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The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal ... - IndianCoins.org

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72 E. A. SYDENHAM.coins <strong>of</strong> Caligula. It reappears, however, for a shortperiod on semisses <strong>of</strong> Claudius, <strong>and</strong> is ra<strong>the</strong>r curiouslyrevived on a very rare copper as <strong>of</strong> Nero (vid. infra).be stated in passing that <strong>the</strong>re is no doubtIt may<strong>the</strong> famous Ara Romaethat <strong>the</strong> reverse type represents et Attgusto, erected near <strong>the</strong> confluence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> riversRhone <strong>and</strong> Arar, <strong>and</strong> dedicated by Augustus on Aug. 1,10 B.C. [Suet. Claud. 2].15<strong>The</strong> structure is shown tobe rectangular, decorated in front with a wreathbetween two laurel-trees in bas-relief. 16 At <strong>the</strong> ends,detached from <strong>the</strong> altar itself, are columns surmountedwith winged Victories, each holding a palm-branch<strong>and</strong> garl<strong>and</strong>. Various suggestions have been made to<strong>and</strong> leftexplain <strong>the</strong> decorations on <strong>the</strong> extreme right<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> front, <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> eight small objects on <strong>the</strong> top<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> altar. That <strong>the</strong> latter, in some way, symbolize<strong>the</strong> Gallic tribes seems, however, <strong>the</strong> more probable.According to Strabo, <strong>the</strong>re was an inscription on<strong>the</strong> altar containing <strong>the</strong> names <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sixty-four Gallicstates, which were also symbolized by a correspondingnumber <strong>of</strong> statues. It is generally supposed that<strong>the</strong>se statues were placed around <strong>the</strong> altar ; however, itseems quite plausible to imagine that <strong>the</strong>y formed <strong>the</strong>coins. <strong>The</strong> title is used, <strong>the</strong>refore, merely as a military distinction.Dio <strong>and</strong> Velleius state that Tiberius received <strong>the</strong> salutation seventimes, while according to o<strong>the</strong>r authorities he was saluted imperatorfor <strong>the</strong> eighth time in A.D. 16. <strong>The</strong> coins, however, make it clearthat IMP-VII occurs for<strong>the</strong> last time with TR-P. XXIII (A.D.21),<strong>and</strong> IMP.VIII begins with TR-P-XXIIII.15For a refutation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>ory advanced by Dr.Willers (Numism.Zeit., xxxiv, 1902), that <strong>the</strong> type represents <strong>the</strong> ovarium <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> circus,see article by M. Poncet <strong>and</strong> M. Morel (Revue Num., 1904, pp. 46 ff.),<strong>and</strong> by Max L. Strack (Bonner Jahrbucher, 111, 112, p. 442 f.),also Grueber, Corns <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Roman Republic, vol. ii, p. 439.16 Hill, Historical Roman Coins, p. 159.

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