The ‘Other’ Erato

5701489.

SOLD $2750

Q. Pomponius Musa. 56 BC. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.75 g, 7h). Rome mint. Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath, hair rolled back and in loose locks over forehead; flower (or plectrum handle) to left / Erato, the Muse of Erotic Poetry, wearing long flowing tunic and peplum, standing right, holding plectrum in right hand and flat-bottomed cithara in left; Q • POMPONI downward to left, MVSA downward to right. Crawford 410/7d corr. (obv. symbol and rev. type); Sydenham 820a corr. (same); Pomponia 17a corr. (same); BMCRR Rome 3622 corr. (same); Kestner 3384 corr. (same); RBW – [see P. Davis, “Erato or Terpsichore: A Reassessment” in FIDES, for the identification of the muse as Erato]. Some contact marks and edge roughness. Near EF.

This type is called “Terpsichore” by Crawford and most other authors, but Phil Davis has recently identified this coin type as Erato. A complete discussion of this subject can be found in the article Davis wrote for the festschrift created for the late Rick Witschonke (FIDES, pp. 393-401). Davis’ logic is very sound and will make completing a set of Muses much easier as the previously rare, known from a single die, Erato is now shown to be a die variety (Davis identifies the obverse turtle symbol as being for Terpsichore).