A ROMAN BRONZE ROUNDEL, cast and chased with a winged draped figure of Victory, her circular shield inscribed with New Year greetings "ANNUM NOVUM . . . ", the background strewn with strenae (New Year gifts) consisting of early Roman coins, dates and cakes, 1st Century B.C./A.D.

Details

A ROMAN BRONZE ROUNDEL, cast and chased with a winged draped figure of Victory, her circular shield inscribed with New Year greetings "ANNUM NOVUM . . . ", the background strewn with strenae (New Year gifts) consisting of early Roman coins, dates and cakes, 1st Century B.C./A.D.
4½in. (11.5cm.) diam.

Lot Essay

This iconography is found on terracotta lamps of the period and seems to be hitherto unrecorded in bronze. The subject was treated in detail by the late Dr C. M. McKraay in an unpublished typescript (a copy of which accompanies this lot). The practice of the Emperor giving obsolete coins, cakes and dates to those close to him is well attested by classical writers, c.f., Ovid, Fasti I, 189; Suetonius, Gaius, 42; and Martial, VIII, 33-11

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