Erika Manders, Coining Images of Power. Patterns in the Representation of Roman Emperors on Imperial Coinage A.D. 193-284 (Impact of Empire 15), Leiden 2012
Erika Manders published her dissertation in 2012 in the series “Impact of Empire” under the title “Coining Images of Power. Patterns and Representation of Roman Emperors on Imperial Coinage”. The book essentially deals with Roman coinage and its importance as a medium of representation and self-portrayal of the Roman emperors in the 3rd century.
The volume is divided into two parts. Part one (p. 11–222) is dedicated to the “General Patterns on Third-Century Imperial Coinage”, while part two (p. 225–302) deals with the representative content of the coinage of the Emperors Caracalla (211–217), Traianus Decius (249–251), and Gallienus (253–268) in the form of case studies.
The first chapter of the first part (p. 11–62) begins with a brief introduction to the historical framework and then explains the method of the study. Manders makes a quantitative analysis of the coin types from 193 to 284, which she clusters according to the motives of their depictions. She then discusses the four most common clusters in Chapters 2 to 5.
Thus, the second chapter “Appeasing the Army” (p. 63–94) focuses on the important role of the military in legitimizing and representing power. Manders divides the coins into three groups that focus on different aspects of their depictions. The first portrays the emperor in his role as a general (e.g. adlocutio or adventus scenes). The second regards the frequent portrayal of Victoria, and Manders discusses the extent to which Victoria’s portrayal relates to the victoriousness of the emperor or specific armed conflicts. Among other things, the depiction of a Victoria in combination with a vota shield is also included here. However, Manders does not address their importance concerning the reign anniversaries. The last group deals with coins that are specifically aimed at certain troop units.
The third chapter “Divine Propaganda” (p. 95–154) focuses on depictions of gods (Iuppiter, Hercules, Mars, Sol, and Apollo) and the depiction of the emperor as sacerdos. Here, Manders offers concrete case studies on the rule of Elagabalus and Aurelianus. Manders also assigns the vota coinage of reign anniversaries to this category.
Chapter four “Imperial Exempla” (p 156–185) deals with the representations of virtues (Providentia, Liberalitas, Virtus, Pietas, and Aequitas). In the final fifth chapter of the first part, “The Dawning of a Golden Age” (p. 187–222), the author summarizes coins that focus on the proclamation of a golden age.
The case studies of the second part concentrate on the four groups of coin types discussed in part one and analyses the proportionality among each of those groups during the reigns of the above-mentioned emperors. Furthermore, clear graphics and tables illustrate those proportions for each reign (e.g. Figure 35, p. 256)
In particular, Mander’s elaboration on the role of the military for imperial self-portrayal in the 3rd century represents a gain in knowledge on Roman war culture, especially the chapter “Appeasing the Army”. Her dissertation shows weaknesses in the attempt to categorize by topic, since not all types can always be assigned clearly to a group. This is clear from the vota coins showing a Victoria that should be assigned to both the first and the second group. The connection between reign anniversaries and imperial victoriousness is lost in this case.