Ancient - M. HERENNIUS Denarius

I received this in the mail today. It's in much better condition than I originally thought so I am very much pleased. Zohar444 listed one similar last week and of course his looks to be in much better condition and is also NGC encapsulated., which mine is not.

M. HERENNIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS HERENNIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: PIETAS, diademed head of Pietas right
REVERSE: M•HERENNI, Amphinomus carrying his father right, control letter in right field (Dot over sideways D)
Struck at Rome 108-109 BC
3.89g, 18/19mm
Cr308/1b; Syd 567a

I haven't been able to find much information on the Gens Herennia, but I found this quote in the Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, ed. by W Smith:
"M. Herennius was consul in B.C. 93. Although a plebeian and an indifferent orator, he carried his election against the high-born and eloquent L. Marcius Philippus. Pliny mentions the consulate of Herennius as remarkable for the quantity of Cyrennaic silphium then brought to Rome. This costly drug was worth a silver denarius the pound; and the mercantile connections of the Herennii in Africa may have caused this unusal supply."

Crawford identifies the moneyer as the same person who became Consul in 93 BC. The reverse is linked to the obverse portrait of the goddess Pietas through it's depiction of a great act of piety described in a legend from Catania in Sicily. In this, two brothers, Amphinomus and Anapias, when the volcano Atna erupted, carried their aged parents on their shoulders to safety, the stream of lava itself is said to have parted so as not to harm them.

And for those of you wondering about the plant silphium that the Herennii imported:

"The plant was valued in ancient times because of its many medical applications but also as a food source, and seasoning for food. Perfumes were made from its flowers, the stalk was used for food while the juice (Cyrenaic juice) and tuber like roots were used to make a variety of medical potions. Reported medical uses for the juice included remedies for cough, sore throat, fever, indigestion, fluid retention, seizures, aches and pains. The sap was supposed to be able to remove warts and other growths. (Tatman) In addition, Pliny the Elder wrote that silphium could be used for a variety of diverse conditions including treatment of leprosy, to restore hair, cleanse retained afterbirth from the womb and as an antidote for poisons.

Potions made from silphium were supposedly among the most effective birth-control methods known at the time. Preparations used for birth control included a tea made from the leaves, a "pea-sized" ball of sap mixed with wine and a suppository containing the juice. The timing of administration suggests it probably functioned as an abortifacient similar to preparations made from related plant species. (Tatman) Silphium was for the colony a major source of revenue because of widespread demand and the local monopoly on supply. The plant gave wealth and prosperity to the city of Kyrene.

The export of silphium became one of the mainstays of the Cyrenian economy. However mismanagement of the environment / nature of Cyrenaica, the natural habitat of the silphium plant, and overexploitation yielded an enormous decline in its abundance. In 49 B.C. Julius Caesar notes that in his own lifetime the plant had not been seen in its native habitat for many years. The last known stalk was valued at its weight in gold and sent to the emperor Nero. Pliny the Elder discussed in its Natural History published A.D. 77 in great detail the Sylphium sylphium plant, its distribution, and the likely causes of its extinction."

 

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fantastic coin bing and nice write up.
i assumed piatus was the personfication of peity, but i looks like piatus is the personification of piatus...and piety comes form that word. they have an example of your coin on the wikipedia page for pietas..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietas

so i guess piatas is more of devotion to family and society than religious devotion of piety...hence the carrying your dad! cool!

coins are awesome!

 

You had me at ...

=> sweet coin, my awesome friend

 

Great coin, I could live with is issues too.

 

Nice one!

 

Interesting issue and great writeup, thanks!

 

Great denarius! You've added two super RR's to your collection lately. I had to chuckle at the comment about Herennius being an indifferent orator. I imagine him getting on a pedestal and saying, "Hey man, do whatever you want. I don't care."

 

I like your new Republic denarius very much.

Also, your interest in Roman Republicans is responsible for my increased interest. Thank you?

At the onset of my ancient coin infection, I wasn't particularly impressed by Republicans-- perhaps due to only seeing the ubiquitous quadriga reverse types. You mentioned liking them and I respect your opinions so I started looking at them in greater depth. Now I love them and have accumulated some nice ones with many more on the want list.

 

Excellent coin Bing, and write up.

Your blaming him for a favor he did for you? lol

 

I take it as a compliment not blame. However, don't get in my way girl on any coins I want (I know that is unlikely since you collect coins in much better condition than I can afford).

Yeah, my last two RR denarii have been in pretty good condition for me and my collection. This one and the MN. FONTEIUS. Hmm, I think I'll show it again. I love this coin. What's not to like about either:

 

I have to admit the type has now been added to my BUY list

 

Mine is more worn and was reported here in March 2012.

 

I must have already said it, but since you showed the coin again, I'll repeat - that Fonteius is incredible! Absolutely love it.

 

Thanks Z

 

Hey Bing, great piece. You always seems to bring some interesting RR to the table. One does get tired of seeing the same old obverses and reverses on the RR denarii, but you seem to find those interesting pieces that stand up above the usual. Glad to see your still into them. You completed the 12, now you need to complete the one of each. I would love to see one of the virtual trays of your RR. Make it happen!

 

Not sure how to make a virtual tray in the first place, but secondly, complete one of each what?
Glad to see you around and posting again Anoob. How's little noob and how old is he now? Seems like yesterday you were making the announcement.

 

One of each ancient RR obverse reverse unusual type.

Yea, yea, thanks Bro.

Little Noob (Evan) will be 2 on 10/17.

 

Handsome kid. Even my wife says he's cute. Must look like his mother, eh?

 

Jesus lets hope so. I always get swampped by pretty ladies when I got out in public with him. The say, " omg, hes gorgeous" I say, just wait, he has this (me) to look forward to."
Still don't know how he ended up with blue eyes and blonde hair.

 

Milk man?