A methodological essay in numismatic iconography : arms and armour on Macedonian coinages (5th c. BC)

• Main Author: Kosmidou, E.
• Published: University College London (University of London) 2013
• Subjects: 930
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.626013

This is a methodological study that uses representations of arms and armour on coins of Alexander I and Perdikkas II as case studies in order to assess the value of visual analysis in numismatics. Each coinage is examined in three parts: a review of production dates for coins precedes a typological analysis of depicted arms and armour, which is then used in a critical investigation of potential meanings within current theoretical discourses. Context is a key variable in the creation of meaning and the understanding of relevant coin types bears heavily upon the circumstances of their production and use. Hence, secure production dates are first established in order to construct robust links between iconographic content and context. The next step focuses on a systematic classification of arms and armour within coin series and an evaluation of their representational value, which take account of links between military equipment in use and its pictorial counterparts on coins. Degrees of iconographic accuracy are identified and compositional elements of the depicted weaponry are analysed. The latter process embraces current controversies about the structure or use of certain pieces of weaponry. During the final step interpretations of representations are proposed after an investigation of potential meanings, which military themes or individual arms and armour may have had if specific connotations or general values were attached to them. This is achieved by comparing military, social and political conditions with coin data and inferring causal explanations of their choice, meaning and function. Through this process, an agenda of key issues about coin and weaponry types is set, which involves the testing of former approaches and formulation of new ones with observed data in view.