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BAR S2592
Embodying Value? The Transformaion of Objects in and from the Ancient World
Archaeopress and the individual authors 2014
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EMBODYING VALUE?
Coin finds beyond the Danube: functions of fourth century gold coins
within barbarian societies
Dragana Eremi
This paper seeks to examine the role of Roman gold coins from the fourth century AD found in barbarian territory
beyond the Danube. The area under discussion is that of present day northern Serbia (Banat), Romania, and western
Ukraine, which form part of the Carpathian basin. How were these coins perceived and used in Barbaricum? They most
probably served special purposes in a prestige economy and they shared this function with a number of other media of
exchange. They were often worn as jewellery, forming a status symbol for the owner, and this paper examines the possible
transformation of the iconography these coins carried. What value did Roman coins and their associated iconography
have for barbarian peoples? It has been argued that the imperial portrait must have been fascinating for the barbarian elite.
But although the obverse of a coin, with its imperial portrait, obviously held a fascination for the barbarians, it is clear
that the reverse iconography of these coins also had a value for their owner. Even if the obverse was most commonly
displayed, there are still clear instances where the reverse was on display and was thus obviously also valued, and we need
to begin asking ourselves why, and in what contexts this occurred.
gold coins, Barbaricum, transformation of value, iconography, monetary pendants (jewellery)
Im Folgenden wird die Bedeutung rmischer Goldmnzen des 4. Jh. n. Chr., die auf barbarischem Territorium jenseits
der Donau gefunden wurden, untersucht. Es handelt sich um Teile des Karpatischen Beckens: das heutige nrdliche
Serbien (Banat), Rumnien und der Westen der Ukraine. Wie wurden diese Mnzen im Barbarikum wahrgenommen
und verwendet? Mit groer Wahrscheinlichkeit dienten sie besonderen Zwecken innerhalb einer Prestige-Wirtschaft
und teilten diese Funktion mit anderen Tauschobjekten. Hufig sind sie als Schmuck nachweisbar, als Statussymbol fr
den Trger. Hier soll in diesem Zusammenhang vor allem die mgliche Transformation der Ikonographie der Mnzen
betrachtet werden. Welchen Wert hatten rmische Mnzen und die mit ihnen verbundene Ikonographie fr die Menschen
des Barbarikum? Es wird in der Forschung vorausgesetzt, dass das kaiserliche Portrt eine Faszination auf die barbarische
Elite ausgebt habe. Aber obwohl der Avers der Mnze, mit dem Portrt des Kaisers, offensichtlich eine Faszination
ausbte, wird deutlich, dass auch die Ikonographie der Rckseite einen Wert fr den Besitzer darstellte. Auch wenn die
ursprngliche Vorderseite meist als Ansichtsseite nachweisbar bleibt, gibt es Hinweise darauf, dass der Revers bewusst
gezeigt und so auch wertgeschtzt wurde. Wir mssen uns nun die Frage stellen, warum und in welchem Kontext dies
geschah.
Goldmnzen, Barbarikum, Transformation von Wert, Ikonographie, Mnzschmuck (Anhnger)
Introduction
This paper seeks to examine the role of Roman gold coins
from the fourth century AD found in barbarian territory
beyond the Danube.1 The area under discussion is that of
present day northern Serbia (Banat), Romania, and western
Ukraine, which form part of the Carpathian basin.
I would like to thank Dr. Clare Rowan and Prof. Fleur Kemmers for
comments upon an earlier draft of this paper, and Dr. Clare Rowan for
correcting my English. Thanks are also due to Prof. Hans-Markus von
Kaenel, who has provided research guidance and support over several
years.
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Embodying ValuE? ThE TransformaTion of objEcTs in and from ThE anciEnT World
122
15
19
For a full list of hoards (11 in total) found in the Carpathian basin see
Prohszka 2009, 485. I wish to thank Dr. Orsolya Heinrich-Tamaska for
permission to reproduce the map of the basin here.
20
Bursche 1998, 210-12; Bursche 2000, 758
21
Sasianu 1980, 85
22
A detailed list is given by Bursche 1998, 241-7.
23
It should be noted here that the reverse types of multipla are much
more diverse and generally of a higher quality than the iconography seen
on solidi.
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Embodying ValuE? ThE TransformaTion of objEcTs in and from ThE anciEnT World
Figure 2 Hoards of the 4th century from the Carpathian basin considered in this article (Starevo, imleu-Silvaniei and
Brestov). (Map created by Dr. Orsolya Heinrich-Tamaska).
124
125
Embodying ValuE? ThE TransformaTion of objEcTs in and from ThE anciEnT World
25
Two hundred and forty denarii were found in the area as well, but it has
been assumed that these are not connected with the fourth century find
(Vasi 2001, 175).
26
Noll 1974, 69; cited in Popovi 2004, 222
27
Noll 1974, 69, cited in Popovi 2004, 223
28
Vasi 2001, 175-200. Vasi also suggests that the find from Starevo
could have belonged to a senior officer of the Roman army or perhaps a
foederatus (Vasi 2008, 76).
29
Ivanievi, Bugarski 2008, 40
30
Through a comparison with other hoards, Vasi regards the Starevo
hoard as an official imperial largitio (Vasi 2001, 197-201).
31
According to Kenner, the two specimens concerned had their pierced
holes filled with silver. Vasi assumed that these two coins were fitted
with the loops (Popovi 2004, 222).
32
Vasi 2001, 198
33
Popovi 2004, 222. For more detail and an analysis of monetary
pendants see Popovi 1993, 49-60.
34
Popovi 2004, 222-3
35
See, amongst others, Popovi 2004, 223.
36
Callu and Loriot 1990, cited in Bland 2012, 4.
37
Callu 1991
126
42
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Embodying ValuE? ThE TransformaTion of objEcTs in and from ThE anciEnT World
128
Bibliography
Abbreviations
Coh.
Conclusion
Romans were present in the territory of the Carpathian
basin and the barbarian people living there were therefore
in close contact with them. It was thus more likely for
them to become familiar with particular Roman cultural
practices than, for example, people living further north
in Barbaricum. The various forms of contact could have
43
RIC VII
RIC VIII
129
Embodying ValuE? ThE TransformaTion of objEcTs in and from ThE anciEnT World
RIC IX
130