Each exhibit showcases a group of coins from the collection thematically
to examine a specific aspect of ancient history, art, religion,
or economics, among others. Exhibits proceed from example to example
with accompanying "wall text" just as you might walk through an
exhibit in a museum. |
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Class Exhibit
DICTATOR
PERPETUUS: Representations of power on coins from the age
of Caesar
Ancient coins provide not only examples of classical art
and economy, but also a window for understanding the history
and politics of antiquity. During the age of Julius Caesar,
Rome was radically unstable. When Caesar emerged supreme
from Civil War, his new power marked the beginning of the
shift from Republic to Empire. Our coins chronologically
trace Caesar's military conflicts, political rise, subsequent
assassination and postmortem representations. As propaganda,
they speak to the political and religious ideologies that
underpinned Caesar's claim to power. Coins issued by his
unsuccessful rivals and successors, Quintus Metellus Pius
and Gaius Cassius Longinus, demonstrate that Caesar's popularity
was far from universal. The exhibit culminates in coins
that demonstrate Caesar's lasting legacy as the divine father
of the first Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus.
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Individual Exhibits by Class Participants |
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The Grain Supply: Images of Ceres and Annona
Dmitri Apostola
By the time of Augustus, Rome had reached an unprecedented one
million inhabitants, which required up to 300,000 tons of grain.
To do this, the entire agricultural output of the empire had to
be geared to support the stomach of the capitol of the Empire.
At first, they used Etruria and Sicily. Later, once Egypt was
in the fold, and was entirely a domain of the Emperor, Egypt became
the breadbasket of the Empire.
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Augustus
Joanna Johnson
Caesar Augustus is arguably one of the most well-known of the
Roman emperors, and such lasting notoriety is in large part due
to Augustus being a man of numerous accomplishments. The study
of Augustan coinage is of particular interest due to the kinds
of accomplishments and imagery that is boasted on them. |
Julio-Claudian
Emperors: Dynasty on coins
David von Hollweg
In 31 BC Octavius, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, defeated
Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the battle Actium. The Romans after
years of civil strife, gladly gave up political freedom for a
dictatorship that assured tranquility. Octavius, as Caesar Augustus,
became, in effect, the first emperor of Rome. However, it was
one thing to be declared an emperor or dictator, it was quite
another to have people accept another when you died.
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Constantine:
Symbols of Changing Empire
Kristin Graeper
The reign of Constantine I, 306-337 CE, was marked by both political
instability and the consequent uniting of the empire through the
increasing power and supremacy of Constantine the Great. The coins
depicted in this exhibit record the changing attitudes of the
emperor towards the gods and towards religion more generally,
as they also chronicle his perception of his own power and of
his role as leader.
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Politics
and Coins: M. Antonius and M. Brutus
Ronin Dunphy
The coins of Marcus Antonius and Marcus Brutus, in comparison,
highlight the political unrest that led up to the assasignation
of Julius Caesar. These men use their coinage, respectively, to
denote and encourage their political beliefs.
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Warfare
on Roman money
Lara Mittaud
Warfare was one of the most influential factors in defining the
ancient Roman state. Not surprisingly, scenes and images of Warfare
are prevalent on the coinage of ancient Rome which often depicted
scenes of military victories, both factual and fictional, in order
to serve some sort of political purpose.
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Marcus
Antonius and Gaius Octavian
Jenny
Elek
The manic-depressive relationship between Marcus Antonius and
Gaius Octavius during the Triumviral period (44-31 BCE) is one
many classical historians possess contesting interpretations over.
Some paint Gaius Octavius as a young bloodthirsty upstart craving
for power and domination, regardless of whom he had to trample.
Others portray Marcus Antonius, modernly acknowledged as Mark
Antony, as bitterly opposed to the quickly ascending youthful
prodigy Octavian, or simply as inadequate for a true leadership
role.
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The Year
of the Four Emperors
David Ewen
The Julio-Claudian dynasty ended with Nero's suicide in 68 CE.
The infamous "Year of Four Emperors" followed, in which
Roman legions dispersed throughout the empire each vied to win
their commander the title of Roman Emperor. The coinage of the
"military emperors" - Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian
- highlights the civil strife Romans underwent during this turbulent
period.
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Marcus
Antonius
Kevin Hofelman
The tragic exploits of Marc Antony and Cleopatra memorialized
by Shakespeare have offered many their first view into Roman politics
on the edge of the creation of the Roman Empire. However Antony's
dalliances with Cleopatra were only one part of a brilliant Roman
general and politicians life.
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The Coins
of Nero
Matt Nisinson
The Emperor Nero is an interesting figure, the last of the Julio-Claudian
emperors and also, according to some, the worst. He has been presented
as a monster, and as an arch-tyrant.
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Neptune's
Nemesis: Triumviral sea conflicts
Natalie Witherell
"At no other time has the condition of imperial Rome, as
it seems to me, been more pitiable." (Sallust xxxvi).
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