Vespasian Silver Denarius - Clasped Hands

Notice that consistantly these handshake coins show the fingers straight not gripping the other hand. When I was a child, I was taught that such a 'limp' handshake was a sign of insincerity but that one should not try to break the fingers of the other person by squeezing too firmly. Such fine points are used to separate those who are 'in' the culture and those who are not. These images suggest that the Romans played by different rules. I wonder today if non-USA, non-mid 20th century cultures that shake hands all play by the same 'grip' instructions I received or do modern Europeans even shake hands at all??? I do know that there are several variations on other greetings (e.g. cheek kissing - one, both or don't even think about it) depaending on where you are but I do not know if there is information here or if this is just an artistic convention and the real Balbinus and Pupienus might have wrapped their fingers around more as I would consider appropriate. Some will say such a question is silly but you need to realize that coins are one source of cultural information and some things are not recorded in etiquite books from the day so the coin may be the best clue we have about such matters. Don't get me started on this. We might get into the matter of hand/finger gestures which are similarly depicted better on coins than described in surviving texts.

 

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Can't say I know much about the subject but I fell comforatable in saying that I dont think Romans used their left hands when shaking. I'm only basing that on the little amount of info I've seen such as the word sinister (left) and about curses being placed on pepole with the left hand. Though I'm not sure how accurate that is though.

 

Interesting Doug, I was taught similarly. I guess we may never know how handshakes truly went in Ancient Rome, aside from artistic expression. I don't know about Europe, the people I have spent time with from Belgium all did the triple cheek kiss type gesture, you know back and forth then back again. Men and women, as a greeting, often not actually kissing the other person's cheek, but just going back and forth as if they were.
As far as in parts of Southeast Asia, a common greeting is to put your right hand on your chest.
And in some places the left hand is considered dirty, and eating with it is considered quite a taboo depending on where you are.... since apparently that is the hand used for personal hygeine i.e. wiping in the restroom...

Back to coins though.... Cucumbor, those are BEAUTIFUL coins my friend! I love them, such nice examples. I don't know much about the coinage of Balbinus, and I was wondering is he often shown in a 'seen from the front' bust style like in your example? I notice Pupienus is 'seen from behind' in your example.... just curious on that....

New shots of my 'Clasped Hands with Caduceus, Opium Poppy Pods and Grain' Vespasian Denarius.

 

I thougth Doug's idea was interesting too. Remember that shaking hands derived as a good will gesture, showing the other person that they were not carrying a weapon. In that regard, I think the idea of having open hands meet would be the clearest evidence of no weapons, (cupped hands can still hide something), so a open hand handshake makes perfect sense.

Thanks for the discussion point Doug.

Chris

 

Shaking hands is common practice in Europe today, at least in most west European countries - France, Germany, Spain, Italy. The only country that I have found to have some aversion to this, is the U.K, at least in my experience. May have something to do with the coolness attributed to the British. Having lived 14 years in Belgium I can confirm what rexsesq says - the Belgians like to kiss each other 3 times on the cheek (but this is mostly prevalent when some degree of friendship already exists betwen the kissing parties).

Coming back to coins - those are beautiful coins Cucumbor!

The shaking hand theme is also present on many Roman Imperial coins that I can think of - for example on Sestertii and Dupondii of Marcus Aurelius shaking hands with L. Verus, or on some denarii of Julia Paula with partner, or on denarii of Hadrian shaking hands I believe with Trajan.

 

Pics show the coin a bit better, nice pickup again. Been eyeing a clasped hands reverse of Vitellius but I have higher wants then Vitellius at this time.

 

nice photos

 

For some reason, I can't imagine two Roman legionaries stationed at a frontier post somewhere in hostile and cold Ancient Begium watching for hostile barbarians and warmly greeting each other with kisses on the cheeks. :smile

I would have thought that the Romans would have used the more manly fist bump:



Or, the more awkward fist bump meets the ET greeting :



Regarding the "limp fish" Roman handshake, I think Doug makes a good point :thumb:. I wish there was more than numismatic evidence to support his idea, however. The only statuary evidence of Ancient handshakes I could find is from the earlier Greeks and it shows the more traditional handshake:



Interesting discussion, however.

guy