Roman & Modern

The previous section "Coins of Rulers" explores images of individual rulers on coins, such as Alexander the Great and the Ptolemies and powerful individuals who minted coins, like the governor-general of many Persian provinces, Mazdaios.

By the time of the Roman Empire, it was commonplace to put the portrait of the emperor on Roman coins. The practice of putting the president's head on American metal and paper currency in the modern era derives from the Romans. 

The fourth and final bay in the exhibition Expressions of Identity in Ancient Greek Coins at the CU Art Museum displays Roman and Modern coins that recall the symbols on earlier coinage, using ruler portraits and images of gods like Athena as messages of power. 

Roman

Roman coins continued most of the ideas about power and propaganda. Like the Greeks, the Romans expressed intertwined political, military, social, religious, and many other identities to create powerful messages in tiny format. These coins have particular historical interest for scholars as well as impressive visual impact.

Silver Denarius, minted under the moneyer Lucius Hostilius Saserna, 48 BCE (CUAM 2010.04.166. Gift of Wilton Jaffee)

Silver Denarius, Roman, 44 BCE (CUAM 2010.04.82. Gift of Wilton Jaffee.)

Silver Denarius, M. Junius Brutus, 43-42 BCE (On loan to CU Art Museum, courtesy of John Nebel.)

Silver Denarius, Roman, 49-48 BCE (CUAM 2010.04.79. Gift of Wilton Jaffee.)

Silver Denarius, Roman, 29-27 BCE (CUAM 2010.04.137. Gift of Wilton Jaffee.)

Gold Aureus, Roman, 15-13 BCE (CUAM 2010.04.17. Gift of Wilton Jaffee.)

Gold Aureus, Roman, 54 CE (CUAM 2010.04.61. Gift of Wilton Jaffee.)

Silver Denarius, Roman, 75 CE (CUAM 2010.04.149. Gift of Wilton Jaffee.)

Gold Aureus, Roman, 98-117 CE (CUAM 2010.04.120. Gift of Wilton Jaffee.)

Gold Aureus, Roman, 134-138 CE (CUAM 2010.04.211. Gift of Wilton Jaffee.)

Gold Aureus, Roman, 136-137 CE (CUAM 2010.04.62. Gift of Wilton Jaffee.)

Gold Aureus, Roman, 163-164 CE (CUAM 2010.04.125. Gift of Wilton Jaffee.)

Gold Aureus, Roman, 294-305 CE (CUAM 2010.04.112. Gift of Wilton Jaffee.)

Obverse: Head of Brutus. Inscription BRVT IMP L PLAET CEST (= “Brutus imperator Lucius Plaetorius Cestianus”).

Silver Denarius, M. Junius Brutus, 43-42 BCE

Obverse: Head of Brutus. Inscription BRVT IMP L PLAET CEST (= “Brutus imperator Lucius Plaetorius Cestianus”).

Reverse: Pileus between two daggers. Inscription EID(ibus) MAR(tiis) (= “The Ides of March”).

Silver Denarius, M. Junius Brutus, 43-42 BCE

Reverse: Pileus between two daggers. Inscription EID(ibus) MAR(tiis) (= “The Ides of March”). 

Gold Panama-Pacific Commemorative $50 Coin, San Francisco CA, 1915; Obverse: Head of Athena, wearing Corinthian Helmet

Gold Panama-Pacific Commemorative $50 Coin, San Francisco CA, 1915

Obverse: Head of Minerva (Athena).

Silver Stater, Corinth, 350-338 BCE; Reverse: Helmeted head of Athena. ‘N’ and triskelon symbol on the right.

Silver Stater, Corinth, 350-338 BCE

Reverse: Head of Athena.

Silver Tetradrachm, Athens, 449-404 BCE; Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena with olive leaves and floral scroll.

Silver Tetradrachm, Athens, 449-404 BCE

Obverse: Head of Athena.

Modern

We still use images on money to convey most of these ideas today! The artistry of modern coins, such as the Colorado State Quarter and the $50 Gold Panama-Pacific Commemorative Coin is remarkable. The imagery of the latter coin, showing the head of Minerva (Athena) on the obverse and a forest owl on the reverse recalls the motifs portrayed in ancient Corinthian and Athenian silver coinage. 

This online exhibition was designed, implemented, and published by Phoebe Mock (PhD student, University of Michigan; MA in Classics, University of Colorado Boulder).