A treasure in the Roman Theater
About 1,700 years ago, someone hid some coins around the theater that he did not return to collect. Do you want to know what these coins can tell us about the crisis of the 3rd century in the Roman Empire?
Museums on the Caesaraugusta RouteThe Route of the Museums of Caesaraugusta
Caesaraugusta, the Roman Zaragoza
Zaragoza was founded in 14 B.C. by Augustus, and it is the only city that enjoyed the privilege of having the full name of the first emperor of Rome. He settled, in the Iberian town of Salduie, the discharged soldiers of three legions that won the Cantabrian wars.
Coins that are more than 1,700 years old
Hidden among the remains of the city's Roman theater was a treasure of nearly 200 coins. These coins are called Antonianos and date from the 16th century. III, from the reign of Emperor Gallienus. They are worn, but you can still see some things in the pictures...
An unstable empire
From 180 AD, the great turmoil and wars of the 3rd century began, characterized by an endless series of civil wars between various pretenders to the imperial throne, while German and Persian pressure on the northern and eastern borders increased.
The coin's portrait
This instability is reflected in the variety of portraits we find on the coins of those years. The newly appointed emperors (and empresses) minted new coins with their busts, which served to project a heroic image of themselves that reached to the ends of the empire.
General view of the Roman Theater of ZaragozaThe Route of the Museums of Caesaraugusta
Let's get to know a few of these coins
Coin (253 - 254)Original source: Ceres. On line collections
Mariniana Consecration Coin
Mariniana was the second wife of Valerian, Emperor of the Roman Empire from 253 until his capture in 260 AD, and the mother of the Emperor Gallian. In the image, Mariniana is looking to the right, wearing a veil and a dianema.
Coin (259 - 260)Original source: Ceres. On line collections
Antoninianus of Emperor Gallienus
The portrait of the emperor appears on the obverse of the coin. The reverse shows a standing soldier looking to the left, supporting his shield with one hand and holding his spear with the other. He embodies courage.
Coin (266)Original source: Ceres. On line collections
Antoninianus of Emperor Gallienus
In this case, on the obverse of the coin we see the figure of Fortune sitting to the left, holding a rudder and a cornucopia. Both this coin and the previous one are from a period known as Military Anarchy.
Coin (235 - 268)Original source: Ceres. On line collections
Antoninian of Salonina
Salonina was a Roman empress, the wife of Emperor Gallienus. On the obverse of this coin we see her bust facing right, wearing a diadem and draped. On the reverse, not visible here, is the figure of Fecunditas holding a cornucopia and a child at her feet.
Coin (259 - 268)Original source: Ceres. On line collections
Antoninian of Salonina
On the obverse is the bust of the empress. On the reverse, Public Happiness, facing left, holds a caduceus, has her legs crossed, and rests her left elbow on a column.
Coin (269)Original source: Ceres. On line collections
Antoninian of Claudius II or Claudius Gothic
Claudius II (268-270), son of Gallienus, was the emperor who succeeded him on the throne. The coin shows his bust facing right. He wears a radiating crown, a cuirass and a cloak.
Gallienus Zoo
Within this collection of coins, there are four very special coins that depict real or fantastical animals on the reverse side. They are known as the Galieno Zoo. We are proposing a game, can you tell us which animals it is about?
Coin (267 - 268)Original source: Ceres. On line collections
Which animal do you see here?
A goat
On this coin you can see the figure of a goat looking to the right. This animal is one of the symbolic animals of the god Jupiter.
Coin (267 - 268)Original source: Ceres. On line collections
Which animal do you see here?
A griffin
Do you see a griffin looking to the left and walking? The griffin is a fantastic animal with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. Guard. It is the sun symbol of the god Apollo.
Coin (235 - 268)Original source: Ceres. On line collections
Which animal do you see here?
A Pegasus
On this coin you can see a Pegasus, a fantastic animal in the shape of a horse with wings. This Pegasus is depicted on the coin looking to the right and jumping. It is the symbol of the sun and the god Apollo.
Coin (267 - 268)Original source: Ceres. On line collections
Which animal do you see here?
A hippocampus
This animal, another fantastic animal, is a hippocampus and is shaped like a horse with a fish tail. It is related to the god of the sea, Neptune.
Museum addresses:
Forum Museum: Plaza de la Seo, 2.
Museum of Public Baths: C/ San Juan y San Pedro, 5.
River Port Museum: Plaza San Bruno, 8.
Theater Museum: C/ San Jorge, 12.
Schedule:
Tuesday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday and holidays: from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Closed Monday.
