This site explores the iconography present through the coinage of Sextus Pompeius, and the affect these images, symbols, and inscriptions had on Sextus Pompeius' claims to legitimacy during the political upheaval towards the end of the Roman Republic. This site currently showcases two such coins, housed at the Otago Museum in Dunedin, New Zealand. This exhibition examines both coins through thematic analyses of the imagery presented, understanding how various components work towards establishing a visual narrative of legitimacy. This is explored through depictions of familial pietas, divinity, and supremacy in the coinage of Sextus Pompeius. The exhibition will also discuss the issues that can arise when trying to assess the difinitive dates of coins based off of the source material, particularly when there is conflicting information. 

This project has been completed as part of the assessment for CLAS480: Research Paper as part of an Honours degree with the Department of Classics at the University of Otago in 2019. 

 

Acknowledgements

I would like to give special thanks to my supervisor, Dr Gwynaeth McIntyre, who has given me unending support and guidance as to the direction and tone of this project. Funding for the digitisation of the coins was provided through a University of Otago Research Grant. Special thanks goes to Dr Charlotte Dunn who was responsible for digitising the coins. 

I would also like to give my sincere thanks to the Otago Museum for their permission to publish the digital images of the coins housed in their collection. Thank you to Anne Harlow (Collection Manager, Humanities), Moira White (Curator, Humanities), and Robert Morris (Director of Collections, Research and Education) for all of their help in accessing the collection, for providing space to digitise the collection, and their helpful expertise and guidance.