So I've been wondering something regarding coins of the late Roman Republic and Roman Imperial coins, is it safe to assume that coins that have the aquila or military standards on the reverse of any silver or bronze coin are most likely to be Legionary issues? I have a Mark Antony coin which is definitely a confirmed Legionary issue (Legio III), but what about these coins? C Valerius Flaccus, 82 BC Obv: Right head of Victory Rev: Legionary Eagle with standards (With Victory on the obverse and an aquila on reverse, I would assume that this is a Legionary issue) Trajan As struck circa 104-107 AD Obv: Laureate Head Right Rev: Legionary Eagle between standards. Philip I (AD 244-249), Silver Antoninianus Rome mint 247-249 Obv: Radiate Head Right Rev: Aquila and 3 standards What do you guys think, are my coins probable Legionary issues?
A legionary issue is typically understood to be a series of coins, each honoring a specific legion by including the number/name of the legion in the legend. "Issue" implies that the coins belong to a series. The coins you've posted here I might call legionary types or military types, but not part of a legionary issue.
The denarius of C. Valerius Flaccus is considered minted in Marseilles by C. Valerius Flaccus in 83 BC, when he was propraetor of Gallia Narbonensis. The legend is "Ex SC C. Valerius Flaccus imperator", but we do not know what the Senatusconsultum was about : the imperium of Valerius Flaccus or, more probably, the right given to him to mint denarii to pay his troops. No specific legion is mentioned, only military standards: a legionary eagle between a standard of Hastati (H) and a standard of Principes (P). Hastati and Principes are sub-units of the pre-Marius legions. The other two (Trajan and Philip the Arab) are ordinary coins with military standards. Trajan's as was minted in Rome by the senate (see SC). The antoninianus of Philip is also an ordinary coin. On both the standards symbolize the Roman army as a whole, for Philip the corresponding legend is Fides exercitus : fidelity of the army. Legionary issues do exist, but they are very rare. Very often they are issued by colonies or municipia settled by veterans of a particular legion. For ex. this one, minted in Italica (Santiponce near Seville in Spain) under Tiberius: The eagle with vexillum between two standards must be an allusion to the Roman veterans settled there by Caesar or Augustus These ones were minted under Elagabalus or Severus Alexander in Rhesaina (Mesopotamia) where the Legio III Parthica was garrisoned : Reverse : LEG(io) III / P(arthica) S(everiana). (on this one, which must be of Elagabalus or Severus Alexander, I do not understand what the A on the vexillum means) The are also provincial coins mentioning the two legions garrisoned there, like this one : Philip the Arab, Viminacium in Dacia. Obv. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS ... laur., dr. and cuir. bust right Rev.: PROVINCIA DACIA, Allegory of Dacia seated left, holding vexilla of Legio V Macedonica (symbol: eagle holding wreath) and Legio XIII Gemina (symbol: lion). exergue : AN II
Thank you very much! I understand now, while they're not "Legionary Issues", some coins like my Republican Valerius Flaccus were minted with the purpose of paying off a legion. My coin seems like it was minted quite hastily too, the blank was struct into a bowl shape.
Thanks a lot for the info, I learned something new about the minting circumstances in the Republican era!
Here is another cool example of a military mint I recieved in the mail today, Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio and Eppius 47-46 BC Obv: Right head of Africa Rev: Hercules with hand on hip against a rock. I read that the inscription on the reverse " LEG F C " most likely means "legatus fisci castrensis" which means it was a mint that was done at camp, probably another military mint. Unfortunately, this coin has some weird piercing marks (banker's marks) done on the reverse.
