Franziska Schmidt-Dick, Typenatlas der römischen Reichsprägung von Augustus bis Aemilianus 1, Wien 2003

Franziska Schmidt-Dick, Typenatlas der römischen Reichsprägung von Augustus bis Aemilianus 2, Wien 2011

With the type atlas of the Roman Empire, Franziska Schmidt-Dick set herself the aim of systematically revising the typology of coin reverses in the form of a catalog. The study comprises the period from Augustus to Aemilianus (27 BC to 253 AD). In contrast to the standard work on Roman numismatics of the imperial era “The Roman Imperial Coinage” (10 volumes), the order of the material does not primarily obey chronology, but rather clusters it according to typological aspects of the reverse images. The first volume deals with female depictions, while the second volume focusses on geographical and male depictions. A third volume on animals, plants, objects and architecture is in the works.

The two volumes differ in their structure. The first volume of female depictions, which primarily consist in representations of gods and personifications, is divided into three parts; the first is the description of the numina, the second an annotated register of the attributes and gestures, and the third comprises a table that lists the depictions with their associated legends, minting authority and denomination as well as a literature quotation. The structure follows an alphabetical order from Abundantia to Virtus.

The second volume is divided into geographical depictions, which are arranged according to their form of representation (kneeling, sitting, etc.), and male depictions, which are divided into gods and heroes, numina, mortals and the emperor himself. In contrast to the first volume, the tables are included in the descriptions here. In my opinion, this represents a massive advantage over the first volume, since it makes it easier to understand in which periods certain representations are frequent, and with which reverse legends they occur. At the same time, the quotes are also directly visible. Overall, the structure of the second volume seems more logical and, above all, user-friendlier than that of the first.

The type atlas enables quick and uncomplicated familiarization with the typology of the figurative reverse depictions of the Roman principate period. Similar studies for the Roman coinage of late antiquity, which could be premised on Franziska Schmidt-Dick’s works, would be extremely useful and would have great value for numismatic researchers.

The two volumes of the Type Atlas are particularly relevant for my dissertation project. Since I deal with the iconological and iconographic aspects of the vota coinage of the reign jubilees from Antoninus Pius to Iustinianus I (138 – 565), typological studies such as this one form the basis of my examinations. The focus of my work is the connection of the reign jubilees with the victoriousness of the Roman emperor himself and their visual forms of expression on coins. The type atlas can be used to study those expressions of imperial victoriousness (e.g. a depiction of Victoria) and connect them with reign jubilees, and it helps to examine their iconographic lines of development.

The type atlas is not only an important handbook for numismatists but is useful for all pictorial studies of the Roman imperial period that deal with iconological and iconographic aspects of the Roman principate period.