What are "acorn eaters" to Rome? https://www.sullacoins.com/post/acorn-eaters-to-melting-pot My latest Note returns to a favorite coin and inspired by modern paper on Roman genetics takes a look at Roman origins. Drop by and join to start a conversation. Post favorite Roman denarii (republican or imperial) or anything else the you find interesting or entertaining.
I bought this coin because of the parallels between the reverse and the mythological story of the future founding of Rome in Virgil´s Aeneid This from Virgil The Aeneid Book VIII It was night, and through all the land, deep sleep gripped weary creatures, bird and beast, when Aeneas, the leader, lay down on the river-bank, under the cold arch of the heavens, his heart troubled by war’s sadness, and at last allowed his body to rest. Old Tiberinus himself, the god of the place, appeared to him, rising from his lovely stream, among the poplar leaves (fine linen cloaked him in a blue-grey mantle, and shadowy reeds hid his hair), Then he spoke, and with his words removed all cares: ‘O seed of the race of gods, who bring our Trojan city back from the enemy, and guard the eternal fortress, long looked-for on Laurentine soil, and in Latin fields, here is your house, and your house’s gods, for sure (do not desist), don’t fear the threat of war, the gods’ swollen anger has died away. And now, lest you think this sleep’s idle fancy, you’ll find a huge sow lying on the shore, under the oak trees, that has farrowed a litter of thirty young, a white sow, lying on the ground, with white piglets round her teats, That place shall be your city, there’s true rest from your labours. By this in a space of thirty years Ascanius will found the city of Alba. Antoninus Pius AE As, RIC 733, Cohen 450, BMC 1624 143-144 AD. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, laureate head right / IMPERATOR II S-C, Sow facing right under helm-oak, suckling four young, another piglet in front. SC in ex. 25mm, 10.09gr Relatively Scarce
perfect add @expat. This coin also shares an image of the huge white sow of Lavinium with her thirty piglets. C. Sulpicius C.f. Galba, AR serrate denarius, Rome, 106 BC Obv: Jugate, laureate heads of the Dei Penates left. Before, D P P downwards. Border of dots. Rev: C SVLPICI C F, L (control letter) above, two male figures standing facing each other, each holding spear in left hand and with right hand pointing at sow which lies between them. In exergue, legend. Border of dots. Size: 18.5mm, 3.96g Ref: Crawford 312/1, RSC Sulpicia 1
One of my faves too, @Sulla80 ! RR Anon AR Denarius 115-114BCE Rome mint 19.52mm 3.82g ROMA X Seated r on shields spear birds she-wolf Romulus Remus Cr 287-1 S 164 cupla more of my fave denarii RR Anonymous AR Didrachm / Heavy Denarius. Rome, circa 265-242 BCE. Head of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet, cornucopiae behind / ROMANO, Victory standing right, attaching wreath to long palm, YY in right field. Sear 25; Crawford 22/1; RSC 7. 6.55g, 18mm, 6h. Very Fine. From the Eucharius Collection Considered Rare These guys were wreaking havoc and raising hell against those Roman bloodlines… Marsic Confederation / Italian Allies Social War 90-88 BCE AR Denarius 19x17.9mm, 3.7g Anonymous Issue, Corfinium Mint Obv: Italia head, l, ITALIA behind Rev: Oath-taking scene with eight warriors, four on each side, pointing their swords towards a sacrificial pig, which is held by an attendant kneeling at the foot of a standard. - Binding the Marsi, Picentines, Paeligni, Marrucini, Vestini, Frentani, Samnites, and Hirpini Tribes into the Marsic Confederation against Rome during the Social War Comment: The reverse is based on the gold Stater and Half-Stater from the Second Punic War, and the Ti Viturius denarius... Sear 227 SYD 621 SCARCE
