the contorniates in the royal coin cabinet at the hague / by a.n. zadoks-josephus jitta

8/11/2019 The contorniates in the Royal Coin Cabinet at the Hague / by A.N. Zadoks-Josephus Jitta

1/18

MNEMOSYNE

BIBLIOTHECA CLASSICA

BATAVA

COLLEGERUNT

B.

A. VAN

GRONINGEN

A.

G.

ROOS

J.

H.

WASZINK

CONSILIUM ET

OPERAM PRAEBENTIBUS

J.

W. Ph.

BORLEFFS

A.

W.

BYVANCK

P.

J.

ENK

G. VAN

HOORN

J.

C.

KAMERBEEK

W.

J.

W.

KOSTER

J.

D.

MEERWALDT

J.

G. A.

ROS

S.J.

F.

L.

R.

SASSEN

A.

SIZOO

J.

H.

THIEL

W.

J.

VERDENIUS

H. WAGENVOORT

BIBLIOTHECAE

AB

ACTIS

FUIT

FASCICULOSQUE

EDENDOS

CURAV1T

J.

H.

WASZINK

WITTE

SINGEL

91 LEIDEN

QUARTA

SERIES

VOLUMEN

QUARTUM

FASCICULUS

I

LUGDUNI

BATAVORUM

E.

J.

BRILL

1951

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2/18


3/18


4/18

82 CONTORNIATES IN THE ROYAL COIN CABINET

which

must

certainly

have

been

repellent

to

the

refined

taste

of the

upper

circles as it

emerges

from the medallions

they

received and

the

diptyches they gave away.

The contorniates show

gross

errors,

curious

vulgarisms

of

language

and

plain

mis-spellings

which

would

not have

been tolerated

by

cultured men

proud

of

their

classical

education. The

frequency

of

subjects

from

circus

and

amphitheatre

only

testifies

again

to the

great

importance

of

games

in

late-Roman

life. The other

subjects

derive from

popular legend

rather

than from

heart-felt

religion,

learned

mythology

and well

thought

out

philos-

ophy.

The

contents

are

not so much

deliberately

anti-Christian

as

unconsciously

pagan.

In

short,

the contorniates

are

evidently

a

vulgar

manifestation

of art and not one directed

from

above

*).

A

different

explanation

must

therefore be looked

for. It

is a

well-

known social

phenomenon

that customs

and fashions

prevailing

among

the

upper

circles tend to be taken over

by

the lower

classes,

there to

degenerate

and

disappear.

This

must have

been the case

with

both

the

system

of

mutual

presents

and their form.

Prof.

Alf?ldi

points

to the

forerunners

of the

contorniates,

ancient

coins

with

hammered

edges given

as

presents.

In

the

days

of

Augustus

the

emperor

himself used to

present

old coins

on

various

occasions;

later

they

were

presented

by

members

of the

upper

class. It

seems

indicated that

still

later this

fashion

was

adopted

by

the middle

class

and that

at the same

time,

in the second

part

of the 4th

century,

it was

abandoned

by

the aristocrats

in

favour of

ivory

diptyches.

As

ancient

coins were not available

in

sufficient

quantity,

they

were

imitated,

more or

less,

by

a

clever and inventive

artist,

soon to

be

followed

by

less

able craftsmen. The contorniates

were

created;

their

special

festive character

was

enhanced

by

the

upturned

edge

and circular

groove,

like

the

bevelled

rim

of

a

medallion.

Gradually

the

original

idea of

imitation

disappeared;

they

became an

inde-

pendent

species.

The

general

use of

contorniates

by

the

extensive middle class as

presents

to be

given

on

various

occasions accounts for the

large

1)

The

aristocratic

style

is shown

especially

by

the

famous Nicomachus-

Symmachus diptyches (Delbrueck, o.e., p. 29). The contrast between courtly

and

banal

style

in

late-Roman

Egypt

is

pointed

out

by

Delbrueck

(o.e.,

p.

25);

the

same

can be

seen,

later

on,

in

Byzantine

art.


5/18

CONTORNIATES IN THE ROYAL COIN CABINET 83

number of them still

in

existence;

it

also

explains

why only

part

of

them

bear New Year

allusions.

They

were

probably

also

considered

as

amulets;

we

know,

for

instance,

that

talismanic

virtue

was

attrib-

uted to the

portrait

of Alexander

the

Great,

a

favorite

figure

on

contorniates.

If

we

deny

their

propagandistic

character,

Prof. Alfoldi's

chrono-

logy

seems somewhat

rigid

;

the cast

specimens,

for

instance,

may

be

contemporary with the struck pieces and simply a cheaper version.

Nevertheless

his main

point,

that

the fabrication was

interrupted

for

sometime

by

Theodosius'

anti-pagan

measures,

remains

highly

probable.

Objections

can also

be raised

against

some of

his

inter-

pretations.

Thus

the

frequent

occurrence of Nero's

and

Trajan's

portraits

may

be

due

to their

popularity

as

heroes,

friends

of the

people

and

patrons

of

games

rather than

to their

anti-Christian

activities.

The scene

(PL.

II,

8), naturally

explained

by

Alf?ldi

(p.

149,

n.

104)

as

largitio

of

contorniates,

differs

completely

from

any such representation on coins,

medallions

or

diptyches.

It re-

minds

us far more of the

shop-reliefs

of which the

Florence

speci-

mens are

the

best known

x).

Apparently

it

depicts

no

largesse,

but

a

sale of contorniates.

Therefore

it

confirms

our

belief that

the

fabrication and sale

of contorniates

was

a

private

commercial

enterprise,

with

ordinary

middle class

people

as clients.

But

though

prof.

Alfoldi's

theories

are

open

to

controversy

and

may

be

erroneous,

though

his

chronology

and

his

interpretations

are

not

convincing

on

all

points,

his

division

into

three

main

groups,

the

first

of

which is subdivided

into

three

parts,

and his

systematic

arrangement

of

clear

and concise

descriptions

are of

lasting

value

and

indispensable

for

cataloguing

contorniates. Thus

in

publishing

those

in

the

Royal

Coin Cabinet

we follow his

catalogue

and inven-

tory closely.

As will be

seen,

this

collection,

unfortunately

not acces-

sible to

him

at the

time,

contains

several

fine

or

interesting

speci-

mens;

many

pieces

come

from the

famous Six

collection of

Greek

and

Roman

coins,

acquired

in 1901.

1)

M.

Rostovtzeff,

The

Social

and Economic

History of

the

Roman

Empire

(Oxford 1926) Pl. XXIV, 1, 2; see also Zadoks-Jitta, Antieke Cultuur in

Beeld,

p.

158,2.


6/18


I. 356-394

Early

Period

1.

Obv.:

Alexander;

engraved

PE-monogram

l)

Rev.:

Group

of one

seated

and

two

standing

divinities

Alf?ldi

p.

133

nr.

39;

pl.

VI,

1-4

21,

9

gr.

37

mm.

2.

Obv.:

Trajan

to 1.

IMP

CAES

NERVAE TRAIANO

AUG

GER

DAC

? M

TR

?

COS

V

?

?

Rev.:

Annona

and

Ceres

ANNON-A AUGUSTA

CERES

Alf?ldi

p.

116

nr.

12;

pl.

IX,

4

26,6

gr.

36 mm.

From the

Six

collection

3. Obv.: as 2

Rev.:

Helen

and the

Dioscuri

Alf?ldi

p.

151 nr.

203;

pl.

IX,

6

26,5

gr.

37

mm.

From the Hess

collection

4.

Obv.:

as

2

and 3

Rev.:

Sacrifice

in front

of a

temple

URBS

ROM-? AETERNA

Alf?ldi

p.

114 nr.

94;

pl.

XXIII,

9

2,35

gr.

37

mm.

From the

Six collection

This combination is

unknown

to

Alf?ldi.

It

puts

back the reverse

from

the

middle

into

the

early

period.

5. Obv.:

Trajan;

engraved

palm-branch

TRAIANUS

?

P

AUG

Rev.:

Cybele

and Attis

in

chariot

Alf?ldi

p.

153

nr.

222;

pl.

XII,

10

21,8

gr.

35 mm.

From

the Six

collection

7)

Explained

by

Alf?ldi

as

P(raemia)

F(eliciter)

(accipe).


7/18


6. Obv.: as

5

Rev.:

Charioteer

with

quadriga

DOMN-INUS;

monograms

between

the

horses'

legs

Cfr.

Alf?ldi

p.

119 nrs.

134,

134a and 137

25,2

gr.

37

mm.

From

the

Six collection

This

extremely

well

preserved

reverse is an

interesting

variant

(Pl.

I,

3).

Both

sides

have

slightly

shifted.

7.

Obv.:

Roma

full-faced;

engraved

PE-monogram

in

loop

Alf?ldi

p.

101

nr.

Ill

Rev.

:

like

1

22,45

gr.

37

mm.

From the

Six

collection

This combination

is

unknown to Alf?ldi.

8.

Obv.:

Roma

to

1.

Alf?ldi

p.

101

nr. 110

Rev.:

Hypsipyle

and her children

struggling

with

serpents

Alf?ldi

p.

Ill

nr.

74

19,6

gr.

35

mm.

From

the Six collection

This

combination is unknown

to

Alf?ldi.

The

reverse,

contrary

to

the

only

specimen

he

knows,

is

extremely

well

preserved

(Pl. 1,1,2).

Middle Period

9. Obv.:

Homer

Alf?ldi

p.

88 nr.

27

Rev.

:

Man

with

quadruped

26.7

gr.

37

mm.

Unfortunately

this

seemingly

unknown reverse is

very

indistinct.

10. Obv.:

Nero;

engraved

palm-branch

IMP

NERO

CAESAR

AUG

?

MAX

Rev.:

Olympias

reclining,

with

snake

Alf?ldi

p.

142 nr.

128;

pl.

XIV,

2

23,3

gr.

38

mm.

11. Obv.: Nero; engraved PE-monogram

IMP

NERO

CAESAR

AUG

?

MAX


8/18


Rev.:

lason

subduing

the

fire-breathing

bulls

Alf?ldi

p.

142

nr.

125;

pl.

XIV,

3

22,95

gr.

37

mm.

From the

Six collection

12.

Obv.:

Nero;

engraved

palm-branch

NERO CAESAR

AUG

GERM

IMP

Rev.:

Quadriga

STE-(FAN)-AS

Alf?ldi

p.

145 nr.

146;

pl.

XX,

7-10

18,7

gr.

36

mm.

13.

Obv.:

Vespasian

IM(P

CAES

VE)SPASIAN

AUG COS

III

Rev.:

Boar

hunting

Alf?ldi

p.

150 nr.

195;

pl.

XV,

8

24,1

gr.

39

mm.

From

the

Six collection

14. Obv.:

Trajan;

engraved

PE-monogram

TRAIANUS

AUG COS

1111

?

Rev.

:

Bacchus with

retinue

*)

Alf?ldi

p.

154 nr.

235;

pl.

XXV,

5-8

15,7

gr.

36

mm.

Perforated

straight

above the

central

figure

of

the reverse

15.

Obv.:

Trajan

TRAIANUS AUG

COS

1111

PP

Alf?ldi

p.

95

nr.

76;

pl.

XXI,

5-8

Rev.: Chastisement of Dirce

Alf?ldi

p.

110 nr.

62

19,4

gr.

35

mm.

From

the

Six

collection

Alf?ldi

gives

two combinations

of

this

reverse

with

different

types

of

Trajan,

but not

with

this

one.

16.

Obv.:

Theodosius;

engraved

palm-branch

DN

THEODO-SIUS

P

F

AUG

Alf?ldi

p.

98

nr.

98;

pl.

XXI,

1-2

1)

Perhaps presented

on

the

occasion

of

a

marriage,

see Miss

J.

M. C.

Toynbee,

Roman

Medallions

(New

York,

1944),

p.

96.


9/18


Rev.:

Victor between

two

kneeling figures

DEBELL-ATOR

GENTIUM

22,8

gr.

37

mm.

This

reverse,

unfortunately

not

well

preserved,

is

unknown to

Alf?ldi

(PI.

I,

4).

17.

Obv.:

Hunting

archer on horseback

COLENDUS

Rev.: Circus Maximus

Alf?ldi

p.

125

nr.

196;

pl.

XXIX,

12

23,6

gr.

39 mm.

From the

Six collection

Part

of

the

edge

has

broken

off

Late

period

18.

Obv.:

Alexander

ALEXXAN-DER

MAG

Alf?ldi

?,

86

nr.

5

Rev.:

Standing

man with leaf in r. and

garland

in 1. hand

URSE

V-INCAS

Alf?ldi

p.

126

nr.

213

23

gr.

38

mm.

From

the

Six collection

This

combination is unknown

to Alf?ldi.

19.

Obv.:

as

17;

engraved

palm-branch

Rev.:

Aeneas

with

father

and son

AENEAS

Alf?ldi

p.

113 nr. 88 21

gr.

37 mm.

From the

Six collection

Alf?ldi

mentions

one

instance

of this reverse and that

combined

with

a

Trajan.

Though

part

of the

edge

has

broken

off,

ours

is an

excellent

specimen

(Pl.

I, 5,

6).

20.

Obv.:

Alexander;

engraved

palm-branch

ALEXA-NDER

Rev.:

Wild

horse

hunting

Alf?ldi

p.

132

nr.

23

30,25

gr.

39 mm.

From

the

Six

collection


10/18


21. Obv.:

Alexander

ALEXA-NDER

Rev.:

Circus Maximus

Alf?ldi

p.

132

nr.

32;

pl.

XLIII,

9-10

24,1

gr.

38mm.

22.

Obv.:

Nero;

engraved

palm-branch

IMP

NERO

CAESAR

AUG

?

MAX

Rev.:

Olympias

reclining,

with snake

Alf?ldi

p.

146

nr.

161;

pl.

XXX,

9

23,2

gr.

37

mm.

23. Obv.: Nero

IMP

NERO CAESAR

AUG

?

MAX

Rev.:

Sale of

contorniates

under

arcade

Alf?ldi

p.

149

nr.

184;

pl.

XXXIV,

4ff.

26,3

gr.

38

mm.

From the Six

collection

Though

the

die

of the

observe has

slightly shifted,

this

is

an extre-

mely

fine

specimen

(Pl.

II,

7,

8).

24. Obv.: Nero

IMP

NERO

CAESAR

AUG

?

MAX

Rev.:

Charioteer

in

quadriga

GERONTIU.

Alf?ldi

p.

148

nr.

178;

pl.

XXXIII,

8

22,1

gr,

37 mm.

25. Obv.:

Trajan

.TRAIA-NO

AUGUSTO

Rev.:

Organ

between

two

standing figures

Alf?ldi

p.

159 nr.

272;

pl.

XXXII,

12

25

gr.

36 mm.

From the Six

collection

The

observe,

especially,

is much

damaged.

26. Obv.:

Trajan

IMP

CAES

TRAIANUS AUG

PM PP

PROCONS

Rev.: Aeneas as 19

Alf?ldi

p.

159

nr.

274;

pl.

XXXV,

1

24,1

gr.

35

mm.


11/18

Pl.

I


12/18


13/18

Pl.

II

10

11

12


14/18


15/18


27.

Obv.:

as

26;

engraved

palm-branch

on r.

Rev.:

Victorious athlete between

woman and

flute-player

FIL-INUS

Alf?ldi

p.

159 nr.

275;

pl.

XXX,

3-4

18

gr.

34

mm.

28. Obv.:

Trajan

DIVO

NERVA-E

TRAIANO

Rev.: Scylla

Alf?ldi

p.

160 nr.

281;

pi.

LXV,

3-4

26,1

gr.

37

mm.

From

the

Six collection

29. Obv.:

Trajan

DIVO

NERVAE

TRAIANO

Rev.:

as

28

Alf?ldi

p.

161 nr.

288;

pl.

XL,

5-6

21,9

gr.

37

mm.

30. Obv.: as 28; engraved palm-branch

Rev.:

Circus Maximus

Alf?ldi

p.

160 nr.

284;

pl.

XLI,

7-9

24,5

gr.

37

mm.

31. Obv.: as

30;

engraved

PE-monogram

Rev.:

as

30

From the Six

collection

27,8

gr.

37

mm.

32.

Obv.:

Pius-Caracalla;

engraved

palm-branch

M AUREL ANTONINUS PIUS AUG BRIT

Alf?ldi

p.

98 nr. 96

Rev.

:

Olympias

as

22

29

gr.

37

mm.

As the

reverse bears

no

legend,

this

type

slightly

differs

from

those

mentioned

by

Alf?ldi

p.

163 nr.

307-8.

33.

Obv.:

Pius-Caracalla;

engraved

palm-branch

ANTONINUS

PIUS

AUG

Rev.:

Quadriga

in front-view

Alf?ldi

p.

164 nr.

317;

pl.

XXXIX,

10

23,7

gr.

35 mm.

From the Six collection


16/18


34. Obv.:

Charioteer

with

horse;

engraved

palm-branch

on 1.

Rev.:

Seated man

..(NUS)

MAGCO(-N MO)NINUS

Alf?ldi

p.

168

nr.

359;

pl.

XXXVI,

6

20,6

gr.

35

mm.

II. 395-410

35. Obv.: Nero

NERO

CLAUD AUGUSTUS

Alf?ldi

p.

180 nr.

465;

pl.

L,

7

Rev.:

Decursio

DECURSIO

in ex.

Alf?ldi

p.

180 nr.

474;

pl.

L,

8

From the Six

collection

22,4

gr.

33

mm.

This

specimen

is

of

excellent execution and

preservation

(Pl.

II, 9,

10).

36.

Obv.:

Nero

....(NER)O

C.

Cfr. Alf?ldi

p.

179 nr.

460;

pl.

L,

15

Rev.

:

Seated

Ceres to 1. in front of

altar?

Cfr.

Alf?ldi

p.

185 nr.

519;

pl.

LI,

12

22,9

gr.

34

mm.

37.

Obv.:

Nero

to

1.

NERO CL AUGUSTUS

cfr. Alf?ldi

p.

179 nr.

462;

pl.

L,

5

Rev.:

Seated

Roma

cfr.

Alf?ldi

p.

181, 477;

pl.

LI,

1

23,7

gr.

33

mm.

The

reverse is

much worn

38. Obv.:

Nero;

dotted

palm-branch

on 1. and

PF-monogram

on r.

NERO

CLAUDIUS

CAESAR

AUG

GER

? M

TR

?

Rev.:

Seated

Roma?

Cfr. Alf?ldi

p.

182 nr.

488;

pl.

LIV,

2

17,1

gr.

32 mm.

From the Six

collection


17/18


39.

Obv.:

Nero-Hercules;

engraved PE-monogram

Alf?ldi

p.

182 nr.

490;

pl.

LIV,

4

Rev.:

Serpent

in

front

of

altar

Alf?ldi

p.

182 nr.

488;

pl.

LIV,

2

28,35

gr.

37

mm.

From

the

Six

collection

40.

Obv.:

Agrippina; engraved

A

to

r.

Legend illegible

Rev.:

Temple

with statue of

Cybele

Alf?ldi

p.

186

nr.

257;

pi.

LXXIII,

7 22

gr.

33

mm.

The reverse

is

much

worn

III. 410-

?

455

41.

Obv.:

Trajan

(DIVO

TRAIA-)NO

AUGUSTO

Rev.: Charioteer with two horses

EUTIME

N(ICA);

TURIFICATOR

AS(TUTUS)

in

ex.

Alf?ldi

p.

171

nr.

386;

pi.

LXIV,

10

22,35

gr.

39 mm.

From

the Six

collection

42.

Obv.:

Trajan

DIVO

TRAIA-NO

AUGUSTO

Rev.:

Vulcan with

Achilles'

shield

Alf?ldi

p.

172

nr.

397;

pi.

LXVII,

4

31,6

gr.

41

mm.


43.

Obv.:

Pius-Caracalla

ANTONI-NUS

PIUS

Rev.: Hercules

in the

garden

of

the

Hesperides

SABUCIUS

PINIAN-...C

Alf?ldi

p.

173

nr.

403;

pi.

LXII,

5

33,

5

gr.

41

mm.

44. Obv.:

Honorius

(HONO)RIO

AU(GUSTO)

Rev.:

Quadriga

in

front-view


18/18


(AR)T(E)MI

(VINCAS)

Alf?ldi

p.

173

nr.

405;

pl.

LXIII,

3

29,8

gr.

40

mm.


45.

Obv.:

Valentinianus;

engraved PE-monogram

DN

L

A

VALENTINIANUS

Rev.:

Two

bestiarii

in

action

VAL NOB C in ex.

Alf?ldi

p.

174,412;

pi.

LIX,

1

this same

specimen

27,7

gr

41

mm.

From

the

Hess

collection

(Pl.

II, 11,

12).

46.

Obv.:

Roma;

silver-inlaid leaf

INVICTA

ROMA-(FELIX SENAT)US

Alf?ldi

p.

101 nr. 146

Rev.

:

Bestiarius

protested

by

a

revolving

grilled

screen

*)

REPARATIO

MU-NERIS

FELICITER

Cfr. Alf?ldi

p.

123 nr. 180; for

inscription

see

p.

122-3, nr.

176-7

30,9

gr.

39 mm.

From

the Six

collection

This

reverse

is

unknown

to

Alf?ldi;

a similar one

dates

from the

last

years

of the first

period;

several

examples

of this

inscription

occur

in

the

third

period.

47.

Obv.:

Emperor;

engraved

palm-branch

Rev.:

Emperor

on

horseback

received

by

standing

Roma?

with

Victoria on r. hand.

Illegible

legend

in

three lines

in

ex.

33,2

gr.

39 mm.

Both sides are

unknown

to

Alf?ldi;

unfortunately they

are

badly

preserved.

Den

Haag,

Lange

Voorhout 50

1)

Cfr.

Delbrueck,

o.e.,

pl.

21.

the contorniates in the royal coin cabinet at the hague / by a.n. zadoks-josephus jitta

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