David Atherton Posted March 27 · Member Share Posted March 27 This wasn't expensive and I was missing it... plus, it's a pretty handsome piece! Domitian Æ Quadrans, 1.97g Rome Mint, 81-82 AD Obv: IMP DOMIT AVG; Head of Minerva, helmeted, r. Rev: S C in laurel wreath RIC 125 (C). BMC 486. BNC -. Acquired from Gert Boersema, February 2024. A fairly common early Domitianic quadrans, struck either in 81 or early 82. The quadrans in the early imperial period typically lacked an imperial portrait, here instead we have Domitian's patron deity Minerva on the obverse. Tariffed at a quarter of an as, the denomination was possibly deemed too lowly by mint officials to warrant a portrait. They were struck haphazardly and functioned primarily as an urban low value coinage in Rome and central Italy. The quadrans was the typical fee for entry into the baths, a urinal, or for a tryst in a cheap brothel. Being of rather low value quadrantes were not typically hoarded and thus are relatively scarce today being virtually absent from site finds outside central and south-central Italy (in contrast, over 1,827 quadrantes have been found at Pompeii). In hand. Thanks for looking! 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAZ Numismatics Posted March 27 · Member Share Posted March 27 I really like these quadrantes - so many types to collect. And again, your video shows the true character of the coin. But were they actually the price of a tryst in a brothel? I've heard that said before, but I've never found any evidence for it. Were prostitutes really that cheap in ancient Rome? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPK Posted March 27 · Supporter Share Posted March 27 Great little coin. There's definitely something appealing about those little quadrantes! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Atherton Posted March 27 · Member Author Share Posted March 27 3 hours ago, JAZ Numismatics said: But were they actually the price of a tryst in a brothel? I've heard that said before, but I've never found any evidence for it. Were prostitutes really that cheap in ancient Rome? At Pompeii the going rate was between 2 and 20 asses ... so perhaps you'd need a purse full of quadrantes! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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