Spintria
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This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in the Italian Wikipedia. (December 2010) Click [show] on the right for instructions.
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A spintria (plural, spintriae ) is a small bronze or brass Roman token, possibly for use in brothels, usually depicting sexual acts or symbols.
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[edit] Use
Some scholars have argued that spintriae were used to pay prostitutes. According to Suetonius, carrying a ring or a coin bearing the emperor's image into a latrine or brothel could be the basis for an accusation of treason (maiestas) under Tiberius. Under Caracalla, an equestrian was sentenced to death for bringing a coin with the emperor's likeness into a brothel; he was spared only by the emperor's own death.[1] There is no direct ancient evidence, however, to support the theory that spintriae were created as tokens for exchange in place of official coinage.[2]
They may have been gaming tokens. They seem to have been produced for only a short period, mostly in the 1st century AD.
[edit] Appearance
There were usually struck from brass or bronze, and were little smaller than a U.S. quarter. The represented erotic plot was suitable for the provided services. Some of the coins depicted homosexual acts between men.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Cassius Dio 78.16.5.
- ^ Thomas A. McGinn, The Economy of Prostitution in the Roman World (University of Michigan Press, 2004), p. 86.
- Lee, Bartholomew (Fall 1983). "“Brass Checks” Return: An Excursus in Erotic Numismatics, or The Spintriae Roll Again". The Journal of Popular Culture 17 (2): 142–145. doi:10.1111/j.0022-3840.1983.1702_142.x.
[edit] External links
[edit] Prime sources
- Long, detailed .pdf file, University of Queensland, Australia
- Straight Dope on spintria
- The Collaborative Numismatics Project -- dated
[edit] Images
- Selection from the extensive holdings of the Hunterian Collection, Glasgow
- a couple (erotic) photos
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