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Artemide Aste s.r.l.
Auction LIV  7-8 Nov 2020
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Lot 236

Starting price: 500 EUR
Price realized: 1120 EUR
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Q. Crepereius M.f. Rocus. AR Denarius serratus, 72 BC. Draped bust of Amphitrite seen from behind, with head turned right; behind, fish; before, D. / Neptune in biga of sea-horses right, holding reins and brandishing trident; above, D; below, Q. CREPER.M.F./ROCVS. Cr. 399/1b; B. 2. AR. 3.81 g. 18.00 mm. RR. Very rare. An outstanding example, sharply struck and perfectly centred. Brilliant with underlying luster and lightly toned. Almost invisible graffito on obverse, otherwise EF/Good 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).
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