Results found: 2

Search results

Search:
in the keywords: siliqua

Sort By:

Limit search:

Naśladownictwo silikwy rzymskiej z Konarzewa pod Poznaniem

100%

Makiewicz T., Suchodolski S.

Wiadomości Numizmatyczne

2008

vol. 52

issue 1(185)

21-33

An imitation of a Roman siliqua was found during an archaeological survey carried out by the Institute of Prehistory of Poznań University at a settlement from the late Roman period in Konarzewo near Poznań (site 5). The find was discovered in the east part of the settlement, in a culture layer above structure E64 or even in its upper part. A considerable number of sherds were found at this structure and in the vicinity. The beginnings of the settlement are dated from 340 AD using dendrochronology. A cremation burial ground discovered in one of the wells is supposed to have been used from the middle of the fifth century to the middle of the sixth century. The imitation of siliqua is made of .970 silver. It is oval in shape (21 x 18 mm) and weighs 2.916 g. Surprisingly, the Emperor's bust, which was very well copied, is in contrast to totally blundered legends, where the letters are difficult to recognize. Moreover, the reverse is very poorly marked and hardly visible. A heavy siliqua of Constantius II from the years 353-357 with the inscription VOTIS/XXX/ MVLTIS/XXXX, presumably from Sirmium served as the pattern. However, the hairdo is different (Emperors hair is parted at the top of his head to the front and back). It has analogies on Byzantine coins of Justin I and Justinian I. Therefore, there is a possibility that although the imitation found in Konarzewo was influenced by a coin from the fourth century, it was made not earlier than in the sixth century. Other, previously known imitations of siliquae of Constantius II, imitations which had been made earlier, e.g. those from the hoards of Kecel (Romania), Budai (Moldoya) and Laatzen (Germany), look completely different, and this fact weighs in favour of a later chronology. It is also a well-known fact that as regards making ornaments (brooches), Roman coins were also imitated after a considerable passage of time. The imitation discovered in Konarzewo was probably made outside the boundaries of the Empire, but at a relatively small distance, to the north of the Danube. The maker was an artistic illiterate, who remained under the direct influence of Roman culture. His aim was to produce a jewellery rather than a coin. The very poor reproduction of the reverse, which is nearly invisible, argues for this. The non-monetary function of the artefact would be obvious if we were to assume a later date for its manufacture. It was probably a pendant, which was only later turned into a brooch. A strong bend at one edge of the artefact and the punching of two little holes near the other edge argues for a change of function. The holes are situated close to the edge behind the Emperor's head and could not have been cut when the artefact was made or when it served as a pendant. Their purpose may have been to attach a pin and clip mechanism to the brooch (6 figures).

Recording recent Roman coin finds from Poland (2004-2007)

67%

Dymowski A.

Wiadomości Numizmatyczne

2008

vol. 52

issue 2(186)

195-208

The number of new, amateur finds of Roman coins have been increasing rapidly in recent years. Researchers generally agree that coins from amateur finds are fully legitimate numismatic sources. It is estimated that non-archaeologists made no less than 90% of old discoveries of Roman coins from the area of central Barbaricum. This is also true for the beginning of the 21st century. The disadvantage of this situation lies in the fact that the lack of information about the context of most of the amateur finds significantly decrease their source value for archaeology. However, the mass representation of the material is a big advantage. In order to obtain more data on new discoveries from Poland, it was necessary to develop a project that would allow for collecting anonymous information about finds of Roman coins. The scheme of action was thus based on two kinds of activities. One of them involved searching information about the new discoveries of coins on the Internet and then expanding and verifying these data. The other involved propagating the project of recording finds as wide as it was possible in order to encourage finders to pass as much information about their discoveries as possible. During the realisation of the project, from May 2004 to November 2007, the number of 518 pieces of anonymous information had been gathered. This material comprised of 1,028 Roman coins from 448 finds. Among the newly reported finds, there were: 11 treasures and 437 small finds (113 group finds and 324 single finds). Basing on the collected data, we may assume that single finds of Roman coins are relatively rare in Poland, which can mean that they usually appear in a broader archaeological context. Unfortunately, in most cases we have no information about the context whatsoever. Some interesting observations on the collected material are worth mentioning here: • Republican denarii quite frequently occurred in small finds; • Denarii subaeratii also occurred quite frequently; we may assume that no less than 10 percent of all small finds of Roman denarii in Poland were in fact denarii subaeratii; • Three hoards similar to Drzewicz hoard were discovered in the basin of Bzura river, which may suggest that there were “Drzewicz type” hoards in that area; • The example of four hoards found in the Polish Jura suggests that hoards deposited on this territory in the Migration Period often contained a number of denarii and jewelry, including gold coins adapted for pendants. General methods of critical approach to such new material are still being developed, since information regarding the coins and the circumstances of their discovery happened sometimes to be, no matter if intentionally or not, false or distorted. Registration activities were continued in 2008 which resulted in capturing two important single finds: a siliqua of Constantius II discovered in a field in the village Prusice (commune Złotoryja) and a solidus of Arcadius found in a field in Rotmanka in the suburbs of Gdansk (6 figures, 2 tables).

Refine search results

2 Wiadomości Numizmatyczne

2 2008

1 Dymowski A.

1 Makiewicz T.

1 Suchodolski S.

Search results

Naśladownictwo silikwy rzymskiej z Konarzewa pod Poznaniem

Recording recent Roman coin finds from Poland (2004-2007)