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A silver antoninianus of Herennius Etruscus with a Mercury reverse. Coin Type: Silver antoninianus of Herennius Etruscus as Caesar, 251 CE.
Mint and Date: Rome, 251 CE.
Size and Weight: 20mm x 21mm, 4.38g
Obverse: Q HER ETR MES DECIVS NOB C
Radiate, draped bust right.
Reverse: PIETAS AVGG
Mercury standing left, holding purse in right hand and short cornucopia in left arm.
Ref: RCV (2005) 9520, RIC IV 142b.
BW Ref: 002 035 116
Click on the picture for a larger scale view of the coin

Note: According to the Dictionary of Roman Coins, "Diodorus Siculus says of Mercury that he was the first amongst the deities who instituted religious worship and sacrifices; hence we see him on coins imaged with caduceus and purse, and the inscription around his effigy of PIETAS AVG., or AVGG".

The content of this page was last updated on 1 January 2008