|
|
Cr 213/1 Æ As "Mast & Sail"
|
Rome, c. 155-149 b.c.e.
o: Laureate head of bearded Janus, I above
r: Prow of galley r.; mast with sail or military standard above; [I before], ROMA below
20.85 gm; 29.5 mm
A relatively scarce issue. There is some disagreement whether the symbol is a "mast and sail" per Crawford or a military standard/flag per Buttrey and others.
I tend to see it as a military standard, as it is clearly a symbol rather than an attempt to show a feature of the ship. It is ridiculously out of proportion as a feature and why would a symbol be used in such a way as to suggest it was a badly-crafted feature? Other specimens more clearly show a bit of "waving" motion at the bottom of the banner, which, if a sail, would suggest it was luffing, not exactly a moment the sailors would want preserved in bronze.
|
|
![Cr 213/1 Æ As "Mast & Sail"
Rome, c. 155-149 b.c.e.
o: Laureate head of bearded Janus, I above
r: Prow of galley r.; mast with sail or military standard above; [I before], ROMA below
20.85 gm; 29.5 mm
A relatively scarce issue. There is some disagreement whether the symbol is a "mast and sail" per Crawford or a military standard/flag per Buttrey and others.
I tend to see it as a military standard, as it is clearly a symbol rather than an attempt to show a feature of the ship. It is ridiculously out of proportion as a feature and why would a symbol be used in such a way as to suggest it was a badly-crafted feature? Other specimens more clearly show a bit of "waving" motion at the bottom of the banner, which, if a sail, would suggest it was luffing, not exactly a moment the sailors would want preserved in bronze.](albums/userpics/31877/1445BFA686.jpg "Cr 213/1 Æ As \"Mast & Sail\"
Rome, c. 155-149 b.c.e.
o: Laureate head of bearded Janus, I above
r: Prow of galley r.; mast with sail or military standard above; [I before], ROMA below
20.85 gm; 29.5 mm
A relatively scarce issue. There is some disagreement whether the symbol is a \"mast and sail\" per Crawford or a military standard/flag per Buttrey and others.
I tend to see it as a military standard, as it is clearly a symbol rather than an attempt to show a feature of the ship. It is ridiculously out of proportion as a feature and why would a symbol be used in such a way as to suggest it was a badly-crafted feature? Other specimens more clearly show a bit of \"waving\" motion at the bottom of the banner, which, if a sail, would suggest it was luffing, not exactly a moment the sailors would want preserved in bronze.")
