[ancients] Rock & Roll and the Decline of the Roman Republic

Hi all,

This is the wicked little coin I fell off the wagon for 2 weeks ago, my first Roman Republican. Some initial research indicates it may have been used as a token for admission into ancient music festivals, evidence of rock n' roll being alive and well in 69 BC.



M. PLAETORIUS M. F. CESTIANUS
Silver denarius
Rome mint, 69 BC
O: Head of Bon Jovus Eventus right with flowing hair [wind machine blowing left off flan]
R: Winged guitar, name of concert promoter M PLAETORI CEST EX S C above and below

I was looking around for a coin somewhat randomly since I felt I had spent enough time on the wagon and this one spoke to me. The reverse was presented with the caduceus horizontal rather than upright, and this particular one looked abit more guitar-like than usual. I loved the toning and the style, and I guess you could say it struck a whimsical chord with me.

Here's the actual attribution :

M. PLAETORIUS M. F. CESTIANUS
Silver denarius
Rome mint, 69 BC, Crawford 405/5, Sydenham 807.
O: Head of Bonus Eventus right, control mark behind.
R: M PLAETORI CEST EX S C, winged caduceus.

If anyone wants to post coins with the winged caduceus, please be my guest!

Z.

 

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Rock 'N Roll is nothing new. I listen to an early Greek folk music type that is every much as intense as heavy metal.

 

Awesome attribution

Hadn't noticed the type before. Now I want one.

 

The winged caduceus appears on Imperial coinage as well, and some of the ones on Vespasian's denarii have pretty awesome wings. Unfortunately, Vespasian, handsome as he is, doesn't quite cut your typical rock god profile.

 

Heh...all the rock gods I grew up with look like Vespasian now. Time keeps on tickin', tickin', tickin', into the future....

Super coin!

 

That is quite funny, zumbly. Bon Jovus Eventus indeed!
You are given ancient coinage a whole new meaning.

 

Seems like a good place to post this again...

http://www.jibjab.com/view/TzZN5d9PTNqZBG8_lYuqGQ

 

zumbly => if you're looking for a background vocalist who also plays a mean rythme-lyre, then Hermes is currently between gigs!!




Heads-up though, for the skinny on the street is that Hermes kinda thinks that he's a bit of a God!!

 

zumbly => that is a very cool new addition to your collection (congrats on your beautiful coin)

 

Love the RR. Very nice.

I know we're talking rock and roll, but how about a mean violinist/cellist wit a snake act:


And I know we can use some pyrotechnics and I have the perfect engineer. Some guy named Zeus Larasios :

 

Hilarious! And thanks for that link too. Now I'll have a fun Christmas card to send out.

 

I hear Dea Caelestis plays a mean drum, but she only makes rare appearances with it.

 

Love this RR, Bing! I can absolutely see the cello, but my wife said "why is there a peanut on that coin?" She's not that impressed with my coins either.

 

Never seen the type before either. Very nice.

Love your write up too, lol.

 

gorgeous new coin zumbly....you cranked it up to 11!

 

Awesome XD

 

Maybe it was for entry to the AD/BC concert!

 

I gotta say, that totally looks like my dad's electric guitar.

Wiiiiiiiiine!

 

I play this. Awesome instrument when you're an advanced player.

 

What the heck is it? And where is it from? Nice looking instrument, but I'm ignorant of it.