Chapter XXXI: Appendix: C

Text size

NOTE ON THE ANCIENT COINS COLLECTED IN THE EXCAVATIONS AT ALISE.

The result of the excavations made round Alise-Sainte-Reine would be sufficient to establish the identity of that locality with the _Alesia_ of Cæsar; but the abundance of proofs can do no injury to the argument, and there is one the value of which cannot be disputed: we mean that furnished by the ancient coins found in the fosses of Camp D. (_See Plate_ 23.) Lost in a combat, and falling into a fosse full of water, they thus escaped discovery in the immediate search made usually on a battle-field.

To establish the date of an event which has occasioned the burial of certain coins, we must first show that these coins have been struck at a period anterior to that event. Thus the coins lost at Alesia must naturally belong to a period anterior to the siege of that town.

The coins collected are in number 619; they may be divided into two distinct groups: some bear the impression of the Roman Mint, others are of the Gaulish Mint.

This being understood, let us examine separately the age of the two groups. M. le Comte de Salis and M. de Saulcy have kindly undertaken the classification.

All the Roman coins, without exception, have been struck by order and under the direction of the monetary magistrates, appointed by the government of the Republic: they belong to the republican period, and appertain to the class of coins called _consular_. Thanks to the labours of men like Morell, Borghesi, Cavedoni, Cohen, Mommsen, and, above all, the Comte de Salis, the age of the coins of this class is now pretty clearly determined. On the date of their emission, in general, it would be, so to say, impossible to commit an error of several years. The series of denarii and quinarii offers us the names of eighty-two magistrates, and the club, the symbol of an eighty-third; four of these denarii present neither name nor symbol; it is the same case with an as in copper, of the type of Janus with the prow of a ship, which has probably borne no other legend but the word ROMA. The most recent of these coins belong to the year 700 of Rome, or 54 B.C. The year in which the siege of Alesia took place was 702. This fact alone would serve, if needed, to demonstrate that Alise and Alesia are the same place.

The examination of the coins of Gaulish fabrication is equally important. They belong to twenty-four _civitates_, or different tribes. Military contingents, assembled from all parts of the Gaulish territory, have therefore taken part in the war in which these coins were lost and scattered in the soil. But the decisive fact is, that in this number we find 103 which are incontestably of Arvernan origin; one of them bears, distinctly inscribed, the name of Vercingetorix. Of 487 Gaulish coins, 103 belong to the Arverni.

We may add that, among the latter, 61 bear the name of Epasnactus, who became, after the capitulation of Alesia, a faithful ally of the Romans, and the chief of Arvernia. (_De Bello Gallico_, VIII. 44.) Now the coins of Epasnactus have been long well known; they may be subdivided into two classes: some, anterior to the submission of that personage, present pure Gaulish types; others, of later date, offer only Romanised types, if we may use the expression. In the fosses of Camp D have been found only coins of Epasnactus of the primitive type. The battle in which these coins were lost by the Arverni before Alise was, therefore, anterior to the year 51 B.C., the year of the submission of Epasnactus.

LIST OF ANCIENT COINS

FOUND IN THE EXCAVATIONS AT ALISE.

COINS STRUCK IN THE MINT AT ROME.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N o | | |
u f | | |
m | | |
b e | Names or Symbols | |
e a | of the | Probable | Numbers of
r c | Magistrates inscribed | Dates | the Plates
h | on the Coins | A.U.C. | in Cohen’s Work
-----|---------------------------------------------------------------------
1 | Anonymous. | 485-537 |Pl. XLIII. _Uncertain_ 1.
| | | (The word ROMA is
| | | not in incuse letters.)
1 | Anonymous. | 558-579 |Pl. XLIII. _Uncertain_ 2.
| | | (The word ROMA is in
| | | a rectangle.)
1 | M. ATILI. SARAN. | 580-588 |Pl. VII Atilia 2.
1 | NAT. | 589-595 | Pl. XXXI Pinaria 2.
1 | L. CVP. | 602-605 |Pl. XVI Cupiennia.
1 | M. IVNI. | 602-605 |Pl. XXIII Junia 2.
1 | C. RENI. | 606-609 |Pl. XXXVI Renia.
1 | P. PAETVS. | 606-609 |Pl. I Ælia 1.
1 | CN. LVCR. TRIO. | 624-627 |Pl. XXV Lucretia 1.
1 | M. MARC. | 640-643 |Pl. XXVI Marcia 3.
1 | M. PORC. LAECA. | 644-647 |Pl. XXXIV Porcia 2.
1 | Q. METE. | 648-651 |Pl. VIII Cæcilia 3.
1 | M. VARG. | 652 |Pl. XL Vargunteia.
1 | T. CLOVLI. (a quinarius) | 653 |Pl. XII Cloulia 2.
1 | Q. PILIPVS. | 658 |Pl. XXVI Marcia 4.
1 | L. LIC. CN. DOM. L. PORCI. | 662 |Pl. XXXIV Porcia 1.
| LICI. | |
1 | M. HERENNI. | 663 |Pl. XIX Herennia.
2 | L. IVLI. L.F. CAESAR. | 664 |Pl. XX Julia 4.
1 | C. COIL. CALD. | 664 |Pl. XIII Cœlia 2.
1 | CALD. | 664 |Pl. XIII Cœlia 3.
1 | Q. THERM. M.F. | 664 |Pl. XXVIII Minucia 5.
1 | L. THORIVS BALBVS | 664 |Pl. XXXIX Thoria.
1 | P. SERVILI M.F. RVLLI. | 665 |Pl. XXXVIII Servilia 6.
1 | C. ALLI. BALA | 665 |Pl. I Aelia 3.
1 | L. PISO FRVGI (a quinarius) | 666 |Pl. IX Calpurnia 5.
2 | L. PISO FRVGI. | 666 |Pl. IX Calpurnia 10.
1 | Q. TITI. | 667 |Pl. XXXIX Titia 1.
4 | Q. TITI. | 667 |Pl. XXXIX Titia 2.
4 | C. VIBIVS C.F. PANSA. | 667 |Pl. XLI Vibia 4.
1 | L. TITVRI. SABIN. | 667 |Pl. XXXIX Tituria 4.
2 | L. TITVRI. SABIN. | 667 |Pl. XXXIX Titnria 5.
1 | C. CENSO. | 668 |Pl. XXVI Marcia 7.
8 | CN. LENTVL. | 668 |Pl. XIV Cornelia 7.
1 | L. RVBRI. DOSSEN. | 668 |Pl. XXXVI Rubria 1.
3 | L.C. MEMIES L.F. GAL. | 668 |Pl. XXVII Memmia 3.
1 | MN. FONTEI. C.F. | 669 |Pl. XVIII Fonteia 4.
-----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N o | | |
u f | | |
m | | |
b e |
e a | | Probable |
r c | Names or Symbols of the | Dates | Numbers of the Plates in
h |Magistrates inscribed on the Coins | A.U.C. | Cohen’s Work
-----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 |CAR. OGVL. VER. | 670 |Pl. XI Carvilia 3.
2 |C. LIMETA. P. CREPVSI. | 671 |Pl. XXVI Marcia 10.
I. CENSORIN.
1 |L. CENSOR. | 671 |Pl. XXVI Marcia 9.
2 |P. CREPVSI. | 671 |Pl. XVI Crepusia.
4 |C. MAMIL. LIMETAN. | 671 |Pl. XXV Mamilia.
1 |C. ANNI. T.F.T.N.L. | 672 |Pl. II Annia 2.
| FABI. L.F. | |
1 |C. NAE. BALB. | 672 |Pl. XXIX Nævia.
1 |L. PAPI. | 673 |Pl. XXX Papia 1.
2 |TI. CLAVD. TI. F. AP. N. | 673 |Pl. XII Claudia 3.
1 |C. MARI. C.F. CAPIT. | 674 |Pl. XXVI Maria 3.
1 |L. PROCILI. F. | 675 |Pl. XXXV Procilia 1.
2 |L. PROCILI. F. | 675 |Pl. XXXV Procilia 2.
1 |P. SATRIENVS | 676 |Pl. XXXVI Satriena.
1 |L. RVTILI. FLAC. | 676 |Pl. XXXVI Rutilia.
1 |L. LVCRETI. TRIO | 677 |Pl. XXV Lucretia 2.
1 |MN. AQVIL. MN. F. MN. N. | 682 |Pl. VI Aquillia 2.
6 |PAVLLVS LEPIDVS | 683 |Pl. I Æmilia 9.
2 |PAVLLVS LEPIDVS LIBO | 683 |Pl. I Æmilia 10.
2 |LIBO | 683 |Pl. XXXVI Scribonia 2.
2 |C. HOSIDI. C.F. GETA | 683 |Pl. XIX Hosidia 1.
1 |C. HOSIDI. C.F. GETA | 683 |Pl. XIX Hosidia 2.
1 |P. GALB. | 683 |Pl. XXXVIII Sulpicia 2.
2 |L. ROSCI FABATI | 684 |Pl. XXXVI Roscia.
1 |M. PLAETORI. CEST. | 686 |Pl. XXXII Plætoria 3.
1 |M. PLAETORIVS M.F. | 686 |Pl. XXXII Plætoria 9.
| CESTIANVS | |
1 |C. PISO L.F. FRVGI. | 690 |Pl. IX Calpurnia 15.
1 |C. PISO L.F. FRVGI. | 690 |Pl. IX Calpurnia 16.
1 |Q. CASSIVS | 695 |Pl. XI Cassia 6.
5 |M. SCAVR. P. HYPSAE. | 696 |Pl. I Æmilia 1.
2 |Q. POMPEI. RVF. | 697 |Pl. XV Cornelia 20. (This
| | | coin ought to be classed
| | | with the Pompeia.)
1 |PHILIPPVS | 698 |Pl. XXVI Marcia 8.
1 |P. CRASSVS M.F. (incuse) | 699 |Pl. XXIV Licinia 2.
1 |FAVSTVS (in a monogram) | 700 |Pl. XV Cornelia 23.
1 |A. PLAVTIVS | 700 |Pl. XXXIII Plautia 6.
-----|-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The coins of the social war (664-665), of the time of Marias and Sylla (666-674), and of the last two years of the war of Spartacus (682-683), are extremely common, and mostly of very rude work.

COINS STRUCK IN SOUTHERN ITALY.

This series ends with the social war in 665.

COINS STRUCK OUT OF ITALY.

These coins were struck in Spain during the war of Sertorius. No provincial coins were struck during the interval between the two civil wars from 682 to 704.

GAULISH COINS (FROM CAMP D, ON THE BANKS OF THE OSE).

ARVERNI.

ANEPIGRAPHIC COINS Number of each.

Electrum. Staters with the types of Vercingetorix 3
Electrum. Stater with an effigy adorned with a singular head-dress 1
Silver. Thick and ancient denarii of various types 13
Silver. A thick and ancient denarius, with a bird under the horse 1
Silver. A thick and ancient denarius, of the type, of the staters
of Vercingetorix 1

COINS WITH NAMES OF CHIEFS.

VERCINGETORIXS. This coin appears to be of copper, and yet
may be only a stater of very debased electrum 1
Æ. CVNVANOS 5
Æ. CALIIDV 7
Æ. A. behind the effigy 2
[AR]. PICTILOS 8
[AR]. EPAD. Epasnactus, before his submission 3
Æ IIPAD·℞-CICIIDV·BRI. Epasnactus 59

NOTE.--Three of these latter coins are stuck together.

AULERCI-EBUROVICES.

Æ. CAMBIL. (Camulogenus?) 5

BITURIGES.

ANEPIGRAPHIC COINS.

Electrum. Staters with a peacock placed above the horse 2
[AR]. Head. ℞. horse and boar 1
[AR]. Head dressed with long locks of hair 1
[AR]. The same type. A branch above the horse 1
[AR]. The same type. A sword and pentagram 1

COINS WITH LEGENDS.

Electrum. ABVDOS. A stater 1
Æ. The same legend 9
Æ. The same type. OSNAII 1
Æ. The same type. ISVNIS 1
Electrum. SOLIMA. A stater 1
[AR]. The same legend 6
[AR]. DIASVLOS 7
Æ. The same type. YNO 4
[AR]. The same type. ƎIOV 1
Æ. Under the horse. ƆƐN 1
Æ. Under the horse. CAM (Cambolectres?) 1

BUCIOS.

Æ. An unknown coin, at present unique 1

CADURCI.

Æ. Anepigraphic. Types of the coins of Lucterius 1

CARNUTES.

ANEPIGRAPHIC COINS.

Brass 7
Æ. Head. ℞. An eagle and serpent 4
Æ. Head. ℞. Eagle and young eagle 1

COINS WITH LEGENDS.

Æ. VANDIILIOS. 19
Æ. CALIAGIIS. 12
Æ. TASGIITIOS. Tasgetius 1

ÆDUI.

ANEPIGRAPHIC COINS.

[AR]. Old denarii. 27

COINS WITH LEGENDS.

[AR]. ΚΑΔ--ΕΔΟV. (Celts-Ædui). 2
[AR]. ANORBO-DVBNOREX. (Dumnorix). 14
[AR]. DVBNOREX-DVBNO-COV. (Dumnorix). 4
[AR]. DVBNOREX-DVBNO-COV. (Dumnorix.) The
chief holds in his hand a man’s head cut off. 1
[AR]. LITA. Litavicus. 12

HELVII?

[AR]. EPOMIID. A lion. ℞. Two heads embracing. 4

LEMOVICES.

[AR]. A human head above the horse. 5

LEUCI.

Brass, with the boar. 1

LEAGUE AGAINST THE GERMANS.

[AR]. Quinarii with the horseman. 2

MANDUBII (OR LINGONES)?

Brass. 32

MASSALIETES.

[AR]. Oboli with the wheel. 2

PETROCORII.

[AR]. With the boar lying down 4

PICTONES.

Electrum. A stater with the hand. 1
Æ. Anepigraphic. 1

COINS WITH NAMES OF CHIEFS.

[AR]. VIIROTAL. A warrior standing. 10
[AR]. VIIROTAL. A lion. 1

REMI.

Æ. With three heads joined together. 2

SANTONES.

Electrum. A stater. Under the horse SA. 1

SENONES.

Brass, anepigraphic. Animals facing each other. 1
Æ. YLLYCCI 6

SEQUANI.

Brass, anepigraphic. 12
[AR]. SEQVANOIOTVOS. 16
[AR]. TOGIRIX. 72
[AR]. Q·DOCI SAM·F. 18

SUESSIONES.

Æ. Divitiacus. ΔEIOVICIA-COS. 1

TREVIRI.

[AR]. Anepigraphic 1

TRICASSES (OR LINGONES)?

Brass 2

VELIOCASSES.

Æ. A figure kneeling 1

VOLCÆ-ARECOMICI.

[AR]. 1

VOLCÆ-TECTOSAGES.

[AR]. 3

VOLCÆ-TECTOSAGES.

EMIGRANTS FROM GERMANY.

[AR]. 1

UNCERTAIN FROM THE SOUTH.

Æ. A horse drinking in a vase 3

UNDETERMINABLE.

[AR]. 1
Æ. and brass 14

Previous Next

Comments

History of Julius Cæsar, Vol. 2 of 2Chapter XXXI: Appendix: C

0%9 min left in chapter