A pun for the ages

Orfew · Nov 22, 2015

Carthago said: ↑

Here's another, but 120 years later after the puns had become more blatant.

This is a posthumous issue with Caesar under Octavian by one of the last of the Republican moneyers which was a tradition that stretched about 250 years. Octavian restored it briefly well into his reign only to have it vanish from history forever.

Vitulus translates into "bull calf", or veal as we know it today.

Julius Caesar. 40 BC. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.78 g, 6h). Rome mint. Q. Voconius Vitulus, moneyer. Wreathed head of Caesar right / Bull-calf walking left; Q • VOCONIVS above, VITVL[V]S • Q/DESIGN in two lines in exergue. Crawford 526/4; CRI 331; Sydenham 1133; Kestner -; BMCRR Rome 4311-2; RSC 45.

View attachment 455348
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What a fantastic coin! I have a much lesser example

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stevex6 · Nov 22, 2015

This is my only Punjab example ...

INDIA, Post-Mauryan (Punjab)
Kunindas. Amoghabuti, AR Drachm
Circa 150-80 BC
Diameter: 19 mm
Weight: 2.10 grams
Obverse: Stag standing right; to right, Lakshmi standing facing, holding flower; vase(?) and naga symbol above stag
Reverse: Six-arched hill; triratana above, to left, swastika above Indra-dhvaja; to right, tree within railing; snake or wave symbol below

... see what I did there?

TIF · Nov 22, 2015

Nice pun(jab), Steve!

swamp yankee · Nov 22, 2015

Carthago said: ↑

Roman Republican moneyers, probably in an attempt to liven things up a bit from the traditional and repetitive Dioscuri types, would use symbols or very direct references that would be a pun on their name or family reference. Some were obscure, such as this example, but eventually evolved into outright advertising for them.

On this particular coin, the murex shell symbol makes a punning allusion to the moneyer’s name: Purpurio = Purple. The shells, found mainly around the southern Mediterranean coastline, were left to decompose and the purple ink which resulted was used to make purple dye. This dye was highly valued throughout the ancient world, and used in Rome to colour the senatorial togas.

Furius Purpurio AR Denarius (21mm, 3.66g, 6h). Rome, 169-158 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind / Luna in a biga right, PVR below horses, murex shell above, ROMA within linear frame in exergue. Crawford 187/1; Sydenham 424.

View attachment 455298

Please share your puns, even if they aren't Roman.
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Carthago said: ↑

Roman Republican moneyers, probably in an attempt to liven things up a bit from the traditional and repetitive Dioscuri types, would use symbols or very direct references that would be a pun on their name or family reference. Some were obscure, such as this example, but eventually evolved into outright advertising for them.

On this particular coin, the murex shell symbol makes a punning allusion to the moneyer’s name: Purpurio = Purple. The shells, found mainly around the southern Mediterranean coastline, were left to decompose and the purple ink which resulted was used to make purple dye. This dye was highly valued throughout the ancient world, and used in Rome to colour the senatorial togas.

Furius Purpurio AR Denarius (21mm, 3.66g, 6h). Rome, 169-158 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind / Luna in a biga right, PVR below horses, murex shell above, ROMA within linear frame in exergue. Crawford 187/1; Sydenham 424.

View attachment 455298

Please share your puns, even if they aren't Roman.
Click to expand...

Wonderful piece and in great condition! Big congrats on this find!....

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A pun for the ages

Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

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stevex6 Random Mayhem

TIF Always learning.

swamp yankee Well-Known Member

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A pun for the ages

Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

Guest User Guest

stevex6 Random Mayhem

TIF Always learning.

swamp yankee Well-Known Member

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