MNEMOSYNE

BIBLIOTHECA CLASSICA BATAVA

COLLEGERUNT
B. A. VAN GRONINGEN A. G. ROOS
J.
H. WASZINK
CONSILIUM ET OPERAM PRAEBENTIBUS
J.
W. Ph. BORLEFFS A. W. BYVANCK P.
J.
ENK
G. VAN HOORN
J.
C. KAMERBEEK W.
J.
W. KOSTER
J.
D. MEERWALDT
J.
G. A. ROS
S.J.
F. L. R. SASSEN
A. SIZOO
J.
H. THIEL W.
J.
VERDENIUS
H. WAGENVOORT
BIBLIOTHECAE AB ACTIS FUIT
FASCICULOSQUE
EDENDOS CURAV1T
J.
H.
WASZINK,
WITTE SINGEL 91 LEIDEN
QUARTA
SERIES
VOLUMEN
QUARTUM
FASCICULUS
I
LUGDUNI BATAVORUM E.
J.
BRILL 1951
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THE CONTORNIATES IN THE ROYAL COIN
CABINET AT THE HAGUE
BY
A. N.
ZADOKS-JOSEPHUS JITTA
Recently contorniates,
which have
puzzled many generations
of
numismatists,
have also been
brought
to the attention of historians
and
archaeologists by prof.
Alf?ldi's
masterly
treatise on this sub-
ject *).
These are a
group
of late-Roman bronze or
copper
medallions
with
turned-up edges
and incised circular
grooves;
the name is
derived from the Italian word "contorno".
According
to
Alf?ldi,
they
were distributed to the
people
at the New Year's
games by
the
pagan aristocracy
as
propaganda
for the ancient Roman faith and
against Christianity; they
were struck
unofficially
at the official
mint first from 354
onwards,
under the
prefect Ofitius,
until
394,
when their issue was
interrupted by
Theodosius'
anti-pagan decree,
then
again
from 410 until the last
quarter
of the 5th
century;
be-
tween 394 and 410
they
were cast
clandestinely.
This
interesting
and attractive thesis has been
widely
but not
universally accepted 2).
Miss
Toynbee, especially,
denies both their
special
New Year's character and their anti-Christian
purport
and
she thinks it neither
proven
nor
probable
that
they
were struck at
the official mint. We
fully agree
with her
objections 3).
In the
rigid
and elaborate
system
of more or less official
largesses
that obtained in those
days 4)
there was no room left for the distri-
bution of contorniates. Whereas all kinds of
presents
to all kinds of
people
are
known,
no written account of or
any
allusion to such
strenae or New Year's
gifts
is to be found. Furthermore the con-
torniates are
generally
of bad
workmanship
and
poor invention,
1)
?.
Alf?ldi,
Die Kontorniaten
(Budapest-Leipzig 1942).
2)
See Dr.
J.
H. C.
Kern,
Antieke
Portretkoppen (The Hague 1947), p.
104 and
?. 119-120. Also
J. Vogt
in
Gnomon, 1949, p.
25.
3)
Miss
J.
M. C.
Toynbee
in
JRS, 1945, p.
115-121. As will
appear
from the
following,
we cannot
agree
with her
suggestion
that the contorniates were
distributed to the
people
as mementoes at the
beginning
of
every
show.
4)
See R.
Delbrueck,
Die
Consular-Diptychen, 1929, p.
66 ff.
Mnemosyne
IV
82 CONTORNIATES IN THE ROYAL COIN CABINET
which must
certainly
have been
repellent
to the
refined taste of the
upper
circles as it
emerges
from the medallions
they
received and the
diptyches they gave away.
The contorniates show
gross errors,
curious
vulgarisms
of
language
and
plain mis-spellings
which would
not have been tolerated
by
cultured men
proud
of their "classical"
education. The
frequency
of
subjects
from circus and
amphitheatre
only
testifies
again
to the
great importance
of
games
in late-Roman
life. The other
subjects
derive from
popular legend
rather than from
heart-felt
religion,
learned
mythology
and well
thought
out
philos-
ophy.
The contents are not so much
deliberately
anti-Christian as
unconsciously pagan.
In
short,
the contorniates are
evidently
a
"vulgar"
manifestation of art and not one directed from above
*).
A different
explanation
must therefore be looked for. It is a well-
known social
phenomenon
that customs and fashions
prevailing
among
the
upper
circles tend to be taken over
by
the lower
classes,
there to
degenerate
and
disappear.
This must have been the case
with both the
system
of mutual
presents
and their form. Prof.
Alf?ldi
points
to the forerunners of the
contorniates,
ancient coins
with hammered
edges given
as
presents.
In the
days
of
Augustus
the
emperor
himself used to
present
old coins on various
occasions;
later
they
were
presented by
members of the
upper
class. It seems
indicated that still later this fashion was
adopted by
the middle
class and that at the same
time,
in the second
part
of the 4th
century,
it was abandoned
by
the aristocrats in favour of
ivory diptyches.
As ancient coins were not available in sufficient
quantity, they
were
imitated,
more or
less, by
a clever and inventive
artist,
soon to be
followed
by
less able craftsmen. The contorniates were
created;
their
special
festive character was enhanced
by
the
upturned edge
and circular
groove,
like the bevelled rim of a medallion.
Gradually
the
original
idea of imitation
disappeared; they
became an inde-
pendent species.
The
general
use of contorniates
by
the extensive middle class as
presents
to be
given
on various occasions accounts for the
large
1)
The "aristocratic"
style
is shown
especially by
the famous Nicomachus-
Symmachus diptyches (Delbrueck, o.e., p. 29).
The contrast between
"courtly"
and "banal"
style
in late-Roman
Egypt
is
pointed
out
by
Delbrueck
(o.e.,
p. 25);
the same can be
seen,
later
on,
in
Byzantine
art.
CONTORNIATES IN THE ROYAL COIN CABINET 83
number of them still in
existence;
it also
explains why only part
of
them bear New Year allusions.
They
were
probably
also considered
as
amulets;
we
know,
for
instance,
that talismanic virtue was attrib-
uted to the
portrait
of Alexander the
Great,
a favorite
figure
on
contorniates.
If we
deny
their
propagandistic
character,
Prof. Alfoldi's chrono-
logy
seems somewhat
rigid ;
the cast
specimens,
for
instance,
may
be
contemporary
with the struck
pieces
and
simply
a
cheaper
version.
Nevertheless his main
point,
that the fabrication was
interrupted
for sometime
by
Theodosius'
anti-pagan measures,
remains
highly
probable. Objections
can also be raised
against
some of his inter-
pretations.
Thus the
frequent
occurrence of Nero's and
Trajan's
portraits may
be due to their
popularity
as
heroes,
friends of the
people
and
patrons
of
games
rather than to their anti-Christian
activities. The scene
(PL.
II, 8), naturally explained by
Alf?ldi
(p. 149,
n.
104)
as
largitio
of
contorniates,
differs
completely
from
any
such
representation
on
coins,
medallions or
diptyches.
It re-
minds us far more of the
shop-reliefs
of which the Florence
speci-
mens are the best known
x). Apparently
it
depicts
no
largesse,
but
a sale of contorniates. Therefore it confirms our belief that the
fabrication and sale of contorniates was a
private
commercial
enterprise,
with
ordinary
middle class
people
as clients.
But
though prof.
Alfoldi's theories are
open
to
controversy
and
may
be
erroneous, though
his
chronology
and his
interpretations
are not
convincing
on all
points,
his division into three main
groups,
the first of which is subdivided into three
parts,
and his
systematic
arrangement
of clear and concise
descriptions
are of
lasting
value
and
indispensable
for
cataloguing
contorniates. Thus in
publishing
those in the
Royal
Coin Cabinet we follow his
catalogue
and inven-
tory closely.
As will be
seen,
this
collection, unfortunately
not acces-
sible to him at the
time,
contains several fine or
interesting speci-
mens; many pieces
come from the famous Six collection of Greek
and Roman
coins, acquired
in 1901.
1)
M.
Rostovtzeff,
The Social and Economic
History of
the Roman
Empire
(Oxford 1926)
Pl.
XXIV, 1, 2;
see also
Zadoks-Jitta,
Antieke Cultuur in
Beeld, p. 158,2.
84 CONTORNIATES IN THE ROYAL COIN CABINET
I. 356-394
Early
Period
1. Obv.:
Alexander;
engraved PE-monogram l)
Rev.:
Group
of one seated and two
standing
divinities
Alf?ldi
p.
133 nr.
39; pl. VI,
1-4
21,
9
gr.
37 mm.
2. Obv.:
Trajan
to 1.
IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AUG GER DAC ? M
TR ? COS V ? ?
Rev.: Annona and Ceres
ANNON-A AUGUSTA CERES
Alf?ldi
p.
116 nr.
12; pl. IX,
4
26,6 gr.
36 mm.
From the Six collection
3. Obv.: as 2
Rev.: Helen and the Dioscuri
Alf?ldi
p.
151 nr.
203; pl. IX,
6
26,5 gr.
37 mm.
From the Hess collection
4. Obv.: as 2 and 3
Rev.: Sacrifice in front of a
temple
URBS ROM-? AETERNA
Alf?ldi
p.
114 nr.
94; pl. XXIII,
9
2,35
gr.
37 mm.
From the Six collection
This combination is unknown to Alf?ldi. It
puts
back the reverse
from the middle into the
early period.
5. Obv.:
Trajan; engraved palm-branch
TRAIANUS ? P AUG
Rev.:
Cybele
and Attis in chariot
Alf?ldi
p.
153 nr.
222; pl. XII,
10
21,8 gr.
35 mm.
From the Six collection
7) Explained by
Alf?ldi as
P(raemia) F(eliciter) (accipe).
CONTORNIATES IN THE ROYAL COIN CABINET 85
6. Obv.: as 5
Rev.: Charioteer with
quadriga
DOMN-INUS; monograms
between the horses'
legs
Cfr. Alf?ldi
p.
119 nrs.
134,
134a and 137
25,2 gr.
37 mm.
From the Six collection
This
extremely
well
preserved
reverse is an
interesting
variant
(Pl. I, 3).
Both sides have
slightly
shifted.
7. Obv.: Roma
full-faced;
engraved PE-monogram
in
loop
Alf?ldi
p.
101 nr. Ill
Rev. : like 1
22,45 gr.
37 mm.
From the Six collection
This combination is unknown to Alf?ldi.
8. Obv.: Roma to 1.
Alf?ldi
p.
101 nr. 110
Rev.:
Hypsipyle
and her children
struggling
with
serpents
Alf?ldi
p.
Ill nr. 74
19,6 gr.
35 mm.
From the Six collection
This combination is unknown to Alf?ldi. The
reverse, contrary
to
the
only specimen
he
knows,
is
extremely
well
preserved (Pl. 1,1,2).
Middle Period
9. Obv.: Homer
Alf?ldi
p.
88 nr. 27
Rev. : Man with
quadruped
26.7
gr.
37 mm.
Unfortunately
this
seemingly
unknown reverse is
very
indistinct.
10. Obv.:
Nero; engraved palm-branch
IMP NERO CAESAR AUG ? MAX
Rev.:
Olympias reclining,
with snake
Alf?ldi
p.
142 nr.
128; pl. XIV,
2
23,3 gr.
38 mm.
11. Obv.:
Nero; engraved PE-monogram
IMP NERO CAESAR AUG ? MAX
86 CONTORNIATES IN THE ROYAL COIN CABINET
Rev.: lason
subduing
the
fire-breathing
bulls
Alf?ldi
p.
142 nr.
125; pl. XIV,
3
22,95 gr.
37 mm.
From the Six collection
12. Obv.:
Nero; engraved palm-branch
NERO CAESAR AUG GERM IMP
Rev.:
Quadriga
STE-(FAN)-AS
Alf?ldi
p.
145 nr.
146; pl. XX,
7-10
18,7 gr.
36 mm.
13. Obv.:
Vespasian
IM(P
CAES
VE)SPASIAN
AUG COS III
Rev.: Boar
hunting
Alf?ldi
p.
150 nr.
195; pl. XV,
8
24,1
gr.
39 mm.
From the Six collection
14. Obv.:
Trajan; engraved PE-monogram
TRAIANUS AUG COS 1111 ?
Rev. : Bacchus with retinue
*)
Alf?ldi
p.
154 nr.
235; pl. XXV,
5-8
15,7 gr.
36 mm.
Perforated
straight
above the central
figure
of the reverse
15. Obv.:
Trajan
TRAIANUS AUG COS 1111 PP
Alf?ldi
p.
95 nr.
76; pl. XXI,
5-8
Rev.: Chastisement of Dirce
Alf?ldi
p.
110 nr. 62
19,4 gr.
35 mm.
From the Six collection
Alf?ldi
gives
two combinations of this reverse with different
types
of
Trajan,
but not with this one.
16. Obv.:
Theodosius;
engraved palm-branch
DN THEODO-SIUS P F AUG
Alf?ldi
p.
98 nr.
98; pl. XXI,
1-2
1) Perhaps presented
on the occasion of a
marriage,
see Miss
J.
M. C.
Toynbee,
Roman Medallions
(New York, 1944), p.
96.
CONTORNIATES IN THE ROYAL COIN CABINET 87
Rev.: Victor between two
kneeling figures
DEBELL-ATOR GENTIUM
22,8
gr.
37 mm.
This
reverse, unfortunately
not well
preserved,
is unknown to
Alf?ldi
(PI. I, 4).
17. Obv.:
Hunting
archer on horseback
COLENDUS
Rev.: Circus Maximus
Alf?ldi
p.
125 nr.
196; pl. XXIX,
12
23,6 gr.
39 mm.
From the Six collection
Part of the
edge
has broken off
Late
period
18. Obv.: Alexander
ALEXXAN-DER MAG
Alf?ldi
?,
86 nr. 5
Rev.:
Standing
man with leaf in r. and
garland
in 1. hand
URSE V-INCAS
Alf?ldi
p.
126 nr. 213 23
gr.
38 mm.
From the Six collection
This combination is unknown to Alf?ldi.
19. Obv.: as
17; engraved palm-branch
Rev.: Aeneas with father and son
AENEAS
Alf?ldi
p.
113 nr. 88 21
gr.
37 mm.
From the Six collection
Alf?ldi mentions one instance of this reverse and that combined
with a
Trajan. Though part
of the
edge
has broken
off,
ours is an
excellent
specimen (Pl. I, 5, 6).
20. Obv.:
Alexander; engraved palm-branch
ALEXA-NDER
Rev.: Wild horse
hunting
Alf?ldi
p.
132 nr. 23
30,25 gr.
39 mm.
From the Six collection
88 CONTORNIATES IN THE ROYAL COIN CABINET
21. Obv.: Alexander
ALEXA-NDER
Rev.: Circus Maximus
Alf?ldi
p.
132 nr.
32; pl. XLIII,
9-10
24,1 gr.
38mm.
22. Obv.:
Nero; engraved palm-branch
IMP NERO CAESAR AUG ? MAX
Rev.:
Olympias reclining,
with snake
Alf?ldi
p.
146 nr.
161; pl. XXX,
9
23,2
gr.
37 mm.
23. Obv.: Nero
IMP NERO CAESAR AUG ? MAX
Rev.: Sale of contorniates under arcade
Alf?ldi
p.
149 nr.
184; pl. XXXIV,
4ff.
26,3 gr.
38 mm.
From the Six collection
Though
the die of the observe has
slightly
shifted,
this is an extre-
mely
fine
specimen (Pl. II, 7, 8).
24. Obv.: Nero
IMP NERO CAESAR AUG ? MAX
Rev.: Charioteer in
quadriga
GERONTIU.
Alf?ldi
p.
148 nr.
178; pl. XXXIII,
8
22,1 gr,
37 mm.
25. Obv.:
Trajan
.TRAIA-NO AUGUSTO
Rev.:
Organ
between two
standing figures
Alf?ldi
p.
159 nr.
272; pl. XXXII,
12 25
gr.
36 mm.
From the Six collection
The
observe,
especially,
is much
damaged.
26. Obv.:
Trajan
IMP CAES TRAIANUS AUG PM PP PROCONS
Rev.: Aeneas as 19
Alf?ldi
p.
159 nr.
274; pl. XXXV,
1
24,1
gr.
35 mm.
Pl. I
Pl. II
10
11
12
CONTORNIATES IN THE ROYAL COIN CABINET 89
27. Obv.: as
26;
engraved palm-branch
on r.
Rev.: Victorious athlete between woman and
flute-player
FIL-INUS
Alf?ldi
p.
159 nr.
275; pl. XXX,
3-4 18
gr.
34 mm.
28. Obv.:
Trajan
DIVO NERVA-E TRAIANO
Rev.:
Scylla
Alf?ldi
p.
160 nr.
281; pi. LXV,
3-4
26,1
gr.
37 mm.
From the Six collection
29. Obv.:
Trajan
DIVO NERVAE TRAIANO
Rev.: as 28
Alf?ldi
p.
161 nr.
288; pl. XL,
5-6
21,9
gr.
37 mm.
30. Obv.: as
28; engraved palm-branch
Rev.: Circus Maximus
Alf?ldi
p.
160 nr.
284; pl. XLI,
7-9
24,5 gr.
37 mm.
31. Obv.: as
30; engraved PE-monogram
Rev.: as 30
From the Six collection
27,8 gr.
37 mm.
32. Obv.:
Pius-Caracalla; engraved palm-branch
M AUREL ANTONINUS PIUS AUG BRIT
Alf?ldi
p.
98 nr. 96
Rev. :
Olympias
as 22 29
gr.
37 mm.
As the reverse bears no
legend,
this
type slightly
differs from those
mentioned
by
Alf?ldi
p.
163 nr. 307-8.
33. Obv.:
Pius-Caracalla; engraved palm-branch
ANTONINUS PIUS AUG
Rev.:
Quadriga
in front-view
Alf?ldi
p.
164 nr.
317; pl. XXXIX,
10
23,7 gr.
35 mm.
From the Six collection
90 CONTORNIATES IN THE ROYAL COIN CABINET
34. Obv.: Charioteer with
horse; engraved palm-branch
on 1.
Rev.: Seated man
..(NUS) MAGCO(-N MO)NINUS
Alf?ldi
p.
168 nr.
359; pl. XXXVI,
6
20,6 gr.
35 mm.
II. 395-410
35. Obv.: Nero
NERO CLAUD AUGUSTUS
Alf?ldi
p.
180 nr.
465; pl. L,
7
Rev.: Decursio
DECURSIO in ex.
Alf?ldi
p.
180 nr.
474; pl. L,
8
From the Six collection
22,4 gr.
33 mm.
This
specimen
is of excellent execution and
preservation (Pl.
II, 9, 10).
36. Obv.: Nero
....(NER)O
C.
Cfr. Alf?ldi
p.
179 nr.
460; pl. L,
15
Rev. : Seated Ceres to 1. in front of altar?
Cfr. Alf?ldi
p.
185 nr.
519; pl. LI,
12
22,9
gr.
34 mm.
37. Obv.: Nero to 1.
NERO CL AUGUSTUS
cfr. Alf?ldi
p.
179 nr.
462; pl. L,
5
Rev.: Seated Roma
cfr. Alf?ldi
p. 181, 477; pl. LI,
1
23,7
gr.
33 mm.
The reverse is much worn
38. Obv.:
Nero;
dotted
palm-branch
on 1. and
PF-monogram
on r.
NERO CLAUDIUS CAESAR AUG GER ? M TR ?
Rev.: Seated Roma?
Cfr. Alf?ldi
p.
182 nr.
488; pl. LIV,
2
17,1 gr.
32 mm.
From the Six collection
CONTORNIATES IN THE ROYAL COIN CABINET 91
39. Obv.:
Nero-Hercules; engraved PE-monogram
Alf?ldi
p.
182 nr.
490; pl. LIV,
4
Rev.:
Serpent
in front of altar
Alf?ldi
p.
182 nr.
488; pl. LIV,
2
28,35 gr.
37 mm.
From the Six collection
40. Obv.:
Agrippina; engraved
A to r.
Legend illegible
Rev.:
Temple
with statue of
Cybele
Alf?ldi
p.
186 nr.
257; pi. LXXIII,
7 22
gr.
33 mm.
The reverse is much worn
III. 410-
?
455
41. Obv.:
Trajan
(DIVO TRAIA-)NO
AUGUSTO
Rev.: Charioteer with two horses
EUTIME
N(ICA);
TURIFICATOR
AS(TUTUS)
in ex.
Alf?ldi
p.
171 nr.
386; pi. LXIV,
10
22,35 gr.
39 mm.
From the Six collection
42. Obv.:
Trajan
DIVO TRAIA-NO AUGUSTO
Rev.: Vulcan with Achilles' shield
Alf?ldi
p.
172 nr.
397; pi. LXVII,
4
31,6 gr.
41 mm.
From the Six collection
43. Obv.: Pius-Caracalla
ANTONI-NUS PIUS
Rev.: Hercules in the
garden
of the
Hesperides
SABUCIUS PINIAN-...C
Alf?ldi
p.
173 nr.
403; pi. LXII,
5
33,
5
gr.
41 mm.
44. Obv.: Honorius
(HONO)RIO AU(GUSTO)
Rev.:
Quadriga
in front-view
92 CONTORNIATES IN THE ROYAL COIN CABINET
(AR)T(E)MI (VINCAS)
Alf?ldi
p.
173 nr.
405; pl. LXIII,
3
29,8 gr.
40 mm.
From the Six collection
45. Obv.:
Valentinianus;
engraved PE-monogram
DN L A VALENTINIANUS
Rev.: Two bestiarii in action
VAL NOB C in ex.
Alf?ldi
p. 174,412; pi. LIX,
1 this same
specimen 27,7 gr
41 mm.
From the Hess collection
(Pl. II, 11, 12).
46. Obv.:
Roma;
silver-inlaid leaf
INVICTA
ROMA-(FELIX SENAT)US
Alf?ldi
p.
101 nr. 146
Rev. : Bestiarius
protested by
a
revolving grilled
screen
*)
REPARATIO MU-NERIS FELICITER
Cfr. Alf?ldi
p.
123 nr.
180;
for
inscription
see
p. 122-3,
nr.
176-7
30,9
gr.
39 mm.
From the Six collection
This reverse is unknown to
Alf?ldi;
a similar one dates from the
last
years
of the first
period;
several
examples
of this
inscription
occur in the third
period.
47. Obv.:
Emperor; engraved palm-branch
Rev.:
Emperor
on horseback received
by standing
Roma? with
Victoria on r. hand.
Illegible legend
in three lines in ex.
33,2
gr.
39 mm.
Both sides are unknown to
Alf?ldi;
unfortunately they
are
badly
preserved.
Den
Haag, Lange
Voorhout 50
1)
Cfr.
Delbrueck, o.e., pl.
21.