Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 August 2016
The provincial coinage of the Roman Empire has proven to be a rich source for studying civic experiences of Roman rule, but the coins struck outside Rome during the expansion of the Roman Republic have, by contrast, received relatively little attention. This article aims to begin redressing this neglect by exploring the active rôle of coinage in conceptualizing and representing Roman Republican power. A variety of approaches to this neglected material are employed in order to highlight its potential as a source. Ambiguity, iconology, and entanglement are used as frameworks to explore case studies from across the Roman Republican world, from Spain to Syria. This approach to coin imagery under the Republic reveals the complexity and variety in which the Roman presence, and Roman imperium, was represented before the advent of the Principate.
The author would like to thank the anonymous readers of the JRS for their comments and suggestions, which greatly improved this piece. Figures are reproduced at double their size. The following abbreviations are used: ACIP: Villaronga, L., and Benages, J. (eds) 2011: Ancient Coinage of the Iberian Peninsula, Barcelona HN Italy: Rutter, N. K. 2001: Historia Numorum: Italy, London IGCH: Thompson, M., Mørkholm, O., and Kraay, C. M. 1973: An Inventory of Greek Coin Hoards, New York RPC 1: Burnett, A., Amandry, M., and Ripolles, P. P. 1992: Roman Provincial Coinage Vol. 1, London RRCH: Crawford, M. H. 1969: Roman Republican Coin Hoards, London RRC: Crawford, M. H. 1974: Roman Republican Coinage (2 vols), Cambridge SNG Cop.: Breitenstein, N., and Schwabacher, W. 1981: Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum. The Royal Collections of Coins and Medals Danish National Museum. Vol 1: Italy-Sicily, West Milford, New Jersey Svoronos: Svoronos, J. N. 1904–1908: Ta Nomismata tou Kratous ton Ptolemaion, Athens