ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how two genres: panegyric and victory type coinage, that is coins depicting the goddess Victoria, used to promote the state's triumph over its domestic enemies. By the Late Empire, in addition to external threats, the usage of Victoria Augusti on coinage now applied to an ever-rising tide of civil discord. It was during the Augustan era when the goddess Victoria Augusta personified first appeared on coinage. Her portrayal at this time reflected Roman victories over external rather than home-grown enemies. In the decades following the so-called 'triumph of Christianity', which Constantine I's reign ushered in, many traditional Roman pagan personifications disappeared from imperial coinage. The panegyrist Pacatus lauded Theodosius and alluded to the goddess Victoria as part-inspiration for his success. Most of the rebellions and usurpations in this period occurred within Honorius' western dominion. Honorius and Constantius then embarked on a simple strategy, which was to deal with the usurpers first before tackling the barbarians.
