Expert: Maria - 5/1/2007

Question
What purpose did it serve to have an emperor's portrait on a coin in Ancient Rome?

Anja

Answer
Hello,
Emperor's portrait on the coins in Ancient Rome indicated obviously  under what emperor the coin was minted and then what years the coin belonged to.

For example the portrait coins of Augustus indicated that those coins dated back to Augustus’reign  which lasted  from 27 BC to 14 AD, when he died, while the portrait coins of Trajan indicated that those coins dated back to Trajan’s reign  which lasted  from 98 AD to 117 AD; etc.

Moreover the Roman emperors used coins to spread throughout the empire knowledge of their victories and achievements and then disseminate propaganda since they used this medium as a powerful means of communication, for they had no press at their command, of course!

To conclude, today also we can know the period some  banknotes / coins  belong to by seeing the images depicted on.
For example the portrait of Elizabeth II  we see on the current banknotes  or coins of Bank of England in Great Britain, or  the portrait of Jackson or Washington on the United States notes, etc.

Regards,
Maria