Vespasian and The Temple of Love

Thanks for the suggestion!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

My Xoanon:


Campania, Capua
AE Semuncia circa 216-211,
Æ 18.4mm., 4.58g.
Obv: Bust of Juno r., holding sceptre on shoulder.
Rev: KAPV (in Oscan) Two xoana draped.
Ref: SNG ANS 215.
Ref: Historia Numorum Italy 495.
Comment: Slighlty double struck obv.
Ex: From the E.E. Clain-Stefanelli collection.

Unusual Diety: Xoanon... from the verb ξέειν, xeein, to carve or scrape [wood] was an Archaic wooden cult image from Ancient Greece. Many such cult images were preserved into historical times, though none have survived to the modern day. This is except where their image was copied in stone or marble, or in the above case this Semuncia from Capua.

History: The Capua coins from the 2nd Punic War are fairly scarce. Capua was the leading city in Campania, subject to Rome. During the 2nd Punic War Hannibal occupied Capua for several years. He promised their aristocracy that should he win the war with Rome, he would make CAPUA the Capital of Italia and raze Rome. However, Rome WON. Subsequently, Rome recalled as much of the Capuan currency they could find and melted it down so that there were no trace of Hannibal or Capua's status.

 

Marvelous coin David Atherton, and agree about Marvin Tameanko's book a fantastic reference one of my favorite books.

 

A little over a year ago I posted in this thread that was looking for one of these Cyprus tets. I'm happy to have finally added one. It also happens to come with an extra portrait, one of Marcus Aurelius no less!


This isn't just a hijack though. David, did you know your coin is also ex Spink 3/25/15 Auction 15004 lot 63?

 

Congrats! That is an excellent piece!

 

I had the pleasure of knowing Marvin. A very nice man. He died a few years ago and I never did get his book...

 

I wish I had met him. Every page of that book exudes his enthusiasm for ancient coins! A treasure of a book.