Competitions
Why did Roman tokens carry numerals?
The Warwick Classics Network is delighted o announce a UK-wide competition for school and college students (ranging from KS3 to A-level, ages 11-18), or those home educated. Students are asked to suggest a solution to an ongoing mystery from the Roman world: Why did Roman tokens carry numbers? Submissions can take the form of a written (up to 500 words) or creative (drawing, poster, photo of a diorama or scene) response. More guidelines below.
The prize is a fully funded trip to Warwick University for the student, a guardian and their teacher for a coin handling session, where you will be able to touch and learn about genuine coins from the ancient world!
Just like today, the Romans possessed items we call tokens. Today we might be given a token to vote in Tesco, to be exchanged for a drink, or as a receipt for a deposit (e.g. when you deposit something at a locker room). The Romans possessed tokens in lead and bronze, which were used for many contexts. Find out more on this Classical Association podcast.
Some of these tokens carry Latin numbers, normally ranging from one (I) to sixteen (XVI), though some numbers are higher. Many of these tokens date from the Julio-Claudian period (the rules of Augustus and Tiberius, 27 BC - AD 37). But we don't know what these numbers were for! Some evidence is provided below, but we ask you to use your knowledge of the Roman world to think about what role you think they might have played.
Further information about the competition, as well as what Roman tokens are, is available at https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/classics/warwickclassicsnetwork/events/tokens/, with an accompanying Classical Association podcast available at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-classics-podcast/episodes/Ancient-Tokens-with-Clare-Rowan-e2o97sj
The closing date is 1 February 2025. We look forward to hearing your ideas!
If you have any questions, please contact Dr Clare Rowan at c.rowan@warwick.ac.uk
Classical Association Mythology Competition
The Classical Association is delighted to announce a Mythology Competition for school students, or those being home-educated, both in the UK and across the world, who are in Key Stages 2 and 3 (or equivalent) i.e. aged 7-14. This was previously the Minimus Mythology Competition run by the Primary Latin Project, and has now been brought under the aegis of the Classical Association.
Students are invited to submit a piece of Creative Writing, Art or an animation in response to all or a part of:
Key Stage 2: The Wooden Horse
Key Stage 3: Romulus and Remus
We would suggest students familiarise themselves with the myth through any anthology, and perhaps also listen to the myth being read. Students might be interested in reading the winning story of our CA Creative Writing Competition by Allan Gaw (2022), which was inspired by the Wooden Horse and was narrated by the author Lindsey Davis on our podcast.
Please read the General Guidelines below and the further information about each type of submission. Submissions should be made to tildesley20@gmail.com by Friday 9th May 2025. There are book token prizes to be won!
More details for the competition can be found here: https://classicalassociation.org/mythology-competition/