Folia archeologica 10.

L. Barkóczi - A. Kerényi: Bronze medaillons of Thracian issue from Brigetio

Bronze médaillons of Tbracian issue from Brigetio 85 Aurelius Drôles,

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8 M. Aurelius Eptacentus,

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9 Pacatus Mucaris,

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0 Aurelius Mucianus

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1 served in the legio II adiutrix, Aurelius Doriso,

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2 and Mussatus

43 in the ala Ulpia. Contariorum at Győr, Aurelius Lipor

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4 and Mucatra

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5 in the ala Thracum at Nagytétény. Besides these we find civilians of Southern Thracian origin in these territories.

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6 The presence of the Southern Thracians in the several military units tends to prove that the reserves of the vexillations partaking in the Eastern campaigns were partly recruited on the spot, in Thracia. Presumably the recently recruited soldiers were followed by the members of their families. It is a mere coincidence that up to this day but a single Southern Thracian soldier, C. Jul. C. f. Lupercus

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7is known from Brigetio in the first half of the third century. According to the aforementioned facts these medallions could only be brought from Thracia by those soldiers who took part in the wars there or spent a longer time in Thracia and returned then to their constant station in Brigetio. This conclusion is sustained by the fact that a coin just recently discovered was found surly on the area of the military camp (Pl. XIV., 2). In fact we have certain information regarding another bronze medallion found also on the site of the military camp at Brigetio. It is a coin of Septimius Severus, bears a Greek inscription and derives undoubtedly also from Thracia. As this piece is in private possession at present, not being at our disposal, we could not give its detailed description here. The fact that these medallions could not be brought along but by soldiers, in spite of the immigration of certain civilian elements to Pannonian territory from Thracia, shows that these bronze coins must be connected with the soldiers. Roman medallions were dealt with several times in the numismatic literature,

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8 but these special colonial medallions and the problems connected with them were just touched upon. Regarding the Roman medallions all authors agree that these issues of large size and ornamental elaboration were 3

3 CIL III 10469. Alföldi A., op. cit. p. 40, no. 21. 3

9 CIL III 10411. Alföldi A., op. cit. p. 40, no. 22. 4

0 CIL III 3558. Alföldi A., op. cit. p. 42, no. 31. 4

1 CIL III 15171. Alföldi A., op. cit. p. 42, no. 34. 4

2 CIL III 1369. Alföldi A., op. cit. p. 40, no. 20. 4

3 CIL III 4369. Alföldi A., op. cit. p. 42, no. 39. 4

4 CIL III 3393. Alföldi A., op. cit. p. 41, no. 27. 4

5 CIL III 3394. Alföldi A., op. cit. p. 42, no. 33. 4

6 Cf. Alföldi A., op. cit. pp. 39—44. 4

7 CIL III 4321. С. lui. С. fil. Lupercus vet. ex. dex. domo Sala. He comes probably from the Thracian Sala. Barkóc^iL., Brigetio, F. .. — Kraft, К., op. cit. no. 674. 4

8 So Grueber, A. H., Roman medallions in the British Museum. (London 1874). — Froehtier, W., Les Médaillons de l'empire romain (Paris 1878). — Kentier,F., Der römische Medaillo n. ZN 19(1887) pp. 1—-173.—-Kenner,F., Römische Medaillons. Jahrbuch der Münzsammlung des Allerhöchsten Kaiserhauses 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 11. (1883—1890). - Kubitscbek, W., Ausgewählte römische Medaillons der Kaiserlichen Münzsammlungen in Wien. (Wien 1909). — Gnecchi, F., I medaglioni romani. (Milano 1912). — Toynbee, J. M. C., Roman Medallions. Numismatic Studies. No. 5. (New York 1944). — These works only allude here and there to the colonial medallions, in connection with the description of single pieces, especially as regards the illustrjaions. See the, special literature in the notes belonging to the description of the single pieces. — See also Regling, K., Medaillon. PW XXIX. Sp. 18—25.