Crawford 424/1

Moneyer: C. Considius Nonianus, 57 BC 

Denomination: Denarius

Obverse: C·CONSIDI·NONIANI Diademed and laureate bust of Venus right; below chin, S·C.

Reverse:  ERVC above gate in wall surrounding mountain on which stands temple. 

Reference:  Crawford 424/1

Mint:  Rome

Weight: 

Note: Wonderful old cabinet tone!

The identity of the moneyer C. Considius Nonianus is entirely unknown, but it has been suggested that the types of this denarius related to Venus Erycina might indicate Sullan political leanings. Sulla had generally claimed to have the special favour of Venus while the Battle of the Colline Gate, which resulted in his final victory over the Marian faction, on 1 November 82, had taken place near the temple of Venus Erycina in Rome. The cult of Venus Erycina, derived from an indigenous Elymian settlement on Mount Eryx in Sicily, was introduced to the Romans during the First Punic War (264-241 BC). ). The Elymians were generally believed by the Romans to have been descendants of the Trojans and are mentioned as compatriots of Aeneas by Virgil. Although the historical Elymian settlement was destroyed by the Carthaginians in 260 BC, the temple of the goddess atop the mountain was later captured by the Romans and held firm until the end of the First Punic War against the repeated attempts of Hamilcar Barca to dislodge them.

The sanctuary of Venus Erycina lay on Mt. Eryx in western Sicily, with the eponymous city stretching along the flanks of the hill. This is what we see on our coin, which shows a tetrastyle temple on a pile of rocks, whereas the polis Eryx is hinted at by the city walls running around the hill.

Collection : 16 Roman Republic