Watch List notes:

C. Considius Nonianus (56 BC). AR denarius (20mm, 3.92 gm, 9h). Rome. C. CONSIDI. NONIANI behind, [S. C] before, laureate and diademed bust of Venus Erycina right / Temple on summit of mountain, surrounded with rampart; above central gateway, ERVC. Crawford 424/1. Sydenham 888. Considia 1b. Scarce. Some striking weakness. Lightly toned. Extremely Fine.From the Mayflower Collection. Ex CNG 39 (18 September 1996), 1226. The reverse of this coins shows the temple precinct of Venus Erycina, a goddess whose cult originated at the town of Eryx in Sicily. The goddess embodied impure love, and as such was the patron goddess of prostitutes. Legend ascribed construction of her temple at Eryx to the son of the goddess Aphrodite (Venus) and King Butes. The depiction of the rampart shows that the temple was built near the gate of the city, which according to Vitruvius is precisely where any new temple to Venus should be sited so that it would not contaminate "the matrons and youth with the influence of lust." In Rome Venus Erycina had two temples, one located on the Capitoline Hill, the other outside the Porta Collina. It is presumably the latter temple which is depicted on this coin.

Estimate: 450.00-600.00 USD