Page 13 - Delcampe Collections classiques EN-005

Coins

pects of the games. First came
the announcement of the games
by the public crier carrying the at-
tributes of Mercury, the messen-
ger of the gods. Next came the
distribution by the priests of the
suffimenta (inflammable mate-
rials) which were used for ritual
purifications.
There was also a coin represen-
ting the sacrifice of an animal,
which was an offering to the
gods. Lastly there was a coin with
the Cippus (a stone stela with
inscriptions) which indicated the
actual holding of the games.
Other emperors continued the
tradition after Augustus. They
included Emperor Claudius, who
organised the games of 48 to ce-
lebrate the 800-year anniversary
of the foundation of Rome, as
well as Domitian, who minted a
large number of coins featuring
the secular games. The tradition
was continued.
In 248, Emperor Philip the Arab
organised secular games to ce-
lebrate the millennium of Rome’s
foundation. The emperor was
called “the Arab” because he was
born in Syria. Some sources also
say that he was the first Christian
emperor. The sumptuous games
were obviously promoted by the
coins both with Philip I

Augustus aureus from -17 distribution of the suffimenta on the reverse.
Augustus aureus from -17 sacrifice on the reverse.
Augustus denier from -16 with a cippus on the reverse.
Domitian (88?) denier with a cippus on the reverse.

Delcampe Magazine 13