Sure, it is hard enough to avoid them. What is Rome if not the empire; and the empire depended on the military at a level exceding that almost every other comparison. Just for example, the citizens at assembly in Greek cities voted on whether to go to war because they would be doing the fighting. For the Persians and the Egyptians, while they had their corps, the bulk of the army was just guys rounded up off the farms and given big sharp sticks. For the Greeks, it was different. You could get fined for not going to the gym because you were supposed to stay in shape. That said, though, fighting and conquering was not the lifeblood of the polis. War was something that happened. With Rome, it was different. Relatively large percentages of men served, often for long terms of service. While the early wars of the republic relied on temporary conscripts, the mature state of the caesars depended on large bodies of professionals. They looted the old hellenic world and brought that booty back to Rome. Greek cities exported local wine, local olives, local apples, local melons, and local wheat, whatever they grew in abundance. Rome exported war. How do you organize that for yourself? How many other ways are there? You can always do the Legions. Assembling the legionary denarii of Marc Antony is a known pursuit. You could, if you wanted, focus on one legion and follow it over the years. Roman legions came from all across the empire, but could be stationed anywhere. The legion name (cognomen) could reflect where they were drawn from or where they won a battle. We have epigraphic evidence to show that Legio IX Hispanica served in England from 65 to 120 CE. Legio III Cyrenica (modern Libya) served in what are today Egypt, Syria, and Iraq. Legio III Italica was stationed in what is Regensburg for 200 years, from 165 CE. Galba reorganized former marines into Legio I Adiutrix (“Rescuer”) in 68 AD, and stationed them in what is today Mainz. However, for most of the second century (106 to 198) their base was in a town later known for many years as Szőny in Hungary, but which is now called Komárom on the border with the Slovak Republic. So you could assemble coins from those places into modern times. And ancient coins of the times and place are available. Cyrene in particular is just one example. The reverses show different kinds of weaponry, mostly swords, shields, and spears. Can you find enough other gear to make a collection? What do you suggest? What have you done?
C'mon Michael, your write-up sounds like you are soliciting ideas and info for an article that you want to sell. It does not sound sincere nor contributing coins to the Ancients threads.
Oh, you wound me. I was inspired to start the discussion for the benefit of our newbie, NicholasMaximus.
