ANCIENT: Magnentius with Christian symbols

Ancient Doug: I defer all the coin stuff to you guys.

Interestingly, sometimes the exception proves the point.

When looking at Wildwinds, it appears that Constantius Chi-Rho was nearly unique to the mint at Trier.

http://wildwinds.com/coins/ric/constantius_II/t.html
(See Trier RIC VIII 332)

I don't think it was a coincidence that Trier*** was in the western part of the Empire in modern day west-central Germany. I think that this supports my notion that Magnentius used the Chi-Rho symbolism to appeal to both Pagans and Catholic Christians in the West.

Here's an interesting background of the coin in question:

http://wildwinds.com/coins/ric/constantius_II/_trier_RIC_viii_332.txt

guy

***Trier seems to be an interesting site for Roman ruins. Here's a fascinating glimpse of Trier's city gate, the largest gate north of the Alps (called the Porta Nigra).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnAUheK-aSQ

 

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Tell me about it. Bill knows probably better than anyone the miserable condition many of my coin series come in.

Doug, like the new addition. Those Valens and Valentinian lrbs i had got me intrrested in chi ro coins. I ADORE the second one.

 

I prefer the theory that the Poemenius series Chi-Rho for Constantius II were issued briefly following the retaking of that mint before someone realized that the alpha and omega was inappropriate for an Arrian emperor and the issue was stopped. The changed reverse legend suggests that Constantius did not yet have a Caesar (Gallus) or they could have used the old reverse dies with the legend for Magnentius and Decentius. Proof? Nope.

 

That's an interesting point. The Alpha / Omega symbolism would be incompatible with Arianism (where Christ, although the son of God, did not always exist and was created by and distinct from God the Father). I am not sure whether the Chi-Rho symbol (without the Alpha / Omega) was recognized by the Arian church, however.

The article in Numiswiki seems to agree with you:

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=chi rho


That said, there is this other view found in the description of the Constantius Chi-Rho coin:

If Bastien is correct that these coins were minted only after Constantius had total control of the city and the surrounding region, I find it highly unlikely a "mistake" would have been made. Constantius knew that he also had to appeal to a population sympathetic to the Catholic church of Rome. Why not create varieties of a coin that would appeal to different populations?

I think that we sometimes underestimate the impact of the symbolism on coins and its significance to a mostly illiterate population in the Ancient Roman Empire. Subtle changes on the coins would have been quickly recognized by the local population, conveying Imperial propaganda and changes in Imperial policy.



As an aside:

I find it interesting that most (with rare exception) of the Magnentius coins were bare-headed without the diadem (as opposed to the Constantius coins). This could reflect Magnentius's desire to further differentiate himself from Constantius on another level: Magnentius would be seen as a humble servant of the people while Constantius depicted himself as an autocratic figure with divine pretentions.


guy

 

That's more than an aside. I believe it gets to the heart of the issue.

The one player in this drama that nobody has mentioned yet is Constantius II's brother, Constans - Magnentius' immediate predecessor. Constans had angered his legions by misrule and cruelty, and his open homosexuality didn't earn him any points. He also favored a barbarian guard, which was no doubt a cold, hard slap to the face of Roman soldiery.

What little is known of Magnentius doesn't suggest that he had any ambitions to become an emperor. But he was elevated by an overwhelming majority of the military, to the point that Constans was left with the support of only a handful of his immediate cronies and forced to flee for his life, which he quickly lost. Magnentius just happened to be at the right place at the right time.

I doubt that the average Roman citizen would have been consumed with the finer points of theology, and I'm guessing that the symbolism on the coins of Magnentius had more to do with his desire to distance himself from Constans than Constantius II, who after all was in charge of the Eastern provinces.

After Magnentius' elevation, he still had to win the support of Britannia, Gaul, and Hispania, a task which he managed to accomplish by his tolerance toward both Christians and pagans. The coins would have been important tools of propaganda in that endeavor, but they may have had more to do with differentiating him from Constans than Constantius II.

 

Addendum: I would be strongly support this view if there were Constantius coins with only the Chi-Rho Christogram and NOT the Alpha / Omega lettering.

From what I can understand, the Arians would not have a problem with the Chi-Rho Christogram. It's only problem would be with the Alpha / Omega symbolism.

This conversion to Chi-Rho only coins (without the Alpha / Omega) would have been easy, while maintaining the potential Chi-Rho symbolism favorable to even Pagans.

http://www.christiansymbols.net/monograms_1.php

guy

 

It's important to remember, however, that Constans (as opposed to his older brother Constantius) was a devout Roman Catholic and not an Arian.

The Chi-Rho Christogram with the Alpha / Omega, therefore, would not have differentiated Magnentius from Constans.

BTW, I appreciate your placing these coins in their historical context. :thumb:
This is what makes Ancient numismatics both interesting and exciting for me.

guy

 

Addendum to an addendum:

The sign of the modern Arian church is below:



http://arian-catholic.org/

If this were the symbol of the Arian church in the AD 350s (or at least not offensive to the Arians), I think my above conjectures would be true. (See above posts 24 and 26.)

guy

 

Interestingly, one respected scholar and numismatist feels that the Magnentius Chi-Rho coin was the inspiration for the Hinton St. Mary mosaic:




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinton_St_Mary_Mosaic

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/VfupdXVjTM6crACGDU-6uA


What inspired the mosaic?

Sam Moorhead, National Finds Advisor, British Museum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmTPM0n5-MY


guy