Coins of the Abbasid Governors of Tabaristan exist today in large numbers because they were used by merchants on the Silk Road, the ancient trade route that spanned more than 7,000 miles from Constantinople to China. The Kingdom of Tabaristan, located in modern-day northern Iran, was also located on the shore of the Caspian Sea, […]
Jesus Christ first appeared on Roman coins during the reign of Justinian II. He ruled the Eastern Roman (or Byzantine Empire) from 685 to 695 A.D. and again from 705 to 711 A.D. Reign of Justinian II Justinian II first ruled the Roman Empire alongside his father, Emperor Constantine IV. In 685, at the age […]
Roman Emperor Justinian I, Justinian the Great, ruled the Byzantine Empire from 527 A.D. to 565 A.D. Among his many accomplishments, Justinian codified all existing Roman laws in what would be known as the Codex Justinianus. Of particular interest to numismatists, Justinian eliminated pagan imagery from Roman coinage in the East. Reign of Justinian I Justinian was adopted by his uncle, […]
Saint Helena was the wife of the Roman emperor Constantius I and the mother of the emperor Constantine the Great. Due to her significant influence during his reign, Constantine minted coins with her name, titles and portrait. Influence of Helena Helena was married to Constantine’s father, Constantius, until they divorced around 289 A.D. After he […]
Constantine the Great was the first Christian emperor of Rome. Nonetheless, many of the coins issued during his reign still incorporated pagan designs. Reign of Constantine Constantine I, also known as Constantine the Great, ruled the Roman Empire from AD 306 and 337. He rose to power during a time of civil war, becoming the […]
Commodus, the son of Marcus Aurelius, served as the Emperor of Rome from 180 to 192 A.D. During his reign, he came to associate himself with Hercules, minting coins of himself wearing the Greek hero’s trademark lion-skin headdress. Decline of the Roman Empire Marcus Aurelius reversed all of his accomplishment as a Roman Emperor in […]
Marcus Aurelius served as the emperor of Rome from 161 to 180 A.D. His 19-year reign was marked by military conflict and a series of disasters, including a plague that devastated Rome. Despite these challenges, the coins he minted reflect military victories and a quest for peace, highlighting the use of coins as propaganda in […]
The Denarius of the Emperor Tiberius, commonly referred to as the “Tribute Penny,” was referenced by Jesus Christ in the Bible. As written in Mark 12:17, Jesus referenced the denarius when asked about paying taxes to the Romans. He held up the coin and said: “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things […]
Mary Beard’s latest book, “SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome,” explores the early history of Rome by using a flashback technique. The reader is grounded in the period of Roman history that they are most likely to know—the time of Julius Caesar—so they can wander through Rome’s earlier, less known period with greater ease. Beard, […]
Following the trail blazed by NETFLIX, the Teaching Company’s “Great Courses” are now being offered for $14.99/month. Below are the top five “Great Courses” across all genres: How to Listen to and Understand Great Music: The course, which is now in its third edition, is taught by professor and award-winning composer Robert Greenberg. One of the most […]
