Alenka MIŠKEC

ARHEOLOŠKI VESTNIK

ARHEOLOŠKI VESTNIK 60, 2009

Alenka MIŠKEC:

The Augustan conquest of southeastern Alpine and western Pannonian areas: coins and hoards

Abstract

Final Roman control over the region of the southeastern Alps and western Pannonia was achieved in the Augustan period. Analysis of the monetary circulation in this region shows an increased quantity of coinage in circulation. Four types of bronze coins are important: the coins of the Divos Iulius type, coins of the provincial mint in Nemausus, bronze coins from the mints in Rome and Lugdunum.

Coin finds from the Augustan period discovered in Slovenia – because of their highly varied contexts of discovery – represent an additional challenge in interpretation. They consist of the following: individual coin finds from the Augustan military camp at Obrežje, a small hoard from Povir near Sežana, and numerous individual finds of bronze and silver coins from two urban areas: Celeia (Celje) and Emona (Ljubljana). It may be concluded that the early Augustan emissions of bronze coinage, particularly the coins from the mint of Nemausus of series I and II, and the Altar I series of coins from the mint of Lugdunum, along with the silver coins of this mint, can be related to Roman military activities in 14–8 BC and also to important strategic points, such as Nauportus (Vrhnika) and Emona. The moneyers’ coins of the mint in Rome were for the most part in use throughout a lengthy period. The military camp at Obrežje must be dated to a later period, 6–9 AD, due to the absence of bronze coins from the mint of Nemausus and coins of the Altar I series from the mint of Lugdunum.

Keywords: Slovenia, Emona, Obrežje, Augustan period, coin finds, provincial mints

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