Numismatic Graffiti |
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 A
number of the coins in the collection bear unusual scratches. Such
incisions are not the result of natural wear, which tends to smooth over
and flatten images, but are presumed to have been made intentionally to
either mark or deface the currency. Called " numismatic graffiti,” such
marks are common on gold coins up until the mid-fifth century, at which
point they become more unusual, eventually disappearing completely. Most
often, letters or crosses are incised onto the coins. Although there are
no definitive explanations for the existance of the graffiti, there are
several explanations which may explain their presence. They
could be used as a mark of ownership, which seems unusual for a piece of
currency that will ultimately be given to somebody else. Another
possibility is that they were scratched to check the authenticity of the
metal. Gold is soft, and it is possible that people scratched it with
knives in order to make sure that it had not been debased. This, however,
would not seem to explain that frequently crosses and letters seem to be
scratched into the coins.Another possibility is that they were scratched
by Christians to protest coins bearing Pagan elements, or at least lacking
overt Christian images. The fact that graffiti appears on coins bearing
images of the cross would seem to suggest otherwise. On the other hand
dying out of coin graffiti mid 5th century seems to coincide
with the elimination of pagan imagery on coinage in exchange for Christian
icons and symbols. This cessation in numismatic graffiti is otherwise
difficult to explain. |