Using and reusing tokens: Some remarks about Christian graffiti on contorniates

This contribution deals with a series of largely neglected graffiti related to Christian imagery which are found on some of the 'contorniate' medallions (mid-fourth / late fifth centuries AD) alongside the multifaceted Graeco-Roman iconographic repertoire. As opposed to Alföldi's thesis, these motifs allow us see the use and reuse of contorniates, whose function continues to defy comprehension despite the rich scientific literature on the subject. Aim of this paper is to examining the typology, technique and style of the Christian graffiti occurring on contorniates, and discussing the problem of identifying those responsible for their execution as well as their possible chronology. An iconographic analysis of Christian graffiti is conducted by considering the meaning of the symbols represented in the broader context of Roman late antique material culture; on the basis of the evidence, a possible interpretation of these graffiti depicted on contorniates is proposed. The paper also provides with an appendix including the rare specimens bearing Christian graffiti.