According to some numismatists'opinion, some silver coins of the Roman republic show some distinct signs of Greek style and they consider that, possibly, Greek artists were engaged in Rome to work as celators in order to create such elegant coins. Here are some examples from my collection. If you share this opinion, please also show your coins.
Love your posted examples!! I believe that opinion is highly warranted and I know some CT members have some early 'Republicans' that are so life-like and so indicative of 'high artistry' that they almost certainly were engraved by Greek artists. Obviously, inspiration for the styles and devices crossed cultural lines but I doubt I have any that were the efforts of Greek celators---except for Provincial issues....but I'll look a bit more closely later this afternoon and suggest a few possibilities
I have never been entirely comfortable with the notion that the better executed dies are by Greeks and the more crudely executed ones by Romans. It may be more about the number of dies needed to be executed for the issue at hand coupled with the haste needed to do so. Another factor might be how much money was being paid per die. I do not doubt that Greek artists went to Rome either as free men or as slaves. However I have never heard about any evidence presented showing a die cutter working in Greece or in the Hellenized east first producing a die in the east and then subsequently producing dies in Rome.
I have to agree. Plus the Republican era along with the earlier Imperial issues were artfully done. If not on par with the Greeks, they were very close IMHO.
ROMAN REPUBLIC - Greek Influence? Um... I appear to be the only dissenting vote... No. But, I have always been the Rebel Dark Prince... [edit: I believe @Theodosius 's next post - celator comment nails it!] Roman Republic Anonymous, 280-275 BCE AR Didrachm (20mm, 7.28g, 11h) Uncertain mint (Neapolis?) OBV: Helmeted head of bearded Mars to left; oak spray to right REV: Horse’s head right, wearing bridle, on base inscribed ROMANO; to left, stalk of grain. REF: Sear 22; Crawford 13/1; HN III 266. Sydenham 1 COMMENTS: Minor reverse corrosion. First AR coin struck by the Romans... Crawford in "Coinage and Money under the Roman Roman Republic", (pg 29), claims that this coin may have been minted EARLIER, perhaps 312-308 BCE to pay for the building of the Via Apppia from Rome to Capua From a Swiss collection, formed in the 1990's First SILVER Coin of the Roman Republic Roman Republic AR Didrachm (Pre-Denarius Coinage) 275-270 BCE (Rare) 17.7 x 20.7 oblong strike, 7.3g OBV: ROMANO, laurel head of Apollo l REV: Horse galloping r, star above Crawford 13/1; Sear 23 These were struck as a response to Pyrrhus' invasion of Italy at the behest of Tarentum. He was King of Epirus 306-302 BCE and 297-292 BCE; King of Macedonia 288-285 BCE and 274-272 BCE; and King of Syracuse 278-276 BCE... Known for the term "Pyrrhic Victory" during his battles with Rome. Even though the battles were won by him, the Romans inflicted such losses on his armies that he could not ultimately sustain war with them. Roman Republic Anonymous, 265-242 BCE AR Didrachm (6.55g, 18mm, 6h) Rome mint Obv: Head of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet, cornucopiae behind Rev: ROMANO, Victory standing right, attaching wreath to long palm, YY in right field. Ref: Sear 25; Crawford 22/1; RSC 7. Ex: From the Eucharius Collection Comment: Considered the FIRST AR coin from the Rome mint. Roman Republic Anonymous, 234-231 BCE AR Didrachm (6.63g, 20mm, 12h) Rome mint, Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right Rev: Horse prancing left, ROMA above. Ref: Sear 28; Crawford 26/1; RSC 37.
The influence may have been that Roman celators knew about, owned or had access to examples of earlier Greek coins that they used for inspiration. They did not have to be Greeks to admire the Greek designs from 100 years or more before. One thing most craftsman and artists do is study the works of others, especially the works of the great craftsman and artists who came before them.
What I meant about Hellenistic influence is that,as you also said, is that Greeks were hired by Romans to cut dies, I do no believe that Hellenistic influence implied that dies were cut in the Greek/Hellenistic areas.
My point was that I have never been certain that the better executed dies were created by Greek artists living in Rome. I know that this has been an often repeated concept and could be true but there is no empirical evidence for it. I mentioned a number of factors that could have influenced the style employed on the die, however I forgot to mention perhaps the most important; "taste". The magistrate may have simply preferred that style and ordered the die cutter to use it.
