Hi Leo, well explained. I use the term 'local issues of the Roman Empire', which in my view is more accurate than 'Roman Provincial', which would be, as you rightly pointed out, a sub-category, "Monnaies Coloniales", or 'Colonial Coinage' as old French numismatists used to term them, which is also a sub-sub category (in this case, of civic coins), and the old antiquarian British expression of 'Greek Imperials', which fortunately became obsolete, just as the ridiculous 'pseudo-autonomous' (for civic coins without imperial portraits), which is entirely incorrect.
Sir, you have completely won me over to ancient coins. I have been primarily a U.S. collector with some limited interest in foreign coins, but I never seriously considered pursuing ancients in any serious way before I found your channel on YT. Thank you for the time and effort you put into producing these highly educational and entertaining videos. I also wish to complement you on your narration. You have a wonderful accent and a soothing voice to listen to. The background music is just right too. Great production values overall. Please keep up the good work. I am a MAJOR FAN of this channel. 😊
My favorite roman coins are provincial, they are so rustic and gives a bigger idea of the vast empire that was Rome. I absolutely LOVE roman tetradrachm, their portrait are so unique even if sometimes not as classy as the imperials. Also after seeing your Constantine’s family video I went ahead on the search for the Faustina the younger denarius with the kids, and I finally received the one I ordered this morning and its probably one of my favorite coins instantly, it is hilarious and gets me every time 😂
Thumb's up for yet another superb episode. As I've commented before, I could easily imagine this series being used for university level instruction. It is interesting that the miniscule coin showing Trajan about 8:00 minutes in, a denomination you seem to be calling a "chalcis" or "chalkis" (I'd thought Chalcis or "Chalcis ad Lebanon" was a city in Ancient Syria), might be considered a "provincial" coin, since the reverse portrays the standard "SC" designation for base metal coinage meaning "Senatus Consulto", or minted under the authority of the Roman Senate.
Thank you very much for the kind words! Indeed, the coin of Trajan is very interesting, and its an example of an interesting episode on Roman Imperial numismatic history. There seems to be a massive issue of coins of different sizes minted at Rome and shipped to antioch during Trajan's time (or maybe the dies were sculpted in Rome and sent to Antioch?). This poses an interesting question, was Trajan trying to institute a monetary system in Syria similar to the Roman Imperial one, with some additional denominations? Some catalogues call this tiny coin an Uncia.
@Classical Numismatics I'm a little hazy on the specifics, but Antioch and the East in general were constantly in contention in the period between the Romans and the Parthian Empire. A lot of the counterstamped or "recertified" coinage one finds come from that area and period. Sometimes they were issued by legions re-certifying or revaluing whatever older coinage was on hand, sometimes new issues were made by more established regional mints, of which Antioch was a chief one.
It's an old term refering to local civic issues of Roman times without an imperial portrait and/or title. It has fallen out of use, because it is incorrect. All civic coins are "autonomous", even if they feature the emperor, empress and/or his or her titles. The imperial portrait and titulature was either omitted or included for various reasons (monetary tradition of the relevant mint, v.g., Athens, Festival coinage related to, for example, Alexander the Great, and therefore including his portrait instead of the emperor's, or the need to give a more "money-look" to the coins, hence including the imperial portrait, or more simply the size of the coin: smaller coin being not fit to include a 'respectful' portrait of the emperor).
Provincial coins are also somtimes a good way to find a specimen for an otherwise difficul to to obtain emperor. Makrinus od Diadumedianus can be found relatively often on provincial coins while they are quite rare and more expensive on the imperial issues. Provincial coins can also somtimes give us more insight in the imperial family. There are tetradrachae from Egypt with Nero and his wive Poppaea and with some luck they are even not too expensive even though you will have to lower your expectations on quality. Tranqulina as wife of Gordianus III is very scarce on imperial coins but can be found on provincial issues - sometimes even facing Gordian on the avers.
Thats true! I have no hopes on being able to afford a Claudius denarius, therefore his spot in my collection is taken by one of his egyptian Tetradrachmae. Same goes for Caligula. I might go for one of his provincial drachmae instead of his very overvalued denarii
Interesting video. Another name this class of coin was called was Greek Imperial. But fortunately, Roman Provincial is a better name and has taken over in the last 20 years or so.
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Hi Leo, well explained. I use the term 'local issues of the Roman Empire', which in my view is more accurate than 'Roman Provincial', which would be, as you rightly pointed out, a sub-category, "Monnaies Coloniales", or 'Colonial Coinage' as old French numismatists used to term them, which is also a sub-sub category (in this case, of civic coins), and the old antiquarian British expression of 'Greek Imperials', which fortunately became obsolete, just as the ridiculous 'pseudo-autonomous' (for civic coins without imperial portraits), which is entirely incorrect.
Sir, you have completely won me over to ancient coins. I have been primarily a U.S. collector with some limited interest in foreign coins, but I never seriously considered pursuing ancients in any serious way before I found your channel on YT.
Thank you for the time and effort you put into producing these highly educational and entertaining videos. I also wish to complement you on your narration. You have a wonderful accent and a soothing voice to listen to. The background music is just right too. Great production values overall. Please keep up the good work. I am a MAJOR FAN of this channel. 😊
Those are some very kind words! Thank you very much :)
Im glad to be useful for the numismatic community.
I just got 2 roman coins. Really nice. Can't wait to get them in my hand. I want to hold the history
Amazing! Which coins did you get? Hope thats the beginning of a beautiful collection
That Antoninus is beautiful even with the break. The style and metal quality are both exceptional for the type
Indeed. The flan split gave it a considerable discount, since I dont care for a perfectly round flan, it was one of my quickest buys ever :)
My favorite roman coins are provincial, they are so rustic and gives a bigger idea of the vast empire that was Rome. I absolutely LOVE roman tetradrachm, their portrait are so unique even if sometimes not as classy as the imperials. Also after seeing your Constantine’s family video I went ahead on the search for the Faustina the younger denarius with the kids, and I finally received the one I ordered this morning and its probably one of my favorite coins instantly, it is hilarious and gets me every time 😂
Excellent video! Thank you for clearing up some questions I was pondering on.
Thanks Leo, don't put yourself down ,you are a genius of coins.
Great video 👍😀
I just dont take myself too seriously, I know I am, fortunately, a positive influence for the collecting community :)
Thumb's up for yet another superb episode. As I've commented before, I could easily imagine this series being used for university level instruction. It is interesting that the miniscule coin showing Trajan about 8:00 minutes in, a denomination you seem to be calling a "chalcis" or "chalkis" (I'd thought Chalcis or "Chalcis ad Lebanon" was a city in Ancient Syria), might be considered a "provincial" coin, since the reverse portrays the standard "SC" designation for base metal coinage meaning "Senatus Consulto", or minted under the authority of the Roman Senate.
Thank you very much for the kind words! Indeed, the coin of Trajan is very interesting, and its an example of an interesting episode on Roman Imperial numismatic history. There seems to be a massive issue of coins of different sizes minted at Rome and shipped to antioch during Trajan's time (or maybe the dies were sculpted in Rome and sent to Antioch?).
This poses an interesting question, was Trajan trying to institute a monetary system in Syria similar to the Roman Imperial one, with some additional denominations? Some catalogues call this tiny coin an Uncia.
@Classical Numismatics I'm a little hazy on the specifics, but Antioch and the East in general were constantly in contention in the period between the Romans and the Parthian Empire. A lot of the counterstamped or "recertified" coinage one finds come from that area and period. Sometimes they were issued by legions re-certifying or revaluing whatever older coinage was on hand, sometimes new issues were made by more established regional mints, of which Antioch was a chief one.
Very interesting and instructive, thanks !
Love the Eastern Mints issues
Great video, I always wondered what pseudo autonomous issues meant. I'll have to add some to my collection
It's an old term refering to local civic issues of Roman times without an imperial portrait and/or title. It has fallen out of use, because it is incorrect. All civic coins are "autonomous", even if they feature the emperor, empress and/or his or her titles. The imperial portrait and titulature was either omitted or included for various reasons (monetary tradition of the relevant mint, v.g., Athens, Festival coinage related to, for example, Alexander the Great, and therefore including his portrait instead of the emperor's, or the need to give a more "money-look" to the coins, hence including the imperial portrait, or more simply the size of the coin: smaller coin being not fit to include a 'respectful' portrait of the emperor).
Thanks for a brilliantly informative class. Very useful to a novice like me!
I've shied away from these coins in the past. Maybe I should look at them more. The Greek ones at least are quite pretty.
Local currencies have a longer history than many believe.
Indeed, its a fascinating topic I personally am diving into
Lindas moedas, parabéns.
Obrigado :)
Provincial coins are also somtimes a good way to find a specimen for an otherwise difficul to to obtain emperor. Makrinus od Diadumedianus can be found relatively often on provincial coins while they are quite rare and more expensive on the imperial issues.
Provincial coins can also somtimes give us more insight in the imperial family. There are tetradrachae from Egypt with Nero and his wive Poppaea and with some luck they are even not too expensive even though you will have to lower your expectations on quality. Tranqulina as wife of Gordianus III is very scarce on imperial coins but can be found on provincial issues - sometimes even facing Gordian on the avers.
Thats true! I have no hopes on being able to afford a Claudius denarius, therefore his spot in my collection is taken by one of his egyptian Tetradrachmae.
Same goes for Caligula. I might go for one of his provincial drachmae instead of his very overvalued denarii
Interesting video. Another name this class of coin was called was Greek Imperial. But fortunately, Roman Provincial is a better name and has taken over in the last 20 years or so.
And they are cheaper than and cooler than Imperial issues!
📽️👍👍👍👍👍
Denari. It’s everywhere you want to be 😂
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