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THE
JOURNALOF
ARCHÆOLOGICAL
NUMISMATICS
V OLUME 4 – 2014
CEN - BRUXELLES
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CENEUROPEAN CENTRE FOR NUMISMATIC STUDIES —
CENTRE EUROPÉEN D’ÉTUDES NUMISMATIQUESB R U X E L L E S
asbl, founded in 1964
Honorary PresidentsMaurice COLAERT (†) – Marc BAR (†)
President Jean-Claude THIRY
Vice-presidentHenri POTTIER
Members of the Board Jean-Marc DOYEN – Stéphane GENVIER – Christian LAUWERS – Luc SEVERS – Gaetano TESTA – Michel WAUTHIER
Our PublicationsTravaux du CEN : 15 volumes published since 1967 – Dossiers du CEN : 3 volumes
Bulletin du CEN (BCEN) : quadrimestral, published since 1964
THE JOURNAL OF ARCHÆOLOGICAL NUMISMATICSEditorial Board
Chairman
Jean-Marc DOYEN (PhD, UMR 8164 –HALMA, Université de Lille 3 – CReA-Patrimoine, Université libre de Bruxelles)Members of the editorial board
Thibault CARDON (MA, CRH-GAM, Ehess) Vincent GENEVIÈVE (MA, INRAP, ITEM – EA 3002, Pau)Xavier DERU (PhD, maître de conférences, Université de Lille 3) Stéphane MARTIN (PhD, UMR 8210–ANHIMA, EPHE Paris)
Layout
Francis DIEULAFAIT (DEA, TRACES –UMR 5608, Toulouse)
Scientific CommitteeHonorary President
Richard REECE (PhD, University of London)
Marc BOMPAIREDirecteur de recherches au CNRS
Prof. Aleksander BURSCHEProfessor at the Warsaw University
Laurent CALLEGARINMaître de conférences(ITEM – EA 3002, Pau)
Dr. Simon ESMONDE CLEARYProfessor of Roman Archæology,University of Birmingham
Dr. Suzanne FREY-KUPPERAssociate Professor, Department of Classics and Ancient History,University of Warwick
Dr. Manuel GOZALBES FERNÁNDEZ DE PALENCIACurator of the Museude Prehistòria de València
Helle W. HORSNÆSSenior researcher,Curator of Ancient coins,The National Museum of Denmark
Prof. Dr. Fleur KEMMERS Jun. Prof. at the Goethe Univ.,Frankfurt/Main
Jens Christian MŒSGAARDAssistant Keeper,Royal Coll. of Coins & Medals, Copenhagen
Sylvia NIETO-PELLETIERChargée de recherches au CNRS, Orléans
Dr. Markus PETERMuseum Augusta Raurica, Augst
Jean-Michel POISSONMaître de conférences à l’EHESS, Paris
Laurent POPOVITCHMaître de Conférences,Université de Bourgogne
Michel REDDÉDirecteur d’Études à l’EPHE, Paris
Dr. Pere Pau RIPOLLÈS ALEGRECatedràtic d’Arqueología,Universitat de València
Dr. John SILLSCeltic numismatist,Oxford Institute of Archæology
Clive STANNARDHonorary Visiting Fellow,University of Leicester
Prof. Dr. Lucia TRAVAINIProfessore associato,Università degli Studi di Milano
Prof. Dr. Johan VAN HEESCHCurator of the Coin Cabinet,Royal Library of Belgium, Brussels
Prof. Dr. Koenraad VERBOVENProf. of Ancient History,University of Ghent
Dr. David WIGG-WOLF
Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter,Römisch-Germanische Kommission (RGK)
Dr. Marcin WOLOSZYNInstitute of Archæology & Ethnology,Polish Academy of Science, Kraków
Front cover: photos Th. Cardon
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As it is a well-known act the coins areconsidered by archaeologists as a specialcategory o arteacts. Te coinage has
chronological historical and documentary values while the coin production andconsumption involve all the society levels(Kemmers & Myrberg 2011, p. 89). Tere-ore, at the first sight, the publication o thecoins under study may lead us to the idea orecent archaeological discoveries. Still, thesecoins were ound during the excavations o1961-1962 within the Necropolis o Noşlac !Tese coins were ound together with otherarteacts rom the same necropolis in thestore room o the National History Museumo ransylvania rom Cluj-Napoca.
Te reading o previous bibliography onthe archaeological campaigns rom thoseyears have revealed the absence o these coinsin those reports (Rusu 1962, p. 269-292 ;Rusu 1964, p. 32-45 ; Popescu 1962, p. 212,n° 96 ; Popescu 1963, p. 461 ; Popescu 1964,p. 563, n° 93 ; Popescu 1965, p. 595, n° 62 ;Moga & Ciugudean (eds.) 1995, p. 129-
131, n° 124). On the other hand, anotherRoman coin, o Elagabalus [2], is mentionedas coming rom grave n° 44 o the samenecropolis rom Noşlac [3]. oday, this coincould not be retrieved among the arteacts.Te state o preservation o these coins at themoment when they have been re-discoveredin the museum store room indicates the act
** Institute o Archaeology and Art History Cluj-Napoca, Romania, [email protected].
[1] Owing to the poor condition o preservation andstorage o material, and, on the other side, the losso the original documentation, currently, there isa project trying to recover, where possible, theinormation and material rom the necropolis oNoslac , including the original documentation, inorder to publish a monographic work.
[2] No urther details provided by the author.
[3]
Rusu 1962, p. 274 ; Rusu 1964, p. 37. For lack odetails, this coin is not included in the ollowingcatalogue.
that these pieces did not suffer a restorationprocess afer being discovered at the site.
Tereore, it is our duty to place these
coins within the scientific environment bypublishing the catalogue.
C (fig. -)
Grave n° 29
1. HADRIANUS for Sabina, unknown mint,
AD 117-138.
SABINAAVGVSA/HADRIANIAVGPP
Diademed bust, right.PVDI/CIIA
Pudicitia standing lef, holding veil.
Denarius, plated : 1,7 g ; 6 ; 18,3 mm.
C. RIC II, p. 388, no 407.
Noşlac 1962, necropolis, « Hărăstăşan’s pit ».
Grave n° 41
2. ANTONINUS PIUS, Rome, AD 158-159.ANONINVSAVGPI/VSPPRPXXII
Head laureate, right.
EMPLDIVAVGESCOSIIII S/C
Octastyle temple with the statues o Divus Augustus and Livia.
As: 11,3 g ; 6 ; 24,4 x 22 x 6 mm.
RIC III, p. 151, no 1024.
Noşlac 1961, necropolis, « Hărăstăşan’s pit ».
Grave n° 58
3. GORDIANUS III¸ unknown mint, AD 241-
243 or later.
IMPGORDIANVSPIVSFELAVG
Radiate bust, draped and cuirassed, right.
IOVI/SAORI
Jupiter standing right, holding sceptre andthunderbolt.
Antoninianus, plated : 3,8 g ; 12 ; 19,8 mm.
C. RIC IV.3, p. 25, no 84.Noşlac 1961, necropolis, « Hărăstăşan’s pit ».
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Grave n° 93 7. MARCUS AURELIUS, unknown mint, AD180 or later.
]ANONINVSAVG
Bust laureate and draped, right]RPXXXIIIIIM/P/XCOSIIIPP
Victory standing lef, on globe, holding wreathand palm.
Denarius, plated : 2,1 g ; 5 ; 16.9 x 15.5 mm.
C. RIC III, p. 245, no 411.
Noşlac 1962, necropolis, « Hărăstăşan’s pit ».
Remark : A finger print o the ancient orger ispartially preserved on the obverse.
As it is mentioned above, the coins come
rom a necropolis dated in the 6th-7th centuries and located in the western part othe locality o Noşlac ; 125 graves are knownso ar (fig. 2).
From the numismatic point o viewthese pieces are issues o the Roman state– members o the imperial house, civicissuer – the city o Pautalia in Trace(nowadays, Kyustendil, Bulgaria) – and anancient ake – the coin portraying Marcus
Aurelius. Except the aked coin, the othersare requently ound within Roman sitesand necropolises, as they are denominationregularly issued. Te aked coin presentsa specific eature that will be discussed ina separate study (Găzdac & Cosma 2014,orthcoming).
However, a particular aspect about theseRoman coins is the way o distributionin these early medieval graves. Only one
Roman bronze coin was ound in gravesn° 29, 41, 58 and 93. It must be mentionedhere that the coins rom graves no 29 and58 are plated ones. Although they were‘officially’ issued as silver denominations –either by an official mint or a clandestineworkshop – only the bronze core survivedwhile the silver oil has vanished. On theother hand, the grave n° 102 had threeRoman coins, all o silver – even the akedcoin has a silver surace.
Could this aspect be a consequence oa simple ortunate situation when the
4. MARCUS AURELIUS for Faustina II,
Pautalia Traciae, AD 161-180.
FAVCINA/CEBACH
Draped bust, right.
OVLIACPAVALIAC
yche standing lef, holding rudder andcornucopia.
Ae : 4,9 g ; 7 ; – 19.6 mm.
Moushmov 1912, no 4114 ; RPC IV, emp no 8834.
Noşlac 1961, necropolis, « Hărăstăşan’s pit ».
Grave n° 1025. NERO, Rome, AD 67-68.
IMPNEROCAESAR/AVGPP
Head laureate, right.
SA/LVS (in field)
Salus seated lef on throne, holding patera.
Denarius : 3,1 g ; 5 ; 19 x 16.5 mm.
RIC I2, p. 175, no 411.
Noşlac 1962, necropolis, « Hărăstăşan’s pit ».
Remark : on the obverse, the mark rom a later
metal control.
6. VITELLIUS, Rome, AD 69.
AVIELLIVSGERM[
Head bare, right.
FIDES/EXERCIVVM (in field)
Clasped hands.
Denarius : 2,8 g ; 12 ; 18.5 x 17.4 mm.
RIC I2, p. 271, no 67.
Noşlac 1962, necropolis, « Hărăstăşan’s pit ».
Remark : on the obverse, the mark rom a latermetal control.
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decedent have ound better coins than theothers or the higher number and the bettermetal o coins represent marks o a higher
social statute ?
Te comparative analyse o coins andother arteacts coming rom this gravesmay offer explanations o socio-historicalnature. Apart rom the studied coins, the« investigation » in the store room o thehistory museum in Cluj-Napoca have alsobrought to light a series o arteacts comingrom the same necropolis. Fortunateenough, the original labels with the gravenumber were still attached to the arteacts.Tereore, we were able to correlate thecoins with the arteacts coming rom thesame grave [4]. Tis advantage allowed us toreach some conclusions :
1. all three graves that provided us withboth coins and other arteacts belongedto warriors as demonstrated by thepresence o spearheads, arrow heads
and sword blades (fig. 3-6).2. the comparative analyse between coins
and graves’ inventory points out thatgrave no. 102 belonged to an individualwith a higher social position that theother three decedents: silver coins only,unerary inventory o higher quality(design and metal, silvered bronze)(fig. 3-6).
Te second conclusion confirms the theoryo « metal language » where the superiormetal (gold, silver) symbolises authority/sovereignty (Kurke 1999, p. 25, 53). At thesame time, the quality o metal based on itscolour marks the social difference : reddish-brownish [bronze] coins – is picked up orthose placed on a lower hierarchic statute ;white-silver coins or those o a higher social
[4] Except or the grave n° 93 where the arteactsother than the coin have not been yet identified.
statute (Kemmers & Myrberg 2011, p. 95-96).
Practically, in this case, the coinage loses
its economical unction and becomes asymbol o a certain social statute.Roman coins o the 2nd-3rd centuries AD are
very scarcely discovered on the Romanianintra-Carpathian territory. A plated denariusdepicting emperor Commodus was oundin a grave rom a necropolis dated in the8th-9th centuries AD at imişoara - ModoşBridge [5].
Coins issued in the 4th century AD andByzantine period are more requentlydiscovered on this area (Lakatos 2002, p.237-256 ; Musteaţă 2008, p. 119-162). Teexplanation comes rom the historicalbackground. Te territory o the ormerRoman province o Dacia was abandonedaround AD 270. Te 4th century havewitnessed the temporary returned oRoman authority on the lef bank o theLower Danube at the same time with alarge quantity o bronze coin production
ollowing the strong monetary debasementthat will end with the replace o Roman withthe Byzantine monetary system.
Te presence o Roman coins in earlymedieval graves are requently ound acrossEurope, especially on the area o the ormerRoman Empire [6].
As source o provenance such Romancoins were ound by chance by the medievalindividuals within the abandoned Roman
settlements. In the case o the Roman coinsrom graves o the 6th-7th centuries AD rom
[5] Bejan 1983, p. 489 ; Bejan 1995, p. 79. In amore recent publication this coin is no longermentioned among the unerary inventory othe graves rom the Modoş Bridge, Mare 2004,p. 125-126.
[6] o cite but a ew works were available to us whenpreparing this work or publication : Longobards
graves (ravaini 2004, p. 159-181) ; Switzerland(Martin 1991) ; Anglo-Saxon graves (White1988).
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Noşlac such a source was, most likely, theRoman settlement o the 2nd-3rd centuriesAD located in the close vicinity o the
necropolis under study at the spot knownas « Şumughi » (Popescu 1964, p. 563,n° 93 ; Popescu 1965, p. 595, n° 62; Moga &Ciugudean (eds.) 1995, p. 131)..
As it has been demonstrated, the use oRoman coins in early medieval grave isthe proo o a social memory (Eckhard& Williams 2003, p. 163-165 ; Kemmers& Myrberg 2011, p. 100). Although therewas no biographic/ancestral link betweenthe medieval people and the Romancoins they ound, these pieces were,or certain, very attractive due to theirimagery and letters that conerred themsome apotropaic characteristics. Tus, thisnumismatic material has raised and shapeda social memory o the dead within acommunity which it was in a ull process odevelopment (Kemmers & Myrberg 2011,p. 100). Paradoxically, the social memoryraised through arteacts that had no
historical connection with the past o thesecommunities – « objects without a past »(Eckhard & Williams 2003, p. 165).
Bejan 1983A. B, Necropola de inhumaţie de sec.
VIII-IX de la imişoara - Podul Modoş. Acta Musei Napocensis 20, 1983, p. 489-498.
Bejan 1995A. B, Banatul în secolele IV-XII .
imişoara, 1995.
Eckhard & Williams 2003H. E H. W, Objects
without past? Te use o Roman objects inearly Anglo-Saxon graves. In: H. W(ed.), Archaeologies o remembrance. Deathand memory in past societies. New York, 2003,p. 141-170.
Găzdac & Cosma 2014
Cr. G C. C, A Countereiter’sFingerprint on a Forged Denarius o Marcus
Aurelius. NC 174, 2014, p. 125-128, pl. 17-19.
Kemmers & Myrberg 2011
Fl. K N. M, Rethinkingnumismatics. Te archaeology o coins.
Archaeological Dialogues 18 (1), 2011, p. 87-108.
Kurke 1999
L. K, Coins, Bodies, Games, and Gold:Te Politics o Meaning in Archaic Greece.
Princeton, 1999.
Lakatos 2002
A. L, Monede bizantine din perioadaavară în ransilvania, vestul şi nord-vestul
României. Ephemeris Napocensis 12, 2002,
p. 37-256.
Mare 2004M. M, Banatul între secolele IV-IX .
imişoara, 2004.
Martin 1991M. M, Das spätrömischrüh-
mittelalterliche Gräbereld von Kaiseraugst, Kt.
Aargau. eil A: ext . Derendingen, 1991.
Moga & Ciugudean (eds.) 1995
V. M H. C, Repertoriularheologic al judeţului Alba. Alba Iulia, 1995.
Moushmov 1912
N.A. M, Ancient Coins o the Balkan
Peninsula. Sofia, 1912.
Musteaţă 2008
S. M, Prezenţa monedei bizantineîn bazinul Carpaţilor şi la nordul Dunării
Inerioare în secolele VIII-IX. Arheologia
Moldovei 31, 2008, p. 119-162.
Popescu 1962
D. P, Săpăturile arheologice dinRepublica Populară Romînă în anul 1961. Studii
şi Cercetări de Istorie Veche şi Arheologie 13 (1),1962, p. 201-215.
B
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Popescu 1963D. P, Săpăturile arheologice din
Republica Populară Romînă în anul 1962. Studii
şi Cercetări de Istorie Veche şi Arheologie 14/2,1963, p. 451-466.
Popescu 1964D. P, Săpăturile arheologice din
Republica Populară Romînă în anul 1963. Studiişi Cercetări de Istorie Veche şi Arheologie 15/4,1964, p. 551-567.
Popescu 1965D. P, Săpăturile arheologice din
Republica Socialistă România în anul 1964.Studii şi Cercetări de Istorie Veche şi Arheologie 16/3, 1965, p. 587-605.
RIC
H. M, E. A. S, C. H. V.S, R. A. G. C (ed.), Te RomanImperial Coinage, London, 1923-ongoing.
RPC IV
Chr. H V. H (ed.), RomanProvincial Coinage IV . Te Antonines (AD 138-192), online database: http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/ (consulté le 11 octobre 2015).
Rusu 1962M. R, Te preeudal cemetery o Noşlac
(VIth-VIIth centuries), Dacia. N.S. 6, 1962, p. 69-292.
Rusu 1964M. R, Cimitirul preeudal de la Noşlac.
Probleme de Muzeografie. Cluj, 1964.
Travaini 2004L. , Saints and Sinners Coins in
Medieval Italian Graves. NC 164, 2004, p. 159-181.
White 1988R . W, Roman and Celtic objects rom
Anglo-Saxon graves. A catalogue and aninterpretation o their use. BAR BS 191, Oxord,1988.
L F
Fig. 1 ‒ Te location o the locality oNoșlac (Google Earth).
Fig. 2 ‒ Te location o the early medievalnecropolis rom Noșlac (based on GoogleEarth).
Fig. 3 ‒ Grave 29 : 1. Plated denarius ,Hadrianus or Sabina ; a. spearhead,iron ; b. ragments o ribbings, iron ;c. sword blade, iron.
Fig. 4 ‒ Grave 41 : 2. As , Antoninus Pius ;a. sword blade, iron ; b ragments oknives’ blades, iron.
Fig. 5 ‒ Grave 58 : 3. Platedantoninianus , Gordianus III ; a. swordblade, iron ; b. unidentified ragments o
iron.
Fig. 6 ‒ Grave 102 : 5-7. Denarii , silver :Nero, Vitellius, M. Aurelius (ancient
ake) ; a-b. spearheads, iron ; c-e. strap-ends ; -i, hair clips, bronze.
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– 186 –
Fig. 2
Fig. 1
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– 187 –
Fig. 3
1
a b
c
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– 188 –
Fig. 4
2
a b
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– 189 –
Fig. 5
3
a b
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– 190 –
Fig. 6
5 6 7
a b c
d
e
f g h i
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THE JOURNAL OF ARCHÆOLOGICAL NUMISMATICS
VOLUME 4–2014
TAB LE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLES
Vincent G
De Vieille-Toulouse à Tolosa : le grand déménagement des années
10-5 av. J.-C.1
Jean-Patrick D, Hélène D & Guillaume F
avec la collaboration de Julie D
Le trésor monétaire de Bierne-Socx (Nord, France) : un dépôt de bronzes
du Haut-Empire découvert en contexte archéologique 27
ibault C* & Frédéric L
Les sous des soldats de Napoléon au camp de Boulogne (1803-1805). Étudedes monnaies issues des fouilles des camps napoléoniens d’Étaples-sur-Meret Camiers (Pas-de-Calais, France) 67
NOTICES
Henri P
Numismatics and statistics: impact of sample size on 95% confidenceintervals for mean values 177
Cristian G, Călin C
Social memory and statute. Roman coins in medieval graves fromthe necropolis Noşlac, Romania 182
REVIEWS
Michael A & Franziska S-D (éd.) – NumismaticaCarnuntina. Foschungen und Material (Jean-Marc D) 193
Richard H – Currency and exchange in ancient Pompeii. Coins fromthe AAPP excavations at Regio VI, Insula I (Stéphane M) 200
Sophia K-S – Multiples concealments fromthe sanctuary of Zeus Olympios at Dion. ree Roman provincial coin hoards (Jean-Marc D) 204
Jérémie C – Les fouilles de la cathédrale de Rouen (1985-1993) sousla direction de Jacques Le Maho. Tome 1. Le numéraire antique (Jean-MarcD) 209
Vicki S (dir.) – Hoards, hounds and helmets. A conquest-period ritualsite at Hallaton, Leicestershire (Jean-Marc D) 216
CERCLES D’ÉTUDES NUMISMATIQUES
RÉGION DE BRUXELLES-CAPITALE – BRUSSELS HOOFDSTEDELIJK GEWEST
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