Roman coins
Possibly the most 'usual' Roman find, alongside pottery, are coins from the Roman period. Making sense of these is important - as there sheer numbers suggest they were of extreme importance to the Romans. Aside from their actual face value, coins were used by Roman rulers to spread their own news. What they achieved, what excellent benefactors they were, even how pious they were - all is reflected in the messages on coins, if you can decode them.
Try the Lost Change project - fabulous interactive website sponsored by the British Museum, enabling you to zoom into and out of time periods and locations to discover more about Roman coin finds.
I've noticed especially from this map that certain river basins such as the River Mersey - Irwell and the Ribble - Douglas seem devoid of Roman coin finds.
A reflection of events? Or a reflection of early industrialisation? We need to get fieldwalking to find the answer.
Try the Lost Change project - fabulous interactive website sponsored by the British Museum, enabling you to zoom into and out of time periods and locations to discover more about Roman coin finds.
I've noticed especially from this map that certain river basins such as the River Mersey - Irwell and the Ribble - Douglas seem devoid of Roman coin finds.
A reflection of events? Or a reflection of early industrialisation? We need to get fieldwalking to find the answer.
You too can decode a roman coin
This is how to do it.
1. Look at this coin. Look at the writing around the edges of the front (obverse, or 'heads') and the back (reverse, or 'tails)
Every mark has a meaning.
2. Can you see the name of anyone Roman?
There's 'ANTONINVS' in there - do you see it?
3. But it's not a coin of Antoninus. Can you see an M?
MANTONINUS
That means - believe it or not - Marcus Aurelius. He's honouring his father, Antoninus Pius, by issuing this coin. Showing his own sense of 'Pietus', an important Roman attitude.
4. AVG - 'Aug' - Augustus ie Emperor
1. Look at this coin. Look at the writing around the edges of the front (obverse, or 'heads') and the back (reverse, or 'tails)
Every mark has a meaning.
2. Can you see the name of anyone Roman?
There's 'ANTONINVS' in there - do you see it?
3. But it's not a coin of Antoninus. Can you see an M?
MANTONINUS
That means - believe it or not - Marcus Aurelius. He's honouring his father, Antoninus Pius, by issuing this coin. Showing his own sense of 'Pietus', an important Roman attitude.
4. AVG - 'Aug' - Augustus ie Emperor
4. ARMPARTHMAX - celebrating the defeat of Armenia (then the land north of Syria, south of Turkey, adjacent to the coast and the estuary of the Orontes) and Great Parthia, further eastwards towards modern Iraq.
5. On the reverse - TRP XX IMP IIII COS III - titles held by M. Aurelius with the number of times he's held them by the time the coin was minted. Look at this crib sheet and work them out
6. On the shield held by the winged lady (Victoria, or the goddess Victory): VICPAR ...oh go on.... guess.....that's right, victory over Parthia. The goddess is resting her shield on the equivalent of a plant-pot stand or 'jardiniere' as the antiques trade know them.
5. On the reverse - TRP XX IMP IIII COS III - titles held by M. Aurelius with the number of times he's held them by the time the coin was minted. Look at this crib sheet and work them out
6. On the shield held by the winged lady (Victoria, or the goddess Victory): VICPAR ...oh go on.... guess.....that's right, victory over Parthia. The goddess is resting her shield on the equivalent of a plant-pot stand or 'jardiniere' as the antiques trade know them.
A word of caution
Roman coins are faked every day of the week - buyer beware.
However you can buy excellent, reliable replicas, knowing they are replicas, from Westair Reproductions of Birmingham. Their incredibly fine and yet no-risk coins will give you a good grounding into what a real Roman coin looks and feels like, and you will neither be ripped off nor will you be contributing to archaeological looting. What's not to like? (their site is closed until 5th Jan 2015 but many museum shops stock their goodies)
However you can buy excellent, reliable replicas, knowing they are replicas, from Westair Reproductions of Birmingham. Their incredibly fine and yet no-risk coins will give you a good grounding into what a real Roman coin looks and feels like, and you will neither be ripped off nor will you be contributing to archaeological looting. What's not to like? (their site is closed until 5th Jan 2015 but many museum shops stock their goodies)