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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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.
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.
