One of the primary sources of propaganda in the ancient world was the minting of coins, and nowhere was this more apparent than in the Roman Empire. Minting a Roman coin would celebrate the accession and reign of emperors, military victories, and honor successful generals. In times of civil war or rebellion, opposing sides...
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The victoriatus was a silver coin minted during the time of the Roman Republic, originally minted around 221 BC. The obverse of the coin featured the bust of Jupiter, while the reverse featured a man placing a wreath above a trophy. Beneath the trophy is the inscription “ROMA.” This coin was released as a...
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The Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge boasts of being the "finest small museum in Europe." Its history dates back to 1816, when Viscount Richard Fitzwilliam left his library and art collection to the university, along with funds to house and preserve them. Since 1848, it has stood on Trumpington Street in central...
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Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (c. 272-337), or Constantine the Great, was Emperor of Rome from 306 to 337. During the reign of Constantine, the persecution of Christians ceased and the Emperor himself eventually converted to Christianity. As a great leader, warrior, and diplomat, Constantine revolutionized Roman life through his spirit of tolerance for religion,...
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Prior to 44 B.C., Roman coins did not bear the image of a living person, although emperors might feature an ancestor. That changed when Julius Caesar ordered coins struck with his image. The practice continued, with some variations, until the fall of the Roman Empire.
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If you are a collector of Ancient Roman Coins, whether just starting out or in possession of a full collection, you know how important it is to ensure that your coins are clean and ready for display. It’s not always easy to clean these coins, especially when they’re coated with thousands of years of...
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Choosing the proper storage container is very important to retaining the value of collectible coins. Storage containers are available for individual coins, groups of coins, or an entire collection. Place packets of silica gel in the chosen storage container to absorb moisture. Chose a storage place that maintains moderate to low temperature and low...
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As the Romans expanded their republic and subsequent empire, they did so with the fighting skills and technical savvy of their legions; but it has been argued that trade was the under-girding impetus and support behind this expansion. Towards the development of trade, then, a comprehensive and precise accounting system was used in Roman...
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