In the ancient Roman Empire, the function of coins was not purely economic. They were also used to intentionally and systematically mould the public's perception of the Emperor and their achievements. They are therefore a valuable source of information about Roman History. We aim to present this information in a way that clearly demonstrates how the Julio-Claudian Emperors used coins to express their power, legitimise their role as Emperor and secure the continuation of the Empire.
This page was created in 2018 by a group of four classics students at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is part of the internal assessment for CLAS 344 From Augustus to Nero: Scandal and Intrigue in Imperial Rome. This course looks at the development of Imperial power in Rome during the 1st century AD. The five coins showcased on this page are from the Otago Museum Collection.
For more information about this website, the course or the Museum Collection, please contact Dr Gwynaeth McIntyre, Otago University lecturer and coordinator of this course.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Dr Gwynaeth McIntyre for her guidance and support throughout this project.
We would also like to thank the Otago Museum for granting us access to their collection of Roman coins and allowing us to use their high quality images on this site.
We also extend thanks to Charlotte Dunn and Bill Richardson for their contribution to this course.