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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Mikey Zee, post: 2701052, member: 72818&quot;]Well, since it cost $57.50 shipped, perhaps it&#039;s really more of a hearty group lunch or a generous full dinner. Ordinarily I would only be interested in a denarius this worn and &#039;flawed&#039; for about $40.00 but the reverse just made me chuckle. Not only is it a reverse that I was lacking but it also seems to have &#039;Cupid&#039; shouting ....&quot;WHOA!! WHOA!!!&quot; while digging in his heels and pulling up on the reins before the dolphin swims completely off the flan <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. And it was struck in 46 BC, a lifetime historical issue connected to Julius Caesar. I&#039;m sure many of you have far better examples and I&#039;m looking forward to seeing them posted<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>As usual, it seems very little is known about the moneyer besides the issuance of the series.</p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;Fairly obscure Roman nomen gentile that originated with a plebeian family that was native to the city of Tusculum, which was an important center of worship for the Dioscuri. Only one member of this family is known to history, namely Manius Cordius Rufus (1st century BC). He was a moneyer (<i>triumvir monetalis</i>) under Julius Caesar.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>Of course, the obverse depicts Venus and is often associated with Julius Caesar.......</p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;The importance of the worship of Venus-Aphrodite was increased by the political ambitions of the <i>gens Iulia,</i> the clan of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Julius-Caesar-Roman-ruler" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Julius-Caesar-Roman-ruler" rel="nofollow">Julius Caesar</a> and, by adoption, of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Augustus-Roman-emperor" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Augustus-Roman-emperor" rel="nofollow">Augustus</a>. They claimed descent from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ascanius" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ascanius" rel="nofollow">Iulus</a>, the son of Aeneas; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Aeneas" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Aeneas" rel="nofollow">Aeneas</a> was the <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alleged" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alleged" rel="nofollow">alleged</a> founder of the temple of Eryx and, in some <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legends" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legends" rel="nofollow">legends</a>, of the city of Rome also. From the time of Homer onward, he was made the son of Aphrodite, so that his descent gave the Iulii divine origin. Others than the Iulii sought to connect themselves with a deity grown so popular and important, notably Gnaeus Pompeius, the triumvir. He dedicated a temple to Venus as Victrix (“Bringer of Victory”) in 55 bce. Julius Caesar’s own temple (46 bce), however, was dedicated to Venus Genetrix, and as Genetrix (“Begetting Mother”) she was best known until the death of Nero in 68 ce. Despite the extinction of the Julio-Claudian line, she remained popular, even with the emperors; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hadrian" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hadrian" rel="nofollow">Hadrian</a> completed a temple of Venus at Rome in 135 ce.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>Numismatically....</p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;Sear (in CRI) maintains that this reverse type likely refers to the recent victories of Caesar at Thapsus. Also, he notes the interesting inclusion of SC (senatus consulto) 1n the obverse legend, indicating that this issue was a special one struck under senatorial authority. While the exact reason for this is uncertain, Sear believes that it is related to the extreme demands being placed upon the mint to supply sufficient coinage to meet the expenses of Caesar&#039;s quadruple triumph.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;ll include the following link for those wishing to read more about Thapsus and Caesar.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thapsus" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thapsus" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thapsus</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>After browsing through all of the above, this denarius now seemed far more interesting and desirable to me and well worth the modest price for the type and grade. It seems, ironically, &#039;knowledge&#039; can be both dangerous and costly LOL</p><p><br /></p><p>Please post any relevant coins you may have of Venus, Caesar, Cupid, Dolphins or anything else you can think of....except UNDERWEAR<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie92" alt=":stop:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. Mn. Cordius Rufus. 46 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.78 g, 6h). Rome mint. Diademed head of Venus right, two locks of hair down neck / Cupid riding dolphin right. Crawford 463/3; CRI 65; Sydenham 977; Cordia 3a.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]607882[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]607883[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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