Imperatorial standards

[Anonymous]

Among the coins issued by Marcus Antonius to honor his army is one inscribed CHORTIS SPECVLATORVM (RSC.6):<br>
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members.tripod.com/~HAubu...nyprow.jpg<br>
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The reverse shows three apparently identical standards of unusual design. All are topped by a simple spear head. Each had a ship's prow as the bottom element (easilly identified when compared to the galley on the coin's obverse), above this is a wreath or garland, then a phalera. Next, below another wreath, is a crossbar from which 2 or 3 triangles (on this example they are V-shaped, on some they seem heart-shaped) appear to be suspended. Can anyone suggest what this crossbar and pendants would have been? Also, why ships' prows on the signa of a cohort of speculatores? Perhaps Antony had a special unit of ship-born "scouts" to keep an eye on the movements of Octavian's fleet? Any ideas?<br>
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Regards,<br>
Jno <p></p><i></i>

[Praefectusclassis]

These coins were mentioned in an earlier thread. <p>Greets<BR>
<BR>
Jasper</p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

I knew this coin looked familliar. I have this coin as the result of a winning bid at ebay about a year ago. <p><a href=http://pub45.ezboard.com/fromanarmytalkfrm6.showMessage?topicID=53.topic><u>Rules For Posting</u>






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[Catiline]

Angelfire doing it's best to irritate again, here's the image<br>
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<img src="http://[email protected]/Ed/antonyprow.jpg"><br>
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You'd think after three years studying Republican Rome I could remember to spell Antony correctly... <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/ucatiline.showPublicProfile?language=EN>Catiline</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://images.honesty.com/imagedata/h/634/27/26342710.jpg" BORDER=0> at: 3/14/02 12:40:12 pm<br></i>

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Catiline. Actually, it's Tripod this time, not Angelfire. I don't know why it won't work now -- tried it after I posted & it was ok. I couldn't figure out how to include it in the post.<br>
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I also tracked down the previous thread mentioned by Jasper (from last June). Same coin, somewhat different questions.<br>
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In that thread, btw, were pictured coins of Galba & Vespasian with ships' prows associated with standards. The leading authority on the coinage of Galba suggests these refer respectively to the legions I & II Adiutrix, created by those Emperors with recruits from the Misenum & Ravenna fleets. The Vespasian coin, however, could also refer to the major reorganization of the fleet which he instituted. Nerva also issued coins with CONCORDIA EXERCITVM reverses with clasped hands, a standard above, a prow below. This take to be simply a general "army and navy" symbolism.<br>
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Best,<br>
Jno<br>
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[Guest]

Salve,<br>
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Scouting vessels were termed <i> navis speculatoria</i> or a variant on it (eg <i> De Bello Gallico</i> 4.26). Where personel named <i> speculatores</i> appear in texts however they generally belong to land forces as either scouts or bodyguards. I am not sure about the role of the <i> cohors</i> in the naval organisation, but Jasper Oorthuys and Martin Wieland will undoubtedly be more informed on that matter. In the imperial era there existed <i> cohortes classicae</i> or - <i> classiariorum</i>, which were part of the army's auxiliary units rather than the navy though. According to Vegetius the praetorian fleets of Ravenna and Misenum were divided into <i> cohortes</i> (<i> Epitoma</i> 4.32), but I do not know whether other sources can confirm his statement.<br>
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Regards,<br>
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Sander van Dorst <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showLocalUserPublicProfile?login=sandervandorst>Sander van Dorst</A> at: 3/14/02 4:26:57 pm<br></i>

[Praefectusclassis]

The internal organisation of naval forces is very much a question. A ships's crew equalled a century, in the sense that is was commanded by a centurion, the number of crewmember seems not to have made any difference. It is <i> possible</i> that navarchi and navarchi principes were squadron commanders, so commanding seperate units within a classis under the command of a prefectus.<br>
Vegetius surely was confused when describing the structure of the classes praetoriae, likely because of the above mentioned legiones Adiutrices. And as to the cohortes classicae, Sander is right there, they were army units, raised from the fleet in the same way as Legio I and II Adiutrix. <p>Greets<BR>
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Jasper</p><i></i>