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Every Coin tells a story
Corinium Museum
INTRO SCREEN
NARRATOR: You have to look closely at the coins to see what they tell us about the past. The portrait
shows the Emperor who was in power at the time the coin was made. The letters around the edge are
shortened Latin words and form the ‘Inscription’ (legend). The image on the back would be used to tell
people more about the Emperor.
Do coins tell the truth? Meet some Citizens of Roman Corinium, and find out…
COIN 1
SULININUS: I am Sulinus, a stonemason, born in Corinium. My coin is gold and shows an Emperor who
wants to look like he’s crushing the enemy and is victorious.
NARRATOR: This coin is a Solidus, made of gold and very valuable. Struck in the reign of Honorius, 393 –
423 AD.
Obverse inscription reads: Our Lord. Honorius pious and fortunate Augustus (Emperor)
Reverse inscription reads Victories of the Augusti (Emperors)
SULININUS: Great gladiators, that’s the one! It would take me a year to earn one of these.
EMPEROR ON COIN: I Flavius Honorius, reigned gloriously for 30 years, from 393 to 423 AD, since I was
only nine years old.
SULININUS: Ha! The real boss was his guardian Stilicho. The Roman Empire was falling apart, and all
Honorius was concerned about were his chickens!
2. COIN:
JULIA: I am Julia Casta wife of the Magistrate Julius Casta. My coin is bronze, but its value is doubled
because the Emperor it shows wears the crown of the sun god.
NARRATOR: This coin is a Dupondius, made of bronze and of medium value. It was struck in the reign of
Hadrian, 117- 138 AD.
Obverse inscription reads: Imperator (Emperor) Caesar Trajan Hadrian Augustus Pontifex Maximus with
tribunical power.
Reverse inscription reads: Virtues of the Emperor.
JULIA Some say Emperor Hadrian wasn’t anywhere near as powerful as this coin suggests. However, my
husband and I think he has done well for Rome and Britain. When he visited Corinium, I was impressed by
his sensible approach, he’s protected what we have.
EMPEROR ON COIN: I, Emperor Hadrian, built a 73 mile long wall marking the frontier of the Empire in
Britain.
JULIA: So, now you know about Hadrian’s wall, but this coin doesn’t just tell of politics. After people saw the
portrait of the emperor with a beard, all the men started growing one. It became quite a fashion!
COIN 3
METTUS: I am Mettus and I run the estate of the Magistrate Julius Casta. My coin is made of gold and
shows a figure holding an olive branch. It tells of peace, but if you find my coin I’ll tell you about deceit,
battles and murder…”
NARRATOR: This coin is an Aureus, made of gold and of high value. It was struck in the reign of Carausius,
287 – 293 AD.
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Obverse inscription reads: The Emperor Carausius pious and fortunate.
Reverse inscription reads: Peace of the Augustus (Emperor) he renewed his vows five times
METTUS: Ah yes! The coin makes him out to be a true Emperor, but Carausius was in fact a fleet
commander who was caught stealing and fled here to Britain, where he set himself up as ruler! He ruled for
seven years
EMPEROR ON COIN: I, Emperor Carausius, landed in Britain in 287 AD, defeated the Governor and was
your first true Emperor.
METTUS: In the end the traitor Carausius, was murdered by another traitor; his chief minister, Allectus, who
then took over the throne himself.
COIN 4
LUCIUS: I am Lucius Septimus, Governor of Britannia Prima, the whole of southwest Britain. My silver coin
shows a winged figure of victory, find this coin and I’ll tell you why I believe this coin is different from the
others…”
NARRATOR: This coin is a Siliqua, made of silver and of fairly high value. It was struck in the reign of Julian
II, 360 -363 AD.
Obverse inscription reads: Our master Flavius Claudius Julianus lucky and fortunate Augustus (Emperor).
Reverse inscription reads: Victory of the Augustus (Emperor).
LUCIUS: A coin that tells the truth! Emperor Julian II was a true Roman, we shared traditional pagan beliefs.
EMPEROR ON COIN: I, Emperor Julian II, defended the Roman territories against the invaders
LUCIUS: Not only was he a successful general, but he also restored many Pagan temples, this made him
unpopular with some of the Romans, who were Christians. It was during his reign that I restored the Jupiter
Column in Corinium. He was killed in battle. He died as he lived - fighting for the empire!
COIN 5
DANNICUS: I am Dannicus, a soldier in the Roman army. The key to finding my coin is that it is made of
silver and the emperor is wearing a laurel wreath.
NARRATOR: A Denarius, made of silver and of fairly high value. It was struck in the reign of Claudius, 41 –
54 AD
Obverse inscription reads: Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus acclaimed Tribune for the sixth time,
Imperator (successful general) nine times
Reverse inscription reads: Senate and the people of Rome. Father of his country for serving the citizens.
DANNICUS Emperor Claudius, he had a limp and a stammer, which made many think him a fool.
EMPEROR ON COIN: I, Emperor Claudius, I expanded the Roman Empire. Under my rule we conquered
Britain in 43 AD
DANNICUS: The Britons put up a good fight, but were no match for his well trained and disciplined Roman
army. Despite his appearance he married four times. Rumor has it that is last wife poisoned him, so that her
son, Nero, could take the throne.
COIN 6
AURELIUS: “I am Aurelius and I am nearly 7! My coin is bronze. The Emperor calls himself Master, and
wants us to think he is slaying the enemy.
NARRATOR: A Centenionalis, bronze and of low value. Struck in the reign of Constantius II, 337 361 AD
Obverse inscription reads: Our master Constantius, Pious and fortunate Augustus
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Reverse inscription reads: Lucky times recalled.
AURELIUS: The coin shows a Roman soldier spearing an enemy horseman! No one believed the Romans
were still winning.
EMPEROR ON COIN: I, Emperor Constantius II, promised to defeat the barbarians, and that the good
times would return!
AURELIUS: No one believed that! Everyone knew the Roman Empire was losing ground and the armies
were fighting amongst themselves! The Roman Empire was in chaos. During Constantius' s reign a general
called Magnentius murdered Constantius's brother and set up a separate Empire in the West. It took
Constantius a year of hard fighting to defeat him.
NARRATOR: Well done! Now you know what coins can tell us, why not look at some real coins in the
Corinium museum?
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