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Crawford 313/3, ROMAN REPUBLIC, L. Memmius Galeria, AE Semis
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Rome, The Republic.
L. Memmius Galeria, 106 BCE.
AE Semis (12.94g; 25mm; 6h).
Rome Mint.
Obverse: Laureate head of Saturn, facing right; S (mark-of-value) behind.
Reverse: Ship’s prow facing right with prow stem ornamented by head of Venus and Cupid, to right, crowning the head; L·(ME)MMI and S (mark-of-value) above; ROMA below.
References: Crawford 313/3; Sydenham 575a; BMCRR 1358; Memmia 4.
Provenance: Ex Naville 59 (26 Jul 2020) Lot 463; Naville 3 (2013) Lot 71.
The Memmii claimed descent from Mnestheus, described in Vergil’s Aeneid as a senior lieutenant under Aeneas. Venus was the titular deity for the family, and thus her head ornaments the prow stem. The denarii issued by this moneyer also show Cupid crowning Venus with wreath.
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