02-02-2006, 02:16 AM
"She said that nothing is more spurious than coin dates."
Certainly, dating a context exactly on the basis of coins is tricky, due to the possibility that coins might remain in circulation for a considerable time, meaning that sites dated by coin evidence can only really be assigned a terminus post quem date. However, the coins themselves are much easier to date as they served as visual news of great events as well as currency. Consequently, different issues tend to have different images on them, meaning that the minting dates of the coins can be identified fairly securely. Thus, the appearance of Trajan's column on a coin provides a date by which the column had been erected.
I am not a numismatist (although my Roman history lecturer at university, Dr C.T.H.R. Ehrhardt, to whom I owe much of my knowledge and zeal, definately was) so I am not the best person to talk about coin evidence. Flavius Crispus (aka Dave Michaels) is a coin dealer and knows the subject inside out. This is really the moment for him to jump in and comment.
Flavius Crispe, if you are there, give us your opinion.
Crispvs
Certainly, dating a context exactly on the basis of coins is tricky, due to the possibility that coins might remain in circulation for a considerable time, meaning that sites dated by coin evidence can only really be assigned a terminus post quem date. However, the coins themselves are much easier to date as they served as visual news of great events as well as currency. Consequently, different issues tend to have different images on them, meaning that the minting dates of the coins can be identified fairly securely. Thus, the appearance of Trajan's column on a coin provides a date by which the column had been erected.
I am not a numismatist (although my Roman history lecturer at university, Dr C.T.H.R. Ehrhardt, to whom I owe much of my knowledge and zeal, definately was) so I am not the best person to talk about coin evidence. Flavius Crispus (aka Dave Michaels) is a coin dealer and knows the subject inside out. This is really the moment for him to jump in and comment.
Flavius Crispe, if you are there, give us your opinion.
Crispvs
Who is called \'\'Paul\'\' by no-one other than his wife, parents and brothers. :!: <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" title="Exclamation" />:!:
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<a class="postlink" href="http://www.romanarmy.net">www.romanarmy.net