• Finest Quality Ancient Greek, Roman & Byzantine Coins
  • Renaissance & 17th Century Dutch Medals
  • Auctions & Private Treaty Sales

Obolos 17

20 December 2020
Webauction
overview
Starting Price: 200 CHF
Hammer Price:  550 CHF
Lot 618

L. Mussidius Longus, 42 BC. Denarius (Silver, 20 mm, 3.93 g, 2 h), Rome. CONCORDIA Diademed and veiled head of Concordia to right; below chin, crescent. Rev. L • MVSSIDIVS • LONGVS The shrine of Venus Cloacina inscribed CLOACIN: depicted is a low platform of galley-like form, with steps and a tripod to left, two statues of Venus at the center and a low column to right. Babelon (Mussidia) 6. Crawford 494/42c. CRI 188b. Sydenham 1093b. Well struck and centered. Small scratch on obverse edge. Good very fine.



The Cloaca Maxima was built in Rome during the Etruscan period in order to drain the marshes around the city's seven hills. It was the Sabine king, Titus Tatius, who first erected the shrine to the Etruscan goddess Cloacina which is depicted on the reverse of this coin, and he did so in order to propitiate the spirit of Rome's first sewer system. For unknown reasons according to Pliny the Elder, during the Republican period a syncretization between the goddesses Cloacina and Venus - two very different deities, one the protectress of sewers, the other the goddess of love, and purity - occurred.

Online bidding closes: 20 Dec 2020, 20:09:00 CET Current Date & Time: 25 Apr 2024, 17:52:33 CEST Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:550 CHF by Jd44 (9 bids)
An error has occurred. This application may no longer respond until reloaded. Reload 🗙
Reconnecting, please wait...