News
University of Richmond Museums
Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art * Joel and Lila Harnett Print Study Center
Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature
Richmond, Virginia 23173
http://museums.richmond.edu
Contacts: Heather Campbell, Curator of Museum Programs, University Museums, 804-287-6324, hcampbel@richmond.edu or Brian Eckert, Director of Media and Public Relations, 804-287-6659, beckert@richmond.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 30, 2009


A NEW INSTALLATION OF ANCIENT COINS FROM THE COLLECTION
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND MUSEUMS


The University of Richmond Museums presents the opening of the new permanent installation Coins of the Ancient World: Coins from the Collection on November 6, 2009, in the Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature. On display are more than a hundred coins from the museum's permanent collection; the coins are from the ancient civilizations of Greece, Rome, Byzantium, and Persia.  The installation explores the history of coins as well as presenting information on the iconography and terminology relevant to ancient coins.

The first known coins were struck in the sixth century B.C.E. on the command of King Croesus (560-546 B.C.E.) in order to pay his soldiers for fighting to expand his empire of Lydia, a neighboring state to Greece.  The Greeks embraced the idea of coins as an effective method of trade.  Only after the conquests of Alexander the Great from 336-323 B.C.E. and the expansions of the ancient Roman Empire did coins become a widespread phenomenon. The ancient Romans used coins to support trade, but emperors also recognized the importance of coinage as a means of propaganda to promote their wealth and power.

Although the Byzantines considered themselves Romans, their culture differed considerably. Christianity prevailed as the official state religion of the Empire, and the subject matter of Byzantine art became devoutly religious and less imperialistic.  Over time Christian icons such as the cross became a central feature on their coinage.

Highlights of the display include a Lydian coin minted during the reign of King Croesus (560-546 B.C.E.), which was one of the earliest coins produced.  It was made of electrium, a metal mix of silver and gold found in Asia Minor. The obverse - the front of the coin - depicts a lion's head with punch marks on the reverse of the coin. The lion was a common symbol for Lydia at the time.

In a later coin minted under the reign of the Roman Emperor Valerian I (circa A.D. 253-260), the emperor himself became the central figure of the coin wearing a radiant crown on the obverse.  On its reverse the emperor is depicted with his son, Gallenius, who served as co-emperor, shown with swords and shields to represent their military strength against the Persians who were a major threat at the time.  Also included is a Byzantine coin from the reign of Phocas (circa A.D. 602-610).  This coin represents the religious and aesthetic shift in coinage with a stylized portrait of the emperor holding a cross on the obverse.

The installation was curated by Amanda Haviland, '10, business administration major, University of Richmond, as her project for a 2009 Arts and Sciences Summer Research Fellowship. She is the 2009-2010 Marketing Assistant for the University Museums.



Programming

Friday, November 6, 2009, 12:30 to 1 p.m.
Curator's Talk, Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature
Iconography of Power in Ancient Coins
Amanda Haviland, '10, business administration major, University of Richmond, and the 2009-2010 Marketing Assistant, University Museums, and curator of the exhibition



Note: Images for press are available by contacting Heather Campbell, 804-287-6324 or hcampbel@richmond.edu

University of Richmond Museums comprises the Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art, the Joel and Lila Harnett Print Study Center, and the Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature. Admission to all museums is free and open to the public. For group visits and tours, please call 804-287-6424 at least two weeks prior to your visit for reservations. Call 804-289-8276 for information and directions or visit our website at museums.richmond.edu

The Joel and Lila Harnett Museum of Art is located in the George M. Modlin Center for the Arts. Museum hours (8/20/09-4/25/10): Tuesday through Sunday, 1 to 5 pm. Closed Thanksgiving Week (11/23-30/09), Semester Break (12/14/09-1/11/10), Spring Break (3/6-15/10), Easter Weekend (4/03-05/10), and Summer Break (5/15-8/18/10).

The Joel and Lila Harnett Print Study Center is also located in the George M. Modlin Center for the Arts. Museum hours (10/02/09-4/07/10): Wednesday through Saturday, 1 to 3 pm., and by appointment (804-287-6424). Closed same schedule as above.

The Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature is located in a separate wing of the Boatwright Memorial Library with its entrance on Richmond Way. Museum hours: Tuesday through Friday, 11am to 5pm; Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 5 pm. Closed Thanksgiving Week (11/23-30/09), Semester Break (12/17/09-1/04/10), Spring Break (3/6-15/10), and Easter Weekend (4/03-05/10).