Coins, the archaeologist and the ancient historian
P J Bicknell
8 points * 2 hours per week * First semester * Clayton
Coins are a significant evidential resource at many levels. The subject deals with some basic technical matters, the circumstances in which coins are discovered by the archaeologist, and various ways in which numismatic data can throw light on ancient societies and their economies. Featured in particular are issues of Athens; Greek Sicily; Ptolemaic Egypt; and Rome in the period of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Augustus. Attention is also paid to artistic aspects of Greek and Roman coin types.
Assessment
Written (3500 words): 55% * Examinations (2 hours): 45%