Watch List notes:

TIME OF TIBERIUS, A.D. 14-37. AE Tessera (Erotic Spintra) (2.92 gms). VERY FINE.
cf.Simonetta Riva-Obv. Scene 9; Buttrey-Obv. 11/II. Erotic scene, man kneeling between the legs of his companion, who with slightly erect torso lies on her back atop a low couch, slight dotted border around; Reverse: Roman numeral "II" (for two) within dotted border, slight wreath around. Well rounded. A pleasing cocoa brown obverse with ruddy orange highlights. Very similar coloration is present on the reverse as well.

These small bronze tokens were created, according to their obverse designs and scholarly research, for use as payment in brothels. Some theories also present the notion that they were used as gaming tokens. Their use in brothels seems supported by the ancient roman historian Suetonius (most famous for his biography on the twelve Caesars), who states that bringing a coin or other object with the effigy of the Roman Emperor into a brothel was an act of treason punishable by law. These licentious tokens seem a good work-around to using common coinage when visiting an erotic establishment. The obverse design mirrors that of the Erotic Frescoes found on the wall of the brothel in Pompeii.

VERY FINE.

Estimate: $1000.00- $1500.00