RRC 438/1 and this fresco now in Palazzo Massimo, Rome:

Notice the similar hat on the figure on the left of the coin monument and the figure on right of the fresco monument.  Not the same monument in any way, but perhaps good to think with in the context of each down the road…

 

This anonymous Etruscan series (based on an as of c. 177g) seems to demonstrate a continuity of symbolism between 3rd century inland Etruria and 1st century Rome regarding symbols of the priesthood.  HN Italy 68a-e, Haeberlin pp 273-5, Vicari 219-23.

[Why can’t I find a digitized copy of Haeberlin’s Aes Grave?  He died in 1925.  Even allowing the full 80 years post the  author’s death (German pre 1965 law), this would still have put it out of copyright more than a decade ago!]

I don’t really need to blog about the Mineia coinage because the excellent Warwick blog already did so!

My general gut feeling is not that she is issuing this coinage, but that the coinage of the city is honoring her for her generosity, a monument in miniature to say ‘thank you’ for her gift of a monument in… maximum?!

“Paestum. Semis early first century, æ 4.28 g. Q· LAR·PR Scales weighting ear of corn; in exergue, Pæ. Rev. SPDDS·S Two workmen in the act of coining; in field l., MIL. In exergue, S. SNG Copenhagen 1372. M. Crawford, Studies Price, Paestum and Rome. The Form and Function of a Subsidiary Coinage, 25/1. Historia Numorum 1238.” [specimen in trade]

Crawford interprets the legend as ” Q. Laur(entius ?) praetor sua pecunia dono dedit Senatus sententia milia (or miliens): “The praetor Q. Laur. out of his own money and by consent of the Senate (of Paestum) gave as a present (to his fellow citizens) thousands (of this coin)”. To what end is suggested by the obverse; to buy a measure of subsidised wheat.”

Image and links fixed 3.6.26.

This old catalogue entry  on this gem made me think of an earlier rather epic post I wrote on this sort of thing.

Early posts on RRC 287/1.

(Is it just me or is there only one baby under that wolf?!  Not that it’s the finest execution but usually there is more of an attempt to indicate both twins.)

Update 6-30-17:

http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/reproduktion/3308096

http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/objekt/207558

http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/reproduktion/3308097

http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/objekt/207559

 

Quite awhile ago I blogged about the unusual cult image of libertas on RRC 391/2.  I was remind of that post when I found this Etruscan painting.  Note how the goddess is represented, very columnar but with forearms upraised and elbows tight into the body.

From this JStor article.

 

Praenestine bronze Cista, Berlin (See previous post for image source)

Saw this:

From this book on Jstor (pl. V fig. 11).  And thought of RRC 405/1b: