Roma with naked rider on chariot ( 2 horses)

[Johnny]

well  I think the obv is Roma

the reverse is a naked rider on a chariot being pulled by 2 horses right, PVR below horses and ROMA in EX

anyone else have more info on this coin,  IE  emperor,  better attribution...

thanks

EDITED>>>  coin weight  3.6 gr  18 mm   and is AR

[Steve Minnoch]

Crawford 187/1
Luna in biga r., murex shell above, PVR  below, ROMA in linear frame.
Dated by Crawford to c. 169-158 BC

[Johnny]

thanks steve

So it should read

Anonymous Issue
AR 18mm 3.6 gr  169-158 BC
OBV:: Helmeted head of Luna Right, cross behind head
REV:: Luna in biga right, murex shell above, PVR below
EX:: ROMA

and I assume the mint is Rome

thanks again

[Steve Minnoch]

"The moneyer is a Furius Purpurio, not otherwise known"
The PVR and the murex shell allude to the cognomen Purpurio.

Puns to the names of moneyers are quite a common (and interesting) feature on Republican denarii.

[Johnny]

"The moneyer is a Furius Purpurio, not otherwise known"

LOL  I'm still new to ancient coins,
you have to use little words

[Johnny]

Thinking about this still

I get the PVR part of the pun,  but I don't get the Murex shell

[Steve Minnoch]

Purpura = purple ... murex were the source of the famous purple dye made at Tyre.

Moneyers are the name we give to the mint officials responsible for organising the annual coinage under the Republic (and also later under the Empire, except they weren't as prominent).  Often their name or part of their name appears on Republican and Augustan coinage.  At later times they also chose the types, so you often see allusions to their family history on their coins.

Steve

[Johnny]

Thanks Steve

 I still have a long way to go into the learning curve

[Diederik]

Johnny,
for the good order: it is hemeted head of ROMA (not Luna)

btw Not the worst coin to start collecting ancients


Frans

[Johnny]

thanks frans