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Another Example of This Coin


Didrachm of Calabria with Boy Riding Dolphin

Continued from previous page
of a unique friendship that grew up between a boy and a dolphin is still told in classrooms today.

These tales were based on true historical accounts written by Cassius Dio and others. In fact, the Southern Italian towns as well as some in North Africa became quite famous tourist attractions due to their pet dolphins.

Roman society by the Second Century A. D. had become prosperous and stable enough to permit the development of travel for pleasure on a large scale. People flocked to the seaside towns to watch and perhaps swim with the friendly animals and spend their sestertii in the local wine bars, eating places, circuses, and brothels.

This popularity was not an unalloyed blessing for the towns, however. It was Roman custom and law that the town in which a traveling magistrate (modern equivalent would be bureaucrat) would extend hospitality gratis and on the scale to which the official was accustomed. The presence of many government freeloaders making extended visits almost broke some of the towns. A story persists that finally, in desperation, some citizend of one town decided to unburden themselves of their unique attraction. One morning, the dolphin showed up no more and the twon went back to being a sleepy little Italian fishing community.