NUMISMATICS

THE PITFALLS OF THE

NUMISMATIC EVIDENCE.
THE AUXILIARY FORT OF Cristian Gzdac
ARCOBADARA Institute of Archaeology and Art History Cluj-Napoca

(ILIUA, BISTRIA-NSUD
cgazdac2000@yahoo.co.uk

Corneliu Gaiu
COUNTY, ROMANIA)1 Museum of Bistria
corneliugaiu@yahoo.fr

gnes Alfldy-Gzdac
National History Museum of Transylvania
Cluj-Napoca
Abstract: In the light of the publication of the numismatic monograph from alfoldyagnes@yahoo.com
the site of Arcobadara (Iliua) in Roman Dacia (Romania), the present work is
pointing out the pitfalls that the scholar may have to face when dealing with
old and non-professional publication of artefacts.
Keywords: numismatic evidence, Arcobadara (Iliua), state of research and
publication, genuine and plated silver coinage, general pattern

T
here1 were always debates on how we should regard the quantity
of artefacts as a relevant evidence for archaeological, historical,
numismatic or economic interpretations.
The recent publication of the numismatic monograph of the Roman
site Arcobadara (Iliua),2 (maps 1-4) has offered us the possibility to point out
the pitfalls that the numismatic evidence in combination with the state of
research and publication may provide.
Based on a catalogue of coins found during the archaeological
excavations of 1978-1995 on the territory of the auxiliary fort3 a first
comparative graph of genuine and plated silver coins was made.
At an overall view, this graph indicates a general pattern known not
only for Dacia but also for many other areas of the Roman Empire following
a general pattern regarding the imperial monetary policy at the beginning of
the 3rd century AD.4
On this graph some anomalies from a general pattern may be noticed:
a strong predominance of plated coins bearing the portrait of Trajan; and the
dominance of good silver coins for the periods of AD 238-244 and AD 244-
249.
While working on the numismatic monograph of the site we came
across the list of coins from the same site published by Torma K. in 1865.5
The author mentions that the coins were found on the territory of the fort
1
This work was made available owing to the financial support offered by research projects
UEFISCSDI PN-II-ID-PCE-2012-4-0210 and PN-II-RU-TE 20123-0216.
2
GZDAC/GAIU 2011.
3
PROTASE/GAIU/MARINESCU 1997
4
GZDAC 2009, 1487-1498; GZDAC 2010, 98-100, 149-151, 177-178.
5
TORMA 1865, 31-34.

Journal of Ancient History and Archeology No. 2.3/2015 25

Studies

Fig. 1. Graph of the silver coin finds from Arcobadara (Iliua) cavalry fort (after GZDAC 2009) ( Cristian Gzdac).
and surroundings (map 3).6 Thus, after updating the coin a very strong anomaly from the general pattern: a huge
identification by Torma based on Cohen work, first edition7 presence of genuine/good silver coins.
according to the Roman Imperial Coinage, one could arrive to The explanation comes purely from the state of
the following comparative graph of genuine and plated silver research and publication at that time. Firstly, the author,
coins found at the auxiliary fort of Arcobadara: Torma K. was not a numismatist but a passionate of
At this stage of research, we would definitely face archaeology; in those times, there were not many aware

Fig. 2. Graph of the silver coin finds from Arcobadara (Iliua) cavalry fort, including the coins on the Tormas list. ( Cristian Gzdac)
TORMA 1865, 31.
6

COHEN 1854.
7

26 Journal of Ancient History and Archeology No. 2.3/2015


Fig. 3. Graph of the silver coin finds from Arcobadara (Iliua) cavalry fort, the present state of research.( Cristian Gzdac)
of identifying and mentioning as so of the plated coins.
Therefore, in many cases the author could have just taken a
plated coin for a genuine one.
In the same process of gathering all numismatic
evidence from the site of Arcobadara we have re-analysed all
the numismatic material (the excavations of 1978-1995);
the new coin finds (the excavations of 1996-2006; the field
survey of 2007). At the same time, we went through the
entire work of Torma K., an enterprise that have revealed
that some of the coins found by him were in fact discovered
in the western necropolis (belonging to the civilian
settlement) and in the baths.8
Therefore, although, the majority of the coins found
by Torma K., most likely, come from the auxiliary fort
territory, still, we do not know which ones and how many
of them.
Thus, in a third comparative graph, we introduced the
most recent data we hold, at the moment, on the genuine
and plated silver coins comprised in the numismatic
monograph of the site of Arcobadara9 - seen and studied by
us. We removed the coins found by Torma, as there was no
certain evidence on the findspot and the real proportion of
genuine and plated pieces.
It can be easily noticed that the above mentioned
anomalies have vanished and the spectrum of genuine
and plated coins went back to normal following a general
pattern of a monetary policy.
This methodological study is not an isolated case for
Dacia. A similar one with same impact - has been already
demonstrated for the auxiliary fort of Gherla (37 km SW of
Arcobadara-Iliua, map 2).10
8
TORMA 1865, 14, 30; GZDAC/GAIU 2011, 16.
9
GZDAC/GAIU 2011.
10
GZDAC/ZGREANU 2007, 175-178.
Studies
Thus, it becomes an important aim to see and study
the old publications and, thus, maybe, we will get closer, by
few steps, to the real historical picture.
REFERENCES
COHEN 1854
COHEN, H., Description gnrale de monnaies de la Rpublique
romaine, Paris, 1854.
GZDAC 2009
GZDAC, C., The distribution of silver counterfeited coins
in the forts from Roman Dacia. Fraud or monetary policy?.
In: Morillo, ./Hanel, N./Martn, E. (eds.): Limes XX. XXth
International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies, Len
(Espaa), Septiembre, 2006 [Gladius 13, vol. 1], Lon, 1487-
1498.
GZDAC 2010
GZDAC, C., Monetary circulation in Dacia and the provinces
from the Middle and Lower Danube from Trajan to Constantine
I (AD 106-337), 2nd edition (Cluj-Napoca: Mega)
GZDAC/GAIU 2011
GZDAC, C./GAIU, C., Arcobadara (Iliua) [Coins from
Roman Sites and Collections of Roman Coins from Romania
6] (Cluj-Napoca: Mega).
GZDAC/ZGREANU 2007
GZDAC, C./ZGREANU, R., Reinterpreting numismatic
evidence. A case study: the auxiliary fort from Gherla,
Revista Bistriei 21/1, 175-178.
PROTASE/GAIU/MARINESCU 1997
PROTASE, D./GAIU, C./MARINESCU, Gh., Castrul roman de
la Iliua (Bistria).
TORMA 1865
TORMA, K., Az Als-Ilosvai romai lltbor s memlkei,
Erdlyi Mzeum Emlkknyve 3, 10-67.
Journal of Ancient History and Archeology No. 2.3/2015 27
 Studies

BRITANNIA

Rh
en
N

us
GER.
GALLIA INF.,
BE
LG
GALLIA IC
A Danub
ius
LVGDVNENSIS IA
AN ARCOBADARA
R M . RAETIA NORICVM
P
GE SV

SVP.
GALLIA DACIA

PANN. I
N

IS
AP. Pontus Euxinus

PANNO IA

NS
NF.

E
AQVITANIA AC. F.

ON
ILL IN

RB
YR S
AM. IC MOESIA SIA V
MOE NT

NA
IA VM
PO
IA

HIS
PAN LL Ma
re ET
OC

28 Journal of Ancient History and Archeology No. 2.3/2015

IA T GA IT
AL Ad SVP. THRACIA
IA

ARR
AD

ACO IA ria
NIA
CORSICA
tic HY
PP

A
NE um BIT

I
LAT

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S MACEDONIA
CA

GA

Mar

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e

I
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IR ASIA A rates
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Aeg
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LVS
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CI A IL
C
eum

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HISPANIA PH
AC M SYRIA
HA PA
BAETICA
SICILIA EA
CYPRVS
MAVRETANIA
EA

TINGITANA CAESARIENSIS CRETE

NVMIDIA
IVD

ET ARABIA

AC. = ALPES COTIAE

AP. = ALPES GRAIAE ET POENINAE AF
RIC
A CYRENAICA
AM.= ALPES MARITIMAE
AEGYPTVS

Nil
us
0 500 1000 1500 km
Cristian Gzdac

Map 1. The Roman Empire, mid-2nd century AD, pointing the location of Arcobadara (Iliua) (based on GZDAC/GUDEA 2006) ( Cristian Gzdac)
 ARCOBADARA
Tihu
POROLISSVM
SAMVM
Buciumi Orhei

RESCVLVM IS
E NS
NAPOCA S Brncoveneti
Gilu
S
Samus O LI
POR
POTAISSA
DACIA
Cristeti
Rzboieni
Inlceni
Hi
er
as

BRVCLA
us

Sighioara Odorhei

AMPELVM

APVLVM
Micsasa S
Maris Rupea
S I Olteni
N Hoghiz ANGVSTIA
MICIA
E
V L
us Comalu
Tibisc A P Cincor
AQVAE
D A C I A
TIBISCVM CVMIDAVA

VLPIA TRAIANA
BERZOBIS SARMIZEGETVSA

CENTVM
PVTEA
AD PANNONIOS
ARCIDAVA

PRAETORIVM
AD MEDIAM
Pojejena
DIERNA PONS ALVTI
Gornea Ord
esso
Spata de s
M DROBETA Jos
O Hinova
E
S Rcari
I A Urluieni
Alu

S ACIDAVA
tus

V
P DACIA MALVENSIS
E
R ROMVLA
I
O
R s
Rabon

Slveni ubiu
Dan
Hypothetic province border
Hypothetic internal border
Roman road Orlea
SVCIDAVA

100 km

M O E S I A I N F E R I O R

Journal of Ancient History and Archeology No. 2.3/2015

29
Map 2. Roman Dacia pointing the location of Arcobadara (Iliua) ( Cristian Gzdac)
Studies
 Als-Ilosva
(Iliua)
L
Studies

W
N
M
J K A
B N
E G
F
P U

C O V
I

D
Fel-r Q
S
(Uriu) R
T X

30 Journal of Ancient History and Archeology No. 2.3/2015

ua)
Y

Ilosva p
(Prul Ili tak
Z

A - auxiliary fort

B - specula (watch tower)

C-E - military settlement

F - thermae

G- reservoir
o
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 I - edifice
Csics-Keresztur
1. bcsi hvelyk = 200 l.
J-K, W - big and small
(Cristetii Ciceului) buildings

L-N, U-V - sanctuaries?

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000m
O-P, Q-S - necropolises

T - pottery kilns

Nagy Szamos
X-Y - salt pits
(Someul Mare)
Z - small rectangular
edifice

Map 4. The Roman remains at Iliua on a map by K. Torma (based on TORMA 1865, pl. II) ( Cristian Gzdac)
 Studies

N
0 50 100 150 200 m

Building D
Hypothetical area of the civilian settlement

Baths
A B

AUXILIARY FORT

Hypothetical area of the civilian settlement

the lower terrace

(Potters district?)
ad building
ro

building

Kilns

Map 2. ARCOBADARA (Iliua), the Roman site and the spots with coin finds
Journal of Ancient History and Archeology
(based on GZDAC/GAIU 2011, 29) ( Cristian Gzdac) No. 2.3/2015 31