Architecture and Greek !!!!

Always wanted one of this type as not much architecture on Greek coins but hardly ever
in good enough condition, but this one just sneaked in as a viable buy on Ebay.
This is the rare instance of a woman signing as the sponsor of a coinage issue. Mineia is also known from contemporary inscriptions as a major benefactor of the city of Paestum. The building, a public structure of some sort, may be another of her donations to the city, and it is even conceivable the female head is a portrait of Mineia herself.

MAGNA GRECIA
LUCANIA
PAESTUM (Poseidonia)
Bronze semis. Circa 90-44 BC.
15mm, 3.41gm.
Obv: Female head right; MINEIA • M • F behind.
Rev: Two-story building; P-S flanking upper floor, S-C flanking lower.
Crawford, Paestum 38b; HN Italy 1258.
Rare.

 

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Very cool, @Ancient Aussie! I've always wanted one of these too, but it's dropped off my radar for awhile now. Nice catch!

 

Good eye, Aussie!! Ditto what Z said

 

As soon as it is about architecture I hope these two temples from Paestum will not be off-topic ( Athena and Poseidon temples, my photos) :

 

Cool! Well-centered and nicely patinated, to boot!

Any idea what the PS SC stands for on the reverse?

 

Thats a really neat find! Congrats.

 

So you are the one the won that. I gave up after it approached $100. Congratulations!

 

Thanks, I just wish the mint back in the 1st century BC had spent a bit more time getting the quality right, it's a shame such an interesting coin.

 

Great pics thanks for sharing, have not visited yet but on my list.

 

Thanks, I have had a quick search and have not found anything on the letters yet.

 

So your the one that pushed my price up well you weren't far off my cost was 88 euro so not much over the 100 US but I'm glad you gave up...

 

That's an interesting coin @Ancient Aussie ! I didn't really know there were these type of coins minted in Italy at the time, like a semi-autonomous issue type thing?

 

Thanks, it probably is a semi-autonomous issue as Rome was just up the road maybe that's where SC comes into it but not sure.

 

I have one of these! I have always been intrigued by the possibility of Lady Mineia being on the obverse.

@Roman Collector, the letters P. S. S. C. stand for Paesti Signatum Senatus Consulto.

 

Whether the obverse is Lady Mineia' portrait is debatable, but it is remarkable that the legend actually names her.
MINEIA • M • F (Mineia, daughter of Marcus)

In approximately 15 BC, Lady Mineia paid for the reconstruction of the basilica in Paestum. So it is possible that the public structure on the reverse of this coin is the basilica, and this bronze was issued to commemorate the reconstruction.

 

Thats a really nice example of thee coin and great patina, thanks for the info regarding the coin very interesting type.

 

Nice coin @Ancient Aussie - cool building on the reverse.