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Contorniate

Moneta Historical Research by Tom Schroer

Contorniates are not properly coins, but rather tokens used somehow in conjunction with the public games or circuses. The name (modern in origin) comes from the Italian word "contorno" meaning "circle" or "rim", and derives from the characteristic feature of contorniates, that of incuse rings about the circumference on both sides in place of the circle of dots normally encountered on Roman Imperial coinage. The rings were engraved after the coins were made. Contorniates are as large in diameter as bronze medallions (most often 35-45 millimeters), and frequently larger (50 millimeters is not unusual), although normally not as heavy as medallions since they tend to be thinner. Many, if not most, are cast instead of struck.  All are of bronze and date from the time of Constantine I (307-337) to Anthemius (467-472).

Many have the letters "E" and "P" formed into a monogram and engraved into them, and sometimes the etching is filled with silver. Other symbols are often engraved into them, one of the most common being the palm branch.  The devices engraved into the contorniates are believed to be reminders of victories won. Indeed Philip Grierson suggests the letters PEL in monogram form sometimes found on contorniates stand for "palma et laurus", a signification of victory in the games.

The designs usually have an emperor on one side (often called the reverse on contorniates) and often a charioteer, dancer, mythological scene, or hero on the other side. The featured emperor was frequently from the first two centuries AD (Julius Caesar is sometimes also depicted), with Nero and Trajan were frequently used since they were known to be enthusiastic patrons of the circuses. However, other designs were used on the reverse, such as busts of Alexander the Great and Greek and Roman authors, such as Sallust, Homer, Horace, Virgil, and Pythagoras.

The obverse legends are often wishes for the success of a competitor or faction.

They may have been issued by private individuals or organizations rather than the government, but there are die links to coins known to have been produced at the mint of Rome.  Their connection with the mint of Rome also seems likely because the last known (of Anthemius - whose reign ended in 472) correlate well with the "fall" of Rome in 476. Alfoldi has argued that perhaps they were issued in connection with the public games by the pagan aristocracy of the Roman Senate, given their Roman connection and the fact that the motifs are never Christian. The exact use of contorniates is a matter of speculation although their use as good-luck charms or amulets for the public games is generally accepted, though some believe they were distributed at New Year's festivals to wish success in the New Year.


Dictionary of Roman Coins























CONTORNIATE COINS.— Both for abundance and for superiority of curious interest, the NUMI CONTORNIATI, as they are termed in Latin works, hold the foremost place amongst the pseudo moneta of ancient times. It is probable that this word is derived from the Italian contorno, or from the French countour, signifying the outline of anything; since most of these coins actually exhibit, on the outer edge of both obverse and reverse, a circular line deeply engraved. The subject is treated of, with his usual mastery and with his accustomed justice to the labors of others, by Eckhel, who (in Doctrina, viii, 277) has divided it into six heads, viz. the characteristics, the types, the date, the use, and the merit, of Contorniates.
The following is a summary:—

I.—Peculiar Characteristics.— These are of a kind readily to strike the eye, and to distinguish this class of medals from the genuine coinage.
First.—The line on the edge of the coin, on both sides, marked circularly, and in the mode of a furrow; generally deep, in the place usually occupied, on the regular products of the Roman mint, by a ring of globules, which is rarely found on the coins now in the course of being described. This is the most certain token of a contorniate, and it is the circumstance , which, as already observed, probably gave rise to the term. There appears to be no doubt, that this line was made with a graving tool, after the coin was struck; for, on many specimens, the heads of the letters are divided by the instrument.


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