RR Victoriatus-2nd Punic War

It certainly convinces me. The last time I looked at acsearch, they only has about five examples listed---perhaps I identified the coin inadequately......and I'll try to check again later as well as re-contact the seller, if for no other reason than to convince him we all make mistakes....

Recently, Agora sold me a fake Histaia, right TIF?? Which TIF noticed immediately, and Agora acknowledged and offered me a credit or refund option.

 

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Good luck Mikey! Personally I'd take the coin if the dealer refunded me the difference in price between the rare one and the common one, although I don't think the word "common" applies to any victoriati. Unfortunately, he might have bought it misattributed as a rarity and paid accordingly...

 

Nice Mikey,

nice write up and coin

 

Thank you @Mikey Zee. The re-attributed Victoriatus is a great coin! I love them, and have collected a couple. @red_spork has inspired me to REALLY re-look at mine to ensure the attributions are correct! I am travelling and do not have access to my pics...

However, if my memory serves me, I understand that when Rome went to the Denarius standard, they had been minting the silver Didrachm (several designs between 280-211 BCE including the famous Quadrigatus). They also struck a very short mintage of the Half-Quadrigatus, which was a Roman Drachma. When they went to the Denarius based silver coinage, they continued the Half-Quadrigatus which became a Victoriatus...or a Roman Drachm... They used the Didrachm, Quadrigatus, Victoriatus mainly for trade with the So. Italy Greeks (Magna Graecia).

My theory: the Romans took a stance that "my money is better than yours!" Hence minting the Roman Drachm (Victoriatus with debased silver content) at 3/4 Roman Denarius. Placing yourself at this time period...Rome was moving from the 1st Punic War and into the 2nd Punic War. Patriotism, as well as pure survival of Rome was at stake. They had been decimated, losing as much as 125,000 to 200,000 legionaires and allies within a 3 year period when Hannibal was smashing them. It was utterly amazing that they refused to give up after horrendous losses. Their audacity, refusal to consider surrender, and their doing things the "Roman" way was the mettle that ultimately made them into world power.

 

WOW, Your memory appears EXCELLENT!!! Since that 's exactly what my research says about it all---and suggesting your theory as well---which I tend to agree with.

And, I couldn't agree more!!!

I hope you're enjoying your 'traveling' AL

 

As my final post here, I'd like you all to know the seller acknowledged his 'error' and will send a corrected info coin flip and other coin supplies to account for the difference in values ---as I 'bargained' with him.

Thanks again red_spork!!!!

 

My Victoriatii 211-208 BCE (anonymous issue)
2nd Punic War... or the War with Hannibal:

 

Mine are pretty ugly, but the Romans were bashing the HADES (yes, I self-edited) out of silver to pay for the Hannibal War! It was so bad, that Roman parents would tell bed-time stories to their kids about how bad Hannibal was for CENTURIES after the 2nd Punic War...

 

I'm not sure I agree---the first is obviously a bit worn, but the second is quite attractive...however I do agree with the remaining parts of your post

 

Good catch RS. I agree it is a Cr 162/1a. It looks in Crawford's small plate picture that 1/b has M T in monogram and 1/a has M A T in monogram. I think that Cr 103's Saturn is much better artwork, and would make it a better coin. FYI - you can find examples, see below, of Cr 103/1b (but not a) and Cr 162/1a (but not b) on the British museum web site: http://www.britishmuseum.org/resear...ch_catalogues/rrc/roman_republican_coins.aspx

Cr 103/1b

Cr 162/1a

 

Very interesting discussion! I have one victoriatus from the 2nd Punic War, which I believe has a different Crawford number than any pictured earlier (it's amazing how our photos complement each other!)



ROMAN REPUBLIC
Anonymous, 211-208 BC
AR victoriatus 19 mm
Obv: Laureate hd. of Jupiter r Rx: Victory stg. r., crowning trophy, ROMA in ex, ΑΓ in rev. field
Ref: Crawford 93/1a

 

I covet that...

 

Man y'all are making me really want to find a nice victoriatus guess I know what November's coin budget will be going towards(unless I see a nice quadrigatus first).

 

It is getting cool in the RR arena. At first when I started posting here, it seemed there were not many RR people, or they did not come out of the woodwork. Now, it is good to see more of us...