Dea Moneta
login

Main

home auctions shops past results Numismatic Conferences Book Store New issues

Not yet registered? Sign up now

Did you forget your username or password?

Banner Artemide LVII
Charming Amphitrite
Lot # 369
Q. Crepereius Rocus. AR Denarius serratus, Rome mint, 72 BC. Obv. Draped bust of Amphitrite, seen from behind; on the left, dolphin; on the right, A. Rev. Neptune in biga of sea-horses right, holding reins and brandishing trident; above, A; below, Q·CREPER·M·F / ROCVS. Cr. 399/1b; B. 2 (Crepereia). AR. 3.82 g. 18.00 mm. RR. Very rare. A handsome example, well centred and brilliant. Minor area of weakness on reverse, otherwise. about EF. There is barely anything known about the gens Crepereia, which makes it difficult to explain the marine imagery present on this type. Eckhel regards this coin as referring to the colony of Corinth, but Caesar did not annexe the region as a province until 44 BC, which is in disagreement with the dating of the coin. There were, however, cults at Corinth dedicated to both Neptune and Venus well into the Roman age. There are inscriptions which confirm that the gens maintained a trading presence throughout the Mediterranean, being recorded as active in the East and North Africa; it is possible the moneyer's family also had a presence at or connection to Corinth which was significant to them, but is now lost to history. (Roma Numismatics 38,432,note).