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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Carthago, post: 2279223, member: 76111&quot;]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.&nbsp; Some were&nbsp; obscure, such as this example, but eventually evolved into outright advertising for them.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]455298[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Please share your puns, even if they aren&#039;t Roman.</b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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