Ancient coins in the classroom: using the OCRE imperial coin database to support Year 12 students’ learning of Roman imperial image

Abstract

This study concerns how the Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE) database of imperial coins can support Year 12 students to learn about Roman imperial image on coins for their Classical Civilisation Imperial Image paper. In observations of lessons, the author noted that pupils struggled to remember and identify coins which were prescribed sources for their examinations and appeared disengaged in other teaching methods. The author taught pupils how to use the OCRE database. When using the database, all pupils seemed more interested and engaged in the study of coins. Indeed, pupils’ classwork and written essays showed that, after using the database, their use of coin-related terminology and metalanguage increased, they wrote more detailed descriptions of coins, and considered how coins contributed to Augustus’ imperial image. The author recommends that teachers allow an extended period for students to become familiar with the software before formal activities. He suggests engaging activities for students such as finding and presenting coins to the class, curating displays of coins, or finding coins depicting various animals in the quickest time. Teachers could vary the time on each activity depending on the lesson time available.