Local elites and local coinage : elite self-representation on the provincial coinage of Asia 31 BC- AD 275
The focus of this thesis is the nature of the interaction between the civic elites and the civic coinage for which they were responsible. The Roman Province of Asia provides the ideal context for the study of local elites and their coinage because of the prevalence and prominence of the names of individual local notables, henceforth known as eponyms, recorded in civic coin legends. By combining the study of the function of coin eponyms and the prosopographical analysis of individual eponyms in the epigraphic record, it is possible to identify and explain the profound changes that affected civic coin production in the first three centuries AD. Local elites perceived coinage not only in terms of a functional means of exchange, but as a medium for personal and civic display. In this way the local elites exploited coin iconography in ways that paralleled other media of monumental display. New coin legends were developed, which identified explicitly the dedicatory nature of the coinage and the iconographic repertoire of coin types was radically expanded to express the cultural agendas and priorities of the civic elites. The first half of the thesis is devoted to the study of the relationship between office holding
Bennett, Robert George
History of the ancient world ; Ancient Numismatics ; Roman Asia Minor ; Roman Provincial Elites
Local elites and local coinage : elite self-representation on the provincial coinage of Asia 31 BC- AD 275. The focus of this thesis is the nature of the interaction between the civic elites and the civic coinage for which they were responsible. The Roman Province of Asia provides the ideal context for the study of local elites and their coinage because of the prevalence and prominence of the names of individual local notables, henceforth known as eponyms, recorded in civic coin legends. By combining the study of the function of coin eponyms and the prosopographical analysis of individual eponyms in the epigraphic record, it is possible to identify and explain the profound changes that affected civic coin production in the first three centuries AD. Local elites perceived coinage not only in terms of a functional means of exchange, but as a medium for personal and civic display. In this way the local elites exploited coin iconography in ways that paralleled other media of monumental display. New coin legends were developed, which identified explicitly the dedicatory nature of the coinage and the iconographic repertoire of coin types was radically expanded to express the cultural agendas and priorities of the civic elites. The first half of the thesis is devoted to the study of the relationship between office holding
local elites local coinage elite self_representation provincial coinage asia focus nature interaction civic elites civic coinage responsible roman province asia provide_ideal context study local_elite coinage prevalence prominence name individual local notable henceforth know record civic coin legend combine study function coin prosopographical analysis individual epigraphic record possible_identify explain profound_change affect civic coin production first local elites perceive coinage term functional mean exchange medium personal civic display way local_elite exploit coin iconography way parallel medium monumental display new coin legends develop identify explicitly nature coinage iconographic repertoire coin_type radically expand express cultural agenda priority civic elite devote study relationship office hold