Lot 2-244. Crispus. Caesar, A.D. 317-326. Æ 3. Rome, A.D. 320. Eros mint mark!.

Crispus. Caesar, A.D. 317-326. Æ 3 (20.7 mm, 3.08 g, 11 h). Rome, A.D. 320. CRISPVS NOB CAES, laureate and cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield / ROMAE AETERNAE, Roma seated right on shield, inscribing X/V on shield; RερωςP in exergue. RIC 197. gFine, cleaned, areas of green encrustations. 

Eros mint mark!. 

This scarce mint mark uses the word Eros written in Greek (EPWC), with the letters epsilon, rho and omega in a ligature. There was a pun intended: Eros translates into Latin as Amor, and amor is an anagram (and a palindrome) for Roma. The wordplay AMOR-ROMA is well attested in ancient Rome. To name but two examples: in Virgil’s Aenid (4.347) Aeneas says to Dido that the Lycean oracle commands him to go to the land of his ‘amor’. This land is of course Roma. And finally, there is the inscription from Aquincum with the palindrome Roma tibi subito motibus ibit amor.'

 

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$  200.00

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Bidding closed (Tuesday, 17 Dec 2013, 14:01:00)
Current time: Saturday, November 16th, 15:44:53