The Roman Empire
Domitian


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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description:
Grade: NGC Ch AU* Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5
Owner: Kohaku
 
Set Category: Ancients
Set Name: The Roman Empire
Slot Name: Domitian
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

Similar to their Greek predecessors, ancient Romans largely classified all people of other races and nationalities as “barbarians.” The obvious problem with such delineation is that the Roman Empire kept assimilating new lands and cultures: previously reviled barbarians evolved into new tax-paying citizens of the Empire. Throughout its history, the Roman Empire battled barbarians at nearly every border, ranging from minor incursions to full-scale wars. The list of specific barbarian tribes figuring in Roman Empire history is prodigious: Alans, Berbers, Burgundians, Carpi, Frisii, Huns, Jutes, Lombards, Picts, Sarmatians, Scots, Suevi, Vandals - just to name a few. It might seem unfair compiling them together, since each had their own origins, customs, beliefs, and so on. Even so, that was probably the viewpoint of ancient Romans: barbarians were just that, and a threat unless they could be controlled, contained, or otherwise exploited, for instance as slaves. Interactions between Romans and barbarians began long before the Empire. For example, the Germanic barbarian tribes (relevant to the Empire’s ultimate downfall) originated in Scandinavia and moved southward over the first millennium BC. By Julius Caesar’s time, they reached the Rhine (in fact, he noted them as a future threat). Another century or two later, they expanded to the Danube basin and occupied north of Italy to the east (mainly the Gepids, Ostrogoths, Vandals, and Visigoths) and west (mainly the Alamanni, Angles, Franks, Marcomanni, and Saxons). These clan-based tribes had rudimentary agricultural and husbandry skills, resulting in slow population growth. They tended to emphasize war, however, their capacity in this regard was low (compared to Rome), given their technological state and lack of large-scale political or military organization. Over time, the barbarians grew more sophisticated. Some barbarians started forming larger associations, perhaps to more successfully raid Roman territories. In the early 3rd century AD, southern Germans barbarians came together into mainly the Alamanni, middle Rhine groups incorporated into the Franks, and North Germans converged as Saxons. By the 4th century AD, there was a continual barbarian belt all along the Roman frontier from the North to the Black Seas. Barbarians came into increasing contact with Roman civilization, admiring the material aspects of the Empire’s culture, such as arms, domestic wares, and, of course, coinage. Soon barbarians were giving it a go themselves, either imitating Roman designs, or attempting their own. Collecting such ancient barbarous issues is a fascinating endeavor. Unfortunately, barbarous coinage has not been widely studied, and precise identification often proves difficult. This coin, probably struck in mid to late 4th century AD, provides an example. NGC Ancients attributes it as a “barbarian nummus” and it bears striking resemblance to official Empire issues. The identity of the obverse portrait is not certain, although the enigmatic inscription is suggestive of Honorius, Western Roman Emperor from 393-423 AD. The fascinating reverse imitates the fallen horseman design popular during the reign of Constantius II (337-361 AD). The details here are astounding, even down to a mintmark (SIS in exergue, denoting Siscia) and an officina number (III in the left field). Why barbarians would expended such effort copying the motif of a Roman soldier spearing a fallen barbarian is particularly intriguing. Starting around the time this coin was struck (mid 4th century AD), the barbarian barrage increased dramatically. This was the beginning of what is referred to as The Migration Period (also known as the Völkerwanderung), marked by intensified human migration throughout Europe lasting until the early Middle Ages. The early excursions involved the Germanic tribes, but soon, they kept moving westward, under pressure by additional tribes arriving from the east, particularly the fearsome Huns. Like many barbarians before them, the Huns were willing to accept Roman bribes to keep at bay, at least for a short while. The price for peace was steep and on a dramatic upward trend, reflecting the barbarians’ growing appetite for wealth that eventually rivaled Rome’s. This subsidization strategy was not a long-term solution, and (considering the rapidly diminishing technology gap) neither was containment by military force. The Völkerwanderung was not to be denied. Increasingly, barbarians assimilated into Roman society, for example joining the Roman military, where they learned new tactics, acquired better materials, and came to admire Roman society even more. Many barbarians openly sought recognition as Roman soldiers, officers, and officials. The Romanization of barbarians was now unstoppable, and ultimately resulted in the Babarianization of Rome. Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, BARBAROUS ISSUE, c. mid-late 4th Century AD, Barbarian 'Nummus' (23mm, 6.29 g, 3h), NGC Grade: Ch AU*, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Obverse: Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right, D(O?)H(N?) O HOH(N?)H(N?)TIVS ITHOHO(D?), И behind, Reverse: Soldier standing left, spearing fallen horseman, HSVTPH HOHOT, III in left field, SIS in exergue, Reference: Cf. DeWit 46.

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