| Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3115 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 32265 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot  | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Ancients Anonymous Issue (ca. 1st century AD). AE spintria tessera (24mm, 4.11 gm, 3h). VG, altered surfaces. Erotic series. Couple on couch: male figure lying on stomach, propped up on left arm, head reverted to look at partner, right hand grasping partner's elbow, partner behind, right hand on male's right leg; curtain beyond / XVI; within dotted border. Simonetta & Riva Scene 13, Position D. Altered surfaces, thus ineligible for encapsulation. Struck on a gorgeous perylene green colored flan. Sex-a hidden and risqué topic in our modern world--was an open and ubiquitous subject in the visual art, literature, and religion of Ancient Rome. These brass coins from the late 1st century BC, referred to by their discoverers as spintriae, provide coin collectors with the opportunity to gain exposure to the genre of Roman erotic art. But the exact meaning and use of the spintriae have remained a mystery to scholars. On the obverse are partners engaged in carnal activities, and on the reverse are the Roman numerals I-XVI. It has been noted that there is no consistency between the combinations of images and numbers. The most common hypothesis for these tokens is that the manager (leno/lena) of the brothel (lupanarium) would exchange the cash of their customers for these tokens, which would then be given to the prostitutes in exchange for carnal services, perhaps even for what was specifically depicted on the obverse of the coin. With only 16 numerals present on the reverse of these brass tokens and there being 16 asses to a denarius (which was the average daily pay of a Roman soldier), it appear like the spintriae correlate with regular Roman currency, perhaps for exclusive use in brothels. However there are several pitfalls to this theory. The first is many brass tokens have been found with obverses depicting the faces of members of the imperial family (Augustus, Livia, & Tiberius) and nearly identical reverses of numerals within a wreath. This expands the use case for these tokens to being game pieces or souvenirs from an imperial festival. The second point of weakness for the 'brothel token' thesis is that no alternative form of coin-based currency exists for any other sub-economy within the Roman economy. The clearest evidence for the possible purpose of the spintriae was acknowledged by archaeologist Luciana Jacobelli, who proposed the 'locker room' thesis based on comparisons with frescoes found in the Suburban Baths of Pompeii depicting erotic scenes with numerals nearly identical to those found on the brass tokens. The pairing of the images with numerals indicated the location of lockers used by the bath's cliental for storing their clothes, towels, etc.; in this setting, the spintriae would have been tokens used by Romans to remember where they kept their clothes while using the baths. SOLD AS IS, NO RETURNS. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-anonymous-issue-ca-1st-century-ad-ae-spintria-tessera-24mm-411-gm-3h-vg-altered-surfaces/a/3115-32265.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3115-05082024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
