Original scientific paper
A Hoard of Roman Imperial Coins from Issa
Boris Čargo
Abstract
The article publishes a hoard of Roman denari, found in 2005 during research of the Romanarchitecture next to the inner side of the east city walls. The coins were set below the level of theplaster fl oor in the corner formed by the north and east wall of the excavated architecture. Pavingstone that can be seen in the west and south part of the excavated area was not found here. Theposition and the arrangement of the coins were defi ned by careful excavations. Any vessels orfragments of ceramics that could have contained these coins were not found. Also, any metal objectssuch as nails, keys or parts of the lock were not found in the vicinity, so the possibility that it was keptin a wooden box must be dismissed. The hoard was probably wrapped in a cloth or kept in leather orlinen bag that had completely decomposed. Somewhat lighter shade of soil was left at the site as aproof of location where the coins were found.Seventy-fi ve denari and three antoniniani were found. The coins are well preserved. The coins wereminted at a time of Antoninus and Severus dynasties and the time of military emperors, and belongto Antoninus Pius, Lucius Verus, Commodus, Septimius Severus, Julius Domni, Caracalla, Plautila,Geta, Macrinus, Elagabalus, Alexander Severus, Julia Mamei, Maximinus I and Gordianus III.The oldest coin is a denar of Antoninus Pius minted in 156 - 157, and the latest is an antoninianof Gordianus III minted between 241 and 243 and it is a terminus post quem for the establishing thehoard’s age. The major part of the coins found in the hoard was emitted during Severus’ time, andthey show that the more valuable coins were considerably present at the Issa territory. No directanalogy was found for the Septimus Sever’s coin (no. 10). The coin with a legend on the averse and afi gure of Jupiter on the reverse is like RIC IV/ I, 216, but the legend on the reverse is like the one on RICIV/I, 194. Considering that the tribunicia potestas XII is mentioned, the year 204 was determined as theyear of minting.The author dismisses the possibility that the coins were hidden because of some outside threatto Issa or because of the domestic riots, because the antique sources and the archaeological researchso far do not allow such a hypothesis. He presumes that the reasons for hiding the money can befound in everyday life, maybe such as a fear of theft, or it is quite possible that the owner kept hispersonal treasury there. We will never know whether death, or sudden owner’s departure or simplyillness or oblivion were the reasons why the money stayed under ground till present time. Althoughany opinion of the reasons of hiding the coins will remain a hypothesis, the author leaves a possibilitythat further research of the aforementioned architecture may bring new revelations of the reasons forleaving the coins.The found architecture was only partially examined, so no defi nite conclusions can be madebased on the fi ndings so far, but it can be stated that it probably represents a house of a rich Issianfamily
Keywords
hoard; coins; denari; Issa; Roman architecture
Hrčak ID:
8314
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2006.
Visits: 4.348 *