the middle S. C. This
ABDEIIA.
virs of the mint, who, by the invariable inscrip- tion of the above characters, appear to have made themselves officially answerable, as it were, for the genuineness of the money, struck by their authority. There is also a second brass, on the obverse legend of which is caesar avgvst. pont. max. (Pont f ex Maximus) tribyni. pot. with head of Augustus, and on the reverse M. salvivs otho i ii vi r. a.a.a.f.f. SalviusOtho was another of those moneyers of the Republic, whose name is associated, in like manner, with the issues of gold, silver, and brass, in the early coinage of Augustus. — With regard to the ex- pression flando, feriundo, the former word doubtless was intended to designate the process of preparing the globular lumps of metal form- 1 ing the material for the coin ; whilst the latter word shews that they were submitted to the stroke of the hammer, for the purpose of re- ceiving the impress of the die. These were the tw'o principal operations of the ancient mintage! For other specimens of this class of the Con-) sular coinage in silver and brass, see parens patriae — See also Moneta.
A. or AN. Annus. — See A. n. f. f.
ABBREVIATIONS. — The legends and in- scriptions of Roman coins, as well imperial as consular, present many particularities, in the shape of abbreviations, monograms, and isolated let- ters, open to research, and susceptible of various explanations. The ancients, indeed, both Greeks and Romans, in order to bring their monetal inscriptions within the smallest space, adopted the use of sigla, monogrammatic and conjoined letters. At first these were confined to proper names. Subsequently, they were employed to signify titles of authority and of dignity, and made to stand for certain words and for certain phrases. It is this objectionable custom of em- ploying abbreviations in writing, which renders the explanation of legends, for the most part, so unsatisfactory, and at the same time, gives rise to so many false interpretations.
ABDERA. — A maritime town of Hispania Boetica, founded according to Strabo, by the Carthaginians. It is now called Adra, in
2 ABVNDANTIA.
Andalusia, on the shores of the Meditcrancan, near the gulph of Almeria.
The coins of this place are Latin imperial, middle brass, and 1st brass. A second brass of Abdcra has the lau- reated head of Tibe- rius, and is inscribed
TI. CAESAR. DIVI. AVO. F. AV6VS-
tvs; and on its re- verse a tetrastyle tem- ple, of which two of the columns have the forms of fish, between which we read the letters a b d e r a. — The characters inscribed in the pediment of the temple, form, according to competent interpreters, the Phoenician word for the city in question. An article, by the late M. Falbe, in a recent number of the Numismatic Chronicle , leaves scarcely a doubt of such being its signification. On this point reference may, with advantage, also be made to the authority of Mr. Akerman, who, in his scientific and accurate work on “ Ancient Coins of Cities and Princes,” has given a fac simile illustration of this remark- able coin, from the collection of the British Mu- seum, whence the present wood-cut is faithfully copied. Referring to Atkenams, lib. vii. c. 17, be observes, that the two singularly formed columns arc supposed to represent the tunny fish, which abounded on the shores of the Medi- terranean, and were sacred to Neptune, to whom it was the practice of the fishermen to offer one as a propitiation. — Abdcra Baetica seems to have been one of the few colonies established by Tibe- rius, although it docs not, as Vaillant remarks, appear to have been honoured with the rank either of Colonia or of Municipium. Temples were erected (as Tacitus states, 1. i.) after the apotheosis of Augustus, by imperial license, on the petition of the Spaniards, in honour of the deceased Emperor.
ABDICATION of the Empire. — This event, in the case of the Emperors Diocletian and of Maximinian Hercules, is marked on their coins. — See the respective legends of Procidentia Dcornm. Quies Augg. — Requies Oplimor. Merit.
ABN. Abnepos. — A great grandson.
ABVNDANTIA. — Abundance : Plenty. — This allegorical divinity bad neither temples nor altars erected to her honour ; but she appears on seve- ral medals and monuments of the Homans. — On
ABVNDANTIA.
these, whether represented by herself, or as per- sonifying the liberality of the Emperor or Em- press, she figures as a handsome woman, clothed in the stola, holding a cornucopia:, the mouth of which she inclines towards the ground, and lets the contents fall in seemingly careless profusion.
In his illustration “ of Roman medals by the ancient Poets,” Addison says, “ You sec Abund- ance or Plenty makes the same figure in medals as in Horace.
Tibi Copia
Manabit ad plenum benigno Ruris honorum opulenta cornu."
Spanheim, in his translation of the Cmsars of Julian, ascribes a silver coin, exhibiting auvn- daxtia avo. and a woman pouring money out of a horn of plenty, to Alexander Severus. And he goes on to observe, that “ it serves to mark, amongst several others, the liberality ex- ercised by that excellent Emperor towards his soldiers and subjects, in his distribution to them of portions of the JErarium publicum, or public treasure. — Neither in Eckhcl, nor in Mionnet, however, do we find an Abundantia of Alexander Severus ; but both these authorities, together with Akerman, describe a similar reverse, on a silver coin of Julia Mamma, the mother of Alexander, an ambitious woman, to whose avarice and intermeddling disposition he owed that un- popularity with the army which proved fatal to them both.
ABVNDANTIA AVG. (Abundantia Augusti) S. C. — In his equally pleasing and instructive work on the large brass coins of his own choice collection, Capt. W. II. Smyth, R.N., F.R.S., &c. thus describes, and comments on, a finely pre- served specimen of the mint of Gordianus Pius, bearing the above legend. — The type presents “a female standing, who, habited in the stola and wearing a diadem, is emptying the Amaltluran horn, from which a shower of money descends. Abundantia was a profuse giver of all things, at all times ; but Copia seems to have been applied to provisions, and Annona was restricted to the management of the supply for the cur- rent year. — This type of Abundantia illustrates Horace
Aurea frvges
I/aliam pteno diffudit copia corny."
ABVNDANTIA AV Gusli. S.P.Q. R.— A billon denarius of Gallienns bears this legend, and the type of a recumbent river-god.
Bnhlini considers these to indicate the abund- ance of provisions obtained for the city of Rome, after Egypt (alluded to in the personification of the Nile), was rescued from the oppressions of the usurper /Emilianus — unless indeed the Tiber is meant by which the annona was conveyed.
ABVNDANTIA TEMPORVM. — A very rare brass medallion of Saloninn, the wife of Gal- licnus, has for the type of its reverse, a woman seated, supporting a eornucopiir, which she ex- tends towards, and pours out before, five children, a woman on each side standing, one of them holding the basin para.
The epigraph of Abundantia Tempornin is
ABURIA. — ACCI.
here new to Roman coins. The Empress is repre- sented under the attributes of Abundance, for
some noble .act of characteristic munificence as- cribed to her, as is seen on another coin bearing the legend Annona. — (Eckhcl, vii. p. 18.) — The historians of the time, (from a. d. 253 to 268) apparently preferring to record stirring events rather than benevolent actions, otter no tribute to the retiring virtues of Salonina. It has been left for numismatic monuments to rescue from oblivion the modest merits of her, who has been called, and without flattery, “ the Cornelia of the Lower Empire.” Salonina not only caused dis- tributions of coni to be made to the people ; but she also took little children and young girls uuder her care and protection. And here, on this coin, we may probably recognize the attest- ation of a redeeming fact, that the Empress’s goodness restored temporal abundance, and re- lieved social destitution, in a degenerate age, under a profligate prince and a disastrous reign.
The legend of Abvndantia Avg., and the type of a woman standing with horn of plenty reversed, are found on gold of Trajauus Decius, on silver of his wife Etruscilla, and on third brass of both the elder and younger Tetricus. On a small brass of the latter, the prefericulum , or sacrificial vase, is the accompanying type.
ABURIA : a plebeian gens. — The family sur- names, on coins, arc Cains and Marins. The cognomen common to both is gem., which Pighius, and others following him, read Gemi- nns, but, as Eckhel thinks, on no certain authority. The pieces in bronze, ascribed to this family, are parts of the As. There are five varieties. Silver common. — The following type is the rarest : gem. a helmed head ; before it X. — Rev. c. abvri., Mars, with trophy in right, and spear and shield in left hand, stands in a quadriga, at full speed. Underneath, roma. — (Thesaur. Morcll. p. 2, fig. iv.) — No satisfac- tory interpretation of this type of Mars ; nor of the derivation of the name Aburius, has yet been given. — See mars.
AC. Accept a. — a. pop. fevg. ac.
A. C. — Absolvo. Condemno. — These letters appear on a coin of the Cassia gens. — See Tabella.
ACCI, in llispauiaTarraconcnsis (now G nadir cl Viejo), a colony founded by Julius Ciesar him- self, or by his adopted son Augustus, partly for B 2
ACCOLEIA. 3
the veterans of legio vi. Ferrata, and partly for those of leg. vi. Victrix, from which twinship of two le- gions, this colony (says Vaillant) was calicd Gemetla. Its coins are limited to the reigns of the three first Emperors, viz., Augustus, Ti- berius, and Caligula. — On these, Acci is entitled col. gem. acci. Colonia Gemella Accitana ; or in abbreviation c. lulia G. A. — A first brass of this colony, bears on one side the head of Augustus ; and on the other, acci. c. i. g. l. ii., which, with the type of two legionary eagles between two ensigns, shews that it was a military colony. — See Akerman’s Coins of Ilispania, p. 61, from pi. vii. of which work the above cut is copied.
ACILIA gens. — The Acilii had for their sur- names Aviola, Balbus, and Glabrio ; the two first of whom would appear certainly to have been plebeian. But, says the author of Doctrina, with respect to the last name, we find Herodianus, in allusion to the Glabrio of his time, recording him as “ omnium patriciorum nobilissimum as being one who derived his ancestral origin from -Eneas, son of Venus and Anchiscs. And Auso- nius favours the same popular opinion : —
Stcmmate nobilium dcductum nomcB avoruni, Glabrio Aquilini, Dardana progenies.
[Eel. vi. 63.]
There arc 18 varieties in the coins of this family, Silver common. The copper pieces are the As ; or parts of the As ; and are more or less rare. For the remarkable denarius, having on its obverse salvtis, and a female laureated head — on its reverse nv. acilivs, iiivir. vai.etv., and a woman standing, with serpent held in her right hand, her left elbow resting on a small column. — See Salvs and Valf.tvdo, in Ursinus, Fain. Rom. Numis. p. 3.
ACCOLEIA gens. — This is classed among the plebeian families, of which no particulars are mentioned in history. One type only presents itself on the coins of this house, but for which (and, as Dr. Cardwell adds, one ancient incription in Grater's collection) it would scarcely have been known at all.
P. ACCOLEIVS LARISCOLVS — A female head. Rev. Three females standing, their heads terminating in trees. — Silver R.
We have here an adumbration of the fable of Phaeton’s sisters changed into larices, allu- sive to the name of Accoleius Lariscolus, a
4
ACCLAMATIONES. monetal triumvir, who caused this medal to be struck. According to the myth, Phaeton wish- ing to drive the chariot of the Sun, fell a victim to his temerity. His three sisters, inconsolable for his death, were metamorphosed into poplars or larches. Accoleius, in representing this fictitious incident on the medal, refers to the name of Lariscolus, which he derived from one of his ancestors, renowned no doubt for his zeal in cultivating the larch tree. — Eckhel, v., 118.
“ It appears to me not improbable (says Dr. Cardwell) that Accoleius was of the Colony of Aquileia, which, as we learn from Livy, was founded on the Adriatic in the year B. c. 181, and afterwards became a place of considerable importance. The name of the family implies of itself some probable connection with it ; but the supposition is much strengthened by the device which accompanies and elucidates it. The word Lariscolus shews still further the connection of the family, with that neighbourhood and with the shores of the Adriatic. Vitruvius says of the larix, that it is unknown, except to those citizens (rnunicipibtu) who inhabit the banks of the river Po, and the shores of the Adriatic sea. 1 le also states that the wood is not easily ignited ; so that we may doubt whether the word, which we commonly translate larch, does not really in- clude a species of poplar.” — Lecture viii. p. 104.
ACCUSATIVE CASE, rarely used on ltoman coins, more frequently expressed on Greek money. AVe read GALLlENVil avg. p. r. (populus lio- m attics venerator) — and martem propvgna- TOREM, of Gordianns Pius. — Rasche.
ACCLAMATIONES, or customary words shouted out by the populace at public games, in the circus at Rome, and in other great cities, to express their aspirations for the success of their favourites in the contest : such as evtimi.
VINCAS — OLYMPI. NIKA 01‘ MICAS — PLACEAS.
ACERRA.
— These formula acclamalionum are to be found inscribed on contorniate medals, and other pseudo-moneta. — Nika is the Greek word cor- responding in signification to Vincas. Acclama- tions of the same kind are exhibited on ancient gems, but of the period of the Lower Empire. — Eckhel, viii. 301. — They were also a species of benedictions, which consisted in wishing to the reigning Emperor, life, health, and victory : such as that which is seen on a coin of Con- stantine— Plura nata/ilia /elicit or ; and on that of Constans, Felicia Decentialia [see the words]. The respective legends on a large brass of Had- rian, and a denarius of Alexander Scverus, may also be placed amongst these acclamations. — See A. n. f. f. ; also aeternitatibvs.
Referring to a large brass in his own col- lection, having on the obverse “ a laurelled head of Haiiriancs Augustus, and for legend of reverse Consul Tertium Pater Patrice s. c.,” Capt. Smyth says (p. 102), “This is an accla- mation medal. The Emperor stands on a tri- bunal, decorated with rostra, before a temple, lie is haranguing the public, and making a welcome announcement ; the latter arc represented by three togated citizens, who lift their hands in the fulness of admiration and applhuse ” For a type similar to this very rare reverse, engraved from a coin in the British Museum, see cos. in. p. p. S. c. of Hadrian, in this Dictionary.
ACERRA. — The small box for holding per- fumes held in the hand of the female figure re- presented on Roman coins, bearing on the re- verse the legend pietas avg. This box is of a cylindrical form on the coins of the earlier Emperors, but, at a lower period of the empire, the Accrra appears to have been of a different shape, as seen on coins of Faustina the Elder, of which an example, in the cabinet of Dr. John Lee, is here given : —
On the gold coins of this Empress the same object is represented of similar form. The cele- brated vase discovered in one of the Bartlow tumuli is of copper, exquisitely enamelled, of precisely the same form, and was doubtless used to hold perfumes at the interment, when it was deposited with the remains. Fcstus (s. v. Acerra) gives us a passage haring a two-fold illustration, shewing that it was the common practice to burn perfumes at the Roman burials, and that the term Acorn w'as also applied to the attar as well as to the vessel — “ Acerra ara quic ante mortmun poni solebant, in qua odorcs inccndcbantur and Pollux informs us, that the attar also was called
Acerra, This arose doubtless from the circum- stance of a light or portable altar being used in such ceremonies exclusively for the burning of perfumes. — The above explanatory uotice of the Acerra, its form and sacrificial use, is derived from the information contained in a letter, illus- trative of an ancient enamelled vase, and ad- dressed by John Yonge Akerman, Esq., Resident Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries, to Capt. Smyth, Director, through whose joint kindness the compiler of this dictionary' has been allowed to use the wood-cut, employed in Archceologia, vol. xxxiii.
ACI1AIA. — On this part of Greece, and rspc-
ACROSTOLIUM.— ACT. IMP. daily at Athens, the most munificent public benefits, of almost every description, were be- stowed by the Emperor Hadrian. — Eckhel, vi. p. 487. See restitvtori achaiae.
ACHILLIS, on a contorniatc medal. — Sec
PENTESILEA.
ACHILLEUS, an usurper in Egypt, in the reign of Diocletian, defeated and put to death by that Emperor. No certain coins arc known of AchiUeus. — Akerman, Be.icr. Cat., vol. ii., 182.
ACISCULUS, an instrument like a hammer, used by workmen in stone quarries, the repre- sentation of one appears on a denarius of the Valeria family, allusive to its cognomen of Acis- culus. — See Valeria gens.
ACROSTOLIUM (and Acroterium), a sort of ornament on the prow of an ancient galley. — “ Vaillant (in Coloniis, ii. p. 245), publishes a coin of Salonina, struck at Bcrytus, on the re- verse of which a female figure is described by him as standing on the acrostolium. This writer says, acrostolia erant extrema; partes navis, quas Latini vocant rostra or as he more clearly, though briefly, defines it in his index to vol. ii., “ Acrostolium , hoc rst navis rostrum.” Another coiu of the same colony, struck under Gallienus, according to the engraving in Vaillant (vol. ii., p. 239), exhibits with the legend of col. ivl. avg. pel. BEii. the type of a half-naked woman (Astarte), with left foot planted on a ship’s prow, holding in her right hand a banner, and in her left (what he denominates) the acrostolium. Sec Apl iist rum, or Aplustre ; see also Bergtus Colonia.
A. C. I. V. — These letters appear on 3rd brass coins of the Pacuvia, or Pacquia gens, with the accompanying type of a boar lying down. Eckhel, in his numismatic notice of this family, (vol. v.) observes, that he had formerly , interpreted the above initials as follows : — Antonins Colonia I ulia Vienna. But Scstini, he adds, interprets them Colonia Veterana \nvicta Apros ; and ascribes these coins to a city of that colony, which is placed by Pliny and Ptolemy, in Thrace, and called Apros.
ACT. — Actiacus or Actium.
ACT. IMP erator [X. or XII.] Apollo,
clothed in the stola, holds the lyre in his left hand and the plectrum in his right. On gold and silver of Augustus, struck v. c. 742, b. c. 12. — The figure and abbreviated word act. bear allusion to the battle of Actium, which gave Augustus the empire of the world, and at which, according to the poetic flatterers of that Prince, Apollo flew to his sup- port. The gratitude which Augustus professed towards Apollo is testified on many coins, and other monuments, as well as by ancient writers. But Suetonius states that, before the great game of Actium was played, Augustus had begun to manifest his devotion to the worship of Apollo. — There are those who suppose the figure on this reverse to be one of the Muses, substituted for that of Apollo ; but this is a wrong conjecture ;
AD. FRV. EMV. 5
because, on a coin of the Antestia family, a similar figure in the stola, is accompanied by the inscription apollini actio. — Eckhel (vi. p. 107) says, Nota est Citharoedorum, et Apollinis citharoedi stola, sive palla cum ex monumentis, turn scriptoribus (see coins of Nero inscribed PONT, max.) And Tibullus speaking of Apollo citharoedus (the harp-playing Apollo) says,
Jma videbatur talis illudere palla,
Namqvc hac in nitido corpore vestis era!.
Actius Apollo was worshipped by the Romans after the time of Augustus, in memoiy of the battle of Actium. — See Apollo.
ACTIUM, a city of Epirus, on the coast of Acamania (now Prevcnza) in the Ambracian gulf. In the earliest period not a large town, it was celebrated for a temple of Apollo, also as a safe harbour, and for an adjacent promontory of the same name — afterwards rendered more splen- did, on account of the decisive naval victory gained near it by Augustus over Antony.
ADFINIS (Affinis) cousin. By this term of relationship Constantius I. is called on 2nd and 3rd brass medals of consecration and dedication, struck under Maxentius, viz. imp. maxextivs divo constaxtio ADF1NI. — See Affinity and Kindred.
ADDITION of a letter is observed in the legends of some family coins, as feei.ix, vaala, viirtvs — for Felix, Vala, Virtus.
AD. FRV. EMV. EX. S.C. — Two men habited in the toga and seated ; on either side of them, an ear of corn. — This denarius of the Calpur- nia gens informs us, that Piso and Servilius Ccepio were sent as Quaestors, ad frumentum emundum ex. s. c. (to purchase corn, in obe- dience to a decree of the Senate). But in what year the event happened, and when the money was struck, are points apparently unascertained. A similar reverse is exhibited on silver coins of Critonius and of Fannius, auliles of the peo- ple. The bearded head on the obverse, Eck- hel (v. p. 159), considers to be in all proba- bility that of Saturn ; not only from the scythe placed near it ; but also because, according to Plutarch, Saturn was regarded by the Romans as the deity presiding over Agriculture, and the productions of the earth ; and in this view the obverse and reverse tally admirably. Satuni, armed with a similar instrument, may be seen on coins of the Mcmrnia and Sentia families ; but the most undoubted type of Saturn occurs on coins of the Neria gens.
ADI. Adjutrix : a Legion so surnamed, as aiding, or auxiliary to, another. — See Legio.
ADIAB. — Adiabenicus.
ADIABENI, a people of the east, on whom the Emperor Septimius Scverus made succcssfid war (a. d. 195). — See arab-adiab.
6 ADLOCVTIO.
ADIUTRIX AVG. — Diana standing, at her , feet a bow and quiver. On gold and silver of Vic- torinns senior, who invoked the aid of that god- dess, in setting out on his expedition against Gallienus. Tanini gives a 3rd brass of Carau- sius, with the same legend, but for type the bust of Victory.
ADLOCUTIO. — Allocution. — The custom of haranguing the soldiers was frequent with the Emperors, as is evidenced by a variety of their coins. This ceremony was performed, either at the moment when an individual obtained the imperial purple, or when the reigning prince adopted some one with a view to the succession ; or when he admitted another person into imme- diate participation of the empire, of which exam- ples are often recorded by historians. Memorials of these military orations, which an emperor de- livered before some expeditionary force, at the time of its going out on a campaign, or of its returning after a victory — in which the soldiers were to be reminded of their duty ; or rewarded for their good conduct and success, with praises, and, “ not least in their dear love,” with dona- tives also — are preserved on many of the very finest coin3 of the Augusti.
On these reverses, a raised platform or tribune, more or less lofty, called by the Romans sug- ffestum, is exhibited, on which the Emperor, habited cither in the toga, or the pal tula men turn, is seen standing, with his right hand elevated, as if appealing to the sentiments of the troops, or beckoning for silence.
Frequently the Pnctorian Prefect, in some cases two Praetorian Prefects, appear standing behind the Emperor. Below, is a group of the legionaries, from three to five or six generally in number, with their faces turned towards their prince ; some holding the eagles, vexilla, and en- signs ; others their bucklers and spears. With re- gard to the customary attitude and gesture of the speaker in addressing the troops, Cicero affords an illustrative passage, in his oration, against Gabinius — “ When (says he) the general (Intpe- ratorj, openly, in the presence of the army, stretched out his right hand, not to incite the soldiers to glory, but to tell them that they might make their own market” ( Omnia sibi el empta et emenda esse. — Provinc. cons. c. 4.)
ADLOCYT. COH. — ( Adlocutio Cohort 'turn — speech to the Cohorts). The Emperor Cains Cirsar (Caligula), habited in the toga, or
ADLOCVTIO.
senatorial vestments, stauds on a tribunal, before a curule chair, with right hand elevated, as if in the act of haranguing five military figures. — Touching this by no means rare, but extremely beautiful, reverse, in large brass, Schlegel is of opinion, that it refers to the oration delivered by Caligula, from a suggestum, raised in the midst of that bridge which, with foolishly ap- plied skill, the architect Baulis built, in the sea at Puteoli. But Eekhel treats this supposition as erroneous, and considers the legend and type to indicate the allocution which that prince addressed to the Pnctorian Cohorts, at the period of his accession to the supreme government; and that the same mode of recording the event was repeated on a later occasion, either for the sake of adding to his coinage, or because he had ad- dressed other cohorts in a set, and indeed an eloquent, discourse; for Tacitus himself docs uot deny Caligula’s talent for public speaking. While expressing, however, all due deference to the authority' of Eekhel, Capt. Smyth does not think that it was struck in the first year of the tyrant’s reign (a.d. 38) and points to the tribuuitiau date and the p. p. in the legend of the obverse, as rendering such a fact questionable. “ An adlo- cution (he adds) was made to the Pnctorian cohorts on Caligula’s accession, but the coins which commemorate it, bear merely the legend
C. CAESAR AUG. GERMANICVS PONT MAX. TR.P.
The one just described, I am inchned to date a.d. 40, though the consulship is not marked, and the occasion may have been, the expedition to Britain.” It is to be observed that the S. C. (Senates Consulto) is omitted in all Roman brass coins, bearing the title and portrait of this Em peror. “ Was it (Eekhel asks) because the senate, uot authorising it, they were struck by order of the Prince himself, and distributed by him amongst the Prtctorians ?” Be this as it may, the military ceremony of the Allocution was first represented on the coins of Caligula. And it is to be noted that the one in question, though clearly of Roman die, has not the mark of Senatorial authority. — Doct. a it in. vet. vi., 221.
These military harangues occur many times afterwards in the mintage of the Imperial go- vernment, as will be seen by the following list, drawn out in chronological order : —
ADLOCVT. COH. S. C. Brass medallion and large brass of Nero. — Emperor, Pnctorian Prefect, and three soldiers. — “ Nero, attended by Burrhus, both togated, on a tribunal, stand- ing near a circular edifice with columns, which may be emblematic of the pnctorian camp, lie is addressing three soldiers who stand before him, bearing military ensigns, and is probably promising the donative on which they proclaimed him Emperor; whence we may conclude the medal to have been struck a.d. 54.” — Smyth, 41.
ADLOCVTIO. On the field S. C.- I.i-t brass of Galba. — The Emperor stands, with the chief of the Pnctorian guards, on a raised platform, and harangues the Cohorts, who arc generally represented by their standard bearer. In another Allocution, given by Haver- camp, (Mas. ChrisliiurJ, of the same Em-
ADLOCVTIO.
j)cror, the cavalry of the guards arc repre- sented by a horse, the head of which is seen
amongst the foot soldiers. This coin (struck a. d. 68) is, by most numismatic antiquaries, thought to designate the occasion of Galba’s speech to his legionaries in Spain, when he first revolted from Nero.
ADLOCVT. AVG. (Adlocutio Augusti.) — First brass of Nerva. — Emperor and two other figures on an cstradc ; four figures below.
ADLOCVTIO. — First and second brass of Hadrian. — Emperor addressing his soldiers : first brass, and ADLOCVTIO. COIL PllAETOR ( Cokortium Pratoriarum — Allocution of the Body or Life Guards) with similar type.
ADLOCVTIO. — Brass medallion of Marcus Aurelius. — Emperor addressing soldiers, one of whom holds a horse by the hridlc. — (Mus. de Camps.)
ADLOCVT. AVG. COS. III.— First brass of Marcus Aurelius. — The Emperor, on a svg- gestum, accompanied by two prictorian prefects, is addressing three standard-bearers of the army. “ This coin was struck a. d. 170, on Aurelius’s waging war with the Marcomanni, a warlike people, who, leagued with the Quadi, the Sar- matians, the Roxolani, the Jazyges, and other barbarian nations, had invaded the Roman fron- tier. This opened one of the severest contests that ever Rome sustained.” — Smyth, p. 136.
ADLOCVTIO. — Brass medallion, and first brass of L. Verus. — Emperor haranguing his soldiers.
ADLOCVTIO.— Brass medallion of Macrinus. — Emperor and his son (Diadumenianus), and four military figures.
ADLOCVTIO AVGVSTI. — Emperor and soldiers : on a first brass of Alexander Scvcrus.
ADLOCVTIO AVGVSTI. — Emperor and soldiers, on a brass medallion and a first brass of Gordianns Pius.
ADLOCVTIO AVGG. ( Augustorum ) — The two Philips, addressing their troops — on a brass medallion and first brass of Philippus, sen.
ADLOCVTIO A V G V S TO R V M.— Three figures in military habits, standing on a raised platform, under whom appear three soldiers with legionary standards. In reference to this legend and type, as found on a large-sized silver me- dallion, having on its obverse the head of Valcrianus, Spanhcim makes the following re- mark : — “Valerian before his captivity and im- prisonment (by Sapor, King of Persia), asso-
ADOPTIO. 7
ciatcd his son Gallieuus, in the empire, as we see on medals their two heads and the words Concordia Augustorum. There is also another medal on which arc three heads, viz., those of Valerian and his two sons Gallicnus and Valeria- na s, jun., though the latter was then only Caesar.” The three figures standing on the sug- gest am, in the silver medallion above described, were therefore most probably designed to repre- sent the same three imperial personages.
ADLOCVTIO AVG. and ADLOCVTIO TACITI AVG. — Brass medallions of Tacitus. — The Emperor, attended by tbc Prictorian prefect.
ADLOCVTIO AVG. — On a brass medallion of Probus. — Accompanying this legend, there is a remarkable type in which that Emperor and another personage are represented, stauding together on an estrade ; three soldiers on each side carry military ensigns ; and before the estrade are four kneeling figures. (Mus. l)e Camps, p. 117.). — For an illustration of this re- verse see Probus.
ADLOCVTIO. — Third brass of Maxentius.
Besides these reverses, in which the legend itself identifies the type with the occasion of an Emperor’s speech to his troops, there are some splendid examples of Allocutioual representations on brass medallions, such as the tides exek- citvs of Commodus, and the fidf.i militvm of Sept. Scverus — See the former illustrated.
In the foregoing examples the distinctive word adlocvtio, or ADLOCVT is, for the most part, inscribed on the exergue. It can hardly fail to occasion some degree of surprise, that no Allocu- tion should have been recorded on the coins of such eminently warlike and victorious princes of the earlier empire, as Vespasian, Titus, and Trajan. — [The adlocvtio ascribed to the first named Emperor, engraved as a brass medallion, in Numismala Cimelii Vindobonensis (p. 15), being “ nonni/iil suspecluin.”']
ADOPTIO : Adoption. — The act of a person adopting another as his son, was performed among the Romans, either in presence of the Praetor, or before an assembly of the people, in the times of the Republic ; and under the Em- perors by their sovereign authority. — An adopted Roman (says Eckliel, v., p. 59), wa3 so com- pletely translated into the gens, or race, of the party adopting him, that the name of his own family was put aside, and lie received all the names of his parent by adoption — which names, however, were lengthened iuto the letters anvs. — Thus, iEmilius Paullus, being adopted by Publius Cornelius Scipio, was called P. Cornelius Scipio j-Em ilianus. — C. Octavius, afterwards Augustus, adopted by the Dictator Csesar, became C. Julius Ciesar Octaviawaj. — So, on coins, we see a. licinivs nerva SILiarazw; and T. qvinc- tiys crispinvs svLFiciawiM. — This custom, nevertheless, was frequently departed from. For example, M. Junius Brutus, (he who killed Ctesar) after his adoption by Q. Servilius Coepio, was called Q. Coepio Brutus, the surname being still retained, for the sake of his own family ; whereas he ought to have bceu called Q. Servilius Coepio Junianus. Tims again
8
ADYEMTS.
ADOPTIO.
Sci])io, who took part against Julius C;csar in Africa, adopted by Q. C;ccilius Metellus Pius, is termed on coins Q. Metellus Pius Scipio, not Comelianu*. Nor does it appear, that the adopted Homans were very particular in using the names to which they succeeded. M. Junius .Brutus, notwithstanding his adoption, is called on several of his coins, only brvtvs imp. — And P. Clodius, adopted by Fonteius, continued to the end of his life, to be called P. Clodius. Also, by virtue of adoption, the surname was lengthened, as in the instance of Marccllus of the Cornelia family, afterwards called Mar- cell inns.
ADOPTIO. — Two figures, in the toga, joining hands : round the type parthic. divi. traian. avo. p.m. tr. p. cos. p.p. — This coin of Hadrian, in gold and silver, commemo- rates the adoption of Hadrian by Trajan. The former scat- tered abroad many monumen- tal evidences of that fact, as there had bccu much doubt on the subject : for, says Spar- tian, “there are not wanting those who assert that, after the death of Trajan, Hadrian was, through the intrigues of Plotina, taken into adoption.” For this reason, adds Yaillant (Impp. Rom., ii., p. 136), who con- curs in the sentiment of this quotation, was Hadrian so diligent, at first, in assuming the cognomina of his father by adoption.
Adoption self -assumed. — There is exhibited on first and second brass coins of Sept, Sc- verus an evidence of that Emperor’s adoption of himself into the family of M. Aurelius ; the legend of the reverse reading Divi. M. pii. f. &c., and the type representing Severus, in the imperial paludamcntum, crowned by a helmetcd figure holding a club in the left hand. Tliis preposterous and unprecedented assumption, of which nearly all the old writers take notice, is thus nnmismatically confirmed. It was after so unwarrantable a use of the adoptative process, that the above named Emperor proceeded to trace his descent, in an uninterrupted line from Ncrva, as is attested by many inscriptions on marble, more diffuse than those on coins — see Gruter, quoted by Eckhel vii., p. 173. Sec also
DIVI. M. PII. F.
ADQ. — ADQVI. — Adquisita, added to (the Homan empire). — Sec arabia adquis.
ADSEKTOKI LIBERTATIS PYBL1CAE. S. P. Q. R. in an oaken or civic garland. — With this highly eulogistic title of “ Maintainer of the Public Liberty,” was Vespasian honoured by the Senate and People of Rome, on a large brass I coin. — It is one of the rarest of that Emperor’s mint. The inscription occurs solely iu the in- stance of Vespasian. S. C. is omitted simply 1 because S. P. Q, R. equally constitutes the im- | press of senatorial authority. Sec Spanheim, ii. 528 — and Ilavcrcainp, iu Thesaur. Morel], vol. iii., Tab. xiii. — see also Eckhel’g comment, vi. p. 322. The obverse of this medal, on which appears the laurcatcd head of the Emperor turned to the left, presents the legend of imp. caps. |
| VKSPASI AX. AUG. P. M. TR. P. P. P. COS. III. which, “as well as all those struck iu a. ii. 71, proves Suetonius to be mistaken in stating that Vespasian was not invested with the tribunitiau power, nor dignified with the title of Father of J his country, till the latter part of his reign.” — Smvth, p. 56, No. lxx.
ADV. or ADVENT.— AVG. or AYGG. — Ad- vent us August i, or Augustorum.
ADVENTUS. — Inscriptions of this kind com- memorate the imperial sovereign’s arrival at Rome, either at the commencement of his reign, or on his return from a distance. They also refer to his advent iu some city or province of the empire. At their accession to the throne, em- perors were not conveyed in a chariot nor in any other vehicle, but went on horseback, and some- times even on foot ; and thus they made their first public entry into the capital of the Roman world. The fact of the equestrian procession of J emperors into Rome, even if it were not authen- ticated from other sources, is abundantly estab- lished, by the type of an Imperator eqnes, ac- companying the legend of adventvs av- ovsti, stamped on so numerous a scries of coins. The other custom, viz., that of their arriving on horseback at the gates of the city, and then entering it on foot, is not, and indeed could not, with the same degree of clearness, be elucidated by means of monetal designs ; but the fact is described by Dion Cassius, in his ac- count of Scptimius Sevcrus’s pedestrian entry into Rome. — That emperors occasionally set out from the city on foot is shewn on a large brass of Caracalla, the reverse type of which represents him marching, followed by a soldier. — See PRo- riiCTio avg. The Emperor’s departure.
The Adventus legend appears on coins of Nero, Trajan, Hadrian, M. Aurelius, Comino- dus, Sept. Severus, Caracalla, the Philips, Trebonianus Callus, Volusianus, Valcriuuus, Gullicnus, Cams, Claudius Gothius, Tacitus, Probus, Diocletiauus, Maxiinianus Hercules, Carausius, Allcctus, Constantine, Joviauus. The types (with the exception of those on Ha- drian’s inscribed Adventui Augusts) consist ge- nerally of the Emperor or Emperors on horse- back, with their right hands elevated, some- times preceded by a figure of Vietorv ; in other instances, by soldiers hearing standards. These are aU on 1st or 2nd brass. There is an Ad- vent us Aug. of Elagabalus in silver; and an Adventus Augusts of the same Emperor in gold.
ADVENTU8 AVGVSTI. — This memorial of an Emperor’s progresses, is offered most fre- quently, ns well as most interestingly, on the coins of Hadrian, always with the addition of the name of the province, or city, which that great prince had visited : viz., Africie, Alexandria:, Arabia1, Asia:, Bithynia1, Britannia:, Cilicia:, Gnlliic, Hispaukc, Italia:, Judaea:, Macedonia1, Maure- tania:, Moesia1, Phrygia1, Sicilia1, Thraeiie. — These arc all on first brass, but seven of them (sec Akcrmau’s Desrr. Cat. vol. i.) arc also to be found on second brass, and three on gold and silver. — The solicitude of Hadrian to become acquainted, by oeular observation aud personal
y
ADVENTVI.
inquiry, with the customs, manners, laws, and condition of the various peoples, comprehended within the limits of his vast empire, induced him to he continually travelling through its different provinces, and colonics ; to visit the chief cities, and to inspect the principal legion- ary masses of the Roman army. He made these excursions (of greater or less extent, and occupying more or less time) accompanied hy only a few attcudauts, generally ou foot and often harc-headed, seeing every thing, investi- gating every thing, and ever)' where establishing the greatest order. — The accomplishment of numerous jouruies and visitations were, hy his direction and with the sanction of the Senate, chrouologically recorded, in a scries of coins, which are remarkable for their tine style of work- manship. It comprises, as already noticed, all the Roman provinces, and confirms what History tells us of this emperor’s voyages. 'Hie number of these geographical coins is considerable, and they are with good reason sought for. Some arc very rare, others sufficiently common. The first class of them includes the names of the provinces and towns through which Hadrian passed. On these the countries, cities, and rivers, are represented by a figure and some attribute; as Egyptos, Alexandria, Nilus. The second ex- presses the satisfaction which the people expe- rienced, or were supposed to have experienced, at his arrival among them : an event which is indicated by the legend of the reverse — Ad- ventvi Avo. ; whilst the type (as in that of Africa, Judaa, Macedonia, &c.) exhibits the Emperor, and the Genius of the Province, stand- ing opposite each other, and an altar (with its victim) between them, at which they are per- forming sacrifice. — The third class shows, through the medium of ingenious allegories, the benefits and reliefs which Hadrian bestowed ou the op- pressed provinces. In this branch of the series the Emperor is called Restitutor, the restorer of the particular country, (as Achaia, Asia, Africa, Gallia, Ilispania, &c.) and he raises up a kneeling figure. A fourth and last class refers to the military exercises, which he caused to be practiced, and to the discipline which he main- tained amongst his legions, in their respective encampments and garrisons. The review of troops by the Emperor in person is usually figured by a type of allocution, with the name of the army, as in his f.xercitvs dacicvs, germanicvs, mavretamcvs, &c. on which are an equestrian figure, and four or five foot sol- diers carrying military ensigns.
ADVENTVI AVG. AFRICAE.— On gold of Hadrian.
The Emperor, clothed in the toga, is seen hold- ing his right hand elevated towards a female C
ADVENTVS.
figure, who is distinguished by the trunk of an elephant covering her head as personifying the Roman province of Africa, and is in the act of sacrificing at a tripod. “We find (says Addi- son) on the several medals, struck in comme- moration of Hadrian’s progress through the empire, that on his arrival (adventus) they offered a sacrifice to the Gods, for the reception of so great a blessing. Horace mentions this custom, (Od. 2, lib. 4.)”
ADVENTVS AVGVSTI. G. P. (Gracia Pe- ragrata.) — A second brass of Nero, of colonial fabric, bearing this legend, and an ornamented praetorian galley, is considered to record the return of that prince from Greece. — Others with a similar type, and the abbreviation c. cor. in the field of the coin, designate his arrival at Corinth, for the purpose of celebrating the Isthmian games in that city. — (Vaillant in co- loniis, vol. i.)
ADVENTVS AVG. PONT. MAX. TR. POT. COS. II., S. C. — Rome helmetcd, seated on a heap of arms, joins right hands with the Emperor, who habited in the toga, stands opposite to her. — On a large brass of Hadrian, struck in the year of Our Lord 118. Having ar-
ranged all things in Syria, (where he commanded when Trajan died), Hadrian proceeded through Illyria to Rome ; and that this occurred in the year above mentioned, the present coin shows by the inscription cos. ii. — Eckhcl, vi. 477.
ADVENTVI AVG. IVDAEAE. S. C— In this example amongst the numi geographies of Hadrian, the Emperor, with his right hand uplifted, stands opposite the province, which is personified under the figure of a female, robed and veiled : she holds a patera over an altar, at the foot of which is the victim : she carries a ball, or, as Mr. Akcrman suggests, in reality the Acerra imperfectly represented, in her left hand, and be- side her are two naked children, bearing each a palm branch — allusive to Judiea, of which, as part of Palestine, the palm tree is an emblem.
This type, struck between a.d. 130 and 135, is of historical interest. It represents the arrival of Hadrian in Judaea, not, as in the case of most of his visits elsewhere, on a mission of benevo- lence and mercy, but to confirm the stern imperial sentence, after a bloody war, of de- struction to devoted Jerusalem, and of insult and humiliation to the rebellious Jews. — For a further numismatic reference to this fulfilment of Our Lord’s prophecy, see Ae/ia Capitolina Colonia.
10 ADVENTVS.
ADVENTVS AVG. BRITANN1AE. — In
the exergue s. c. — An altar with the lire kindled, placed between the Emperor (who is clothed in the toga), holding a patera, and a female figure with a victim lying at her feet. On a large brass of Hadrian, engraved in “ Coins of the Romans relating to Britain.” — PI. 2, No. 5.
Hadrian’s arrival in Britain is commemorated by this coin, struck in the year of Rome 874 a.d. 121. “In the reign of this prince,” observes Mr. Akerman (see his ably written, correctly illustrated, and highly interesting work above- named), “ the Britons revolted; and Julius Seve- rus was recalled to proceed against the Jews, who had made an effort to regain their liberty. The Caledonians also destroyed several forts, which had been erected by Agricola. Hadrian, with three legions, arrived in time to prevent the Britons from throwing off the Roman yoke ; and, to protect the northern frontiers of the province, built a wall which extended from the Tyne in Northumberland to the Eden in Cumberland. The wrar does not appear to have been of long continuance, and the Southern Britons, protected from the incursions of their savage neighbours, wrerc probably content to bear the yoke.” p. 22.
ADVENTVS AVG. — M. Aurelius crossing a bridge. — On the reverse of a large brass the Emperor is seen, followed by five soldiers, two of whom bear standards ; and the others have their spears advanced as if to encounter re- sistance. They are passiug over a bridge con- structed on three boats, “ precisely (says Capt. Smyth) like the one over the Istcr, represented on the Trajan column. The bridge before us was no doubt over the same river ; since the Mar- comanni, in abandoning Pannonia, sustained a dreadful overthrow, whilst crossing it. — The legend of this reverse is imp. vi. cos. iii., with v hit vs avo. on the exergue. There is another large brass of Aurelius, with the above reverse, but inscribed Advent us instead of Virtue, and recording imp. vii. whence it affords a sure testimony of the Emperor’s return to Rome, a. d. 174.” — For an illustration of this reverse, sec imp. vi. cos. hi.
ADVENTVI AV Gusli FELICISSIMO. S.C. — This legend appears on the reverse of a large brass of Scptimius Severus. The type represents the emperor on horseback, either alone, or pre- ceded by a soldier on foot. — After having re-
established peace in the east by the destruction of Pescennius Niger, and with the design of march-
ADVENTVS.
ing against Albinus, Scvcrus returned to Rome, where his entry was magnificent. That was the same Felicissimus Adventus — “ the most auspi- cious return” — which is alluded to here.
Capt. Smyth (p. 186) assigns the return to Rome which this device commemorates, to the year 196 of the Christian sera ; and adds — “ The first public entry of Severus was under every possible demonstration of joy : yet he committed unheard of cruelties. After commending the character of Commodus to the Senators, who had declared his memory infa- mous, he executed a number of their body, with- out trial ; and Rome was filled with bloodshed. At the same time, however, he executed retri- butive justice on the insolent, venal, and trea- cherous Prrctorians, whom he disanned, de- graded, and ignominiously banished to the dis- tance of a hundred miles from Rome.”
In describing an Adventus coin of the elder Philip, whose equestrian figure is repre- sented with the same “ extraordinary dispropor- tion between the steed and its rider,” as is ex- hibited on the above reverse of Severus, the intelligent writer above quoted, observes (p. 266) — “ the Emperor is probably mouutcd on the Aslurco, or ambling nag, os a more appro- priate emblem of returning peace, than the Equus bet/a/or, or charger.” — This is a shrewd conjecture ; but it does not fully account for the under-sized horses on which we see emperors mound'd, in various types of the Roman mint. These, indeed, arc for the most part relatively diminutive, whether the imperial rider is habited in the pacific toga, or in the garb of war — under the legend of adventvs, or that oi ex-
ERCITVS
ADVENTVS AVGVSTI. S. C.— On a large brass of Elagabalus, with this legend of reverse, the type presents “ an equestrian figure of that emperor, with his right hand elevated, a sceptre in his left, and the chlainys floating behind his shoulders. Mirsa, well aware of what Macrinus had lost by not proceeding to Rome immediately after his election, urged her grand- son, who was wallowing in brutal debauchery at Nicomcdia, to repair thither. She prevailed ; and he eutcrcd Koine a. d. 219, where he was received with great demonstrations, largesses being distributed to the populace, and public shews exhibited.” — Smyth, p. 214.
ADVENTVS AVGG. (Adventus Aug ustorum). — Two military figures on horseback galloping. —
This legend and type appear on a brass medallion,
ADVENTVS.
struck in honour of the Emperors Trebonianus Callus, aud Volusianus, jointly, about a. d. 252, the computed year of their arrival in Home, after the death of Trajanus Decius, whose son Hostilianus had already been associated with Trebonianus as an Augustus.
On the obverse are the laurelled heads of both father and son, surrounded by the legend imp. GAXLVS. AVG. IMP. VOLVSIANVS. AVG. — TllC above cut is copied from the volume of Buonarotti (pi. xviii.), who praises this medallion as equal, in point both of design aud workmanship, to the best examples of die-engraving, to be found in the mints of the earlier empire. Thus much for art and taste, as still occasionally found manifested even in the lower age of the imperial coinage. But the device of two equestrian warriors, one with couched lance, as if preparing to charge an enemy, is a more appropriate type for a decursio, or a profectio mi/itaris, than for the peacefid approach of two newly-elected Emperors to the gates of “ the eternal city.” There is, moreover, something more than strange in the assumption of the imperial title by both Gallus and Volu- sianus — a circumstance which, as the learned and acute author of “ Osservazione Istoriche” re- marks (p. 312) — “fa motto sospettare die Os- tiliano, non vedendosi nominato, fosse gia mor- to, o di peste, o di morte vio/enla, procuratagli da Gallo, per getosia d’ Imperio.” The suspi- cion of foul play, in this case, is of the two, by far the more probable hvpo thesis.
ADVENTVS CARL AVG.—1 The Emperor on horseback, with right hand raised, and a spear in his left. — This reverse appears on an aureus of Cams (struck a. d. 282-3.) — Some writers think it probable from this coin, that Cams actually went to Rome, from Pannonia, before he proceeded on his Persian expedition. But, at this period, to speak of the advent of the Emperor was not always intended to indicate his arrival at Rome. (Eckiiel, vii. p. 588). This observation is also justified by the mint of the Emperor Tacitus.
ADVENTVS S. D. N. AVG.-— The Emperor, with the nimbus round his head, on horseback, in the garb of Peace. — [Akerman describes this equestrian figure as “wearing the diadem.”]
This appears on a gold coin- of Marcianus, published by Pcllcrin (Mel. 1. p. 103), who reads the legend — Adventvs Second us Domini Nostri Xvausti, meaning the second arrival of the Emperor. Eckhel, on the other hand, deems it more likely that the single S constitutes part of the imperial title of Marcianus, and should rather be read S acralissimi. — [The opi- nion of Eckhel is entitled to the greatest re- spect, and his interpretation is probably correct, but on Greek coins the second advent is re- corded. Sec Mr. Akcrman’s remarks on the Coins of Ephesus, in Num. Chron. The S. pre- ceding D. N. appears to sanction Eckhel’s ren- dering.]
ADVENTVS AVGG. — There is a silver me- dallion, edited by Buonarotti, bearing on its obverse the head of Saloninus Valerianus Caesar, without laurel crown, on the one side ; and face C 2
AED. 1 1
to face, with that of Gallicnus, his father, laureated, on the other side — the legend being Concordia avgvstorvm. — The reverse exhibits three galcated figures on horseback, their right hands raised. Victory preceding them, and live soldiers accompanying them, three of whom bear military ensigns. Near the horses’ feet are two captives seated on the ground. See con- cordia avgvstorvm.
ADVERSA. — The obverse, or principal face of a coin; in contradistinction to the term aversa, or the reverse side.
ADYTUM, the most sacred place of a heathen temple in which stood the image of the princi- pal deity to whom it was dedicated. — See Tcm- plum.
AEBUTIA gens. — It is uncertain to which order, patrician or plebeian, this family belongs. Its name is found on brass colonial coins of Ccesar Augusta (Sarragozza) in Hispania Tarra- conensis, and also of Corinth. There are four varieties.
AED. — Aedes or JEdificia, Edifices. — AED. S. AE 'dibus Sacris.
AED. P. or POT. — JEdilitia Potestate.
AED. DIVI. FAVSTINAE. — A temple of six columns, in which Faustina stands, or, as in others, is seated. Silver. To this may be joined the legend of another denarius of the same empress — viz., dedicatio aedis. The same building but no image within.
This represents the aedes, or templum, with which, after her death, the elder Faustina was honoured by Antoninus Pius. According to Capitol inus, it was situated in the via sacra, and was at first dedicated to Faustina alone. But, after the decease of the husband, religious rites were paid therein to him also. This temple, the ruins of which at Rome are still ex- tant, bespeaks its original appropriation, for on its frontal the following dedication is still legible, viz., DIVO ANTONINO ET DIVAE FAVSTINAE. ex s. c. The same edifice is likewise represented on other coins of the same empress, inscribed AETERNITAS, or pietas. — Eckhel, vii. p. 39. — See templvm divi. avg. rest, engraved in Cavlus, No. 493.
AED. (in others AEDE) DIVI. AVG. REST. COS. III1. — Aides Did Augusti Restitute. — On silver and large brass coins of Antoninus Pius (struck about a. d. 159) are the foregoing legend, and a temple of eight columns, with two seated figures in the intercolumniation. The pediment and entablature of the edifice arc also adorned with statuary.
12
AED1LIS.
This temple of Augustus first appears ou coins of Tiberius struck A.u.e. 787 (a.d. 34) ; also in the mint of Caligula of different years ; and here it is exhibited on coins of Antoninus, of the year above-mentioned (Eckhel, vii., 25). These, supplying what history has neglected to notice, teach us that such repairs and restorations, as either the decays of age, or the effects of casual injury, had rendered ueccssary, were made by the piety of Antoninus. The two statues in the temple are of Augustus and Jidia, the latter placed there by the Emperor Claudius. Gold, silver, and brass of Antoninus, with the same type, but inscribed templvm. divi. avg. also refer to this historical fact. — See Teinplum.
AED. Acdilis.— AEG. PL. JEdilis Plebis.— A ED. CVR. ASdilis Curn/is.
/EDI ITS — A Roman magistrate, who exer- cised the Edilcship, which was of three kinds : Plebeian, Curule, and Cereal. — See an able article, under this head, in “ the Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, edited by Dr.W. Smith.”
/ED I LIS PLEB1S. — The plebeian edilcship was the most ancient of the offices above named. It embraced many functions, amongst which were the maintenance of the baths, aqueducts, common sewers, streets, and highways: also t he preservation of the public records and archives, deposited in the temple (tales) of Ceres. The plebeian ediles were, moreover, charged with the superintendence of commerce, and of what is now called the police ; together with the ma- nagement of provisions.
llavcrcamp (in Morel], Thesaur. Fain. Rom.) gives two denarii referring to the office of Plc- beiau Ediles. One of these is of the Panina, the other of the Critonia gens. Both these exhibit on their respective obverses, the head of Ceres spicifera, with the abbreviated words akd. pi,. AEdilium Plebis ; on each of their reverses are two togated men, sitting upon common sedi/ia. Behind them is P. a. or Publico Ar- gento (meaning coined with the public silver) ; below we read M. fan. L. Cltrr. Marcias Fan- nins and Lucius Critonius ; the two ediles em- ployed on the occasion to which the coin re- fers.— Eckhel, v. p. 198.
/EDILES CURDLES. — Under the dictator- ship of Kurins Camillus (». c. 308), the pntri- cians obtained the nomination to flic edilcship of tivo of their own order, under the distinctive
AEDILES.
appellation of / Ediles Curules ; because they had the curule chair, the pratextu, or long white robe bordered with purple, the jus inuiginis , or right of images, like the superior magistrates ; privileges never attained by the plebeian ediles. To the curule ediles were entrusted the care of the sacred edifices (especially the temple of Ju- piter), the tribunals of justice, the city walls, and the theatres ; in short, all that was essential to the religion, defence, and embellishment of the city, came under their cognizance. — l’itiseus, Lex. Ant. llom.
The symbols of the curule edilcship, both in legend and in type, arc found on denarii of the Livineia, Phctoria, Plancia, Plautia, and other families. In some of these, the curule chair pre- sents itself on one side, and the dignity of AED. cvr. is stamped on the other, as in the above coin of the Furia gens. Others present the figures of the two ediles, sitting between two measures filled with ears of corn, as in a denarius of the Papiria family. Also a modius, or measure, be- tween two cars of corn, as in silver of L. Licineius Regains, one of which on the obverse has the head of Ceres adorned with a crowu of corn ears, accompanied with the epigraph of akd. cvn. (See Livineia gens.) Likewise on a denarius of the Flaminia family, a head of Ceres with the letters, designating the Curule Edilcship, ap- pears on one side, whilst on the other are figures of two men, clothed in the toga, sitting together, having each a corn car beside him, and below is inscribed t. flamin. t. f. l. flag. p. f. ex. s. c. meaning Titus F/aminius, Titi Filins , and L. F/accus, Publii Filius, Ex Senates Con-vdto. (Sec Havercamp in Morell — numi consu/ares.) The addition of ex. s. c. denotes that those Curule Ediles purchased wheat for the supply of the Homan population, with the public money, by authority of the Senate. This purpose is more explicitly referred to, in the epigraph of ad. fry. emv. already given (p. 5).
Eckhel observes, that the curule edilcship was not unfrcqucntly attended with vast expense both to the state and to the individuals w ho held the office. That of M. Scaurus (which according to Pighius, took place iu the year of Rome 690 n.c. 58) is reprobated by early Roman w Titers, for the excessive magnificence of the public shews, and the amount of largesses, almost beyond belief, which, with a prodigal ostentation of luxury and profusion, he lavished ou his official year.
/EDILES CEREALES. — This third class of Ediles was of much later appointment and of more questionable origin, clashing ns they did iu functional operations with the other two. Under the free republic, the number of Ediles had been limited to four ; viz., two plebeians and two patricians. But according to Dion, two Curators, with the like number of Cereal Ediles, were in- stituted by Julius Cicsar (when about to pro- ceed ou his expedition against l’arthia), fur the purpose of assisting in the conveyance of corn from foreign lands to Rome, and of distribut- ing it among the people. (See Annona). This fact is confirmed by the inscriptions on two
AEGYFI'YS.
marbles, cited by Ursinus, bearing the words aedili ri.EB. CEBIAL. — A denarius of Cri- tonius, who was a Cereal Edile, in the year of Rome 710 (b. c. 44), has for the type of its ob- verse (like Fannin above), the head of Ceres. “ And appropriately too” says Eckhcl, “ for we learn from Cicero, that the care of providing annona, and of preparing the Cerealian games, belonged not less to the plebeian than to the curule ediles. The eminent author of Doctrina num. vet. then makes an apposite quotation from Livy, shewing expressly that on one of those occasions, when L. Valerius and M. lloratius were consuls (b. c. 449), the sacred ceremonies in the temple of Ceres were, by a senates con- sult um, placed under the jurisdiction and ma- nagement of the Plebeian Ediles.” — See ceke- ai.es.
The Edilcship was continued uuder the Em- perors, and it was not until the reign of Con- stautine the Great that the institution itself was abolished. — Pitiscus.
/EGYPT VS; Egypt. — Augustus, having taken possession of Alexandria, the capital city of the Delta, in the 724th year of Rome (b. c. 30), formed the whole country into a Roman province, and entrusted the government to some individual member of the equestrian order ; prohibiting sill senators from going to Egypt, without special permission. Egypt is distinguished on coins bv the crocodile, the sistrum, the ibis, the lotus, and cars of corn. The Nile, Jupiter, the Sun, the Moon, Apis, Osiris, Isis, Scrapis, as objects of worship with the Egyptians, arc also amongst the numismatic recognitions of that country. Egypt received no colony, after Julius Caesar’s time ; but, as a province, was governed by an imperial prefect (preefectus augustalis) to whom, however, the privilege of the fasces was not assigned.
AEGYPTOS. — Egypt personified under the image of a woman seated on the ground, holding in her right hand the sistrum, resting her left arm on the canistrum, or basket filled with fruits, and having on her right foot the Ibis standing.
This reverse which appears on coins of Had- rian, in all the three [metals, was struck on the occasion of that Emperor’s visit to Egypt, after having been in Judaea and Arabia, probably about the year u. c. 883, a.d. 130. (Eckhel, vi., 488.) The type is elegant, on gold and first brass, and is peculiarly appropriate to
AEGYPTOS. 13
Egypt. The sistrum was a musical instrument sacred to Isis, in whose worship it was used, and national to Egypt. [See the word.] The canistrum, or basket of wheat, signifies the fruit- fulness of the country, which is caused by the inundation of the Nile.
In reference to the sacred Ibis, a bird so pecu- culiar to Egypt, that it was said to die, if taken to other countries, Cicero has observed, “ the Egyptians, whom we are apt to ridicule so much, conferred honours upon animals only in propor- tion to the advantage derived from them. Thus their reason for worshipping the Ibis, was be- cause it destroyed the serpent.”
A large brass of Hadrian, the reverse with- out legend, but with s. c. in the field, “ ex- hibits a majestic figure of the Emperor, with his left foot on a crocodile : he is in armour, with the paludamentum at his back, his right hand is supported by a spear, with the point peacefully downwards, and his left holds a parazonium. This was probably minted in re- membrance of his visit to Egypt, and its date may therefore be nearly approximated — for Hadrian, having passed through Jud;ea and Arabia, arrived at Pclusium a. d. 130, where he repaired the tomb of Pompey.” — Smyth, Descr. Cat. p. 103.
AEGYPTO CAPTA.— This historical legend appears on gold and silver of Augustus. The obverse presents the head of that emperor, with- out laurel, behind which is the augural lituus, and around is read caf.sar. cos. vi. — On the reverse are the foregoing words, accompanied with the figure of a crocodile, to the right. — The sixth consulate being inscribed on this denarius, shews it to have been struck in the year of Rome 720 (b. c. 28), under Augustus, to renew the memory of the capture of Alex- andria, and thereby the conquest of Egypt, by his great uncle, and father by adoption, Julius Ca:sar. [The original silver coin is neither rare nor high priced, but the same type restored by Trajan is valued by Miouuet at 100 francs.] iEGIS. — This, according to the Greek ety- mology of the word, was the skin of a goat; some authors affirming it to be that of the goat Amalthsea, others pretending it to have been the skin of a destructive monster, iEgis, whom Minerva fought and slew — after which she is said to have placed its skin over her breast, partly to serve as a garment, partly as a pro- tection against dangers, but also as a lasting evi- dence of her bravery : in the sequel she placed on it the snake-haired head of Medusa. Roman Em- perors often appear, in their statues and on their coins, with tlieir chests covered with the /Egis
14 AEMILIA.
AEMILIANTS.
as with a cuirass ; and several coins of Domitiau and of Trajan exhibit those Emperors, with the head of Medusa affixed to the bust, as part of the body armour. — Sec Lorica — also Domitianns.
AEMILIA gens (origiually Aimilia), a patri- cian family of great antiquity, as both writers and coins serve fully to attest. It was famous for the exploits and public services of its members, insomuch that they filled office, as chief pontiffs, dictators, governors, senators, consuls, masters of the horse, military tribunes with consular power, and triumvirs reipubtiae const it uenda , together with all the other magisterial and sa- cerdotal functions. Buca, Lepidus, Paulus, and Scauras appear as surnames on the medals of this gens, and there are 43 numismatic varie- ties. Gold, of the highest rarity ; Silver com- mon, except scarce reverses. There arc silver restored by Trajan. The brass are colonial. Por the cognomen of Buca, see aimilia [Basilica] ltKP ecit S. C. — For that of Bantus see ter Pavlvs. — For Scaurus see rex aretas. — The following relates to
Lepidus. The coins of the Lcpidi are re- markable for their commemoration of warlike achievements performed by persons belonging to that branch of the Aemilia gens. — There is a denarius belonging to this family, which bears on its obverse, a female head with a diadem. On its reverse, an equestrian figure with a trophy on his shoulder; around the type an. xv. pr. li. o. c. s. ; on the exergue m. lepidvs.
The meaning of this abbreviated legend on a well known and interesting silver coin is — M. LEPIDVS A y norum xv. l’l Vetextatus.
1 lost cm Occidit deem S ervavit. — Tims inform- ing us that M. Lepidus at the age of fifteen, still Pnelextatus (that is, wearing the robe peculiar to a patrician boy) killed an enemy [in battle] and saved [the life of] a Roman citizen. — Vale- rius Maximus (1. iii. c. i. n. i.) relates this fact in almost the same words : — Aemitius Lepidus pner etiam turn progressus in aciem tiostem intermit, cicem seroacit. Cnjus turn memo- rabi/is (he adds) open's index est, in Capito/io statua buttata et incincta preetexta S. C. posita. — According to the above-named Roman histo- rian, a statue of Lepidus, dressed in the costume appropriated to the male children of noblemen till 17 years of age, was placed in the Capitol, by order of the Seuate, as an honom-ablc record of this precocious act of valour and patriotism. — After further citing a passage from Macrobius, to shew that, in the times of the Kings, a similar deed, under similar circumstances as to age and bravery, had been performed, and had met with a like recompense — Eckhel calls to mind (vol. v. 123) that on the obverse of another of these
Acnarii, a crown of oak leaves, the honour con- ferred on him who saved a citizen, is added in the field of the coin behind the woman’s head.
AEMILIA gens. — There is a denarius of this family engraved in Morcll’s Thesaurus, which bears on its obverse roma, and a female head. On its reverse M. aemilio, and an equestrian statue on a bridge ; referring to the building of the Pons Snblicius, of stone, at Rome, between 6C0-688 u. c. (94-04 b. c.)
AEMILIAXUS (Marcus or Cains Julius -Emi- lius), was born in Mauretania, of an obscure family, about the year of the Christian era 208. A good soldier, and of an enterprising character, he arrived at the highest dignities, and was honoured with the consulate. Appointed gover- nor of Maosia and Pannonia, he repulsed with great slaughter an invasion of the Goths, whom he also drove out of Illyria and Thrace. In ad- miration of his valour and firmness, as con- trasted with the timid and yielding policy of Trcbonianus Gallus, the Macsian and l’annouian legious proclaimed him Emperor, a. d. 253, he being then forty-six years of age. Ad- vancing, after his election, into Italy, he de- feated Gallus and Volusianus in a pitched battle ; and those two princes having been slain by their own troops, yEmilianus was acknowledged by the Senate, who confirmed him in all the imperial titles a. D. 254. Shortly after, being com- pelled to march against Valcrianus, who liu^ been elected Emperor by the legions of Rhctiu and Noricum, lie was killed by his own soldiers, near Spolctum, in Umbria, on a bridge after- wards called “ the bloody bridge,” in August of the same year. On his coins (which are of highest rarity in gold, rare in silver, and very rare in 1st and 2nd brass), he is styled imp. m.
AEM. AEMILLANVS AVG. — IMP. CAES. C. IVL. AEMILI ANVS PIVS. FEL. AVG.
The above engraving is from a large brass coin, of the legends and types on which the fol- lowing is descriptive : —
Obv. IMP. AEM1LIANVS PIVS FF.L. AVG.
(Imperator, iEmilianus, Pius, Felix, Augustus) — Laurelled head of iEmilian.
Bee. paci. avo. — (To the Peace of the Em- peror.)— Peace holding the olive branch and the liasta, and leaning ou a cippus, or short column.
AEM ILIAN" VS (Alexander), au usurper of the purple, in ./Egypt, during the reign of Gal- lienus. — No authentic coins. — Akerman, vol. i.
p. 81.
AELIA and ALLIA. Plebeian gens. — The surnames of this family, as they appear on its coins, arc Bala, Lama, Partus, Sejnuus. Twenty-
AELIA.
AELIAN. 15
four varieties. Silver and first brass common. The brass were struck by the monetal triumvirs of Augustus, or are colonial of Bilbili3, iu Spain. The following denarius is the least common : — Obverse, head of Pallas, behind it X. Re- verse, f. paf.tvs, below, roma. The dioscuri (Castor and Pollux! ou horseback. — The word roma shows the coin to have been struck at Rome. The dioscuri on horseback, with spears in their hands, and the pileus on then- heads, with stars over them, arc frequent and accustomed types of the ancient denarii. It re- fers to Publius JElius Pattis, who was consul with Cornelius Lentulus, a.u.c. 553 (b.c. 201).
AELIA CAPITOLINA. — Under this name was distinguished the colony established by the Emperor Aelius Iladrianus, in the very capi- tal of Judica, which, under its ancient and sacred appellation of Jerusalem (Hiet osolyma), was, a. D. 135, destroyed by Titus. Ha-
drian having suppressed a great rebellion of the Jews against the Roman government, proceeded to expel them from Jeru- salem ; and, after des- troying the once Holy City, which he prohi- bited the Jews from ap- proaching on pain of death, he built on its site a new city, and called it after his family name AELIA. lie afterwards sent a colony there to people it, having commanded a temple of Jupiter Capitolinus to be erected on the spot where the Temple dedicated to the worship of the True God had stood, lienee the colonial title of the place, col. ael. cap. Co/onia Aelia Capitolina.
The coins of this colony bear none but Latin legends, and are brass of the three modules. — Extending from Hadrian down to Hostilianus, they comprise the intermediate reigns of Anto- ninus Pius, M. Aurelius, L. Verus, S. Sevcrus, Diadumeniauus, Elagabalus, Trajanus Decius, and Hcreuuius Etruscus.
Pellerin gives a middle brass of this colony, which is of material historic importance, inas- much as its legend does what no other ancient monument appears to have done, viz. it cor- roborates the truth of the fact asserted by different writers, that Hadrian was the founder of the colony built on the rains of Jerusalem. It is described as follows : —
Obv. IMP. CAES. TRAIANO. HADRIAN'. LaU- reated head of Hadrian.
Rev. col. ael. capit. cond. A priest driving two oxen at plough, to the right ; in the field, a military ensign. — (See the engraving above.)
Here we see the title of founder given to Hadrian, by the term cond itor. “ Probably (says Pellerin), it is one of the first of the me- dals that were struck at /Elia Capitolina, as it exhibits the type of a plough conducted by a minister of religion, who wears the sacerdotal dress. It also shews by the representation of a military ensign, that Hadrian began by form- ing this colony of veteran soldiers ; but the
legion to which they belonged is not marked on the standard.” — Melange, i. 242.
The total expulsion of the Jews, the desecra- tion of their capital by the extinction of its ancient name, and the profanation of its Zion to heathen idolatries, arc events shadowed forth in a rare middle brass, engraved in Vaillant’s valuable work on the Colonics (vol. i. p. 152. — On the obverse is IMP. CAES. THAI. HADRIAN, with the laureated head of that emperor. The reverse exhibits the name of of his new colony, col. ael. cap. aiid a temple of two co- lumns, within which arc three figures, viz. Jupiter seated, between Pallas and the Genius of the city, standing.
The types adopted by the moncyers of this imperial colony, besides the legionary eagle, the trophy, and the victory, comprise Romulus and Remus with the wolf, Bacchus with his thyrsus, the Dioscuri, Astartc, “ the abomination of the Tyrians and Sidouians also Isis and Serapis, “ the abomination of the Egyptians.” A coin of JElia Capitolina, struck under Antoninus Pius, has on its reverse a hog walking (“ an abomination” to the Jews). Whilst Capito- line Jove figures predominantly, with the eagle at his feet, and in one instance (Hostilianus), with a human head iu his hand. In short, it would seem to have been the study of the Roman government in Juda:a to insult, and horrify, as well as to oppress, the once-favourcd people of Jehovah.
ASUAN BRIDGE. — On the reverse of a first brass coin of Hadrian, without legend, is the type of a structure, which is designatad by some as the ./Elian Bridge, at Rome, built by that emperor over the Tiber, a structure which still remains, under the name of the Ponte di San Angelo, communicating with the castle of that name; the mausoleum of Hadrian, and one of his many great architectural works. — “ The medallion with the Pons AE/ius (observes Air. Akerman), quoted by early numismatic writers, is a modern fabrication.”
AELIANA PINCENSIA. — Within a garland of laurel. — This legend on a second and third brass of Hadrian, has been supposed by Froelich and others to indicate certain public games cele- brated at Pincum, in Mocsia, to the honour of -Elius Hadrian. But Eckhel (vi. p. 445) regards it as one of the numi metallorum, or coins of the mines, which are found inscribed with the name of Trajan and of Hadrian. By supplying the omission of the word metallum, he considers the meaning to be clearly elucidated ; metalla aelia. PINCENSIA. That is to say, JEliana, (so called, from its institutor, Allies Iladrianus) and Pincensia from Pincum, near which city [on the Danube, in the neighbourhood of what is now the town of Gradisca] these mines, or metalla were worked.
16
-^vwu* w’- fjfj -it. *}/>)/-//»
4 ^ v* 8a%iI*c& .
AELIl'S. I TINEAS.
AELIANUS (Quintus Valcns) ; one of the so-calleil tyranni, or pretenders to imperial aud augustal rank and authority, during the reign of Gallicnus. The Museum Thenpoli contains the following description of a 3rd brass coin, which Eckhel supposes to belong to this usurper, but its authenticity is doubted by Mionnct. — Obv. IMP. C. Q. VALENS AELIANVS. P. AVO. And on its reverse iovi. conser. avgg. with type of Jupiter, standing; the thunderbolt in the right and the liasta in the left hand. On the exergue s. M. i.
AELIUS C/ESA R — (Lucius Aurelius Ccjo- nius Commodus Verus) was the son of Cejonius Commodus, a man of consular rank, descended from an illustrious Etrurian family. The date of his birth is unknown. On the death of Sabina, he was adopted by Hadrian, A. U. c. 888 or 889 (a. d. 135 or 36), and destined to the succession of the empire ; declared Cicsar under the name of Lucius /Elius Verus, made Prsctor and Tribune of the people ; and ap- pointed prefect of Pannonia, which province he governed with wisdom and courage; created, for the first time, Consul, a. d. 137, and elected to his second consulate the following year. He was brother of Annins Verus and of Faustiua the elder; married Domitia Lucilla. Of a hand- some figure, dignified in physiognomy, and stately in carriage, he possessed a highly cul- tivated understanding, was learned, eloquent, and wrote with elegance in both prose and verse. Refined in his tastes, but effeminate in his habits, he fell an early victim to the inroads made on a weak constitution by voluptuousness and dissipa- tion. .Elius returned from Pannonia to Rome a. d. 138, and died on the very day appointed for him to deliver a florid eulogium in honour of Hadrian’s kindness to him. His body was de- posited in the tomb which Hadrian had built at Rome for his own mausoleum, now the castle of St. Angelo, aud that emperor caused several temples and statues to be raised to his memory.
On his coins he is styled I,, aei.ivs. caesar. They are more or less scarce, in all the three metals. His brass medallions are of the highest degree of rarity. — /Elius is represented on all his coins with bare head, curly hair and beard, aud a majestic countenaucc.
liavcrcainp (in Masco Christina , p. 69) has engraved, and Capt. Smyth cites from his own collection, a large brass of this prince, which with no other legend on its reverse than tr. pot cos. ii. ends. c. on the exergue, typifies “Fortune with her rudder and cornucophc, meeting Hope, who advances in light vestments and bears the blossom before her. This elegant device alludes to the fortunate exaltation of /Elius, and the expectation of his becoming Emperor. But the hope was vain; and Hadrian, who had cele- brated the adoption with magnificent games, a public largess, and a donative to the soldiers, could not conceal his chagrin on perceiving that /Elins was passing to a sepulchre rather than a
throne. Alluding to the approaching apotheosis of the sickening Ctcsar, the Emperor exclaimed — * Ego Dirum adoptavi , non filinir.' And the event verified the prediction.” (Descr. Cat. p. 114.) — The type above described is evidently taken from fortuxa spes on an aureus of Hadrian. — See Caylus, Sunns. Aurea Lapp. Rom., No. 350.
/ENEAS, a Trojan prince, the fabled son of Venus by Anchises. — Arrived at manhood, he accompanied Baris, the seducer of Helen, to Troy, where he married Creusa, daughter of Priam, by whom he had a son named Ascauius. After taking that city, the Greeks proclaimed that every free man might carry aw ay some por- tion of his goods. /Eneas, in consequence, bore otf his household gods (Penates.) The Greeks were so touched by this action, that they gave him the same permission a second time. /Eneas immediately took his father on his shoulders. They then liberated all his family, and left him to take whatever belonged to him ; at the same time assisting him with means for quitting the country’. After a variety of adventures, the incidents of which are immortalised by the Muse of Mantua, /Eneas arrived in Italy, with the remnant of his Trojans; gained frequent vic- tories over the native tribes and states , and at length, having killed Turnus in single combat, obtained of King Iatinus his daughter Lavinia in marriage. It was in honour of that lady that, according to the Roman legend, he built a city called Lavinium : and the further result was the union of the aborigines with the Trojans, under the common appellation of Latins, ft is added, that he died in battle with the Rututi, on the banks of the Numicus. From .Eneas Sylvius, his son by Lavinia, are said to have descended all the kings of Alba Longa ; and lastly Romu- lus and Remus, founders of the city of Rome. — (Pitiscus, Lexicon Antiq. Rom. — Millin, Die- tionnaire de la Fable.)
yEnea Pi etas : The filial piety of /Eneas — This hero is represented, on many imperial coins, in the act of carrying the aged Anchises on his shoulders, and the Trojan palladium (image of Pallas) in his right hand, Ascnnius following him. Sometimes the palladium is omitted, and the boy has hold of /Eneas’s hand. This son of /Eneas was also called lulus, and the members of the Julia family pretended to derive their origiu from him ; a claim which is frequently indicated on the coins of Julius Cicsar. An-
A5NEAS.
oilier allusion to so favourite a theme of national flattery, with the Romans, is seen on a very rare denarius of the Livineia gens, struck by Livi- neius Regulns, monetary triumvir under Augus- tus. Amongst the splendid and interesting series of bronze medallions, struck at Rome under Antoninus Pius, is oue (of which the above is a copy after Mionnet’s plate), with the legend p. M. TR. P. cos. hi. and the type of .Eneas bearing Anchises from Troy, and leading Ascauius by the hand. The old man, covered with a robe, holds a casket; the youth wears a Phrygian bonnet. The reference on this medallion to the piety of the Trojan chief (says Havercamp), is to be re- garded as connecting itself with the surname of Pius, which Antoninus bore, and as conveying an euloginm on the filial virtues of that Em- peror.— Capitolinas, speaking of the afl'ection which Antoninus evinced towards his parents, states that the name of Pius had been conferred on him, because, in the presence of the assem- bled Senate, he had given his arm to his father- in-law, who was broken down by old age, and thus assisted him in walking.
There is a very rare first brass, with a similar type, minted between the third and fourth con- sulates of Antoninus (a. d. 140 — 45), and both were probably designed as a compliment to the good Emperor, whose dutiful attachments as a son were further shewn by the statues which he dedicated to the memory of his father and mother, as well as to others of his defunct rela- tions.— See Havercamp, Medailles de Christine, pi. xvi. p. 77-
Amongst the contorniate medals, which have on their obverses the respective heads of Nero and Trajan, is one with aeneas for legend of reverse, and for type the group of .Eneas, An- chiscs, and Ascanius : that well-known subject having been copied from earlier coins, Greek as well as Latin.
JEnere Adventus. Arrival of ./Eneas in
Italy. — In his celebrated work “ De la rarete des Medailles Romaines,” Mionnet has given a beautiful engraving (whence the subjoined is carefully copied) of a brass medallion, which on its reverse, with remarkable minuteness of graphic illustration, typifies the description, given by Virgil, of this aboriginal legend of Rome.
On the obverse, we read antoninvs avg. pivs p.p. th. p. cos. vi. and are presented with a re- D
AEQUITAS. 17
markably fine portrait of that Emperor. The re- verse, which is without epigraph, depictures /Eneas and Ascanius, disembarking from a vessel an- chored close to shore, on the coast, as may be supposed, of Latium. Opposite to this group lies a sow suckling its young, under a tree : above which are to be discerned the walls of a city.
Here, in the first place, we are reminded of the Trojan’s dream, in which, while “ laid on Tiber’s banks, oppress’d with grief,” he was addressed by “ the Father of the Roman flood,” in these words : —
Jamque tibi, ne vana pntes haec fingere somuuni, Littoieis ingens invents sub ilicibus sus,
Triginta capitum foetus euixa, jacebit,
Alba, solo recubans, albi circum ubera nati.
Hie locus urbis erit, requies ea certa laborum :
Ex quo ter denis urbem redeuntibus aunis Ascauius clari conilet cognoiniuis Albam.
AZneid, viii. 42.
And that this nightly vision may not seem Th’ elfect of fancy, or an idle dream,
A sow beneath au oak shall lie along,
All white herself, and white her thirty young.
When thirty rolliug years have run their race,
Thy son, Ascanius, on this empty space Shall build a royal town, of lasting fame ;
Which from this omen shall receive the name.
Drydcn's translation.
Next, we have the fulfilment of the sign given to ./Eneas, according to the promise of Tiberinus, as described a little further on, in the same im- mortal poem : —
Ecce autem subitum, atque oculis mirabile moustrum. Candide per silvam cum foetu concolor albo Frocubuit, viridique in littore conspicitur sus.
Now on the shore the fatal swine is found : Wondrous to tell ; she lay along the ground :
Her well-ted offspring at her udders hung ;
She white herself, and white her thirty young.
The city delineated on the above medallion is clearly Laviuium.
AEQVI. or AEQVIT. AVG. — -Equitas Au- gusts— (The Equity of the Emperor).
AEQVITAS. — The Equity, referred to on Roinau eoius, signifies that virtue so much to be desired in sovereign princes, which prompts them to administer the affairs of the public (especially in re monetarid), with impartial de- votedness to the interests of the people. Aequi- las is almost always represented under the figure of a woman, clothed in the stola, generally standing, sometimes but not often seated, with a pair of scales, or (but very rarely) a patera, in the right hand, and in the left a cornucopia;, or the hast a pura, or a sceptre.
“ The scales, that natural emblem of Equity, are used by Persius to express the decision of right and wrong — the cornucopia; signifies the good which results from examining into the real merits of cases.” — Smyth.
The epigraph of aeqvitas (or aeqvitati) avg. or avgvsti, belongs to the mints of Vitel- lius, Titus, Domitian, Antoninus Pius, Pertiuax, S. Severus, Alex. Severus, Macrinus, Maximinus, Gordianus Pius, Volusianus, Macrianus, Quietus.
18
AEQU1TATI.
AEQVITAS PVBUCA, Of AEQV1TATI PVBLICAE presents itself on medals of S. Sevcrus, Julia Domna, Caracalla, Gcta, Elagabalus, Gallienus.
AEQVITAS AVG. — Equity with scales and horn of plenty. Silver. — See Voi.lsia.vvs.
AEQVITAS AVGVSTI. — A woman holding in her right hand a pair of scales, in her left a cornucopia;. The inscription of Aequitas , in- appropriately stamped on the medals of Vitellius, of Domitian, of Commodus, of Sevcrus, of Cara- calla, of Elagabalus, and such like tyrants, is with no more than strict justice engraven on coins, struck under the reigns of a Titus, a Nerva, and a Pertinax, by whom that quality appears to have been strictly and sincerely che- rished. It is indeed a virtue worthy of an em- peror, as the bridle and rule of liis sovereign power — a virtue which Ammianus calls the de- spised mother and the nurse of the Koman world; Mquitate calcata parente nutrieeque Orbit Ro- mani.— Spanheim.
AEQVITAS II. — A woman standing with ba- lance and horn of plenty. A silver medal of S. Sevcrus (struck a.d. 194) with this unprecedented feature in the legend of its reverse, was first pub- lished by Eckhcl in his Sglloge , i. p. 103. lie observes that in the mark a. it presents Equity and Liberality divided into numbers ; a cir- cumstance noticed neither by Mediobarbi, nor by Vaillaut. But the meaning of this Equitas Duplicata he cannot make out. There is a coin of Julia Domna with the same reverse. Vol. vii. 167-190.
AEQVITATI PVBLICAE. S. C.— The three Moneta standing ; each holds a balance in the right and a cornucopia: in the left hand ; at the foot of each is a vase. On first brass of Sept. Sevcrus.
The three female personifications of the Roman mint, each holding balances and cornueopiic, with vases, or with conical heaps representing the three metals, at tlicir feet, occur continually on coins of the imperial series, from Pcrtinax and S. Severus downwards, especially on me- dallions ; but these are for the most part accom- panied by the legend monetae avq. or avgg. and serve to shew, that the princes of the lower empire assumed to themselves the supreme power of coining money, in every metal, as signified by these imagines monetarnm. — Sec Monkta.
There is a first brass coin of Aquilia Severn, with the legend of aeqvitas pvbi.ica. s. c. on its reverse, the type of which exhibits three
.ERA.
females standing in full robes, with the attributes of Fortune (i. e. cornucopia: and rudder). “This (observes Capt. Smyth) is an uncommon device for medals in honour of females ; and is only known upon this and one of Julia Paida — so that it may be taken for an allusion to the high for- tune to which Elagabalus elevated those ladies. But in this sense the device has little relation to the legend.’’ — Havereamp, in Mus. Christina, has given an engraving of this reverse.
ERA. — Era, or Epoch, is the poiut of com- mencement, from which years are reckoned, as taken from the date of some memorable event. Thus in Cliristeudom, especially Christian Eu- rope, we compute the number of years, from the era of Our Lord’s incarnation. The different cities and peoples of antiquity by whom the Greek language was used, began the year from the season of autumn, namely, about the autumnal equinox, or from the calends of September — although, after the correction of the calendar, promulgated under Julius Cirsar, the beginning of the year was taken from the calends of January, in some Greek cities influenced by
Rome. The commencement of numbering
is expressed both in the Varronian years from the foundation of Rome, and in the vulgar era from the birth of Christ. The year u. c. (Urbis Condita), according to Tercutius Varro, began 753 years before the Christian era. — According to Cato, Rome was founded in b. c. 751 ; according to Polybius in B.C. 750; accord- ing to Fabius Pictor in 747. — Visconti ( Icouo - graphic Romaine, i. p. 14, 8vo. edit.) says — “ Jc preferc, avec la plupart des chronologistcs, le calcul dc Varrou, qui fut lc plus suivi par les ancicns, depuis lc sieclc d’Auguste.”
From amongst the more illustrious epochs of cities, and those of more frequent occurrence, the following are selected, as bearing relation to Roman History: —
/Era Pompeiana — the period when Cn. Pom- pey, surnamed the Great, having made peace with Tigraucs, King of Armenia, and driven Mithridatcs, King of l’ontus, out of his domi- nions, assumes the government of affairs in Syria as a Roman province, subdues Phamicia, and takes Jerusalem — began about the year of Rome 691 (b. c. 63.)
JEra Casariana, so called in honour of Julius Ciesar, the conqueror of Pompev, began with the battle of Pharsalia, a. u. C. 706 (n. c. 48). The mnrder of Ciesar took place B. c. 44, Mur. 15, in his 4lh Dictatorship.
/Era Artiaca, derived from the defeat of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, by Octavianus (afterwards Ciesar Augustus), at the battle of Actium, dates from a. u. C. 723 (b. c. 31.) — [But this mra, in Egypt and in some cities, takes its commencement from the following year, viz. U. c. 724 (b. c. 30) ; in autumn amongst the Greeks.]
/Era Angvs/a/is, in which Octavinnus Ciesar accepted the title of Augustus, is taken from the year of Rome 727 (b. c. 30), or from the follow ing year.
ERAR1UM. The Exchequer or Public
ASRARIUM.
Treasury ; the place where the annual revenues of the republic were deposited, and which de- rived its name from the metal of the money of the Romans, viz. ties (brass). It was in the temple of Saturn ; and thence were drawn the funds to defray all needful expenses, as well in peace as in war. This JErartum was generally filled with immense riches ; and rarely, indeed, did it happen, that the state laboured under any want of money. The custody of it was confided to officers, selected from the people, and who were called Tribuni JErar'u ; they were required to be men in high repute for great riches, pro- bity, aud disinterestedness. Resides this ordin- ary treasure, there was another, which bore the appellation of Sanctius /Erarium, because it was in the interior of the temple, or perhaps because it was not allowed to he resorted to except in pressing emergencies. Julius Caesar, wanting money for his own purposes, during tire civil war, took forcible possession of this deposit of public wealth, anil carried away vast sums, as is acknowledged by all the historians, although they do not agree as to the quantity. — In addi- tion to these two treasuries, there was likewise the jErarium Mililare , formed by Augustus, for the maintenance of the Roman troops, the an- cient funds proving insufficient to furnish pay for all the legions. — See l’itiscus.
On gold and silver coins struck by L. vini- ctvs. l. f. one of the moneyers of Augustus, we read the following inscription, which, as containing the initial letter of the word JEra- rium, may, with propriety, be cited in this place : viz. s. r. Q. u. imp. caf.. qvod. v. m. s. ex. ea. P. Q. is. ad. A. DE. Senalus 1‘ojml us- que Romanus, Imperatori Casari, Quotl Via Munita Sint Ex Ea Pecunia, Quam Is Ad aera- rium Letulisset. A monument this of public gratitude to the Emperor above named, who by making and repairing great roads, had contri- buted to the public safety ; and who did this so far at his own cost, that he had caused to be conveyed to the Treasury of the State, that money which was the fruit of his victories, and of the advantages he had gained over the foreign enemies of his country. — See Eckhel’s remarks on a coin of the Neria family, corroborative of the fact that the JErarium, or public treasury, at Rome, was in the temple of Saturn. — See also the word Saturnvs.
jERUGO. Rust of a peculiar kind in-
creases the price of brass coins, being an or- nament imparted by nature alone, which the utmost rivalship of art has not yet been able successfully to imitate. There is, indeed, some particular earth that communicates to the metal in question a coating and a colour, which in its hue of blue jasper, or turquois, sometimes even excels the gem of that name. The crimson or ruby, which adheres to other coins, is a sign of genuineness. Others are covered with a natural vernis, or varnish, of shining and splendid vio- let or purple, leaving far behiud, in point of brilliancy and of exquisite smoothness, that brass out of which statues are cast — a quality which never fails to be recognised by those possessing D 2
iESCULAPIUS. 19
the most ordinary acquaintance with numis- matics, inasmuch as it greatly surpasses the colour so easily obtained from vinegar and am- moniac. The true aruyo is in general decidedly green, and at the same time forms a very thin covering, insinuating itself over the surface of the coin in the most delicate manner, without obliterating anything ; somewhat in the way of an enamel. This, however, as already observed, solely applies to brass coins : for viror and rust corrode silver coins, and for that reason it is proper to rub it off from them, with juice of iemons. — Johert, Science de Med. i. p. 335.
AERUGO NOBILIS; the perfection of pa- tina, which is the smooth, coloured varnish of time. — Smyth.
AES. — llrass and copper were the metals first used as money by the Romans. Hence the word served afterwards, with them, to designate every kind of money, whether gold, silver, or brass. And even at that period when the wealth of the Republic was at its highest pitch, every species of current coin continued to be denominated Aes. — The aes grave, it is evident from the de- scriptions of their writers, was brass (or copper) in bars, of the weight of a pound (ponclus libralis) used as money, before the introduction of a silver coinage. Eckhel, in support of this opinion, cites Ecstus, who says — Grave aes dic- tum a ponder e, quia deni asses, singu/i pondo libra, efficiebant denarium, ab hoc ipso numero dictum. The collecting of such heavy masses, to any great amount of value, became so ex- tremely inconvenient that, according to Livy, the aes grave was obliged to be conveyed to the treasury in waggons. Subsequently, in order to obviate this objection, pieces of copper, of less weight, but without any mark, were roughly cut; and these, on accoimt of their uncouth form, were called aes rude. This improvement is by some ancient writers ascribed to Numa. Rut it was not until the reign of Servius Tul- lius, that the Romans are, with any due degree of authority, affirmed to have begun striking round coins of brass, with the type of a bull, &c. to which they gave the name (according to Pliny) of Aes signatum. — See Brass — also As.
AES CYPRIUM; the copper on which the Roman dupondii or second brass were minted. — See Smyth, xv.
/ESCULAPIUS, in the more general opinion of mytliographers, was regarded by the ancients, as the son of Apollo and of Coronis, daughter of Plilcgius, King of Thessaly. According to the same fabulous authority, his reputed father con- fided his education to the centaur Chiron, who instructed him in medicine and other sciences, comprehending a thorough knowledge of plants. Conformably to the custom of those early ages, he combined the practice of surgery with the faculty of a physician ; and with so high a degree of success was his career attended, that to him was superstitiously ascribed the power of curing, by words alone, all kinds of wounds, contusions, fevers, &c. It was even alleged that he had raised many persons from the dead. So great, in short, was the celebrity he acquired,
20 jESCULAPIUS.
that divine honours were paid to him after his decease ; and he was venerated as the tutelary god of the healing art. jEsculapius had tem- ples in many parts of Greece, Asia Minor, &e. lie was especially the object of worship at Epi- daurus (a city of Agria, in the Peloponnesus), the place of his birth.
This pagan divinity is usually portrayed, under the figure of a sedate-looking, middle-aged man, standing or (but rarely) sitting ; wholly or partly covered with a cloak ; and holding in his right hand a staff, round which a serpent is entwined. — A denarius of the Homan family Acilia exhibits, on its obverse, the head of jEs- culapius laurcated, and on its reverse a serpent coiled round a staff. (Morell). — On a 1st brass of Galba, the God of medicine is represented stand- ing, naked, with right hand extended, and the left resting on his staff, round which the ser- pentine attribute is enfolded. — A brass medal- lion of L. Vcrus presents him on the same re- verse with Hygeia, flic goddess of health ; and on other medals he is seen attended by the little Telesphorns, who appears to have his ori- gin in Egyptian mythology, and to be identical with Ilarpocrates, the god of silence. In de- scribing a middle brass of Caraealla, on which gEsculapius stands between Tclesphoms and a small globe, Pat in observes, that the Romans as well as the Greeks, worshipped him, as the author of the health of Augustus, and after- wards of every reigning emperor, for which rea- son he often appeal's on their coins ; especially on those of Caraealla, Albinus, and Gallicnns.
AESCVLAPI VS. — The only production of the Roman mint, on which the name itself of iEscu- lapius appears, is a fine medallion, in bronze, struck under Antoninus Pius — specimens of which very great numismatic rarity are con- tained in the cabinet of (he Bibliotheqve Ra- tionale, at Paris, and in that of the Imperial Museum at Vienna. — The obverse exhibits a laurcated bust of the emperor, wearing the paln- damentum, around it is read ANTON IN VS avg. i*l vs. p. P. tkp. cos. mi. — The reverse has for its type a serpent darting from a galley, under a bridge of two arches. Before it is the Tiber personified, sitting in the midst of the water. The right hand of this river-god is ex-
tended towards the serpent ; fhc left holds a reed, and rests on an urn, whence flows a co-
jESCULAPIUS.
pious stream. Near it are several buildings and a tree, situate on a rock. The word aescv- LAPivs is on the exergue.
The inscription and type of this reverse bear reference to the curious legendary narrative— one third probable fact and two thirds superstitious fable — concerning tbc arrival of jEsculapius at Rome ; which Ovid describes in his Metamor- phoses (lib. xv.) ; and which Valerius Maxi- mus and other old writers have taken the pains to give, in substance as follows: — In the 463rd year from the foundation of the city (b.c.291) the plague made great ravages within its walls. The pontiffs appointed to consult the Sybilline books, found that the only means of restoring health in Rome was to cause jEsculapius to visit it, from Epidaurns. Accordingly, a deputation of ten principal citizens was sent there, with Q. Ogid- nius at their head. Whilst these persons, on entering the temple of the demi-god, were ad- miring the beauty of the statue, the serpent, which the inhabitants of Epidaurns seldom saw, and which they honoured as jEsculapius himself, made its appearance in the most frequented parts of the town, moving slowly about, and mildly looking around. After having thus shewn him- self, during three days to the people, he pro- ceeded to the harbour ; entered the Roman gal- ley, and ensconced himself snugly in Ogulnius’s cabin, where he peaceably remained coiled up. The ambassadors having made themselves ac- quainted with the manner in which the serpent was to be honoured, immediately set sail and landed at Antium. There the serpent left the vessel, and entered the vestibule of the temple of jEsculapius. After remaining there three days, it re-entered the ship, in order to he con- veyed to Rome ; and whilst the deputation were disembarking on the banks of the Tiber, the ser- pent swam across to the island, where afterwards the temple of jEsculapius was built. 1 1 is arri- val, it is gravely added by the Roman historiun, dispelled the contagious disease, for which his presence had been sought as the remedy.
“ On the medallion of Antoninc (observes Millin in his Dictionnaire Mythohgique), the Tiber appears tinder the usual figure of per- sonified rivers. Near him is the isle of the Tiber, called Mesopotamia, because it is in the middle of that river. It has the form of a galley, as indeed was the case; and to this day there still remain some fragments of it, which have escaped the injuries of time and the inun- dations. I pen fhc to]) of the prow of the ship, which the isle in question is made to resemble, is represented a serpent, in tortuous folds, ad- vancing its head, in a contrary direction to the current of the water. The temple of jEsculapius built on the isle had a high reputation. The privtor Lucretius contributed greatly to its em- bellishment. It is now the Church of S. Rar- tholomeo net iso/a, which is still one of the most celebrated churches in Rome.”
On n denarius of CarncaUa, bearing for its legend of reverse r. m. tk p. win. cos. mi. p. r. (Sovereign Pontiff, invested with the trihnnitinn dignity for the 18th time, consul for the 4th
/ESCULAPIUS.
AETERNA. 21
time), -Escidapius is designated by his insepar- able attribute, and by liis side, or rather at his feet, we see his dwarfish companion Tc-
lesphorus. The fratricide
son and successor of the mer- ciless Severus, who caused this silver coin to be struck, is said by Herodianus to have visited Pcrgamos, about a. d. 215, “in order to place himself under the tutelary care and heal- iug influence of iEsculapius,” to whom, amidst combined tortures of mind and body, the fero- cious tyrant was profuse in prayers and sacri- fices. Under the frenzied illusions of a guilty conscience, he saw his brother constantly before him, brandishing a naked sword, and launching the most terrible threats against him. Often did he invoke the manes of the dead, and chiefly those of his father, who appeared always accom- panied by Geta. He had already implored Apollo in vain to restore him; and now he sought jEsculapius, who, having no respect for murderers, was also deaf to his remorseful sup- plications.
On silver and second brass of Albinus (the latter with cos. n. for legend of reverse), iEs- culapius appears, upright, resting his right arm on his serpent twisted staff, lie also is found, with his usual attributes, on silver and third brass of Gallienus, sharing, as conservator avg Hsti (the Emperor’s preserver), those sacri- ficial honours which that rash and reckless prince, amidst a world of calamities, physical, social, and political, was at the same time in the habit of paying to Apollo, to Hercules, to Jupiter, to a whole Olympus of other false gods, whom he vainly invoked to save him and his distracted empire from impending destruc- tion.
2ESCULAPIUS and his BOG, on a brass me- dallion of Antoninus Pius. — Sec Bog of / Escu - lapius.
For a representation of -Eseulapius, as a young man, making his first essay in the healing art, on the wounded foot of an ox, see DEO aesc. SUB. or subven, on a coin of Parium.
Types of /Eseulapius also appear on Latin colonial coins of Babba, Corinth, Damascus, Dcultiun, and Patrne. But it is on the Greek imperial that we find the effigy and the vari- ous attributes of this demi-god, most fully de- veloped. And on the medallions, in parti- cular, this object is accomplished, with great beauty of design and display of artistic skill : the figure of -Esculapius being, in these in- stances, generally grouped with that of some princely petitioner for his tutelary favours, and also with the goddess Hygeia
AET. JEterna. — vict. aet. avg. Victory walking. — Billon of Gallienus. — Banduri, i. 180.
AET. JEternitas. — See aet. avg. of Trajan.
AET. ASlernitas. — See gold of Vespasian.
AFTER. AVG. JEternitas Augusti of Hadrian.
AETER. Mtemo. — d. n. diocletiano ae- ter. avg. — On second brass of Diocletian. — Vaillant, Pr. i. 252.
AETERN. AVG. Augustoimm. — Quadriga of lions, with Cybele on a car.— Silver of Julia Domna, mother of Caracalla and Geta, who is here represented as Cybele, as though she had brought forth eternal sons. — Vaillant, Pr. ii. 233.
AETERN. AVG. N. Augusti Noslri. — On a coin of Maxentius.
AETERNA. — Rome is so called, either to distinguish her from other cities, or on account of the ancient opinion of the Romans that their citv would be eternal. — (Raschc.)— See Roma.
AETERNA EELICITAS AVG. — Wolf with the twins, on 2nd brass of Maxentius — Banduri,
ii. 157.
AETERNA MEMORIA. — A circular temple, with front of six columns, resembling a mauso- leum, one of the doors half open ; an eagle on the top of its dome ; in the exergue, most p. or most q. or most s. The obverse lias the veiled head of Coustantius Chlorus ; with legend
IMP. MAXENTIVS DIVO CONSTANTIO ADFINI
(or COGN.) — Second brass, engraved in Bandiui, ii. p. 90.
This immortal memory (remarks Spanheim, in reference to the above described coin of Constantius I., father of Constantine the Great), this /Eterna Memoria was the great object, and esteemed the most glorious recompense, of a conqueror’s exploits. From this strong senti- ment of warlike ambition, and from the no less strong desire to be remembered by posterity, have proceeded not only the above inscription, but also those of Memoria Perpeiua and Memo- ria Felix, which arc found on the coins of some of the Roman Emperors, struck after their deaths, and which clearly shew what must naturally have been the true sense and meaning of their consecration. For the same reason, such in- scriptions are accompanied with representations of temples, lighted altars, eagles, or of cars destined for public processions, which consti- tuted the ordinary marks of these apotheoses. — (See Cicsars of Julian, 211.) — From the legend of the obverse we learu that this coin was struck by order of Maxentius, in honour of his deceased relation Constantius. — See Adfinis.
AETERNA PIETAS. — A soldier standing, in helmet, military dress, and cloak, a spear in his right hand, and a globe in his left, surmounted by a cross and monogram of Christ. — Eckliel (viii. 92), authenticates this as a 3rd brass of Constantinus Magnus, in the imperial cabinet ; and Begcr gives a print of it in vol. ii. p. 805, Thesaurus Brandenbitrgicus.
The obverse of this coin affixes, in its legend, to the name of the Emperor, whose head is veiled, the old mark of heathen consecration, viz. diws: consequently it must have been struck after his death. The mixture, howrever, of Christian emblems with Pagan observances, in the inscriptions, is in perfect keeping with the character and conduct of this able but most un- scrupulous prince ; a merciless conqueror, a cruel father, and an unjust judge, — a man whose “ piety'' even after his openly professed conver- sion to the religion of that Cross, through the
2 2 AETERNITAS.
sign of which (in hoc signo) he boasted of having “ overcome” his rivals, and attained the purple (a. d. 311), would seem from coins, and other monuments, to have been much more of the l’agan than of the Christian sort, and whose policy, in its whole tenor, shews that things, not “ Eternal” but, temporal and secular, were those which he sought and prized.
AETERNAE MEMORIAE.— A round-formed temple, one of the doors of which is half opened. On the top of its dome stands an eagle, with expanded wings ; on the exergue, post. — This legend and type appear on the reverse of an unique gold medallion, which Maxentins, a. d. 309, caused to be struck to the everlasting remem- brance of his son Romulus Cmsar, whose youth- ful bust, clothed in the toga, and with bare head, appears on the other side, with the legend mvo romvlo nvuis. cons. — The above cut is accu- rately copied from the engraving in t. ii. p. 202, of the MedaiUes liomaines of Mionnet, by whom this fine mcdallic relic of the lower em- pire (15 lignes, French measure, in diameter), is valued at 1200 fr. — See some remarks on the words nvbis. cons, in their place.
A legend in the same dedicatory form appears on two second brass coins of (Jalerius Maximi- anus, one with the circular temple and eagle on its summit, and the other with a square altar lighted, and a branch placed in the middle, on which stands an eagle, with a crown in its beak. — Banduri, ii. p. 133.
AETERNITAS.— Eternity, to whom the Ro- mans paid divine honours, although neither temples nor altars were dedicated by them to her worship, is represented on coins of the im- perial series, under the personification of a matronly woman, clothed in the stola ; some- times veiled, at other times without a veil, some- times seated, sometimes standing, in various attitudes and with various emblems and attri- butes. She makes her first monetal appear- ance, under the reign of Vespasian. It is on gold and silver of that emperor that she stands near an altar, supporting in one outstretched hand the radiated head of the Sun, and in the other the crescented head of the Moon. Next she is seen on one of those first brass coins, which were struck a. d. 141, and following year, by order of the Senate, in memory of the elder Faustina, whose supposed immortality, her “ not wisely but too well” loving husband, the worthy Antoninns, delighted to honour with the title of diva, and with the symbols of aeter- nitas. The type is here a seated female, hold-
AETERNITAS.
ing a sceptre, or the hasta pura, in her left hand, and a globe surmounted by the Phoenix (see that word) in her right.
Amougst the attributes (says Eckhel, viii. p. 457) borrowed by the emperors from the deities of their mythology, that of Eternity seems to have claimed the foremost place. The Romans called that eternal which had no end ; which stood opposed to, because emancipated from, the conditions and restrictions inseparable from mortality — in a word, something divine. But the term eternal was also applied to that which from its nature might admit of comparison therewith — inasmuch as it was considered capable of long duration. For this reason the Phirnix (itself a fabulous bird) was a recognised symbol of eternity, because its life was, according to popular belief, circumscribed not by years but by whole centuries ; on which account Claudian calls it (sterna avis ; and the elephant, from its reputed longevity, was likewise figured to signify eternity. There were other things which the law deemed eternal, as the fire of Vesta, the ex- tinguishment of which demanded great atone- ment, and was viewed as a fearful omen.
Some derived this attribute from public opi- nion, as koma aetekna, a common legend on coins ; others from a vow, although an useless one, as AETERNITAS iMPK.nii, on a coin of Caracalla ; and as aeternitatibvs, on a coin of Alexander Severus. The word eternity was appropriated not only to deceased and consecrated emperors, but also to living ones ; and that not solely on coins and marbles, but likewise by the pens of ancient writers. Of this latter class of authorities, one instance may suffice to be ad- duced— namely, that of the younger Pliny, w ho, in his letters, frequently addresses Trajan as ee/ernilas tua. But, in the case of living princes, the use of such an appellation might be allow- able, because there was scarcely any other that could be employed with respect to them, except the votuni diutemi imperii ; at least it is thus only that one can understand and explain the following allusion of Horace to Augustus : — Serus in coclum redens, diuque Latins intersis populo Quirini.
“Oh ! late return to hcav’n, and may thy reign “With lengthened blessings fill thy wide domain.” AETERN1T VS. — This legend i- commented upon by Eckhel as appearing on a brass me- dallion, in the Imperial collection at Vienna. Struck under Pcrtinax, about a. i>. 193, it is de- scribed to have for the type of its reverse the
AETERNITAS.
statue of tliat emperor seated in a quadriga of elephants. The epigraph of the obverse is divvs. peiit. pivs. pater, with the bare head of the emperor.
A passage in the historian Victor explains the legend of the obverse, namely, that in which he says, that at the consecration of Pertinax by Sept. Scverus, the people shouted till their voices failed — pertinace imperante securi virimus ne- minem timuimus; patri pio, Patri senatus, Patri omnium bonorum. — In reference to the type of the reverse, Eckhel cites the following short but elucidatory passage from Dion : Pracepit Severus, ut statua ejus aurea curru elephantorum vehe- retur in Circum. It was it appears, therefore, by Severus’s order, that the golden statue of the murdered Pertinax was carried round the Circus Maximus at Rome, in a chariot drawn by four elephants. [This coin is not described in either Mionnet’s or Akerman’s catalogues.]
AETERNITAS. P. R.— Victory approaching the Emperor (who is clothed in the paluda- mentum, and holds a spear in his left hand), offers him the Palladium.
A large brass coin of Vespasian, with this legend and type, was first published by Eckhel (in his Syl/oge i.) ; and he observes that, although the expression jEtemitas Augusti is common on medals from the time of Vespasian, yet that of Eternitas Populi Romani was till then unknown. Victory here holds out to the Emperor the palla- dium, or figure of Minerva armed ; a super- stition derived from Troy, the safety and eternity of which city was believed to be dependent on its possession of that symbol. The same palla- dium, by whatever means brought to Rome, was supposed to bestow' the same protection and good fortune on the Trojan exiles and their descend- ants, wherever they went. This coin, Eckhel adds, was struck in the same year (u. c. 823, a. d. 70) that Vespasian (having just before re- ceived the empire, whilst at a distance from Rome) first entered the city. Accordingly Vic- tory offers to him the above-named precious pledge of the stability of the Roman coinmon- wealth.
AETERNITAS. S. C.-On a first brass, which bears on its obverse the veiled portrait of Faustina senior (diva avgvsta), we see this legend associated, on its reverse, with the image of Cybelc, who, resting the right hand on her
customary attribute of the tympanum, is seated
AETERNITAS.
23
on a car drawn by two lions; signifying (as Havereamp observes), that the Empress, thus compared to the Magna Mater Drum, and placed amongst the divinities, is no longer subject to the accidents of mortality. — On another large brass coin, struck in memory of the same princess, the same legend accompanies the type of two, and even four, elephants (with their drivers), drawing a canopied chariot, in which is the seated statue of the consecrated Faustina.
AETERNITAS AVG. — AVGVST.— AVGVS- Tl. — AVGVSTA. — AVGVSTA E. — A\ GG.— AVGVSTORVM. — (The Eternity of the Em- peror, of the Empress, or of the Emperors. — When any of these inscriptions are combined with the title of the reigning prince, or with that of the wife, son, or other branch of the imperial family, the accompanying types repre- sent, amongst other devices, sometimes a female veiled, seated on a stag, and holding a torch in her left hand, as on a brass medallion of Faus- tina, junior ; sometimes a crescent and seven stars, as on gold of Pesccuuius N iger ; some- times an equestrian statue, as on first brass of Gordianus Pius ; or an elephant, with driver on its back, as on silver and first brass of Philip, senior, and on brass of Val. Maximianus. Three radiated heads, the centre full-faced, accompany the same legend on gold of l’ostumus. — A temple with image in the adytum ; or a woman resting one arm on a column, and holding a globe in the other hand, as on first brass of Faustina senior. Two hands joined, on billon of Gallienus.— A tliensa, with the Empress’s statue on it, drawn by two elephants, as in first brass of Faustina, the elder.— A female stands holding a globe, surmounted by a phoenix, on sil- ver medallion of Treboniauus Gallus, and 1st brass of jEmilianus, and 2nd brass of Carinus. — The sun, with right hand raised, and holding a globe in the left, on small brass of Valerianus. — Ro- mulus and Remus, suckled by the wolf, allusive to the eternity of Rome, on billon of Gallienus, and on second brass of Maxeutius. The Em- peror crowned by Victory, on second brass of Tacitus, &c. &c.
AETERNITAS, symbolized by the images of the Sun and Moon. — Allusion has already been made to gold aud silver of Vespasian, on which a female figure, in the stola, holds in her hands the heads of the Sun and Moon. The same type appears on a middle brass of Domitian, as given in Morell. The reason why we see types of these planets, exhibited on imperial coins, in asso- ciation with the legend of Eternity, is that Sol and Luna were believed by the Romans, in common with the rest of the heathen world, to be eternal ; and eternity was cither feigned to he an attribute of, or prayed for (vota) as a blessing on, the Emperors. Thus, in the famous inscription, published by Grater, is read soli
AETERNO. LVNAE. PRO. AETERNITATE. IMPERII. ET. SALVTE. IMP. CA. ... SEFTIMII. SEVERI. &C.
24
AETERNITAS.
And iu another, lvnae. aeter. sack, pro
SALVTE. IMP. CAES. L. SEPTIMI. SEV. &C. — Oil these inarliles we see eternity ascribed to the Sun and to the Moon, together with health promised, by vow, to the Emperors. These symbols were doubtless borrowed by the Romans from the Egyptians. According to the authority of Homs Apolliuus, the two great lights con- stituted, in the glyphic language of Ancient Egypt, the element, which indicates sieculum, uevurn, cetemitas. This point of the subject is further illustrated by the author of Doctrina, tjfc. (vi. 23), in a coin of Trajan, which has for the legend of its reverse as follows : —
A ET. AVG. Aeternitas Augusti. — A woman standing with the head of the Sun in her right hand. Eekhel thus describes, as from a specimen iu the Vienna cabinet, under his own eye, a silver coin of Trajan, struck in that emperor’s 7th consulate. It furnishes, in conjunction with a similar legend and type on gold of Vespasian, one of the earlier among numerous proofs, that the Ro- mans assigned eternity to their Emperors, as a certain mark of divinity. The eternity of Trajan is here typified by those two “ eternal stars” the Sun and Moon. That prince affords a particular example of this custom in allowing His Eternity to be recognised not only on his coins, but in his most confidential correspondence (see Pliny’s Letters, 1. x. cpist. 87). Amongst the ancients, Eternity was symbolized by the Sun and the Moon ; because, says Mamertinus, Quulquid immortale est stare nescit , ceternoque motu se servat ceternitas. (Whatever is immortal knows uo rest ; and eternity maintains itself by eternal motion). “ His throne” (says the Royal Psalmist) “ is as the Sun before me, and as the Moou eternally.” — Eekhel also quotes Diodorus Siculus, to shew that the most ancient Egyptians, iu contemplating with astonishment and admira- tion the universe above them, were led to think, that there were two eternal and principal deities, viz., the Sun and the Moon, of which they called the former Osiris, and the latter Isis. — Tristan (vol. i. 381) describes a coin of Trajan with this legend, and as having for its reverse type, the figure of a woman, who holds the effigies of the Sun and Moon — qui en soul (says he) el comme it est assez eogneu, les vrais sgmboles. — Sec Doct. Hum. vet. vol. vii. p. 181, for a commentary on a coin of Sept. Severus, struck about a. d. 202, on the reverse of which is inscribed concor- diae aeternae, wherein further light is thrown on the subject of the Solar and Lunar types, appropriated to their coins by the Roman emperors and empresses, as symbols of their own deified immortality. — It is to be ob- served, that no mention is made of the above coin in either Mionnet or Akerman.
AETERNITAS. S. C. — Among other coins, which M. Aurelius caused to be minted A. l>. 140 ; whilst he was himself engaged iu the infatuated employment of rendering “ the divine honours” of the apotheosis to his, “ aud every man’s,” Faustina, viz. the younger of that name ; there is one in large brass, on which the Empress, or rather her “ deified spirit,” is re-
AETERNITAS.
presented, with a sceptre in her right hand, “ like another Juno” (as Spauhcim expresses it).
sealed between two gracefid young females, who, lightly treadiug, hold her chair uplifted from the ground, as if on the point of currying her hea- ven-ward. Each of these nymphs holds a scarf of gossamer drapery, floating in an arch-like form above her head. — Eekhel describes this beautiful coin, from a specimen in the imperial cabinet, at Vienna.
AETERNITAS AVGG. — Apollo, or the Sun in a quadriga, elevating the right hand towards a globe, which appears in the air, and bolding in the left a sceptre or a whip. — [This legend and type are exhibited on a large brass of Tctri- cus, jim. a fac-similc engraving of which is published by the author of Lefous ite Humis- matique llomaine, from that excellent writer’s own collection. It is not noticed by, aud most probably was not known, at the time, to Mion- net.— Sec Tetri cus, jun.
AETERNITAS IMPERii. — Figure of the Sun walking, his right hand lifted up, and a whip in the left ; on silver of Philip scuior.
For Eekhcl’s remarks respecting the Sun, as connected with the mouctal legend of aeterm- tas, sec the AET. Avo. of Trajan, iu the left hand column of this page.
AETERNITAS AVG. N. — ( Augusti Host re) Castor and Pollux standing, the former on the right side, the latter on the left. They hold spears in their right hands, and their horses’ bridles iu their left hands ; between each are the wolf suckling Romulus aud Remus. On silver and 2nd brass of Maientius.— See Angcloui, p. 298, and Banduri, ii. 150, 151.
AETERNITo* IMPER/7. — Laurcated heads of Sept. Severus and Cnrncalla face to face. — Silver. On another coin, in gold and silver, with the same legend, the heads of Caracalla and Gcta face to face : the one lamented, the other bare. — Caylus, Hum. Aur. Impp. No. 682.
The eternity of the Roman Empire, to pro- pitiate the realization of which, according to Suetonius (c. xi.), games had been established by Nero, is here typified by the |>ortmitures of the sons and successors of Severus, whose race became extinct in a single generation afterwards.
AETERNITAS. S. C. — The type which ac- eompanics this legend, on the reverse of a lnrge brass coin, struck under M. Aurelius to record the consecration of FAVStina PlA — represents her, “ wafted through the skies,” upborne on the shoulders of a winged female, who bolds a
AETERNITATI.
AFRANIA. 25
large torch in her hands. — -The airy figure last described, from its light aud flowing- drapery, and the office it is perform- ing, might be at once pronounced to represent a celestial genius, or an- gel. But Occo styles it Victoria volans ; Agos- tini, a winged Eternity ; Oisclius terms it simply a Victory ; and it accords with that described in the dream of Alexander Severus. Tristan treats the typification with merited sarcasm " Here (says he) we behold the wife of Aurelius, carried aloft on the wings of Victory, or of Minerva, snrnamcd the Victorious. Aud this is done for her wise and virtuous conduct, and for her hav- ing been victorious over vice and incontinence, of which that goddess was the declared enemy.” — Capt. Smyth.
AETERNITAS AVGG (/Etcrnitas Augusto- rum). — On silver and first brass of Philip senior, the reverse presents a caparisoned elephant, with a naked rider, who holds a goad in his right hand, and sits on 'the animal’s back. (For an engraving of the silver type see philippvs avg).
AETERNITATI AVGG. — A bearded man, hooded, and in the toga, standing with a harpa or sickle in his left hand. (See Harpa). — Banduri gives an engraving of this from silver of Valcrianus, vol. i. p. 103. — Eekhcl (vol. vii. 383) observes, that the type, which also appears on silver of Gallieuus, is a new one, and of re- condite interpretation. After alluding to the conflicting opinions of Banduri aud Tanini re- specting it, he argues, with his usual ability, acuteness, aud judicious discrimination, chiefly resting on the appearance of the harpa in the hand of the figure, that it must be that of Saturn. He then extends his inquiry, as to the connexion existing between the type of Saturn and the inscription of AETERNITAS. It has already been seen that the Sun was the most usual symbol of Eternity. Now, Macrobius affirms that Saturn was identical with the Sun, and he also shews, that Saturn was the same as Time. Euripides calls Time the Son of Saturn. “ Therefore as Eternity consists of a perpetual succession of Time, so we see Saturn very pro- perly serving to represent it. And truly the selection of such a type is the more appropriate in this instance, inasmuch as he, who is said to have established the Golden Age in Latium, was also best enabled to furnish forth a Golden Eternity.” — See Satumus.
AETERNITATIBUS. — A woman stands with a globe in her right hand, her left arm resting on a column. Silver of Alex. Severus.
The epigraph of this reverse is to be placed among those acclamations, which it was cus- tomary to make to the Emperors, and of which great plenty arc to be found (some applicable to the present inscription), in the life of Alexander Severus, bv Lampridius. — See acclamationes.
AETERNITATIS AVGVSTAE CVTT.— Coloni a Victrix Togala Tarraco. — See Akcr-
E
man’s “ Ancient Coins of Cities and Princes,” p. 108, No. 3, pi. xi. Deo. avgvsto. Ilispania Tarraconeusis.
ADF1NIS or Afjinis. Cousin. — By this term of relationship Constantius Chlorus is called, on second and third brass of Consecration and Re- membrance, struck under Maxcntius — viz. imp. MAXENTIVS DIVO CONSTANTIO. ADFINI. — The
term cogx. or cognat. (Cognato), is also used on other coius dedicated by Maxcntius to the memory of his kinsman. — See Aeterna Memoria.
AFFINITY and Kindred. The titles of
father and mother ; of grandmother, son, daugh- ter, grandson, and great grandson ; cousin and kinsman ; are marked on Roman coins. Thus we find, Caius Cicsar, Did Julii Filins (son of the Divine Julius.) Caius and Lucius Cirsarcs, August i Filii (sons of Augustus). Drusus Cicsar, Tiberii Avgusti Filins (son of Tiberius Augus- tus). Germanicus Ca'sar, Tiberii Augusli Filins, Did Augusli Nepos (sou of Tiberius Augustus, grandson of the Divine Augustus). Caius Caesar, D. Augusli Fro-nepos (great grand child of the Divine Augustus). Divo Maximiniano Paid (to the Divine Maximinian, the father). — In another instance, the coin is dedicated Divo Maximiniano socero (father in law). Divo llo- mulo Ft! to (to the son of the Emperor Maxen- tius.) Divus Constantins Adfinis or Cognalus (cousin or kinsman perhaps) of Maxcntius. — Agrippina Mater Caii Ctesaris Augusli (mother of Caius Cicsar [Caligula] Augustus). Agrip- pina Aug. Did Claudii Casaris Neronis Mater (wife of the Divine Claudius, mother of Nero Caesar). Domitella Divi Vespasiani Filia (daugh- ter of the Divine Vespasian). — See Jobert, par Bimard, vol. i. p. 256.
AFR. Africanus. The African. — Africani. The two elder Gordians were thus surnamed.
AFRANIA gens plebeia. — There are eight varieties in its coius. The silver are rare. The brass are As, or some of its parts (see As). — Tbc following is the rarest denarius of this family : —
Obv. Galeated head of Pallas, with X (mark of the denarius.)
Rev. Victory in a biga, at full speed ; below, S. AFRA. ROMA.
The letter S. of the prenomen is generally read Spurius, but it also may be meant (says Eckhcl, v. p. 132) for Sextus; as on marbles Sextus as well as Spurius is found prefixed to the family name of Afranius. Ursin, who con- fidently adopts the former, admits that of Spu- rius Afranius no mention is made on any ancient monument.
AFRICA. — The region, which the Roman geographers comprehended under this name, was limited to the northern part of that vast conti- nent, extending along the shores of the Medi- terranean, from about the present pashalic of Tunis, to the furthest extremity of the modern kingdom of Fez and Morocco. As a Roman province, it was one of great dignity and im- portance. It fell to Mark Antony’s share, after the battle of Philippi. — The annexed wood cut, from a large brass of Hadrian, exhibits some of
26 AFRICA.
th# numismatic symbols of Africa, all of which
are well described by Addison : personified as a
woman, the province “ is always quoifed with the head of an elephant, to shew that this ani- mal is the breed of that country, as for the same reason she has a dragon [or serpent], lying at her feet . The lion on another medal, marks her out for the Leona m arida nutrix. The scorpion, on a third reverse, is another of her productions. Lucan meutions it in particidar, iu the long catalogue of her venomous animals.
quis fata putaret
Scorpion, ant vires ma/une mortis habere ?
Ilte minax noilis, el recto verbere saves.
[Lib. 9.]
Who that the Scorpion’s insect-form surveys, Would think that ready death his call obeys,
As fierce be rears his knotty tail on high ?
This part of the world has always, on medals, something to denote her wonderful fruitfidness, as it was indeed the great granary of Italy. Hence we see the genius of Roman Africa hold- ing a handful of corn cars, or a cornucopia;, and resting her elbow on a basket of wheat, or fruits. These are all emblems of her great fertility, and signify what Horace alludes to in the words :
Frumenti quantum me/it Africa. — [Sat. 3. lib. 2.]
Africa is personified, on a denarius struck under the republic, by the head of a woman, covered with the skin, tusks, and trunk of au elephant’s head. — Sec engraving in Cestia gens.
AFRICA. — Gold, silver, and first and second brass coins, with this legend (the brass bearing s. c. in the exergue), struck under Hadrian, represent the Province seated, with attributes of elephant’s head, scorpion, cornucopia;, and canistrum; in others with those of lion, and corn ears. — [Hadrian, according to Spartianus, bestowed many benefits on that province. — Sec HESTITVTORI AFItlCAE.]
AFRICA. S.G'. — A robed woman, whose head- dress is distinguished by au elephant’s proboscis, stands holding out corn ears in her tunic. At her feet is a lion. — First brass of Sept. Scverus, engraved iu Havercamp’s Medailles de Christine, tab. xriv. Spartianus supplies the explanation of this coin (struck a. d. 194), when he relates that Scverus, on his first arrival, as Emperor, at Rome, sent soldiers into Africa, lest, if Pcsccnnius Niger should have iuvaded that pro- vince, there would have been a deficiency of corn-provision iu Rome. Besides, ns Africa was the birth-place of Scverus, he doubtless bestowed many benefits upon it. That he treated Carthage
AFRICA.
| with great favour, coins of his (bearing the legend of indvlgentia in cakth.) plainly testify. Ou | which account (as Spartianus states), lie was worshipped as a God by the Africans, — but then it was under Roman domination. — Doct. Num. Vet. vii. p. 171.]
AFRICA. S. C. — A woman standing, holds a cornucopia: in the left hand, and in her ex- tended right hand a large crown, or garland. First brass of Antoninus Pius; struck a. n. 139. Ou other first brass, a dragon lies before the feet of the province, and behind her are three corn cars. — (Medaittes de Christine, tab. xv.)
As in the mint of Hadrian, so in that of Antoninus, personifications of various provinces of the empire are exhibited, of which this is one, — namely, that granary of Rome, Africa. — Eckhel coiisidcrs the object which the female figure has in her stretchcd-ont hand is meant for the aurum coronarium, or garland-like crown of gold, which it was a custom among the Greeks, afterwards copied by provinces, conquered by the Romans, to offer to those who were held in honour, or whose favour jvas sought. At first it was a voluntary gift; but afterwards it became an oppressive exaction by tyrant emperors, on the more distant quarters of their dominions — vast sums of money being at length required instead of golden coronets. — In Bartoli’s en- graving of the coin (MedaiUes de Christine, tab. xv.) the African province is eagerly step- ping forward to present a crown of the’ largest size, as a gratefid dedication to the really good Antoninus. — Sec Aurenm Coronarium, in this Dictionary.
AFRICAE (ADYENTVT AVG.)— Sec p. 9.
AGir. SI’E. FESEVS. — The naked figure of Theseus, helmetcd, standing with spear and shield, compels a Centaur, who holds a lyre, and on whose neck his hand is laid, to fall down ou his knees. This type appeal's on a contor- niatc medal, given in Morcll's Emperors, with the head of Nero on its obverse, bearing the above legend. — See Thesaurus Impp. Rom. t. ii. tab. viii. fig. 15.
The group has evidently reference to Theseus at the nuptials of his friend Pirithous; on which occasion, as Ovid’s fable [Metam. xii. 227] re- lates, Eurytus offered violence to the bride Hippodamia, and with the rest of his fellow - centuurs, was severely punished for their insult- ing conduct, by the Lnpithic. — Of the words inscribed on the reverse no satisfactory attempt has yet been made to elucidate the meaning. By
AGRIPPA.
the lyre, iu the hand of the Centaur, it would seem that, after the example of Chiron, this bi- membered race cultivated the musical art. — [Eckhel, viii. p. 288.]
AGNOMEN. — Pitiscus explains this word by- saying, that it is the syupnyme of the cognomen (or surname) conferred by the act of Adoption. — Eckhel appears to entertain a similar opinion. The adopted Roman took the name, the pre- ncmen, and the surname of the adopting party, keeping only the name of his own family. P. Cornelius Seipio, for example, being adopted by Q. Cmcilius Mctellus, quitted his prenotnen and his name, calling himself Q. Metellus Seipio ; thus he retained only the agnomen , the name he derived from his father, and was indebted to the adoption for the three other names. — See nomen, cognomen, prenomeu (in suis locis). — See also Adoptio.
AGRIGENTUM — a sca-port of Sicily, situate between the rivers Agraga and Camicus, formerly celebrated for its commercial importance, and rauking next to Syracuse. It is now called Girgenti. Its Latin coins consist of autonomes in silver and brass, and of colonial Imperial, struck under Augustus, who made it a Roman colong. The colonial exhibit on their obverse the triquetra and three corn ears ; and on their reverse the Latin inscription agrigentvm, on two lines, within a crown of laurel. Prince Torremuzza, amongst other coins of this city, has given the following Colonial of Augustas: avgvsto P. P. AGRIGENTI. Bare head of the Emperor. — Rev. h. clod io kvfo. puocos, iu three lines, in the midst of a circular legend salasso. comitiae. sex. UEO. livin'. — See Mionnet, Suppl. t. i. 368.
AGRIPPA (MARCUS VIPSANIUS), a re- nowned commander both by sea and land, chosen by Augustus to be amongst the most familiar and inti- mate of his friends, and afterwards to become his son-in- law. Bom in the year of Rome 691 (63 before Christ), of a family not highly distinguish- ed, Agrippa was raised, by his military talents and by his personal merits, to the first dignities of the State. A brave, sensible, honest, prudent, and labori- ously active man, he was made Praetor in his 23rd year; appointed to the government of Transalpine Gaul at 25 ; and next to the com- mand in chief of the Roman fleet. lie tilled these several posts with equal honour and suc- cess. He defeated Sextus Pompcius in a naval engagement, and compelled him to abandon Sicily. lie shared in the Victory at Philippi ; defeated Mark Antony at Actium, a. u. c .723 (b. c. 31) ; and afterwards effected the complete submission of Spain to the Roman arms, by vanquishing the Cantabrians and Asturians, so long the champions of national independence iu
E 2
AGRIPPA. 27
that country. Agrippa married Julia, daughter of Augustus, after the death of Marcellus, her first husband, 733 (b. c. 21) — was invested in 736, with the Tribunitian power, which was continued to him for five more consecutive years, — viz., to 741 (b. c. 13). — Being sent ns governor into Syria, he reduced Jitdiea, and offered in the temple of Jerusalem a sacrifice of a hundred oxen. — This great general and con- summate statesman died in Campania, on his return from Paunonia, 742 (b. c. 12) aged 51 years, having been governor of Rome, three times consul, and destined by Augustus to succeed him iu the empire. The remains of Agrippa were interred in the Mausoleum of Augustus. He adorned Rome with many magnificent edifices, amongst others the celebrated temple of the Pantheon, which still exists. His coins are, iu gold (if genuine), of the highest rarity — in silver, very rare — in middle brass, common; ditto, restored by Titus and Domitian, rare. — On the obverses of the gold and silver appear his head, with the legend M. AGRIPPA COS. ( Consul) and that of Augustus on the reverse. The following describes one of his second brass, a well-known historical coin ; struck between the 30th and 28th year before the birth of Christ.
AGRIPPA (M) L. F. COS III. (Marais Agrippa, son of Lucius, Consul for the third time). Head of Agrippa, ornamented with a rostral crown. Reverse. S. C. (Senates Consulto) Neptune stands holding in his right hand a dolphin, and in his left a trident. The majestic figure of the Sea-sove- reign is finely de- signed, and a pal- lium, or a paluda- mentum, is grace- fully thrown over the right arm and left shoulder. The types on each side of flic above coin, bear allusion solely to the naval victories gained by Agrippa. The image of Neptune is appropriately introduced on the reverse, inasmuch as Agrippa, by his success at sea, had signally humbled the pride of Sextus Pompcius, who had passed himself off for the son of that god. The rostral crown (see Corona) on his manly but austere brows, points to his office of Prafectus Classis, or high admiral. It was a circlet of gold, relieved with figures of the prow-s and stems of ships ; and this mark of distinction was presented to him by Octavianus (afterwards Augustus) Caesar, alter the fight he won near Mylce, together with the cceru.leum vexillum (a blue, or sea-wave coloured flag), in- dicative of warlike triumphs on the domains of Neptune. “ Agrippa, it would seem, like an- other Nelson, wore this identical naval crown, at the battle of Actium ;” but unlike our own hero, escaping the fatal catastrophe to which so con- spicuous a decoration must have exposed him, | the Roman commander survived many years, to
28 AGRIPPINA,
receive fresh honours at the hands of the man, whom his prowess, wisdom, and strategic skill had raised to the sovereignty of the world. — Virgil alludes to this last decisive action, and the important share which Agrippa took in it, in the 8th Book of the jEncid, v. G78 : —
llinc Augustus agens Italos in pradia Cttsar,
Cum patribus, popaloque, Penatibus, et magnis Dls, Stans cclsa in puppi ; geniinas cui tempora flam mas Laeta vomunt, patrinmque aperitur vertice sidus. Parte alia ventis et Bis Agrippa secundis,
Arduus, agmen agens; cui, belli iusigne superbu in, Tempora navali fulgent rostrala corona.
Young Caesar, on the stern, in armour bright,
Here leads the Romans and their gods to fight :
His beamy temples shoot their flames afar,
And o’er his head is hung the Julian star.
Agrippa seconds him, with prosperous gales ;
And, with propitious gods, his foes assails.
A naval crown, that binds his manly brows,
The happy fortune of the fight forc-shews.
Dr ij f!cn 3 Translation.
AGRIPPA (M). PLATO RIN VS I11VR.
Bare head of Agrippa.
lieu, caesar avgvstvs. Bare head of Augustus. — Silver. — See Akerman, 1, plate iv. No. 2, ]). 142.
AGRIPPA (M). COS TER. COSSVS LEN- TVLVS. — Head of Agrippa, with the mural and rostral crown.
Rco. avgvstvs cos xi. Laurcatcd head of Augustus. — Gold and silver. Also restored by Trojan.
These effigies of Augustus and his son-in law were struck on the same respective coius, by the monetal triumvir Platorinus, on the occasion of their serving the cousidate together, in the year of Rome 727 (b.c. 27) ; the same year in which Octavianus Caesar took the title of Augustus. — Sec platorinvs, and Su/picia gens. See also Corona muralis et ruslrata.
AGRIPPA, the younger, sumarued Postumvs — third and last son of M. Agrippa and Julia, born in the year of Rome 742 (b. c. 12), after the death of his father. Adopted by Augustus 757 (a. d. 4), he was styled agrippa caesar, after the decease of his brothers Caius and Lucius. But, for subsequent misconduct was banished to Sorentum, in Campania, a. u. c. 7(>0 (a. d. 7), and put to death by order of Tiberius, at the age of 26. The only coin known of this young prince is a small brass of the colony of Corinth, bearing on its obverse the legend agrippa cae- sar corinthi. with the bare head of Agrippa Postumus. — Engraved in Vuillant’s Colonia, vol. i. p. 62.
AGRIPPINA, senior — daughter of Marcus Agrippa and of Julia, grand daughter of Au- gustus, was born in the year of Rome 739 (b. c. 15). Married to Gcrmanicus, nephew of Au- gustus, she proved, by her conjugal fidelity, by her feminine modesty, and by her more than feminine intrepidity of mind, how signally de- serving she was of that hero’s choice. Beautiful as virtuous, a little too much haughtiness of temper and demeanour was the only reproach that the vindicatory and eulogistic pen of history
AGRIPPINA.
attaches to her character. lu the year u. c. 770 (a. d. 17), she joined her husbaud in Syria, only to see him perish there by poison adminis- tered by the agents of Tiberius. Her fortitude rose superior to this calamity, though it was the source of almost all those other afflictions, w hich at length overwhelmed her. Accompanied by her child, she brought the ashes of Gennanicus to Rome, at the gates of which they were re- ceived by the Senate, followed by the whole body of the population, and deposited in the tomb of Augustus, amidst the united lamenta- tions of the army and the people. Nevertheless, by the command of that cruel emperor, w ho was her chief caliunuiator and persecutor, she was sent in banishment to the island of Pandataria, where Tiberius suffered her, after three years’ privation and misery, to die of hunger, in 786 (a. d. 33). Her son Caius (Caligula), at the commencement of his reign, brought back to Rome the ashes of his mother from the place of her exile ; paid her the honours of the Circensis and Carpentum ; caused the remains to be laid in the magnificent tomb of Augustus ; and coins of fine fabric to be struck to her memory. Those of Roman die arc very rare in gold and silver ; in large brass, common. The portraits of this princess, in gold and silver, are on the reverse of Caligula’s coius, struck after her death, aud of which the subjoined is an example.
Agrippina MATer c aii r.\ES aris wousti GEVManici. — The head of Agrippina.
C. CAESAR AVG. GERM. P. M. Til. POT. — The head of Caligula, laureated.
The large brass coins, minted by a decree of the Senate, in honour of Agrippina, present her head on their obverse, and have on the reverse the carpentum, or car drawn by mules, indicating her apotheosis. The legend is, s. p. q. it. .me- moriae agrippinae. (The Senate and the Ro- man People to the memory of Agrippina.)
Ou the obverse she is styled agrippina m. r. mat. c. caesaris avovsti (Agrippina, daughter of Marcus, mother of Caius Ciesar Augustus.) Her titles on other medals arc agrippina m. f. germ anici CAESARIS (by implication, uxor — meaning wife of Gcrmanicus.) — Sec Memorise Agrippinas.
AGRIPPINA. PRVSILLA. IVLIA. S.C.— Three women standing, with a cornueopiie, of whom the one on the right rests her right hand on a little pillar, and with her left touches the middle figure, who holds in her right hand a patera, while the woman on the left has the helm of a vessel in her right hand. First brass. — Patin has giveu a similar coin, but in middle brass. — Schlcgel quotes coins with this type, and the legend tie pot. hi. iiii. (Morel), Impp.
AGRIPPINA.
AGRIPPINA. 29
vol. i. 622), but their genuineness is doubted by
Eekhcl .
On this coin arc represented the three sisters of Caligula. At tin; commencement of his reign, when he was affecting a regard for the members of his own family, in order to gain popularity, Caligula advanced them to the highest posts of dignity. He went so far as to give orders, that in all oaths the names of his sisters should be joined with his own, and to assign them all the honours of Vestals ; but ending by seducing them all three. When his passion was cooled, he banished them all to distant islands, with the exception of Brasilia, who escaped that fate by death. It was, then, during the ardour of his attachment to them, that the coins in question were struck, on which the three sisters arc represented under the forms of Securitas, Pielas, and Fortune.
AGRIPPINA, junior- (Julia), the daughter of Gennanicus and Agrippina the elder, born in a town on the Rhine, subsequently called after her Colonia Agrippinensis, now Cologne, in the year of Rome 709 (a. d. 10), was the grand daughter of Antonia, sister of Caligula, and the mother of Nero, by her first husband, Cn. Domitius Ahcnobarbus, a senator, whom she married 781, (a. d. 28). After his death, she was espoused to her uncle, the Emperor Claudius, 802 (a. d. 49), and obtained the title of Augusta. She was a woman of great beauty, but of the most profligate disposition ; of lofty and penetrating genius; of a proud imperious nature; of cruelly vindictive temper, and of insatiable ambition. — When her vile ungrateful son, for whose ad- vancement she had acted most criminally, found himself uuablc to restrain her immoderate thirst for power, he caused her to be put to death, 812 (a. d. 59). She was the first of the Au- gustes, who obtained brass medals from the Senate. One exhibits a female seated, another a triumphal arch. She is represented, as is shewn in the above cut, on a coin of Caligula, in company with her sisters Drusilla and Julia; the word aghippina being inscribed near her image. The head of this princess, ornamented with a wheaten crown, appears on the reverse of gold and silver coins of Claudius.
In the following denarius, we see, on one side, the words agrippinae avgvstaf., with her head; and on the other, ti. clavd ius caesar avg. germ. p. m. trib. pot. p. p. with the head of the Emperor Claudius. — On other coins, minted under Claudius and under Nero, she is also styled agrippina avgvsta mater avgvsti. —
AGRIP. AVG. DIVI CLAVD. NERONIS. CAES. MATER.
— There arc silver medallions of hers struck in Asia, on one of which is a statue of the Ephe- sian Diana, within a temple. All her coins, in every metal, arc rare ; silver medallions in the highest degree. — Of the large brass, Capt. Smyth says — “ I have never been able to procure a single specimen ; nor is there one even in the British Museum. Vaillant has figured two of this magnitude, with reverses of Ceres and a triumphal arch ; but there arc no Latin brass of the other sizes. Agrippina was the first of the wives of the Augnsti whose effigies appeared ou gold and silver coins of the Roman mint.”
AGRIPP. (or AGRIPPINA) AVG. DIVI. CLAVD. NERONIS. CAES. MATER. EX. S. C. — (Agrippina, wife [by implication] of the Divine Claudius, Mother of Nero Cicsar, by a decree of the Senate [this medal, was ordered to be minted.])
Reverse type. Two figures, the one male the other female, both seated on a quadriga of ele- phants.— The obverse presents the jugated heads of Nero and Agrippina, around which is in- scribed NERO CLAVD. DIVI. F. CAES. AVG. GERM. imp. tr. p. cos. — See Akerman, Descrip. Cat. i. p. 159, plate iv. No. 6. — Gold.
Vaillant, in explanation of the reverse, cites the following passage from Suetonius (c. 11) — Claudius procured a decree of divine honours to his grandmother Livia, and of a car drawn by elephants, in a Circensian procession, similar to that of Augustus. — Nero and Agrippina caused this coin to be struck (in gold and silver), in order that the images of both Augustus and Livia should thereby be exhibited to the honour of their memories. Nero also dedicated statues to them, which are represented on one of his coins, with the epigraph of avgvstvs. avgvsta. — See the words.
AGRIPPINA, &c. Same legend as preced- ing.— The type of the obverse exhibits the heads of Agrippina and Nero, face to face. — The re- verse is NERONI. CLAVD. DIVI. F. CAES. AVG. germ. imp. tr. p. — The letters EX. s. c. within an oaken garland. — See Caylus’ plates of Roman Gold coins, in the Cabinet de France, fig. 102.
Of this coin, minted at Rome, in gold and silver, Agrippina occupies the most distinguished place, namely the obverse side. She styles her- self (by implication) the wife of Claudius, and, in direct terms, the mother of Nero ; as though the government of the empire had been in her hands, and her son only Ca;sar. It is on this account that Tacitus (Ann. 23), asks — Vhat help is there in him, who is governed by a woman? It is not to be wondered at therefore, adds Vaillant, if the oaken garland was decreed to this woman and to her son, as it had already been to Cali-
30
AHALA.
AHENOBARBVS.
gula and to Claudius, ob rives servatos, by the Senate, whom she assembled in the palace, where she sat discreetly veiled. — Priest. Nun. hupp. ii. 60.
AGRIPPINA COLONIA, a city of Gallia Bclgica, now Cologne on the Rhine. To this oppidum Ubiorum, which, according to Tacitus (Annal. lib. xii. c. 27), was the birth-place of Agrip- pina junior, mother of Nero, aud last wife of Claudius, that clever, assuming, and uusenipidous wo- man, sent a colony of veterans, in the tenth year of her imperial hus- band’s reign, about u. c. 804 (a.d. 51), and gave it her owu name. It was to this town, as Sueto- nius relates, that Vitellius sent the dagger with which Otho killed himself, for the purpose of its dedication to Mars. — Goltzius has recorded some medals of Co/onia Agrippina ; but they were suspected by later numismatists, and particularly by Vaillant, who has made no mention of them in his work on Colonial mintages. The annexed coin (in base silver or billon), registered by Banduri (i. 311) and of which an engraving as well as a description is given by llaym (Thes. Brit. ii. ta b. xxvi. p. 283, No. 5), as from the Duke of Devonshire’s cabinet, is considered, however, to be indubitably genuine. llaym notes it as of good workmanship and well pre- served. Mionnet also (in his Sledailles Ro- mainesj, recognises the following legends and types, as those of a Latin imperial coin of Postu- mus, minted in the above named Roman colony, viz. : —
Obv. POSTVirvs p. f. avo. Radiated head of Postumus.
Rev. col. cl. agkip. cos. mi. A woman standing, with balance and cornucopia:.
Mionnet describes the type of the reverse as L’Equite debout, avec ses attribute. The let- ters cl. serve to shew that the place now so well known under the name of Cologne (for- merly the City of the Ubii), teas made a colony under Claudius, as Tacitus has affirmed.
AHALA. Accompanying this surname,
which is that of the Scrvilia family, the bare head of C. Servilius Ahala appears on a denarius minted by Marcus Brutus, who assas- sinated Julius Ciesar. On the obverse of the same silver coin, is the bare head of L. Brutus, one of the first two Consuls of the Roman Re- public.
The circumstance of these two portraits being included on the same medal, conclusively iden-
tifies it with the yoiuigcr Brutus. For, as on the father’s side, he was believed to be de- scended from Lucius Brutus, so on that of his mother, Servi/ia, it is certain that he had among his ancestors, Servilius Ahala, who, according to Plutarch, under the dictatorship of Cinein- uatus, a. u. c. 315 (b. c. 439), slew with his own hand, Spurius Melius, for aiming at the sovereignty. — Eckhel, with his usual felicity of citation, quotes a passage from Cicero, as throw- ing light (which it does in a remarkable man- ner), on this denarius, in the following words : — Brutos ego impellerem, quorum uterqve L. Bruti imaginem qnotidie videret, alter etiarn, AhaL/E? [Should I (asks the great Orator) in- cite the Bruti, both of whom daily gaze on the portrait (or effigy) of L. Brutus, and one of them on that of Ahala also ?] — Sec Junia gens.
Visconti, who, iu his Iconographie Romaine (8vo. edit. t. ii. No. 6), gives an engraving of this denarius, makes, inter alia, the following remarks (p. 51) : — “ On the coins which Marcus Brutus, or his partisans, caused to be struck during the civil war, the head of Servilius Ahala was placed on the reverse of that of Lucius Brutus, whom the murderer of Ca?sar affected to rcckou among his ancestors. He doubtless thought, that those domestic examples would form an excuse for his homicidal outrage in the eyes of the Romans. This portrait of Servilius Ahala had probably been taken, like many others, from one of those images which the families of the nobility gloried in preserving. — The legend aiiala designates the personage re- presented on this side of the coin. — Cicero re- marks that this surname of Ahala had becu formed by the suppression of the r, and by pro- nouncing the word asri/la (arm-pit), a nickname given to one of the ancestors of Servilius, in allusion to some particularities relative to this part of his bodily frame. The Fasti Ctjiilolini exhibit the name of Servilius, sometimes with the surname of Ahala, sometimes with that of Axilla ; in consequence of which Pighius has at- tempted to distinguish one from the other, con- trary to the opinion of Cicero, who, in conver- sation with Marcus Brutus, respecting this same Servilius, gives him both surnames, without dis- tinction. The Fasti Capitolini prove that these surnames existed in the Servilia family before the time of the Ahala who was general of cavalry to Cincinnatus.”
AHENOBARBVS. — This surname, which appears on a denarius of the Domitia gens, has reference to one of the most popular legends of early Rome. — The news of the importaut victory achieved by Postumius, over the Latins, near lake Regillus (b. c. 498) reached and sprrad
AHENOBAR.
through 'the city, with a rapidity, which, not- withstanding the short distance between the two places, was regarded by the credulous and over-joyed populace as a prodigy. Two young soldiers, as the story goes, had met Lucius Domitius, a distinguished citizen, who was on his return from the country. Announcing to him the news of the battle and the success of the Romans, they charged him to make it known to his fellow-citizens ; and in order to win his con- fidence by a miracle, they touched his checks, the black beard of which instantly became red. (Suetonius, in Nerone, c. i. Plutarch, Vita Pauli JEmilei, § 25). — It is said to have been for this reason that Domitius was afterwards called Alienobarbus, red beard, or beard of the colour of brass ; a sobriquet which attached itself, for many ages, to one of the most illus- trious families of the republic. — The Domitii, doubtless, were in the habit of exposing to view, in the vestibule of their house, the waxen image of that man, to whose eyes Castor and Pollux had condescended to make themselves visible, and whom they had chosen to be the bearer of such good news. — (Visconti, Iconographie Romtdne , tome ii. p 48.) — At the period of the civil war waged against Cassius and Brutus, a member of the family above named, Cueus Domitius Alienobarbus, had allied himself to their party, and was placed in command of a formidable fleet, which, crossing the Iouian sea, blockaded the ports of Italy. This indivi- dual, to defray the expenses of his expedition, caused money to be minted, on which were stamped the head of his ancestor, the Lucius Domitius of the early republic, designated by his surname ahlnobakbvs. The reverse type is a trophy raised on the prow of a galley, allu- sive to the victory gained by Cneus Domitius Imperator (Emperor, that is to say Commandcr- in-Chief. — The battle alluded to was fought on the Ionian sea, between the port of Brundusium, whence the fleet of Octavius Caesar (afterwards Augustus) had sailed, and Epirus, towards which it had steered. The event took place the same day that Cassius and Brutus were defeated at Philippi, in the year 42 before the Christian era. (Appian Alex, de be/lo civili , cited by Viscouti in his work above-named.)
AHENOBAR. — The denarius on which this abbreviated word appears is a numismatic monu- ment of the greatest rarity. Of this the eru- dite antiquary above-meutioned, has given an engraving in his Roman Iconography (tab. v.*) and he presents it as preserving the portrait of Cneus Alienobarbus. It is (says Visconti) a piece of gold money, which was probably struck at the period when this Roman admiral received intelligence of the death of Cassius and of Brutus, and regarded himself as the head of the repub- lican party. The head, entirely shaved, is seen on one side of the coin, of which the surname AIIENOBARia* forms the legend. On the re- verse we see his other names, and his title, CN. DOMrrrvs. I., f. imp. (Cneus Domitius, sou of Lucius, imperator). The letters NEPT. stamped in the field of the reverse, point to the temple of
AIMILIA. 31
Neptune, which is the type, and in all proba- bility was designed to represent, that edifice which Cneus Domitius Alienobarbus, one of the ancestors of the personage in question, had built in the circus of Flaminius at Rome, in honour of the god of the sea, and which he had filled with sculptural chefs d’ceuvre from the chisel of Scopas. Cneus Alienobarbus seems thus to ascribe to the zeal of his progenitors for the worship of Neptune, the constant safety and success of his own vessels on the stormy waves of the Adriatic.” — p. 221-22. — See also Morell Thesaur. Fam. Domitia gens.
AIMILIA (Basilica) RE Veda. S. C.— This legend, with the name of m. lepidvs below', ap- pears on the reverse of a denarius of the Aemilia family, the accompanying type of which repre- sents a building, with two stories of columns, and shields inserted between them, commonly called the Basilica Aemilia, or Basilica Pauli. — On the obverse of the same denarius is the veiled head of a woman ; on one side of which is a garland, and on the other the simpulum. [By a graphic mistake the legend auiilia is not made to appeal- at the top of the reverse.]
It bears allusion to L. iEmilius Paulus, who served the consulship in the year of Rome 704 (b. c. 50), and to whom the merit is ascribed by old writers of having begun the reconstruction and adornment (b. c. 54) at his own expense, of the above-named public edifice, in the Eorum at Rome. Being, however, left in an unfinished state by the founder, it was at length completed, and dedicated, by Paulus Acinilius Lcpidus, in the year U. c. 720 (b. C. 34), according to Dion Cassius. The chief ornaments of the edifice were its columns of Phrygian marble, of which Pliny speaks in admiration. The zEmilian Basilica was twice repaired, after damage by fire. The first time in 740 (b. c. 14), when the temple of Vesta was also destroyed, and it was then re- stored (refecta) by Augustus and the friends of Paulus. The second time was during the reign , of Tiberius, on which occasion Lepidus, with consent of the Senate, rebuilt and adorned it at his owti cost. — Eckhel agrees with Havercamp in considering this denarius to have been coined under Augustus — not under Tiberius — and points to the head on the obverse as doubtless that of Vesta, allusive to the temple of that goddess, destroyed in the same conflagration, which con- sumed the Basilica, and was restored by Au- gustus. The archaism too of aimilia (the an- cient spelling of aemilia), bespeaks it to be of the age of Augustus, rather than that of Tiberius. — Doct. Nina. Vet. v. 127.
This coin is valued bv Mionnet at 18 fr. The same, restored by Trajan, he prices at 100 fr.
32
ALAMANNI.
ALBINUS.
ALACRITATl. — To Alacrity ; with figure of . Pegasus. — The foregoing legend occurs for the first, and indeed the only time, in the imperial | scries of coins, on a very rare middle brass of Gallienus. The type also is found on one of the billon pieces minted under the same emperor, but with a different legend [leg. i. &c.]
Respecting this singular reverse, and its ap- propriate device of a winged horse (previously noticed aud engraved by Angeloni and Banduri), Eckhcl says, “ I do not remember any altar, de- dicated by the Romans to Alacrity. It seems probable that this virtue, or good quality, in a sovereign, to have been here commended in Gal- lienus, in consequence of his having, imme- diately on his accession to the empire, and dur- ing his first consulate, prepared an army in Ger- mauy, with great expedition, and sent it forth against the revolted Gauls.” — See Peyasns.
ALAMANNI, or ALEMANNI. — Under this title are to be considered as included the Ubii, the Sicambri, the Tenctcri, the Usipetes, the Catti, the Chcrusces ; that is to say, the inha- bitants of the upper and lower Rhine, aud those beyond that great river, such as the Westpha- lians, the Hessians, and the Saxons, as far as the Elbe and the Wcser, on the bauks of which, as well as on the Rhine and the Meuse, Drusus, in the time of Augustus, built forts and esta- blished garrisons, to hold the natives in check ; at the same time that he opened a road for his troops through the llyrcanian forest. The vic- tories of Drusus (brother of Tiberius) over the Alamanni, are commemorated ou medals, under the inscription de gi;um axis (see the word.) — But those exploits were not followed by the en- tire subjugation of the Germanic nations, nor was their country reduced to the form of a pro- vince, in the same effectual manner as Augustus succeeded in doing with regard to Gaul, .Spain, Illyria, Egypt, aud other regions, over which the Roman arms had been victorious. At a later period, however, of the empire, the Alamanni, inhabiting that part of Germany, which is situ- ated between the Danube, the Upper Rhine and the Mayne, were subdued, first by CaracaUa, aud afterwards by Proculus, in the reign of Aure- liau. Afterwards Constautius Chlorus, whilst Cirsar, overthrew them with great slaughter. — They continued, nevertheless, from time to time, to wage war against subsequent emperors, from Constantiuc tbc Great to Gratiauus and down- wards. Nor were they finally brought to sub- jection until a. n. 4'J(5, when they met with a decisive defeat by Clodovauis, king of the Franks.
ALAMANNIA. — The reverse of one of Con- stautinc’s gold coins has for its type, a woman seated at the foot of a trophy, supporting her j head ou her arm, as if lamenting her captivity. | Round the field appears gavdivm romanouvm ; aud on the exergue is alamannia. — Engraved iu Caylus, Anrea Nmnis. Rom. Impp. No. 108.
“ This medal (says Spanbeim, iu his Ciesars of Julian), refers to the victories of Constan- tine over the Alamanni, aud nlso over the Fraud, a nation between the Rhine and the Wcser. — With regard to Alamannia, Zozimus I
relates that, after haring defeated Maxentius, Constantine passed into Gaul, and directed his march against the Celtic tribes. With respect to Francia, other writers make mention of the bridge which lie caused to be thrown over the Rhine, in the territory of the Ubians, now the diocese of Cologne, iu order to attack the Fraud, or people of Westphalia, and towards the Isscl.” There is nlso a similar legend aud type on a gold coin of Crispus, to whose ill-requited valour his father was mainly indebted for this triumph.
ALAMa««ia ET FRANCia. — See Francia A L A M AN N I A D E V I CT A.— Victory, at whose feet is a captive bound, holding a trophy aud palm branch. This legeud and type appear on third brass of Crispus, natural son of Coustautine the Great. They constitute another proof of the lead- ing share taken by that heroic but ill-fated young prince, in vanquishing a most powerfid coalition of enemies, and compelling them to acknowledge for awhile the asceudenev of Rome. — “ Placed (says Banduri, who pub- lishes the coin) in command of the Legions in Gaul, Crispus fulfilled the hopes and objects of his imperial father, by suppressing a formidable rebellion of the Fraud and Alamanni.” — Spau- heira has given this reverse to a coin of Con- stantines, juu. ; but it is not included in thnt emperor’s mint by either Eekhel, Mionuet, or Akcrman.
ALB. ALBINVS. Albinas — surname of the
Postumia family.
ALBA. — Ou a brass medallion of Antoninus Pius, without legend of reverse, arc represented the fortified walls of that city. Within are the sow aud its young ; above is /Eneas carrying his father ; behind him the fig tree, and before a circular temple stands an aitar. — See Scrofa.
ALBOGALERUS, a sort of cap of white wool, which the Flamen Dialis, or priest of Jupiter, alone had the privilege of wearing. It was made from the llcece, or skin, of some white animal sacrificed to Jupiter, and was surmounted with a small sprig of olive. Iu the coins of Julius Crcsar, this albogalcrus is seen to indicate the office of pontifex maximus. — See Apex.
ALBINAS (Jbecimus Clodius Sept uni us) — born at Hadrumctum, in Africa, had for his father Cejonius Poslumus, and for his mother Aurelia Messalina. Highly educated, especially in geographical aud strategical knowledge, he became, from a captain of Illyrian cavalry, one of the first and most successful generals of his time, in the chief charge and couduet of armies under Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, being at length placed in command of the legions iu Bithynia, a. u. 175. Tall and portly iu statiue, with round visage, frizzled beard, large mouth, but with a very feeble voice, he was said to be retiring and melancholy in disposition, severe in matters of discipline, and of a repulsive hnmour ; but his bravery and skill as a soldier, his love of justice, nnd his respect for senatorial
%
' ALBINUS.
rights and popular privileges, gained for him the attachment of all classes in the state. He was manly in his habits, free from enervating luxury, and, except his being a prodigious eater, without intemperance. Governor of Britain and Gaul, at the time of Pertinax’s death, he made pretensions to the sovereignty, and was elected Emperor by the legions he commanded, in the year of Rome 940 (A- u- 193). He succeeded in causing himself to be declared Cicsar, by Sep- timius Severus, the same year : that merciless but artful man being at the time sufficiently occupied in subduing the eastern provinces of the empire. In the following year (194), Al- binus served his second consulship with Severus himself for his colleague. But no sooner was Pescennius destroyed, than Severus led his army against his rival in the west. “ The British legions under Albinas were opposed to those of IUyricum ; and the troops on each side combated with such bravery, that the result was long doubtful.” But, after many sanguinary engage- ments, fought with alternate success, Albinus was defeated by his competitor in a decisive battle, on the plain of Tinurtium (now Trevoux), between the Rhone and Saone, near Lugdunum (Lyon), in France. Aud under circumstances of gra- tuitously brutal triumph on the part of the con- queror, Albinus lost his life, in the year u. c. 950 (a. d. 197). He was much looked up to by many ; and, indeed, was as much beloved by the Senate, as they hated Severus, on account of his fearfully vindictive cruelty. On his coins, which are found in the three metals, and of all sizes except small brass, this prince is styled d. CLODIVS AI.B1NVS CAESAR IMP. — also D. CLOD. SEPT. ALBIN. AVO. — and IMP. CAES. CL. SEPT. albin. avo. (on reverse P. p.) — His gold and brass medallions are of the highest rarity. Silver, and first and second brass, are also rare.
The large brass, from which the subjoined cut is engraved, was struck a. d. 194, as the mark of his second consulate attests.
Obi ;. d. clod. sept, albin. caes. — Bare head of Albinus.
Rev. FELiciTASCOS.n. s. c. — Felicity stand- ing with caducous and hasta put a. — See Felicitas.
Khell, in his supplement to Vaillant (p. 10G), has given an engraving of a most rare and ele- gant gold coin of Albinus, from the Vienna cabinet, with provid. avg. cos. for legend, and Providentia, with her attributes, for type of its reverse.
Albinus (remarks the intelligent author of Lemons de Numismatique Romaine) hopiug to keep on an amicable footing with Severus, paid him F
ALEXANDER. 33
all kinds of deferential attentions ; and the types on the reverses of his earlier coins bear testimony to his being influenced by this policy. But in the subsequent passages of his career, being forced to enter into an open struggle with his subtle rival, he declared himself Augustus as well as Cicsar. And from that period, the medals in which he takes this title, no longer evince the same character of caution and mo- deration. It is, however, necessary to observe, that the latter (with the titles of imp. and avg.) are not to be found in gold aud silver ; whilst the bronze coins were still minted exclusively at Rome, and could not accord to him a title which the Emperor (Severus) aud the Senate refused to grant him.
In reference to this question, Mr. Akerman also observes, that those coins of Albinus, which bear the title of “ Caisar” are considered to have been struck at Rome, Severus having consented to his assuming that title : and that those which have the styles “ Impcrator” and “ Augustus,” were struck in Gaul, after the entry of Albinus into that country. — A coin in the Vienna cabinet has Pater Patr'ue ou the reverse, the bead side bearing the title of Caisar. Another is described as having p. p. on it and avg. on the obverse. — lienee Mionnct supposes that Albinus had a Council or Senate, in Gaul, who conferred on him the honourable title. — “ How- ever (adds the judicious compiler of the “ De- scriptive Catalogue of Roman Coins,”) its as- sumption by Albiuus without license, must not be wondered at in an age w hen Emperors aspired even to divine origin.”
On the same point, Captain Smyth says, “ such medals of Albiuus as bear the title of Augustus, arc without the s. c. and are pro- bably from the officina of Lugdunum — since those minted by consent of Severus, were issued before Albinus had assumed that title.”
ALCE, or Alces, an animal of the cervine species. — A representation of this remarkable quadruped is found on one of the saecvlares avgg. 1st brass of Philippus senior. — See Me- dai/les de Christine, tab. xxxv. No. 18.
ALE. — Alexandria casus — (struck at Alex- andria.) It is read on the exergue of second brass coins of the lower empire, as in Diocle- tianus, Gal. Maximianus, &c.
ALEX. — Alexander. — imp. caes. m. avr. sev. alex. pivs. avg. — The Emperor and Cicsar, Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander, the Pious, the August.
ALEXANDER SEVERUS (Bassianus Alex- ianus), born at Area (Cicsarca Libani), in Phoe- nicia, a. d. 205, was the son of Gessius Mar- cianus and Julia Mamsea. The care which bis
34 ALEXANDER,
mother bestowed on his education, amply com- pensated for his early loss of a father ; and from his infancy he gave promise of those qualities and excellent abilities which distinguished him through life, lie soon became a favourite with the best as well as noblest society in Rome. Through the sagacious policy and persuasion of Mresa, his grandmother, he was adopted by Ela- gabalus. — Declared C:esar a.ii. 221, he took the names of Marcus Aurelius Alexander; served his first consulate the following year ; and after the frightful reign of his execrable cousin, the Romans beheld a youth of scarcely fourteen years of age, on the throne of their emperors, possessed of talcuts, courage, correct morals — every human virtue and eveiy personal accom- plishment. His goodness as an individual, and his wisdom as a rider, recalled to their remem- brance the happier times of the empire, and formed a striking contrast to the hideous vices and misgovernment of his immediate predecessor.
On the death of Elagabalus, being saluted Augustus and Imperator (a. d. 222), by the en- raptured Senate, he at the same time received the titles of Augustus, Pater Patri®, with all the marks of imperial dignity ; and from that period uuited to his other names that of Sevc- rus. — In 229, lie proceeded consul for the 3rd time, having for his colleague that year Dion Cassius, the celebrated historian of Rome. It was during the reign of this emperor, that Ar- tabancs IV. King of the Parthians, was killed by Artaxerxcs, who re-established the Persian monarchy, and caused himself to be declared king. In consequence of the hostile progress of this prince against the Romans, Alexander Scvc- rus led a formidable army into the east, (about a. d. 231, according to Eekhel;) and having in a great battle defeated Artaxerxes, whom he drove back from the frontiers of the empire, re- turned to Rome, where he received triumphal honours for his victory over the Persians. The same year he accepted the title of Pivs. In 235, he engaged in another successful campaign. It was against the Germans, who had taken advant- age of his absence in the East, to ravage the Gal- lic provinces. This was his last achievement. A band of factious soldiers (instigated by the Thracian savage, Maximinus, at that time ad- vanced to be one of his generals), slew him and ! his mother (Mamma), in the year of Our Lord 235, and the 27th of his age, after his having bravely commanded the Roman armies, with as consummate generalship and as much glory as any of his predecessors, for 13 years, llis death was universally deplored, as that of the father of his country, the friend of his subjects, and one of the most just and generous of princes. The honours of consecration were awarded to him by the Senate, and a festival was instituted to his honour, which continued to be celebrated down to the reign of Constautinc. — Alexander was the first Emperor who positively favoured the Christians, with whose moral precepts he scents to have been acquainted ; for he caused to be inscribed over the palace gate, the golden ride of the Gosjicl — “ Do as you would be done by.”
ALEXANDER.
( Quod tibi fieri non vis, atteri non feceris.J — Alexander Severus had three wives. The name of the first is not known ; the second was called Memmia ; the last Barbia Orbiana, of w horn only there are coins. He does not appear to have left any children. — The monies of Alexan- der Severus arc very numerous. Some pieces represent him with Jidia Mamma, and with Or- hiana. His gold and silver coins (usual size) arc common ; first and second brass also com- mon ; gold, silver, and brass medallions, arc of the highest rarity. Ou these he is styled m. avr.
ALEXANDER. — IMP. C. XI. SEVERVS ALEXAND. nvs avgvstvs (sometimes P. P.) The cut at the head of this biographical notice is from a silver coin. On the obverse, imp. ALEXANDER pivs ayg. Laureatcd head of the Emperor. The legend of the reverse, iovi puopvgnatoki (to Jupiter the defender, whose image stands bran- dishing a thunderbolt), frequently occurs in the mint of Alexander, which also has Ju/jiter Con- servator, Stator, and Ultor, among its types.
Alexander occupied himself sedulously in re- forming the abuses which prevailed in the state of the Roman mint. Hence the legend rf.sti- tvtoh monetae on some of his medals, he be- ing the only one of the Augnsti who was styled on coins a restorer of money, lie also used electrum. “ About his time the sestertii (or large brass) diminish in magnitude, public events are given in less detail on the reverses ; and the deities and moral virtues appear more frequently. The coins arc however mostly common, and arc retained in choice collections, only according to their perfection or individual interest.” — See Captain Smyth’s remarks on this prince’s cha- racter and reign. — Descr. Cat. 22G.
ALEXANDER (commonly sumamed Tyran- nus ) an usurper during the reign of Maientius. Born of Paunonian peasants, or, according to some writers, sprung from an equally ohsenre origin in Phrygia, he entered the army, and though of no great military talent, nor of any very distinguished valour, became in his old age, pro-pncfcct of Africa. In consequence of the ex- treme severity of Maxentins towards him, he threw oil' his allegiance to that arbitrary prince, and drawing into his revolt the soldiers who had invested him w ith the purple, caused himself to be proclaimed emperor, a. d. 308. For three years Alexander maintained his usurped power at Carthage ; but was at length defeated by the troops of Maxentius, taken prisoner, and put to death, A. D. 311. llis coins, with Izitin legends, in silver and brass, are of the highest rarity. They were minted in Africa ; probably at Carthage. On these he is styled mr. Alex- ander p. F. avo. — The above engraving from a
ALEXANDRIA.
second brass, presents the laureatcd head of this a<red usurper, whilst the reverse bears the type of Victory, and the legend Victoria a lex and ri avo. n. Relow p. k. — On the reverse of a third brass, given with his portrait, in Banduri, ii. p. 161, we read ixvicta roma. felix kakthago — the type being a woman holding corn cars in each hand.
ALEXANDRia AEGYP'IV. — Alexandria, the capital of lower Egypt, an emporium of most opu- lent commerce. It was called Rome, by M. An- tony, when he held his third consulship (b. c. 61) therein. — There is a coin of that triumvir, bear- ing the foregoing inscription, which has for its type a palm tree, with fruit pendent beneath its branches, and round it is the corona hcderacea, or ivy crown. The palm abounded beyond all other trees in Egypt, and was the usual symbol of Alexandria. And perhaps, says Oiselius, who gives an engraving of this coin (tab. xxxiv. No. 3, p. 149) the crown of ivy being a symbol of Bacchus, it is here conjoined with the palm tree, by M. Antony, who had already ordered himself to be called Bacchus.
ALEXANDRIA. — On the reverse of a silver Hadrian (engraved in Oiselius, tab. xxxiv. p. 149), the type of a female standing, clothed in a^ tunic I supposed to represent the genius of k-.vpt] ■ She holds in her right hand the sistrum, in connexion with the worship of Isis [the move- ment of that instrument signifying the rise of the Nile.] In her left hand she holds a bucket or waterpot (situla) by which is indicated the flow of canals or watercourses. — Rasche.
The genius of Alexandria, or of Egypt in general, is figured on a brass medal of Hadrian (struck in Egypt), as a man, wearing on his own head the skiu ol an elephant’s, and holdiug in his right hand a bundle of corn ears. He takes with the left hand that of the emperor, and lifts it to his lips, as if to kiss it, in acknowledgment of Hadrians benefits to the city and country-. Round the coin is engraved alexandrea, and in the field lie (year xv).— Zoega, Rum. AEgypt. vii. — [Air. Akcrman, some time ago, referring to a specimen of this very interesting coin, then in his own possession, had remarked that the numeral 1 5 denotes the year of Hadrian’s ar- rival at Alexandria.]
ALEXANDRIA. S. C. — On first and second brass of Hadrian, the city of Alexandria is personified by a xvomau seated on the ground, holdiug ears of corn in her right hand. Near her
left arm rises a vine branch, and her elbow rests on a vase, near which is a bunch of grapes. At F 2
ALEXANDRIA. 35
her feet also are three ears of wheat, indicative of the generally abundant harvests of Egypt.
On the reverse of another brass coin, with the same legend, and minted under the same empe- ror, Alexandria sits with corn-ears in her right hand and cornucopia; in her left: her arm resting on the canislrum. — See Oiselius, tab. xxxiv.
ALEXANDRIA TROAS ( Colonia). — A city so called from its beiug situated on that part of the coast of Mysia, called the Troad, or plain of Troy, eternized by the Iliad of Homer. — According to Strabo, it received the appellation of Alexandria, from Alexander the Great, yvho was the first to elevate it to the rank of a free city : from that period it continued increasing until the invasion and occupation of Asia Minor by the Romans, yvho unceasingly added to its splendour. Julius Caisar greatly improved and ornamented it. His example was folloyved by Augustus, who made it a Roman Colony ; and Hadrian (says Justin) adorned it with baths and aqueducts. It yvas from Augustus, that the city took the name of Augusta. But it yvas not called Alexandria on coins before the reign of Caracalla ; and then it re-assumed the name, either to flatter that prince’s affected fondness for the memory of Alexander the Great, or iu acknowledgment of benefits conferred upon it by him as the eldest son and expectant successor of Septimius Severus. The era of Alexander Troas is fixed by .Miouuet (Supplmt. t. v. 508) at 454 years from the foundation of Rome, 300 b. c. Its ruins still exist, and are called by the Turks Eski-Stambul ', or Old Constantinople.
Among the Latin colonial autonomes (de- scribed by Miounet, vol. ii. p. 639) is the fol- loyving singular one, viz. : — Obv. co. alex. tro. Turreted head of a woman. — Rev. A pea- sant or shepherd, holdiug in his right hand the pedum ; he stands by the side of a cave, on yvhich the Sybil llerophile rests herself: behind the shepherd is a ram. — The other types of this period of the colony’s mint, are apol. zminthe. Apollo Sminthius (sec Apollo) standing — a fawn — the vcxillum — an eagle yvith a bull’s head.
The colonial imperial coins extend in nearly an unbroken succession of reigns from Trajan to Gallieuus and Saloniua. They are numerous, aud some few yvorthy of notice. On these yve read col. avg. (troa or troad.) — col. avo. tro. alex. Colonia Augusta Troas, (or Troa- densis) Alexandria , or col. av-g. tro. or tr.
There is, on a second brass dedicated by the city of Troas to Caracalla, the type of a horse dcpasccut, behind which is a tree ; and by its side is the figure of a rustic, yvho bears the pedum in his right hand. — Of this reverse the annexed cut is a copy, after a speci- men in the British Mu- seum.— Vaillant, yvho (in Coloniis, i. 46), describes the figure, as simply that of a shepherd holding the crook, usually employed in his pastoral vocation, considers this device of man, horse, and tree, to indicate the
36 ALEXANDRIA.
ALEXANDRIA.
confirmation of privileges ami immunities, grant- ed to the Troadensians by Caraealla.
Among the imperial series, all with Latin legends, struck in this Roman colony, one, which is dedicated to the honour of Crispins, wife of Commodus, is of good design, and curious in its typification.
Obv. CRISPINA AV- gvsta.— Head of the Empress.
Reo. col. avg. troad. (The August Colony of Troas.) — A figure standing in a military dress, sacrificing at a tripod, in front of the statue of Apollo, which stands on a cippus or pedestal. Above the tripod is an eagle with expanded wings, holding in its talons the head of a bull. — Vnillant, in coloniis, i. p. 223.
[Pcllerin (in his Melange de Med. T. i. pi. xvii. No. 15), gives a coin of this colony, dedicated to Commodus himself, from which the above wood-cut is taken. The type differs a little from I hat on Crispina’s above described, inasmuch as, for the tripod is substituted a lighted altar ; and the sacrificcr wears a cloak over his military dress, and holds a sceptre, instead of a spear, in his left hand.]
“ This medal (says Vaillant), refers to the augury which was taken when the foundations of New Troy (Alexandria Troas), were about to be laid. Strabo relates (Lib. xiii.) that the city was built where it now is, from the ruins of ancient Troy, by command of the Oracle. Now' all this appears to me very clearly expressed in the medal before us. For indeed, whilst the founder of New Troy is performing sacrifice at the tripod of Apollo (who was the guardian deity of Old Troy), with a view to learn what place he ought to fix upon for the city which he designed to build, an eagle is seen in the air, holding in his claws the head of an immolated bull ; thereby signifying to him who sacrificed it, that he should lay the foundations of his new town on the spot, where the eagle is going to carry' that portion of the victim. For this reason, the inhabitants of the colony, in re- membrance of the foundation of their city, caused to be represented on their coins, sometimes a single eagle, which flies away with a bull’s head; at other times the same bird and caput bovis, with their founder offering sacrifice to Apollo.”
Mionnet gives a coin of this colony, dedicated to Commodus, having for its obverse legend, gkx. co.v. col. avg. troad. — The genius of the colony is half naked, and stands holding in her right hand a small figure of Apollo, and in her left a cornucopia?. — On the reverse of a coin of Crispina, the type is a mountain, on which is Apollo, clothed in the female habiliment of the stota. 'Die bow and patera arc in his hands. A herdsman, or shepherd, is before the god, hold- ing the pedum, and in a suppliant posture ; behind him is a ram. — A coin of Alexandria Troas, struck in honour of Trcboniamts Callus, exhibits as the type of its reverse, Apollo, naked,
who is carried to the skies between the wings of a griffin, holding his right hand on his head, and a lyre in his left. (Scstini.) — Another coin of the same emperor, with col. av. troa. on its reverse, presents nine figures seated on a circular estrade. (Cabinet de Rollin a Paris.)
In the selection of ancient coins from the eminently rare and choice cabinet of M. Allier dc llautcroche, described and engraved by M. Du Mcrsan, is one (pi. xiii. fig. 3) dedicated by tills colony to Cararalla. On the obverse is m. avrel. ANTONIN, and the laurelled head of that em- peror.— The reverse (as will be seen by the annex- ed cut) bears for legend — COL. ALEXAND. D. AVG. and for type an equestrian figure, with right hand raised, riding at speed, before, what M. Du Mersan calls, the statue of Minerva ; but which, by the turreted crown, and from other numismatic analogies, Mr. Akcr- man appears fully warranted in pronouncing to be the Genius of the Colony.
The other types of this colony consist of the head of a turreted woman and the vexillum; also Apollo Smiuthius (see the word), as in Hadrian and in Commodus. — Victory marching; and Eagle with head of an ox ; struck under Anto- ninus Fins. — A satyr, with wine-skin on his shoulder; a horse feeding, under M. Aurelias; a tripod and a crow beside it ; a turreted woman carrying the palladium and vexillum ; Hercules standing in repose like that (says Mionnet) of the Palais Earnese; minted under Commodus. — Her- cules strangling Anticus ; Si ten us, supjiorted by two Bacchants, and a satyr before him, minted under Caraealla. — Remus and Romulus with the wolf, struck under Elagabalus. — Equestrian figure before a statue of Apollo, as in Miesa. — Emperor on horseback, with paludamentum, right hand raised, before him a statue of Apollo, placed on a cippus, dedicated to Alexander Severua. — Bust of a woman, behind w hich is the vexillum, on which is av. co. ; struck under Gallienus. — An eagle on a cippus, as in Saloniua, Ac., Ac. — See Mionnet, vol. ii. p. C53. Do. Sujtplml. v. p. 508, et seq.
ALIM. ITAL. AUmenta Italia. — This le- gend, of which the general meaning is nourish- ment, food, provisions in corn, and other re- sources furnished by Trajan to Italy, has par- ticular reference to the subsistence given by him to children of both sexes out of the public funds.
On a rare