Coinage

Question 1

Coin hoards.

Answer 1

Dates:
60-56 - 2
55-51 - 5
50-46 - 14
45-41 - 23
40-36 - 13

Question 2

COIN ONE - Denarius - Caesar (49-48 BC)

Answer 2

Obverse (Elephant Trampling snake) - Reverse (Pontifical emblems) - mint moving with Caesar.

The sheer amount of money struck by Caesar changed it as a communication tool - we see it found in hoards across the Roman world.
The emblems remind us of his role as PONT MAX - no other PM had minted before.

Question 3

COIN TWO - Denarius - Caesar (post Pharsalus)

Answer 3

Obverse (the diademed head of Venus). Reverse (CAESAR/ Aeneas carrying the Palladium (cult statue of Athena) and Anchises).

Appearance of Venus connected to Pharsalus victory.

Question 4

COIN THREE - Appearance of Caesar’s imager for the first time. Denarius, (44 BC)

Answer 4

Obverse, head of Caesar, priestly implements (CAESAR IMP).
Reverse - Venus holding Victory, shield on globe.

Question 5

COIN FOUR - Denarius - Antony (43 BC)

Answer 5

Obverse (Bearded head of Mark Antony, littus behind M ANTON IMP.
Reverse (Laureate head of Caesar, CAESAR DICT)

Question 6

COIN FIVE - Aureus - Octavian (43 BC)

Answer 6

Obverse (Bearded head of Octavian. C CAESAR COS PONT AVGVR).
Reverse (Laureate head of Caesar, C CAESAR DICT PERP PONT MAX)

Question 7

COIN SIX - Denarius - Octavian - statue

Answer 7

Obverse (Head of Octavian, C CAESAR IMP)
Reverse (Equestrian statue)

Question 8

COIN SEVEN - Bronze issue (wide wide circulation, non elite). - Octavian (42 BC)

Answer 8

Obverse - Head of Octavian, CAESAR DIVI F. //
Reverse - Wreathed head of Caesar, DIVOS IVLIVS

Question 9

COIN (Brut 1) - Aureus

Answer 9

Obv bearded head of Lucius Junius Brutus - ins PRIM COS, Rev head of Marcus Brutus.

The constant referencing ancestry and family, in the coins of Brutus.

Question 10

COIN EIGHT - Denarius (43-42 BC) Brut 2

Answer 10

Obverse (Bearded head of Brutus - BRUT IMP). Reverse (Pileus between two daggers, EID MAR).

Cassius Dio directly references this coin - he states that it reflects how Brutus and Cassius freed the fatherland.

Question 11

COIN NINE - denarius (43-42 BC) - Cassius 1

Answer 11

Obverse (Laureate head of Apollo, C CASSEI IMP).

Reverse (crab holding a aplustre in its hands, rose & untied diadem)

Question 12

COIN TEN - Denarius - Sext 1 (father)

Answer 12

Obverse (Head of Pompey(Neptune) with a trident before and a dolphin below, NEPTVNI) -

Reverse (galley ship with a guiding star).

Question 13

COIN ELEVEN - denarius - Sext 2, victrix

Answer 13

Obverse (lighthouse with a ship tied in front). Reverse (Scylla wielding a rudder in both hands)

One possible explanation for this coin is the destruction of Octavian’s fleet in 38 BC, whilst Sextus Pompey’s remained in the harbour.

Question 14

Denarius - Fulvia (41-40 BC)

Answer 14

Obverse (Head of Fulvia as Nike, winged).
Reverse (Athena with shield and spear).

Question 15

Denarius - Octavian (31-29)

Answer 15

Obverse - Head of Venus.
Reverse - Octavian in military dress with DIVI F in the centre.