COUNTERFEIT CAESARS: CATALOGUE

Cover images adapted from G. F. Hill, Becker the Counterfeiter (1924-1925)

COUNTERFEIT CAES A R S : THE CRIMINAL GEN I U S OF COIN FORGE R CARL WILHELM BEC K E R (1772-1830)

EXHIBITION CLASS OF 1937 GALL E RY ZIMM ERLI ART MUS E U M RUTGERS UNIVERS I T Y 4 OCTOBER 2016 7 FEBRUARY 201 7

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Text: T. Corey Brennan Cover / Images: Mirielle Vasselli Published by the Classics Department Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 2016

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THE BADIAN COLLECTION AT RUTGERS

The style of these counterfeits is stunningly close to their (authentic) prototypes, and all seem to be hand struck—as opposed to stamped on a press, or created via electrotyping. In most cases it is only metrology that allows their ready detection: most of the pieces are ca. 25% heavier than their models. A proper analysis of the metals used in each instance no doubt would reveal other anomalies, e.g., use of silver alloys, or plating of a base metal core.

Some of these pieces may be contemporary (i.e., ancient) forgeries.

However in at least three instances (nos. 3, 7, 10) we can pinpoint the source—the most notorious coin forger in history, the German Carl Wilhelm Becker (1774-1830), an acquaintance of Goethe and a trusted familiar of many European nobles.

Becker’s superior die cutting skills, use of ancient striking techniques, and his care to “distress” his coins artificially have made his products practically impossible to discern as fakes. It is only the fact that on his death he left forger’s dies and production notes for some 360 Greek, Roman and medieval coins that offers to us the means of detecting “Beckers”. It is entirely possible that more—perhaps much more—of his output has gone unrecognized, making him the continued bane of collectors and museums.

COUNTERFEIT CAESARS: THE CRIMINAL GENIUS OF COIN FORGER CARL WILHELM BECKER (1772-1830) is curated by Corey Brennan, Associate Professor of Classics at Rutgers University, and Donna Gustafson, Curator of American Art and Mellon Director for Academic Programs at the Zimmerli Art Museum (ZAM). Tim Corlis, Head of Preservation at Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA), served as the Artistic Director for this exhibition.

Keith Bull, Exhibitions Coordinator, at ZAM served as Exhibition Designer along with Tim Corlis.

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Corey Brennan additionally edited this catalogue with Mirielle Vasselli, Coins Intern at the Department of Classics and SCUA. We would like to thank from SCUA Evelyn Kim Adams, Conservation Technician; Erin Fitterer, Conservation Lab Intern; Betsy Phillips, Conservation Technician; and Mirielle Vasselli for their work as curatorial assistants during the realization of this project.

We would like to extend our thanks to Rick Hale, PhD candidate in Classics; James McGlew, Professor and Chair of Classics; Flora Boros, Acting Exhibitions Coordinator and Public Services Assistant at SCUA; Ron Jantz, Digital Library Architect at Scholarly Communication Center/Technical and Automated Services; Ron Becker, Head of SCUA; Francesca Giannetti, Digital Humanities Librarian and Curator of the Ernst Badian Collection of Roman Republican Coins; Fernanda Perrone, Archivist and Head of the Exhibitions Program at SCUA; Isaiah Beard, Digital Data Curator at Scholarly Communication Center/Technical and Automated Services; Annamarie Klose Hrubes, Coordinator of Digital Projects at Lewis J. Ort Library of Frostburg State University; Leslie Kriff, Registrar at ZAM; and Todd Caissie, PhD candidate in Art History and Summer Mellon Graduate Intern at ZAM, for all they have done for this exhibition to have come to fruition.

Special thanks are owed to Frankie Busch, Board of Overseers at the Zimmerli Art Museum, and Mark N. Busch ’64, for inspiring this collaboration.

T. Corey Brennan Department of Classics, Rutgers—New Brunswick

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THE FORGERIES 1. Gaius (= Caligula), reigned 37-41 CE Forgery of silver denarius of ca. 40 CE, perhaps struck by Carl Wilhelm Becker, early 19th century. 4.5gm, 18mm.

Obverse C CAESAR AVG PON M TR POT III COS III Laureate head r.

Reverse SPQR / PP / OB C S in three lines within oak wreath.

Cf. (for the reverse) Becker nos. 152, 154 Hill. Prototype: RIC (Gaius) 28. RUL inv. BAD 1242.

2. Nero, reigned 54-68 CE Forgery of silver denarius of 66-67 CE. 4.5gm, 19mm.

Obverse IMP NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head r.

Reverse IVPPITER CVSTOS, Jupiter seated left on throne, holding scepter and thunderbolt.

Prototype: RIC (Nero) 64. RUL inv. BAD 1244.

3. Vitellius, reigned January-December 69 CE Forgery by Carl Wilhelm Becker of silver denarius of 69 CE, struck early 19th century. 5.1gm, 18mm.

Obverse A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVGVST TR P Laureate head of Vitellius r.

Reverse LIBERI IMP GERM AVG Confronted and draped busts of Vitellius' children Aulus Vitellius Junior (on l.) and Vitellia (on r.).

Becker no. 159 Hill. Prototype: RIC (Vitellius) 103. RUL inv. BAD 1250.

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4. Vespasian, reigned 69-79 CE Forgery of silver denarius of 70 CE. 4.8gm, 19mm.

Obverse IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head of Vespasian right.

Reverse IVDAEA in exergue, mourning Judaea, veiled and supporting head with left hand, seated right on ground before military trophy consisting of helmet, cuirass, two shields, and greaves mounted on pole, two more shields at base.

Prototype: RIC (Vespasian) 2. RUL inv. BAD 1254.

5. Titus (future emperor of 79-81), as Caesar Forgery of silver denarius of 74 CE. 4.2gm, 17mm.

Obverse T CAESAR IMP VESPASIAN, laureate head right Reverse PONTIF TR P COS III, winged caduceus.

Prototype: RIC (Vespasian) 706. RUL inv. BAD 1249.

6. Trajan, reigned 98-117 CE Forgery of silver denarius of ca. 114-116. 4.4gm, 19mm.

Obverse IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC Laureate and draped bust r.

Reverse PM TR P COS VI PP SPQR Mars walking r., holding spear in r. hand and trophy over l. shoulder.

Prototype: RIC (Trajan) 337. RUL inv. BAD 1246.

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7. Hadrian, reigned 117-138 CE Forgery by Carl Wilhelm Becker of denarius of ca. 134-138 CE, struck early 19th century. 4.4gm, 18mm.

Obverse HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP, bareheaded and draped bust r.

Reverse Hadrian, holding roll, advancing right, followed by three soldiers carrying standards; DISCIPLINA / AVG in exergue.

Becker no. 174 Hill. Prototype: RIC (Hadrian) 232. RUL inv. BAD 1245.

8. Marcus Aurelius, reigned 161-180 CE Forgery of silver denarius of 165-166 CE. 4.6gm, 19mm.

Obverse M ANTONINVS AVG ARMENIACVS, laureate head right Reverse PAX AVG TR P XX COS III, Pax standing left, holding branch and cornucopiae.

Prototype: RIC (M. Aurelius) 146. RUL inv. BAD 1247.

9. Faustina II, wife of Marcus Aurelius (reigned 161-180), who died in 175 CE Forgery of silver denarius. 4.1gm, 18mm.

Obverse FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust r., hair knotted behind.

Reverse IVNONI REGINAE, Juno, veiled, seated l., holding patera (shallow libation bowl) and sceptre; at her feet, a peacock.

Prototype: RIC (M. Aurelius) 698. RUL inv. BAD 1253.

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10. Septimius Severus, reigned 193-211 CE Forgery by Carl Wilhelm Becker of silver denarius of 207 CE, struck early 19th century. 4.3gm, 19mm.

Obverse SEVERVS PIVS AVG, laureate head r.

Reverse PM TR P XV COS III PP, Victoria standing r., with right foot placed on a helmet, and writes on a shield, which rests on a short column.

Becker no. 187 Hill. Prototype: RIC (Septimius Severus) 211. RUL inv. BAD 1243.

11. Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus (emperor 193-211 CE), under the reign of their son Caracalla (211-217 CE) Forgery of silver denarius of 211-217. 4.6gm, 18mm.

Obverse IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, draped bust right.

Reverse MAT AVGG MAT SEN M PATR, Julia Domna enthroned left, holding olive branch outward and grounded transverse scepter.

Prototype: RIC (Septimius Severus) 381. RUL inv. BAD 1252.

12. Caracalla, reigned 211-217 CE Forgery of silver denarius of 215 CE. 4.0gm, 19mm.

Obverse ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate bust of emperor r.

Reverse PM TR P XVIII COS IIII PP, Fides, wearing crown of towers, standing l. holding two standards.

Prototype: RIC (Caracalla) 266. RUL inv. BAD 1255.

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ABBREVIATIONS AND TRANSLATIONS Legends or notations [coin number] A = Aulus (Roman first name) [3] ARMENIACVS (“victor in Armenia”) [8] AVG or AVGVST or AVGVSTVS Augustus (“emperor”) [1-4, 6-8, 10, 12-13] AVG or AVGVSTA Augusta (used especially of the emperor’s wife to denote “empress”, but sometimes of his mother, sister or a daughter) [9, 11] C = Gaius (Roman first name) [1] CAES or CAESAR Caesar, a title of emperors but sometimes (as in no. 5) to mark presumptive successors [1-2, 4-6] COS (II, III, III, VI) consul (i.e., highest regular magistracy in the state), followed by number of times held [1, 5-8, 10, 12-13] DAC Dacicus (“victor in Dacia” = modern Romania) [6] DISCIPLINA AVG(usta) (“imperial [military] discipline”) [7] FELIX (“fortunate”) [11] GER or GERM Germanicus (“victor in Germany”) [3, 6, 12-13] Hill = G. F. Hill, Becker the Counterfeiter. 2 vols. (1924-1925) [1, 3, 7, 10] IMP imperator (literally, “victorious commander”, later used as “emperor”); in no. 5 word order shows it means “son of the emperor” [2-6] IVNONI REGINAE (“to Juno the Queen” [i.e., of the gods]) [9] IVPPITER CVSTOS (“Jupiter the guardian”) [2] LIBERI IMP GERM AVG liberi imperatoris Germanici Augusti (“children of the emperor Germanicus Augustus, i.e., Vitellius) [3] M = Marcus (Roman first name) [8] M PATR mater patriae (“mother of the fatherland”) [11] MAT AVGG mater Augustorum (“mother of the emperors”) [11] MAT SEN mater senatus (“mother of the Senate”) [11] NER Nerva (throne name of emperor 96-98 CE, incorporated into titulature of his adopted son and successor Trajan [6] OB C S ob cives servatos (“on account of citizens preserved”) [1] OPTIMO (“to the best or greatest”, a title taken by Trajan) [6]

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PAX AVG(usta) (“imperial peace”) [8] PIVS or PIA (“pious”) [10-13] PM or PON M pontifex maximus (chief priest of the state religion) [1, 6, 10, 12-13] PONTIF pontifex (“priest”) [5] PP pater patriae (“father of the fatherland”) [1, 6-7, 10, 12-13] RIC = H. Mattingly, E. A. Sydenham, and others, Roman Imperial Coinage (1923–1967); rev. edition of vol. I only, ed. C. H. V. Sutherland and R. A. G. Carson (1984) [1-13] RUL = Rutgers University Libraries [1-13] SPQR senatus populusque Romanus (“the Roman Senate and People”) [1, 6] T = Titus (Roman first name) [5] TR P or TR POT (III, VI, XV, XVIII, XX) tribunicia potestate (“with tribunician power”), used especially to mark years as emperor, followed by number of years since receiving grant; in no. 5 (only) it shows status as heir to the throne [1, 3, 5-6, 8, 10, 12-13]