Here's my latest purchase. Vespasianus aureus. 7.42gm RIC 775 The reverse shows a Cista Mystica and 2 snakes... Wikipedia : A cista (Kiste) in the classical world was generally a casket, used for example to hold unguents or jewels. More specifically, in the Mystery cult, a cista mystica (literally "sacred chest") is a basket or chest used to house snakes. Cistae mystica were used in the initiation ceremony of the cult of Bacchus or Dionysus, as well as an early gnostic sect called the Ophites. Cistae mysticae appear on ancient Roman and Greek coins. Furthermore small Cistas were worked in Etruria, contained in cylindrical bronze containers for domestic use and storage of toiletries. Their faces were usually adorned engraved with figures, soldered on the top small bronze figures. The Cista could be realised with different materials like wicker, wood, rawhide, but above of all in metal, used from the 5th century. The Etruscans manufactured it in different qualities from the 5th century, at first in ovoid form with thrown scenes, and then in cylindrical form with engraved scenes. The handle of the lid was consisted by little structures. One of the most important city of production of Cista is Preneste, an old city of Lazio, which realised different types of Cista from the 4th century.
Beautiful coin Rudi. I own no gold cause I can't really afford them. I'll bet this one set you back a penny or two.
Gold and phat. I like it, I don't own anything like that but its old, gold, and over 7 grams.Well done. Jeeze, I need to go get me some old gold....I might have to go see my friends the Kidarites, soon.
Well-done Rudi. We often hear the expression "better in hand" when it comes to coins, but nothing feels better in your hand than gold!
Heh - yeah. Come to think of it, my wife feels better in hand than any of my coins, but your aureus ain't bad.