Did you feel that chill?  I do.  It comes once in a while from the mouth of a politician.  History seems to repeat itself, because those in power are not reading it.  North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue is suggesting that democracy (rather the elections) be suspended so that Congress can focus on jobs.  Somehow this sounds like, “Hey, the Republic is in trouble so let’s set up a dictator to take care of it.  Oh, sure he will give up power at the end of his term.”

What did Churchill say?

“It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.”

 http://dailycaller.com/2011/09/27/nc-governor-recommends-suspending-democracy-to-focus-on-jobs/

Ouch!  I fried my mother board.  It’s at staples right now, where a brave young tech is trying to save my files.  BACKUP!  BACKUP! BACKUP!   I’m afraid this puts me behind schedule.  If anyone has any suggestions on a good laptop, let me know.

2 Oct 2011 – update.

Purchased gaming computer with video card.  I am on my way back.  A slight problem…the computer ate a computer disk.  I mean it literally at it.  It’s not in the disk reader anymore.  It’s gone, as if pushed inside the computer.  Is that even possible?

3 Oct 2011 — Update.

Took it in to Geek Squad and found out what was wrong.  The disk was not set properly in the tray, and it traveled inside and UP and OVER the disk drive.   I am now back in production.

(William Glover, a regular contributor to Ancient Rome Refocused asked a question on FACEBOOK that got quite a few responses.  By the way, William, please get better…)

William Glover — If you knew that you were that you were going to be “layed up” for more that a few weeks what book on the classical world would you pick. Right now I’m “in hospital” and had “The Oxford History of the Roman World” pick on me for have that and “The Men who fought for Rome” in my comp. bag.

Steve Nodine – I’m just finishing “Caesar: Life of a Colossus” by Adrian Keith Goldsworthy. Very good book. Hope you get better soon.

Paul LaFontain — Herodotus…..

Joey Hill — I’m starting the Rise and Fall by Gibbon again. Love that one

Rob Cain — Ghost of Vesuvius by Charles Pellegirno for me.

Paul LaFountain — I’ll take a look Rob. FYI all….there are numerous applications like KOBO that give access to public domain literature for free. As an example: The 12 Caesars, and The Autobiography of Theodore Roosevelt (an audio download, not KOBO but a different service).

Bill Cohn  – Try Rubicon by Tom Holland. Also, the sub-rosa series by Steven Saylor for wonderful mysteries/historical ficiton. Recently started the series by John Maddox Roberts and am very impressed. Finally, I recently paid only 99 cents to get Gibbon’s Decline and Fall on my Kindle. 

Antonio Rodriquez – Steven Saylor would be my choice also.

Rob Cain — William, please get better.

Joey Hill — I have an Audible credit to get an audio book, but I have no idea which one I want.

William Glover — I’ll put those on my wish list [book suggestions], if they ever let me out of here, but it’s a hazard being a dig bum.

Paul LaFountain — Be well, William.

Steve Casey — Get well, soon. I also vote for Caesar: Life of a Colossus.  I bet it doesn’t end well for the protagonist.

Paul LaFountain — Ha!

William Glover — Yes, Goldsworthy does a good job.

Bill Cohn — I have read the entire Gordanius Sub-rosa series by Steven Saylor and eagerly wait for the next one. In the meantime, I discovered John Maddox Roberts SPQR series, read the first three, and thoroughly enjoyed them. Roberts is definitely in the same ballpark at Saylor.

(What book would you pick?  Leave your comments on the FACEBOOK PAGE or comment on this post.)

What is a value of a coin? 

Is the value only determined by what it can buy?    

Does the design of the coin determine value as well?  

Can the design affect what others think of that country or civilization?

I’m not talking about whether it says 10 cents or a dollar.    I’m talking about what we choose to put upon it shows our power in the world, or what we think it should be?

 What I am asking is:  is there a sub conscious relationship to the art on the coin and its buying power, and what the public perceives the people to be by what is on the coin itself?   We know that weight and how it feels makes value, but what if how it looked determined the coin’ts worth and the country’s perceived self-worth as well?   Is that possible?

 Utter nonsence, right?

EARLY REPUBLIC: The JANUS coin

 The Janus coin (beginnings and ends) – early republic.  Look at it.  The design is brilliant, intricate, and its worth is determined in silver.  I love just to look at it. The Roman Galley on the back is intricate and detailed, and try to imagine how it felt in your hand.   This is a coin of the early Republic with a long life of a people laid out in front of it.  It was the beginning for the Roman people.   They chose the JANUS god to adorn the front (the god of beginnings and ends) an apt and noble god for a youthful people, and the symbol of power called the trireme.  Naval power to sing the power of the republic itself.    Naval power had saved the Romans on more than one occasion (Pompey’s conquering of the pirates on the MARE NOSTRUM is just one example).

 In ancient times the value of money was actually tied to the amount of precious metal that sat in the coin.    THAT you can always feel in your hand.   The weight is distinctive, the silver and the gold makes it feel heavy and satisfying.   There is still heavy trading in coins of this value, but what of the design of the coin?  Can the design determined value?  Can the design determine respect?

EARLY REPUBLIC: 1889 Morgan Silver Dollar

 Check out the 1889 Morgan Silver Dollar currently valued today at 1,100 to 1,300 dollars.  A magnificent piece, with that same feel in your hand, but look at the design.   The head of Lady Liberty is exquisite.  Like the Romans with their God Janus, Lady Liberty is another form of deity — a personfication of a nation’s ideals.    I am not saying that it is just the choice of using a god or a personification which makes the value of the dollar higher, but making the holder of the coin feel that by weight AND design he or she holds something of IMPORTANCE.   

  Would you rather have the Morgan Dollar in your hand (right) ?

Eisenhower Silver Coin

 Or would you rather have this (left) a 1972 dollar Eisenhower coin?  Forget value, which one seems to you worth more?  To me, the Morgan not only looks heavier, the design gives the impression of power…even though the subject on the left was one of the 20th century’s most powerful men.    Have a Morgan in your pocket you are carrying power, value in weight, and value in design.  Look how deep Lady Liberty is cut into the metal, it is a god damn statue in your pocket that ROARS of national power.  

 Shouldn’t a coin always denote power?  Shouldn’t the image upon it raise what it is trying to say to almost spiritual level?

Well, in my world: YES! 

 A coin should have intrinsic value, it should have weight, and a coin should have a design that speaks of a nation’s values and dreams.

 Modern coins do not use the silver nor design in the same manner.  Today, coins, especially quarters, have turned into travel post cards.  Don’t get me wrong I have no problem promoting the granduer of the ‘Grand Canyon’ and I would be the first to say that Duke Ellington should be lionized at one of the greatest musical geniues of the age, but are these the symbols of American power?  In my opinion it is turning our monetary power into postage stamps.  Give me personifications of our ideals in classical form for our coinage every time.  

The Walking Liberty Coin circa 1940

 The ‘Walking Liberty 1940 silver quarter dollar is a image paying homage to a nation.  I have a coin like this dated 1945.  I admit I purchased it specifically for the reference to that date (end of the war), and hold this in your hand and you instantly feel that there is value behind it…the weight of a nation. This symbolizes a nation on the rise.  The sun even on the horizon hints of a bright future.  

Standing Liberty

Even the 1930 standing liberty is our ode to the our Roman forebears.  This is beauty, value, and a ‘great’ design incorporated into one coin.  The lines should be cut DEEP to denote the endurance of the country.  Do modern coins have such lines cut deep into the metal?  No. This coin was made to last forever.  To be heavy in the pocket and to be impressive to the touch and the eye.  Look at the Morgan Dollar Eagle below.  What does it say to you?  Can you doubt for a moment that the country is NOT here to stay?  Just, look at it.

EARLY REPUBLIC

 Yes, yes, yes.  I am totally propagandized and have been seduced by the classical design in the coins.  Yes, I am a classical snob, but look at some of the modern coins in comparision.  Does it speak steadfastness, bedrock principals, AND national power?   

Years ago, my dad gave me a quarter (depicted below).  A full silver one as they were disappearing.  He turned to me and said, “Rob, keep this…you won’t see another one like it.”  I carried it about with me in my wallet for years, and unfortunately one day it fell out.  I was extremely disappointed, still am…but to feel it in your hand you knew you had SOMETHING OF VALUE.   Am I talking buying value, sentimental value, or value of a nation that was still on the rise –  a value of 90 percent silver anyway. 

No, not Mercury. It's actually Lady Liberty...but I have called it a Mercury Dime all my life, and I will continue to do so no matter what anyone says to the contrary.

 A quarter of its like has never came to me in such a way again.  My father received it in a transaction, turned around and gave it to me and said, ‘Rob, keep this.  You won’t see it again.”  I admit…I didn’t keep it for the silver but because he gave it to me.  Later, I tried to find a copy of the coin, but they were gone, all quarters had a copper layer that sat sandwiched between the silver.   What was left was a cheapened copy of something greater. Yes, we are talking weight again, and the value of the silver.  Not design right?  But even size can be an issue.  Why make a dollar coin the same size as a quarter, and why choose Susan B. Antony?  Though I admit her greatness in her support of women’s rights.  Choose a founder of the country or choose a personification of American ideals. 

Note that from Republic to Empire the coins seemed to change. 

LATE EMPIRE: This is a coin from a people hoping for divine intervention. Though the gold is worth more than the silver, the early republic coin says POWER to me, rather than a call for prayer.

LATE EMPIRE: Valentian III who lacked the ability to rule. A man with a weak profile.

 Look at the gold coin to the left — an anemic empire torn apart by barbarians cutting through and slicing away what was left only to be bribed by gold.  Look at the silver one below: powerful, full of fire, not worth as much as the other one, but the design, THE DESIGN, is represents a people on the rise, putting their faith in themselves and their city.  But what of the coins of an earlier republic?  Their symbols denoted personfications of a city-state, of a people. coins were to sing their praises of who and what a people were and what they hoped to be.  Eventually, as generals paid their armies it was to remind the spear carrier where his pay was coming from.  The soldier has a constant propagandist reminder of where his loyalities lie, and that marked the beginning of the end (See Brutis coin below). 

EARLY REPUBLIC: A personification of a city, confident in this ability to take on all comers. Look at the design of the nose, the mouth that seems to have an amused expression.

EARLY REPUBLIC: Brutus on the Obverse side of the coin. Brutis was the chief conspirator to kill Caesar. Hold this in your hand and you know your money comes from Brutis. When he calls for volunteers for his legion, with a little silver in your pocket, this is the man you will obey. Not the city-state, but BRUTIS!

EARLY REPUBLIC: The portrait of the man on the left side is Roma. Hold this in your hand and you know who is paying you. Yes, the merchant or the paymaster of a legion, but its the state that you hold your allegiance.

(OK, ok, you nuismatrists and / or economists.  Maybe this is a simplification.  Trying to play art into value, design as a function of state and the economy – who the heck does he think he is?  Fall of empire based on a quarter?  Fall from greatness based on design? Hurumph! Foolish.  So let me know what you think?  Don’t let me get a way with it. Comment.)

Growing up this advertisement was always in a comic book near the backpage.  Personally, I think its a great ad (notice the prices if you want to guess the year).   This image has been burned into my brain, for I spent hours staring at the images wondering how I could convince my parents to buy it.   Never was able to do it.   Now, I’m told the soldiers contained in the box were just cheap plastic.  Yet, in a child’s imagination, that may have been enough.  I remember playing with soldiers that were nothing but cardboard cut-outs.   I had a howitzer that was flat as a pancake, but at that age it still looked ‘neat.’

Two dollars and twenty five cents FOR TWO COMPLETE ROMAN ARMIES. 

Anyone want to hazard a guess what that would have translated into denarii for a real army?

You can’t beat $2.25.

The past surrounds us.  This depiction is just a few blocks from where I live.  Mythology is often used as public art to give meaning to public places.   Let’s play a game.  Take your digital camera and see if you can walk a few blocks from your home and find an image that seems to reflect ancient mythology. 

Is there something like this near you?  Send your photos to Ancient Rome Refocused at: rob@ancientromerefocused.org

Give us a description of what we’re looking at, your name,  location, and I will put it on the blog.

How strange is it that the past is continually with us.  Who can read what the photo to the left means?  It’s fairly easy for the image of the blinded justice with the scales of justice.  This needs little interpretation.   She may be based on Themis, one of the Titans.  Her meaning is the ‘neutrality’ in decision making.  She is also known at Justitia, a  Roman Goddess of Justice. 

My real reason to put this on the blog is the drama played beneath her feet.  What do you see?  A Tortoise and a Hare from the fables of Aesop.   “JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED” is written on the pedestal.  This is the the basis of our Sixth Amendment in the right to a ”speedy trial.”  I remember at first I was a bit confused when trying to make the connection between the tortoise and a “speedy trail” but then I remembered the hare took a nap, which gave time for the tortoise to make it to the finish line first. 

(I am looking for JPEGS that tell a story, and provide meaning to public spaces that tap into ancient mythology.  If you know of one  give us a description of what we’re looking at, your name,  location, and I will put it on the blog.  TELL ME WHAT MYTHOLOGY IS NEAREST YOU!)

(Members of the Ancient Rome Refocused Group got into a discussion on Facebook.  What do you think?  Either click on the comment balloon on the upper right or join in on the discusson over on Facebook.  Either way we want to hear from you.)

William Glover

In working on my research that early Roman and eastern cultures had a very strong element of ritual behavior in both the the the wars/battle began to the end of the conflicts. That was an element the the Romans in their way had modified within their culture that confounded their enemies. Thoughts?

Rob Cain

Ancient style Psychological Operations? We have the favor of the gods so get ready to die?

Antonio Rodriquez

I remember Rome’s early wars were declared by the ritual act of throwing a spear from the Forum, to the general direction of the enemy territory.  And also, of course, by an Augur reading the signs of the Gods. Many of these rituals are of Etruscan origin.

William Glover

I have given much thought to the above thoughts, as during the evolution of the Roman people and it’s Legions the legacy of Numa during the period of the kings among others had a great influence on Roman culture. The other peoples of Italy and both the East and west that helped to form Rome and it’s Legions, in looking at what evidence the archaeology offers the mosaic of languages and material culture due give hints as to their influence. The space allowed here makes it difficult to present some of ideas that have popped up during my work, such as the behavior of some Roman generals and they way they used and informed their Armies. I can think of at lest two generals in the conflicts of the 300′s and 200′s that managed to the officers and NCO’s that reminded me of the behavior of the paratroopers in the WW 2 drop into Sicily, but I go on too long.

Laura Lynch

My only comment is that is that rituals seem so innate to man since the beginning. Battle rituals (and other rituals) provide bonding and obedience, inspiration and comfort, an opportunity for storytelling, a source of propaganda (scare the enemy), a source of strength and a bit of superstitious magical thinking.

William Glover

That has been part of my thinking in working on this and in some ways the roman’s used those thoughts in both how Rome in all it’s aspect’s like other cultures did at the time and earlier, and used it for a tactical advantage against it’s enemies.

Rob Cain

I’m racking my brain on rituals before battle and the only thing I remember right now is the killing of chickens (At the battle Drepana during the First Punic War, an admiral named Publius Claudius Pulcher did not get the ritual correct I believe), the other is the ritual of the JANUS door that was left open (of course this was a large national symbol rather than an Army Level symbol…question…did not the American eagle have the lightning bolts at one time in the right hand as opposed as its now held in the left?) I’m been fascinated by an account of music being overheard leaving the city of Alexandria before Octavian took the city from Antony – the music being interpreted and I’m sure spread about the city by Anthony’s enemies as “the gods leaving and taking their protection with them.”

Antonio Rodriquez

What about the role geese played during the siege of Rome by the Gauls? And the ritual sacrifice of a dog, each year, as a reminder of their failing to warn the Romans?

William Glover

As the American eagle with lighting bolts the SAC and Air Force have that/had that in their flags and patches, and the DOD may still have that symbolism. The accounts of Legion eagles turning or being difficult to remove has been noted before battles or campaigns the when badly for the army and the generals. The knowledge of both lunar and solar eclipses were used to calm Roman troops and allies and were it seems an added element to discomfort enemy forces. Just as the reports of the turning of statues and other event of the same nature effected the political life of Rome. In Gaul the destruction of shrine sites may have been used to both effect the civilian population and push the enemy to fight on unfavorable ground or before there full forces could be consolidated, as the more disciplined legion had a advantage over the more individualist fighting style of the Gauls. having Generals such as Caesar who was both an auger and chief priest omens could be worked in a creative for your army.

(Anyone got a comment? What do you think?)