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Considia1a of Considia

C Considius Nonianus Denarius. 56 BC. Laureate diademed bust of Venus Erycina right / Temple on summit of mountain; ERVC on gateway in the center. Cr424/1; Syd 887.

Lot No.2705. VF. 3.8g.

$ 450.

This coin is apparently the very first example of a city gate on a Roman coin.

The usual description is that the design shows the temple of Venus Erycina in Sicily, on its hill site, with the city walls and main gate in the foreground. However, some say it is actually the temple of Venus outside Rome at the Colline gate, and the walls and gate are those of Rome.

Roman temples to Venus were usually built outside the city or in the rough harbor areas to keep the city's youth away from the temple prostitutes and their exotic rites.