Art Deco designs inspired by Roman Republic coins?

I own one Roman coin. It's a Roman Republic Denarius from 62 B.C. The reason I had to purchase it was because I was fascinated by how much it resembles the WPA Art Deco Federal Art Program illustrations and sculptures of the 1930s. What do you think?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

The real question is, what facet of earlier American culture did ancient Rome (and Greece) NOT influence?

 

Mine was used a LOT during the WPA projects. It go circulated through a lot of working hands. Good denarius! Even the banker's mark on the reverse got worn...


Roman Republic
L Scribonius Libo 62 BCE
AR Denarius
Puteal Scribonianum
Sear 367 Craw 416/1

 

Yours is more impressive than mine from a historical perspective. Just imagine how much handling your coin must have had to show that amount of ware. Handled by ancient Roman hands!!! It's awesome!!!

 

That is why I collect; from an Historical perspective. I like mine showing some wear for the exact same reason: they have been used, transacted, and traded by folks from ancient times. I am not so much a Numismatist more focused on the issue variances, although I do follow the info and discussions.

 

Hmmmmm... True, but that universally used sponge-on-a-stick concept is not in my culture...

 

Not a bad theory. It's the sharing of sponges concept that makes us gasp in horror!

 

It inspired a sense of "community".

 

This forum has gotten disgusting lately.

 

What the hell have I come back to? lol

 

Deacon Ray,
Your observation and comparison is spot-on. I would however, make a broad generalization and say that all western art is based on Greek art, which influenced Roman art. The renaissance, baroque, rococo, neo-classic and finally beaux-arts periods are all reinterpretations of the same core theme and design elements. What's different about art deco is that after WWI the overtly decorative components of Greek and Roman art were rejected and replaced with a much more abstract and restrained style. WPA represents the last gasp of reinterpreting ancient art before it was finally cast by the wayside and replaced with modernism.

I would love to post examples with more detailed explanations but am at work right now and have to run off to a meeting...

 

I was impressed when I thought your master page was your whole gallery. Then I started clicking on them and discovered that it was just the tip of iceberg. Awesome coin photo gallery!

 

@Deacon Ray: you should show both sides of the coin so we can admire it in whole. Otherwise, the obverse looks grand.

L SCRIBONIUS LIBO ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS SCRIBONIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: BON EVENT LIBO, diademed head of Bonus Eventus right
REVERSE: PVTEAL above, SCRIBON below, well-head ornamented with garland and two lyres, hammer at base
Rome 62 BC
3.2g, 18mm
Cr416/1a., Scribonia 8a

 

Thanks Hispanicus,
Question: Are the Roman Republic coin designs simpler and cleaner looking the late Roman ones? Most of the Roman coin designs that I like turn out to be early Roman Republic coins.

 

Thanks Bing, Will do.

 

IMHO Roman Republican issues are more interesting than late Roman coins. I also find the first century through mid second century AD Roman coins to be more artfully done than later Roman coin. There are those among us though that will argue this point especially when considering the Silique and gold of the later Roman period.

 

I like the design of this coin. If I see one for sale with a more symmetrical layout than the one I have, I may purchase it.

 

Deacon Ray,
That's a really tough question and the answer is somewhat subjective. However, I agree that RR coins appear simpler and cleaner due to the obverse bust tending to appear larger in proportion to the flan because there is no long inscription along the coins edge that needs space (think of a Trajan dupondius late in his reign). At this point I do not yet own any RR coins so my opinion is based on what I see posted here, as in your OP coin and what I've seen for sale online.

Going back to your original statement about these coins resembling WPA Art Deco images, a lot of other ancients also have that characteristic. The AE As below, which is Iberian, from Sekobrices attracted my attention simply because the stylized swirly locks of hair on the obverse reminded me of the art deco period, well, that and the tiny dolphin in front of his nose.


Hope I answered your question and didn't muddy the waters.

 

Indeed. George Washington, as depicted by Horatio Greenough in 1840: