Anchor


[Text of the |Dictionary of Roman Coins| scanned to the left:]

ANCHOR (Ancora). -- This well-known nautical instrument, with which the personification of Hope is now-a-days painted, is not found to be amongst her attributes on ancient coins. -- But the type of Annona has it [see image] on a medal of Alexander Severus. -- The figure of Asia bears it [see image] on a large brass of Antoninus [see the engraving.] -- A river god, seated on the ground, holds it in the right hand, on gold and silver of Hadrian [see image]. --Laetitia sustains it in the same manner, as probably indicating stability, on coins of Gallienus, Tetricus father and son, Florianus, Carausius, and others. -- The goddess of health (Salus) also appears with it, as in the instance of Tetricus senior and junior. --The anchor is likewise seen behind the helmeted head of Rome, on denarii of the Julia and Mussidia families, as given in Morel; and these so united denote (says Havercamp) that such coins were struck at the expense of [the commander of] some expeditionary fleet. --There is a naval trophy, with anchor and trident, on a denarius of the Pompeia family, and on a coin of the Sulpicia family is another naval trophy, with oar, anchor, acrostolium, prow, and two captives. (See Morell. Thesaur.] --An anchor with a dolphin wound around it, forms the reverse type of a denarius of the Emperor Titus. -- See Dolphin -- also Pompeia gens.

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