Spica---An ear of corn, on ancient medals, sometimes signified the fertility of a particular country, and the abundance of grain produced in it; at others it denotes the care of the Annona (see the word), or import of corn into Rome as well as its distribution to the people by the AEdiles, to whom that important duty was especially committed in the time of the republic. Many denari struck under the consular government exhibit (see AED. CVR. and AD. FRV. EMV.)
this symbol of aedileship. In the Aemilis, Cornelia, Norbana, and other families, The Spica accompanies the papaver, or poppy, the caduceus, and the fasces. Sometimes a corn-ear is placed on each side of the modius, as on a denarius of the Livineia family. On many imperial medals from Augustus to Val. Severus, Spica appear either i the modius, or bushel measure, or in the hand of Ceres, or combined, as before observed, with the caduceus and the poppy, or places between a double cornucopiae.---See TEMP. FELICITAS.---SAECVLO FRVGIFERO.---On a brass coin of the Servilia family two corn ears are engraved, which intimate certain shipments of wheat and other grain from the corn-growing provinces to Rome.---Ears of corn are the insignia of fertility in the hands of those figures which personify Egypt, Africa, Spain Sicily. &c,
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