Victory Coins Of Roman Empire (27.BC-AD 235)

ABSTRACTStarting from the early periods, Roman coins have carried a political character. Coins reflected state policies by the useage of figures starting from animal repertoir, later followed by gods, goddesses, various personifications, portraits from prevailant people who became distinguished in the military and political arena, and legends. The fear imposed and the despisement of rival states through the coins, which were among the most significant communication tools of the Antiquity, were a decisive element in Roman foreign policy. The theme of victory on the coins Rome issued after the wars it won, a useage which began with the Carthaginian Wars, was also one of the foundation stones of the fear and pacification policy. While the iconography and god or goddess figures of Late Republican Period coins had a simple appearance, from a linguistic aspect they had the characteristic of being sophisticated and only understandable by the élite.The victory themed coins detailed with the portraits of distinguished personalities starting from the Late Republican Period became dominant during the Principatus Period and with the later phases of this period, civillian events depicted on the coins decreased depending on the intensity of wars and military events were frequently depicted. With the Early Imperial Period, the coin language used on coins acquired a more distinct identity with personifications and explanatory inscriptions, becoming an object that could be understood not just by the educated class. The portaits of emperors on coins became the mirror of the symbolic power at recognizing the emperor as Rome?s only ruling power both in lands under domination and in foreign states. Particularly starting from Augustus, scenes depicting the gained victories were pointing at the state?s power and the created cult of power was used both in domestic and foreign policy as a tool of manipulation. Gaining a strong political language with the Principatus Period, these coins were used as an important tool both for the systematic propaganda that was encountered with daily life, and both for keeping a dominated wide geography under control.