I was watching the CNG e-sale close today and noticed this As of Herennia Etruscilla with Pudicitia on the reverse. I have a similar as of Herennia which I posted here a while back, so the coin attracted my attention. My example is not as well centered, softer in areas and some legends are off the planchet as can be seen plus minor scratches. However, I was still surprised by the closing price (about 20x what I paid for my example just a few years ago). How scarce are coins of this empress? It is outside my usual area so not that familiar. The CNG example: Herennia Etruscilla Æ As Pudicitia. (23mm, 9.71 g, 12h). Rome mint. RIC 136c. (picture from CNG) My Example: same type as above. 9,61 g, 23mm. RIC 136 Nice deep jade patina.
In silver shes very common, her bronzes are fairly scarce. Her AS are rarer then a Sestertius. Herennia Etruscilla (249 - 253 A.D.) Æ Sestertius O: HERENNIA ETRVSCILLA AVG, diademed and draped bust right. R: PVDICITIA AVG, Pudicitia seated left, hand raised to pull veil from face & holding scepter, SC in ex. Rome Mint 28mm 16.6g RIC IV 136b (Trajan Decius); Hunter 16; Cohen 22.
Thank you, Mat. That's got to be the explanation then. A scarce denomination. I was happy with the coin before, I am even happier now.
Middle bronze coins of this empress are hard to come by. Here's my humble example, clearly an as because of the copper highlights:
..uh, 20 times eh?!..i think her coins are lovely! i have a sesterterius of the type which i'd bought as Octacilia Severa, thanks to RC, i was put right as to who it actually is of. it is one of my favorite coins.
