lM80 - Le monnayage de l'atelier de Lyon BASTIEN Pierre

The period between 274 and 413 has been studied by Pierre Bastien in 6 volumes. The first volume covers the period from 285 up to 294, the second volume from the end of 274 until 285. The third volume covers the period from the end of 294 until the beginning of 316, that is from the monetary reforms of Diocletian up to the momentary shutting down of the mint. Although it was relegated to a secondary mint ever since the opening of the mint of Trier, Lyon still remains, for the new coin, the follis or nummus, the most original mint of the empire, because of the variety of imperial busts and certain kinds of reverses which are typical of that mint. A detailled catalogue describes 621 kinds of folles. The work ends with a supplementary chapter dedicated to the continental mint without a mark and some indices. The fourth volume on the reopening of the mint in 318 upon the death of Constantine I (318-337) follows the scheme of the previous volumes : historical background, classification and chronological history of the issues, the monetary system and metrology, coinage technique. A supplementary chapter is dedicated to the problem of the forgeries. The catalogue, based upon the study of 2709 coins, describes 292 varieties. 798 nummi and silver multiples are illustrated on 22 plates. A supplementary plate reproduces the 43 kinds of busts used during this period and two other plates show 74 imitations. The fifth volume covers the period from 337 until 363 and is based upon the study of 2,188 coins from the period between the death of Constantine I to the death of Julian. During these 27 years, monetary reforms were abundant. A substantial annexe is dedicated to the imitations. The sixth volume covers the period from 363 until 413, from the death of Julian to the death of Jovian. An annexe is dedicated to the golden coinage of Constantine III and another annexe to the forgeries. The catalogue, based upon the study of 2,418 coins, describes 259 varieties. Several tables will facilitate the study of issues, which are sometimes hard to classify. They emphasize the highly important role played by the mint of Lyon in the golden and silver coinage in the course of Valentinian's and Theodosius' rule, as well as during the reigns of Constantine III and Jovinus.

A supplement has been published in collaboration with Michel Amandry and Georges Gautier. The period from 42 before Christ to Vespasian and the reign of Clodius Albinus constitute the object of the research carried out by Jean-Baptiste Giard. His first volume, which was published in 1983, will soon be followed by a second one, which will begin with the coinage of Claudius.

For the first time, the production of a Roman mint is studied in its entire perspective, with many illustrations. In each volume, the coinage of Lyon is placed in its historical context and its relations with the Empire's monetary policy, focusing on its technical problems and its specific symbolism. Thanks to the huge documentation and bibliography, this corpus consitutes an indispensable working instrument for those who are interested in the Roman Empire.

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