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[ANCIENTS] TRAJAN DECIUS : THE DIVI SERIES
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<p>[QUOTE="Cucumbor, post: 2738213, member: 4298"]<b>THE DIVI SERIES</b></p><p><br /></p><p>The series is solely composed of antoninians.The antoninian had been created in 215 CE on the occasion of Caracalla‘s monetary reform. It’s characterized by a radiate portrait of the Emperor, or the presence of a crescent under the bust in the case of an Empress. Its value is of two denarii, for a silver content of one and a half times that of the denarius at the origin.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/0190-220.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><b> <font size="3">Caracalla, Antoninianus </font></b><font size="3"> Rome mint, AD 216</font></p><p><font size="3">ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Caracalla right, seen from behind</font></p><p><font size="3">VENVS VICTRIX, Victory standing left, holding helmet and sceptre, resting on shield set on a captive, another captive at her feet</font></p><p><font size="3">4.87 gr</font></p><p><font size="3">Ref : RCV # 6785, RIC # 312c, RSC # 612b </font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The antoninian quickly became the most widespread currency, gradually clearing the other denominations. After the reign of Gordian III, the denarius is only occasionally issued and, as we have seen above, bronze is scarcer due to its production cost too high in comparison to its intrinsic value.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Eleven emperors were honored through the series : <b>Augustus, Vespasian, Titus, Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, Septimius Severus </b>and<b> Severus Alexander.</b>Historians have often considered the presence of Commodus in the series to be intrusive, but we must not forget that Septimus Severus himself, while claiming a connection with Marcus Aurelius, had asked in 197 for the consecration of Commodus despite his <i>damnatio memoriæ</i>. On the other hand, neither Claudius nor Tiberius, who are today considered as "good" emperors, are on the list. It is always difficult to judge of the view taken on the events of a distant past with a modern eye.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Obverses of the coins are stereotyped, most often showing a radiate head the Emperor to the right. On some you can find an obverse bust with the <i>paludamentum</i> on left shoulder. It’s the case for Trajan (half of the obverse dies), Commodus (the sole # CO29 die in Joaquim Blay’s database) and for Alexander Severus (the majority of the obverse dies). Exceptionally one can find a radiate bust, draped and cuirassed to the right (one die depicted and illustrated for Titus (# TI02 in Joaquim Blay's database). The legend is short and to the dative, e.g. DIVO SEVERO (To the Divine Severus) for Septimius Severus.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/0180-505.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><b> <font size="3">Septimius Severus, Antoninianus </font></b><font size="3"> Rome mint AD 250-251</font></p><p><font size="3">DIVO SEVERO, Radiate head right</font></p><p><font size="3">CONSECRATIO Large altar</font></p><p><font size="3">4.02 gr</font></p><p><font size="3">Ref : RIC IV # 96, Cohen # 800, RCV # 9483</font></p><p><font size="3">in qblay's catalog : SE02/P267 </font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Two types of reverses exist for each of the eleven emperors : about 2/3 of the specimens show a funeral altar while 1/3 have an eagle with spread wings. The only legend is CONSECRATIO.</p><p><br /></p><p>In 250-251 CE, the only denomination commonly struck being the antoninian, it was not possible to reproduce in the same way coins with a laurel portrait, which would then have had to be denarii. But the radiate portrait having previously been associated with the consecration of the deceased emperors from the early Empire, the solution was to combine both : strike antoninians which, by their radiate crown, would pay homage to deified emperors.</p><p><br /></p><p>All types are not seen in the same proportions. Some of the Emperors are very common in the series : Trajan, and it’s obviously not a surprise given the admiration his distant successor had for him ; But also Severus Alexander and even more Antoninus Pius. On the other hand, Nerva, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius and Septimius Severus are scarcer. The question has arisen whether this difference was from the begining, by a different production in quantity, or acquired, by a gradual withdrawal of certain types more than others through History. The parallel study of the number of surviving specimens <i>vs</i> the number of dies used leads in the direction of the first hypothesis.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/normal_0091-510np_noir.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><b> <font size="3">Titus, Antoninianus </font></b><font size="3"> Rome mint AD 250-251</font></p><p><font size="3">DIVO TITO Radiate head right</font></p><p><font size="3">CONSECRATIO Large altar</font></p><p><font size="3">3.60 gr</font></p><p><font size="3">Ref : RIC IV # 81b, Cohen # 405, RCV # 9465</font></p><p><font size="3">in qblay's catalog : TI08/P015 </font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><img src="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/normal_0100-510np_noir.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </font></p><p><font size="3"><b> Nerva, Antoninianus </b> Rome mint AD 250-251</font></p><p><font size="3">DIVO NERVE (sic !) Radiate head right</font></p><p><font size="3">CONSECRATIO Eagle facing</font></p><p><font size="3">4.45 gr</font></p><p><font size="3">Ref : RIC IV # 83b, Cohen # 152, RCV # 9467</font></p><p><font size="3">in qblay's catalog : NE06/A052</font></p><p><font size="3">See G&M auction # 170/2123, same dies </font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><img src="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/normal_0110-520np_noir.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </font></p><p><font size="3"><b> Trajan, Antoninianus </b> Rome mint AD 250-251</font></p><p><font size="3">DIVO TRAIANO Radiate head right, wearing light drapery on left shoulder</font></p><p><font size="3">CONSECRATIO Eagle facing</font></p><p><font size="3">3.12 gr</font></p><p><font size="3">Ref : RIC IV # 85a, Cohen # 666, RCV # 9470</font></p><p><font size="3">in qblay's catalog : TR16/A147 </font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><img src="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/normal_0140-510np_noir.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </font></p><p><font size="3"><b> Marcus Aurelius, Antoninianus </b> Rome mint AD 250-251</font></p><p><font size="3">DIVO MARCO ANTONINO, Radiate head of Macus Aurelius right</font></p><p><font size="3">CONSECRATIO, Eagle facing, wings open</font></p><p><font size="3">3.34 gr</font></p><p><font size="3">Ref : RIC IV # 91b, RCV # 9477, Cohen # 1057</font></p><p><font size="3">in qblays catalog : MA19/A018</font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><img src="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/0160-520.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </font></p><p><font size="3"><b> Commodus, Antoninianus </b> Rome mint AD 250-251</font></p><p><font size="3">DIVO COMMODO Radiate head right</font></p><p><font size="3">CONSECRATIO Eagle facing, head left</font></p><p><font size="3">3.17 gr</font></p><p><font size="3">Ref : RIC IV # 93, Cohen #1009, RCV #9480</font></p><p><font size="3">in qblay's catalog : CO01/A023</font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>THE ISSUING AUTHORITY</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Restoration programs usually copied the original type while adding elements identifying the Emperor who had them issued. That is not the case with these coins, there is no mention of Trajan Decius, so how do we know which emperor issued them?</p><p><br /></p><p>For a long time, scholars, if they clearly situated these emissions in the middle of the third century, varied them in time, from the reign of Philip the Arab to that of Gallienus. The sumptuous celebrations of the Millennium of Rome in 248 CE under Philip, were the occasion of special monetary issues such as the "<i>Saeculares</i>" series and great was the temptation to associate there the tribute paid to the previous "good" emperors.</p><p><br /></p><p>A more technical approach consisted, for a certain period of time, in comparing the weight of specimens from these emissions with that of different emperors of that time productions.</p><p>Joaquim Blay, in his corpus dedicated to the subject, studied more than 1000 examples of the Divi series, the weight of 600 of them being known. The average weight is 3.78 grams and has not changed after the 400th, assuming it’s the actual average weight of the entire series.</p><p><br /></p><p>It is also known that weight and fineness of the antoninian went on decreasing throughout the third century, especially around 250 CE. Kenneth Harl works, quoted by Richard Beale, report an average weight of 4.12 grams for the antoninian under Philip the Arab with a silver content of 47.07%, 3.97 grams and 41.12% under Trajan Decius, 3.46 grams and 35.94% under Trebonian Gallus.</p><p><br /></p><p>Admitting a certain continuity in the lowering of weight and silver content in these emissions, these elements will encourage us to situate the minting of the series during the reign of Trajan Decius.</p><p><br /></p><p>But we must be careful not to conclude too hastily, for if we consider that in the preceding periods restoration coins were made via massive restrikes (see Titus programs in homage to Galba or those of Trajan for the Roman republic, for example), it’s necessary to take into account the presence of old specimens, at different weights and fineness, overstruck as antoninians in these emissions. These facts are attested by the presence in the Dorchester hoard of an antoninian honoring Augustus (DIVO AVGVSTO), still showing parts of the legend of a Caracalla denarius. Curtis Clay, for his part, reports in his own collection a specimen for Nerva, which also contains fragments of legend on the obverse as well as on the reverse that allow to attribute the undertype to Caracalla.</p><p><br /></p><p>Moreover, the massive restrikes of 251 CE evidently began during the life of Trajan Decius. They were motivated by the urgent need for cash to meet the considerable expenses incurred by the war against the Goths on the Danube. Still in the Dorchester hoard are 24 coins showing identifiable traces of overstrike, among which 20 are coins of Decius, Etruscilla or their children as Caesars.</p><p><br /></p><p>The study of treasures can help us to date more accurately this coinage. The Plevna hoard, in particular, contains no coin of the late Decius’ rule, nor of the other members of his family, causing to estimate the date of its burying at the beginning of 251 CE, probably in January (Curtis Clay). This treasure contains two coins of the DIVI series. On the other hand, the British Museum houses a DIVO VESPASIANO / VICTORIA AVG hybrid, the reverse type of which with Victory walking left can only be attributed to the beginning of Trajan Decius’ reign, the legend ending in AVG, excluding a joint reign, which would have imposed the "plural" AVGG (Curtis Clay).</p><p><br /></p><p>However, the study of later treasures (Dorchester, Clamerey, Smederevo, Gibraltar) finds a somewhat larger proportion of these coins, leading to the conclusion of strikes being continued after the death of Trajan Decius, spilling over the reigns of Trebonian Gallus and his son Volusian. The presence of Divi / Trebonian or Divi / Volusian hybrids featuring a IVNONI MARTIALI reverse is further evidence of this if needed.</p><p><br /></p><p>The place of issue of the DIVI series has long been attributed to the Milan mint. Nowadays, thanks to the die links study, which connect them with coins undoubtedly struck at Rome, everybody agrees to have them coming from this last mint. So many die links between antoniniani struck for different emperors reinforce the idea of a unique place of striking : the same reverse die is frequently associated with the obverse die of two emperors at least (sometimes up to four), a given obverse die may be associated with both an eagle or an altar (see the two DIVO SEVERO below sharing the same obverse die # AL26 in Joaquim Blay database). Jérôme Mairat pleads for a distribution in six workshops, the first being supposed to strike in the name of Trajan and the other five spreading out the rest of the emperors honored two by two. However, the comprehensive study of the die links tree established by Joaquim Blay reveals so many reverse dies associated with two or more different emperor obverses that more likely a single striking place was used.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/normal_0240-510np_noir.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><b> <font size="3">Severus Alexander, Antoninianus </font></b><font size="3"> Rome mint AD 250-251</font></p><p><font size="3">DIVO ALEXANDRO Radiate head right</font></p><p><font size="3">CONSECRATIO Large altar</font></p><p><font size="3">3.84 gr</font></p><p><font size="3">Ref : RIC IV # 98, Cohen # 598, RCV # 9485</font></p><p><font size="3">in qblay's catalog : AL26/P149 </font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><br /></font></p><p><font size="3"><img src="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/normal_0240-520np_noir.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </font></p><p><font size="3"><b> Severus Alexander, Antoninianus </b> Rome mint AD 250-251</font></p><p><font size="3">DIVO ALEXANDRO Radiate head right</font></p><p><font size="3">CONSECRATIO Eagle facing</font></p><p><font size="3">3.38 gr</font></p><p><font size="3">Ref : RIC IV # 97, Cohen # 599, RCV # 9484</font></p><p><font size="3">in qblay's catalog : AL26/A146 </font></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b></p><p><br /></p><p>By the time of a short reign lasting less than two years, Trajan Decius knew how to use the medium that is coinage in original ways, from the political point of view, with the propaganda of ideas and values which he intended to exalt, economical by the innovations introduced into the monetary system, or even historical by associating his name with the homage paid to the great emperors of the two preceding centuries.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>BIBLIOGRAPHY</b></p><p><br /></p><p><font size="3">1 - Blay Detrell J., “DIVI SERIES”, Una Emisión Conmemorativa de Antoninianos de Restitución del Siglo III d.C. Gaceta Numismática 165, Barcelona, 2007, pp.69-82.</font></p><p><font size="3">2 - Mattingly H., Sydenham E. A. and coll., Roman Imperial Coinage Vol. IV. Part 3, London, 1923-1994.</font></p><p><font size="3">3 - Mattingly H., The Great Dorchester Hoard, Numismatic Chronicle, 1939.</font></p><p><font size="3">4 - Mattingly H., Salisbury F.S., A Find of Roman Coins from Plevna, Numismatic Chronicle, 1924.</font></p><p><font size="3">5 - Mattingly, H., The coins of the "DIVI", issued by Trajan Decius, p-p 75-82, Numismatic Chronicle, 1949</font></p><p><font size="3">6 - Elks K.J.J., Reattribution of the Milan Coins of Trajan Decius to the Rome Mint, Numismatic Chronicle, 1972</font></p><p><font size="3">7 - Cohen H., Description historique des monnaies frappées sous l’Empire romain, Seconde édition. Paris, 1880-1892.</font></p><p><font size="3">8 - Giard J-B., Le trésor de Clamerey. Trésors monétaires, T. 2, 1980.</font></p><p><font size="3">9 - Harl K. W., Coinage in the Roman Economy 300 B.C. to A.D. 700. Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins UP, 1996.</font></p><p><font size="3">10 - Estiot S., Le troisième siècle et la monnaie: crise et mutations, in Le IIIe siècle en Gaule Narbonnaise, données régionales sur la crise de l'Empire, Antibes, 1996.</font></p><p><font size="3">11 - Sear D., Roman coins and their values, Vol III. Spink 2005</font></p><p><font size="3">12 – Mairat J., Prieur M., Schmitt L., Rome IX, Editions les Chevau-légers, 2001. Available on line : <a href="http://www.cgb.fr/monnaies/rome/r09/index.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.cgb.fr/monnaies/rome/r09/index.html" rel="nofollow">www.cgb.fr/monnaies/rome/r09/index.html</a></font></p><p><font size="3">13 – Zosso F., Zingg C., Les Empereurs romains 27 av. J.-C. - 476 apr. J.-C., Editions Errance, 1994</font></p><p><br /></p><p><b>ON LINE RESOURCES</b></p><p><br /></p><p><font size="3">14 – The most important work dedicated to the Divi series available online is that of Joaquim Blay : <a href="http://www.qblay.com/DiviSeries/English/0-DiviSeries.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.qblay.com/DiviSeries/English/0-DiviSeries.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.qblay.com/DiviSeries/English/0-DiviSeries.html</a></font></p><p><font size="3">15 – Also of interest is a long thread at Forvm Ancient Coins where Joaquim Blay, Curtis Clay, Richard Beale and many others have had the opportunity of presenting their views on the subject : <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=22464.0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=22464.0" rel="nofollow">http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=22464.0</a></font></p><p><font size="3">16–Beale R., Roman Imperial Coins of 249-253 « four bad years » : <a href="http://sonic.net/%7Emarius1/mysite/DIVI%20Series.htm" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://sonic.net/%7Emarius1/mysite/DIVI%20Series.htm" rel="nofollow">http://sonic.net/~marius1/mysite/DIVI%20Series.htm</a></font></p><p><br /></p><p>Hope you all have a nice sunday</p><p><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> Q</p><p><br /></p><p>Edit to add : and for those who would like to see my whole Trajan Decius collection you can visit my gallery at Forvm : <font size="3"><b><a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=216" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=216" rel="nofollow">http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=216</a></b></font>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Cucumbor, post: 2738213, member: 4298"][B]THE DIVI SERIES[/B] The series is solely composed of antoninians.The antoninian had been created in 215 CE on the occasion of Caracalla‘s monetary reform. It’s characterized by a radiate portrait of the Emperor, or the presence of a crescent under the bust in the case of an Empress. Its value is of two denarii, for a silver content of one and a half times that of the denarius at the origin. [IMG]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/0190-220.jpg[/IMG] [B] [SIZE=3]Caracalla, Antoninianus [/SIZE][/B][SIZE=3] Rome mint, AD 216 ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Caracalla right, seen from behind VENVS VICTRIX, Victory standing left, holding helmet and sceptre, resting on shield set on a captive, another captive at her feet 4.87 gr Ref : RCV # 6785, RIC # 312c, RSC # 612b [/SIZE] The antoninian quickly became the most widespread currency, gradually clearing the other denominations. After the reign of Gordian III, the denarius is only occasionally issued and, as we have seen above, bronze is scarcer due to its production cost too high in comparison to its intrinsic value. Eleven emperors were honored through the series : [B]Augustus, Vespasian, Titus, Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, Septimius Severus [/B]and[B] Severus Alexander.[/B]Historians have often considered the presence of Commodus in the series to be intrusive, but we must not forget that Septimus Severus himself, while claiming a connection with Marcus Aurelius, had asked in 197 for the consecration of Commodus despite his [I]damnatio memoriæ[/I]. On the other hand, neither Claudius nor Tiberius, who are today considered as "good" emperors, are on the list. It is always difficult to judge of the view taken on the events of a distant past with a modern eye. Obverses of the coins are stereotyped, most often showing a radiate head the Emperor to the right. On some you can find an obverse bust with the [I]paludamentum[/I] on left shoulder. It’s the case for Trajan (half of the obverse dies), Commodus (the sole # CO29 die in Joaquim Blay’s database) and for Alexander Severus (the majority of the obverse dies). Exceptionally one can find a radiate bust, draped and cuirassed to the right (one die depicted and illustrated for Titus (# TI02 in Joaquim Blay's database). The legend is short and to the dative, e.g. DIVO SEVERO (To the Divine Severus) for Septimius Severus. [IMG]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/0180-505.jpg[/IMG] [B] [SIZE=3]Septimius Severus, Antoninianus [/SIZE][/B][SIZE=3] Rome mint AD 250-251 DIVO SEVERO, Radiate head right CONSECRATIO Large altar 4.02 gr Ref : RIC IV # 96, Cohen # 800, RCV # 9483 in qblay's catalog : SE02/P267 [/SIZE] Two types of reverses exist for each of the eleven emperors : about 2/3 of the specimens show a funeral altar while 1/3 have an eagle with spread wings. The only legend is CONSECRATIO. In 250-251 CE, the only denomination commonly struck being the antoninian, it was not possible to reproduce in the same way coins with a laurel portrait, which would then have had to be denarii. But the radiate portrait having previously been associated with the consecration of the deceased emperors from the early Empire, the solution was to combine both : strike antoninians which, by their radiate crown, would pay homage to deified emperors. All types are not seen in the same proportions. Some of the Emperors are very common in the series : Trajan, and it’s obviously not a surprise given the admiration his distant successor had for him ; But also Severus Alexander and even more Antoninus Pius. On the other hand, Nerva, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius and Septimius Severus are scarcer. The question has arisen whether this difference was from the begining, by a different production in quantity, or acquired, by a gradual withdrawal of certain types more than others through History. The parallel study of the number of surviving specimens [I]vs[/I] the number of dies used leads in the direction of the first hypothesis. [IMG]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/normal_0091-510np_noir.jpg[/IMG] [B] [SIZE=3]Titus, Antoninianus [/SIZE][/B][SIZE=3] Rome mint AD 250-251 DIVO TITO Radiate head right CONSECRATIO Large altar 3.60 gr Ref : RIC IV # 81b, Cohen # 405, RCV # 9465 in qblay's catalog : TI08/P015 [IMG]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/normal_0100-510np_noir.jpg[/IMG] [B] Nerva, Antoninianus [/B] Rome mint AD 250-251 DIVO NERVE (sic !) Radiate head right CONSECRATIO Eagle facing 4.45 gr Ref : RIC IV # 83b, Cohen # 152, RCV # 9467 in qblay's catalog : NE06/A052 See G&M auction # 170/2123, same dies [IMG]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/normal_0110-520np_noir.jpg[/IMG] [B] Trajan, Antoninianus [/B] Rome mint AD 250-251 DIVO TRAIANO Radiate head right, wearing light drapery on left shoulder CONSECRATIO Eagle facing 3.12 gr Ref : RIC IV # 85a, Cohen # 666, RCV # 9470 in qblay's catalog : TR16/A147 [IMG]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/normal_0140-510np_noir.jpg[/IMG] [B] Marcus Aurelius, Antoninianus [/B] Rome mint AD 250-251 DIVO MARCO ANTONINO, Radiate head of Macus Aurelius right CONSECRATIO, Eagle facing, wings open 3.34 gr Ref : RIC IV # 91b, RCV # 9477, Cohen # 1057 in qblays catalog : MA19/A018 [IMG]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/0160-520.jpg[/IMG] [B] Commodus, Antoninianus [/B] Rome mint AD 250-251 DIVO COMMODO Radiate head right CONSECRATIO Eagle facing, head left 3.17 gr Ref : RIC IV # 93, Cohen #1009, RCV #9480 in qblay's catalog : CO01/A023[/SIZE] [B]THE ISSUING AUTHORITY[/B] Restoration programs usually copied the original type while adding elements identifying the Emperor who had them issued. That is not the case with these coins, there is no mention of Trajan Decius, so how do we know which emperor issued them? For a long time, scholars, if they clearly situated these emissions in the middle of the third century, varied them in time, from the reign of Philip the Arab to that of Gallienus. The sumptuous celebrations of the Millennium of Rome in 248 CE under Philip, were the occasion of special monetary issues such as the "[I]Saeculares[/I]" series and great was the temptation to associate there the tribute paid to the previous "good" emperors. A more technical approach consisted, for a certain period of time, in comparing the weight of specimens from these emissions with that of different emperors of that time productions. Joaquim Blay, in his corpus dedicated to the subject, studied more than 1000 examples of the Divi series, the weight of 600 of them being known. The average weight is 3.78 grams and has not changed after the 400th, assuming it’s the actual average weight of the entire series. It is also known that weight and fineness of the antoninian went on decreasing throughout the third century, especially around 250 CE. Kenneth Harl works, quoted by Richard Beale, report an average weight of 4.12 grams for the antoninian under Philip the Arab with a silver content of 47.07%, 3.97 grams and 41.12% under Trajan Decius, 3.46 grams and 35.94% under Trebonian Gallus. Admitting a certain continuity in the lowering of weight and silver content in these emissions, these elements will encourage us to situate the minting of the series during the reign of Trajan Decius. But we must be careful not to conclude too hastily, for if we consider that in the preceding periods restoration coins were made via massive restrikes (see Titus programs in homage to Galba or those of Trajan for the Roman republic, for example), it’s necessary to take into account the presence of old specimens, at different weights and fineness, overstruck as antoninians in these emissions. These facts are attested by the presence in the Dorchester hoard of an antoninian honoring Augustus (DIVO AVGVSTO), still showing parts of the legend of a Caracalla denarius. Curtis Clay, for his part, reports in his own collection a specimen for Nerva, which also contains fragments of legend on the obverse as well as on the reverse that allow to attribute the undertype to Caracalla. Moreover, the massive restrikes of 251 CE evidently began during the life of Trajan Decius. They were motivated by the urgent need for cash to meet the considerable expenses incurred by the war against the Goths on the Danube. Still in the Dorchester hoard are 24 coins showing identifiable traces of overstrike, among which 20 are coins of Decius, Etruscilla or their children as Caesars. The study of treasures can help us to date more accurately this coinage. The Plevna hoard, in particular, contains no coin of the late Decius’ rule, nor of the other members of his family, causing to estimate the date of its burying at the beginning of 251 CE, probably in January (Curtis Clay). This treasure contains two coins of the DIVI series. On the other hand, the British Museum houses a DIVO VESPASIANO / VICTORIA AVG hybrid, the reverse type of which with Victory walking left can only be attributed to the beginning of Trajan Decius’ reign, the legend ending in AVG, excluding a joint reign, which would have imposed the "plural" AVGG (Curtis Clay). However, the study of later treasures (Dorchester, Clamerey, Smederevo, Gibraltar) finds a somewhat larger proportion of these coins, leading to the conclusion of strikes being continued after the death of Trajan Decius, spilling over the reigns of Trebonian Gallus and his son Volusian. The presence of Divi / Trebonian or Divi / Volusian hybrids featuring a IVNONI MARTIALI reverse is further evidence of this if needed. The place of issue of the DIVI series has long been attributed to the Milan mint. Nowadays, thanks to the die links study, which connect them with coins undoubtedly struck at Rome, everybody agrees to have them coming from this last mint. So many die links between antoniniani struck for different emperors reinforce the idea of a unique place of striking : the same reverse die is frequently associated with the obverse die of two emperors at least (sometimes up to four), a given obverse die may be associated with both an eagle or an altar (see the two DIVO SEVERO below sharing the same obverse die # AL26 in Joaquim Blay database). Jérôme Mairat pleads for a distribution in six workshops, the first being supposed to strike in the name of Trajan and the other five spreading out the rest of the emperors honored two by two. However, the comprehensive study of the die links tree established by Joaquim Blay reveals so many reverse dies associated with two or more different emperor obverses that more likely a single striking place was used. [IMG]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/normal_0240-510np_noir.jpg[/IMG] [B] [SIZE=3]Severus Alexander, Antoninianus [/SIZE][/B][SIZE=3] Rome mint AD 250-251 DIVO ALEXANDRO Radiate head right CONSECRATIO Large altar 3.84 gr Ref : RIC IV # 98, Cohen # 598, RCV # 9485 in qblay's catalog : AL26/P149 [IMG]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11724/normal_0240-520np_noir.jpg[/IMG] [B] Severus Alexander, Antoninianus [/B] Rome mint AD 250-251 DIVO ALEXANDRO Radiate head right CONSECRATIO Eagle facing 3.38 gr Ref : RIC IV # 97, Cohen # 599, RCV # 9484 in qblay's catalog : AL26/A146 [/SIZE] [B]CONCLUSION[/B] By the time of a short reign lasting less than two years, Trajan Decius knew how to use the medium that is coinage in original ways, from the political point of view, with the propaganda of ideas and values which he intended to exalt, economical by the innovations introduced into the monetary system, or even historical by associating his name with the homage paid to the great emperors of the two preceding centuries. [B]BIBLIOGRAPHY[/B] [SIZE=3]1 - Blay Detrell J., “DIVI SERIES”, Una Emisión Conmemorativa de Antoninianos de Restitución del Siglo III d.C. Gaceta Numismática 165, Barcelona, 2007, pp.69-82. 2 - Mattingly H., Sydenham E. A. and coll., Roman Imperial Coinage Vol. IV. Part 3, London, 1923-1994. 3 - Mattingly H., The Great Dorchester Hoard, Numismatic Chronicle, 1939. 4 - Mattingly H., Salisbury F.S., A Find of Roman Coins from Plevna, Numismatic Chronicle, 1924. 5 - Mattingly, H., The coins of the "DIVI", issued by Trajan Decius, p-p 75-82, Numismatic Chronicle, 1949 6 - Elks K.J.J., Reattribution of the Milan Coins of Trajan Decius to the Rome Mint, Numismatic Chronicle, 1972 7 - Cohen H., Description historique des monnaies frappées sous l’Empire romain, Seconde édition. Paris, 1880-1892. 8 - Giard J-B., Le trésor de Clamerey. Trésors monétaires, T. 2, 1980. 9 - Harl K. W., Coinage in the Roman Economy 300 B.C. to A.D. 700. Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins UP, 1996. 10 - Estiot S., Le troisième siècle et la monnaie: crise et mutations, in Le IIIe siècle en Gaule Narbonnaise, données régionales sur la crise de l'Empire, Antibes, 1996. 11 - Sear D., Roman coins and their values, Vol III. Spink 2005 12 – Mairat J., Prieur M., Schmitt L., Rome IX, Editions les Chevau-légers, 2001. Available on line : [URL='http://www.cgb.fr/monnaies/rome/r09/index.html']www.cgb.fr/monnaies/rome/r09/index.html[/URL] 13 – Zosso F., Zingg C., Les Empereurs romains 27 av. J.-C. - 476 apr. J.-C., Editions Errance, 1994[/SIZE] [B]ON LINE RESOURCES[/B] [SIZE=3]14 – The most important work dedicated to the Divi series available online is that of Joaquim Blay : [url]http://www.qblay.com/DiviSeries/English/0-DiviSeries.html[/url] 15 – Also of interest is a long thread at Forvm Ancient Coins where Joaquim Blay, Curtis Clay, Richard Beale and many others have had the opportunity of presenting their views on the subject : [url]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=22464.0[/url] 16–Beale R., Roman Imperial Coins of 249-253 « four bad years » : [URL='http://sonic.net/%7Emarius1/mysite/DIVI%20Series.htm']http://sonic.net/~marius1/mysite/DIVI%20Series.htm[/URL][/SIZE] Hope you all have a nice sunday :) Q Edit to add : and for those who would like to see my whole Trajan Decius collection you can visit my gallery at Forvm : [SIZE=3][B][url]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=216[/url][/B][/SIZE][/QUOTE]
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