More Latin help? "CONSIDERA NOVISS ET IN ÆTERNVM NON PECCABIS"?

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by lordmarcovan, Aug 27, 2020.

  1. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Another admittedly non-ancient piece.

    The legend:

    CONSIDERA : NOVISS · ET · IN · ÆTERNVM · NON · PECCABIS.

    Consider (anew?) and (eternally?) (your insecurity?)

    Even with Google's help, I'm still befuddled.

    Anyway, here's the piece in question; one of two identical 17th century German rechenpgennige I recently picked up, charmed by the wonderfully morbid motif on them.

    Germany (Harz, Zellerfeld): copper rechenpfennig by mintmaster Henning Schlüter, ca. 1625-1672
    [​IMG]

    Obverse: HENNING · SCHLU TER · F · B · L · M · M · Z · Z :, coat of arms.

    Reverse: CONSIDERA : NOVISS · ET · IN · ÆTERNVM · NON · PECCABIS ·, skull, facing slightly right, with hourglass above; crossed scythe and spade behind; worms to right and left and through the eye sockets.

    Neumann-31695. Copper. Struck by mintmaster Henning Schlüter in the city of Clausthal-Zellerfeld in Harz. Undated; circa 1625-1672.

    Ex-Münzenhandlung Raffler, Schwabmünchen, Germany, 30 June 2020.

    Here's the other, which appears to have possibly been silvered centuries ago.

    Zellerfeld2-gradient.png
     
    lordmarcovan, Aug 27, 2020
    #1 + Quote Reply
    fomovore, Johndakerftw, Alegandron and 3 others like this.
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Wait- I think I might have cracked it! Comparing the legend with the similar inscription on this monument (which was helpfully captioned), it appears to mean:

    "In all thy works remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin."

    (Ecclesiasticus 7:40)

    That makes sense, given the design, which is a sort of memento mori motif.
     
    lordmarcovan, Aug 27, 2020
    #2 + Quote Reply
    Theodosius and alurid like this.
  4. Theodosius

    Theodosius Fine Style Seeker

    Those are very cool!

    Are they official issues of a country or are they more like a token?

    John
     
    Theodosius, Aug 27, 2020
    #3 + Quote Reply
    lordmarcovan likes this.
  5. Orielensis

    Orielensis Well-Known Member

    You’re right - it’s an abbreviated phrase based on Eccl 7:40. Here is a word for word translation:

    considera: consider (imperative)
    noviss[ima]: the last things
    et: and
    in aeternum: in eternity
    non: not
    peccabis: you will sin
     
    Orielensis, Aug 27, 2020
    #4 + Quote Reply
    Orfew, lordmarcovan, Gavin Richardson and 1 other person like this.
  6. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Mathematical counters. Apparently a private issue, but issued by a quasi-official regional mintmaster, I reckon.
     
    lordmarcovan, Aug 27, 2020
    #5 + Quote Reply
    Theodosius likes this.
  7. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Thank you!
     
    lordmarcovan, Aug 27, 2020
    #6 + Quote Reply
  8. Theodosius

    Theodosius Fine Style Seeker

    You have a knack for finding the interesting material.

    :)
     
    Theodosius, Aug 27, 2020
    #7 + Quote Reply
    lordmarcovan likes this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page