I purchased this coin as ANCIENT ROME, REPUBLIC Anonymous Bronze Quadrans, 190-170 B.C. Head of Herakles / Prow of Galley, ( Bull above prow ) Diameter AE20mm., 6.55gm I am looking for some more information on it because, despite my searches, I cannot 'tie it down'. I know that the three dots represent a 'value' but what is that? Any help is appreciated. Thank-you.
I have 1of these as well that I got in a lot and have found the same data as you and nothing more. I guess you could say we are in the same...galley! Ba dum tisss
Yes, its a Roman republic Quadrans , value = one quarter of an As Here's mine with a donkey or horse on deck. Here's a selection of bronze coins used in the Republic times: See the As as 12 dots value (actual marked I) and the semis at 6 dots value (actually marked S), then the rest makes sense, I hope
The interesting thing about this Quadrans is that the majority have the animal or victory facing right the same direction as galley moving forward, have not seen or heard of one with animal facing left. You may have a rarity.
@Andres2 @red_spork @Ancient Aussie Thank you for your help. So three dots makes a Quadrans (a quarter of an Uncia, 4 x 3 =12) - what does four dots, (or two or one dot), make? If a quarter of an Uncia is a 'Quadrans' do the other 'values' have names?
Each dot represents one uncia. An as is 12 unciae so 3 uncia = one quarter of an as = quadrans. The common denominations are: Semuncia, worth half an Uncia or 1/24th an as. Most have no value mark but some have a sigma Uncia, worth 1/12 of an as. • value mark Sextans, worth 2 unciae, one sixth of an as, •• value mark Quadrans, worth 3 unciae, one fourth of an as, ••• value mark Triens, worth 4 unciae, one third of an as, •••• value mark Semis, worth 6 unciae, half an as, S value mark As, worth 12 unciae, I value mark
As = 12 dots (but marked with an I between the Janus head) Semis = 6 dots (but marked with an S) Triens = 4 dots Quadrans = 3 dots Sextans = 2 dots Uncia = 1 dot Semuncia = 1/2 dot (but unmarked , older ones are marked with an acorn) Quartuncia = 1/4 dot (unmarked)
Don't forget the Quincunx! 5 Dots or 5/12ths of an As: Roman Republic Anon 210 BCEAE 23 Quincunx 6.96g Apollo P behind Dioscuri Luceria 5 pellets Cr 99-4 Syd 309 S 910 Very Rare Apulia Luceria AE Quincunx 26mm 14.75g- Spoked Wheel 250-217 BCE Athena-Wheel Grose 443 HN Italy 678 SNG ANS 699 Apulia Luceria AE Quincunx 26mm 14.75g- Spoked Wheel 250-217 BCE Athena-Wheel Grose 443 HN Italy 678 SNG ANS 699
@Topcat7 congrats snaring a RR Quadrans! The denominations in the Early Republic can be a bit different than Post-Denarius coins. I have a couple Quadrans from Pre-Denarius, sorry that they are not your Quadrans type: RR Aes Grave AE Quadrans 230 BCE Dog 3 pellets Six spoked wheel 59.8g Craw 26-6a Th-Vecchi 34 RR Anon AE 28mm 19.2g Quadrans - Sicily mint 214-212 BCE Hercules-Erymanthian boar headress - Bull ex RBW Craw 72-7
Agree with @red_spork . It's the Rostrum Tridens series, Crawford 114/5. Rostrum Tridens refers to the symbol located above the prow on the reverse of your quadrans. In this case, the symbol is a rostrum tridens, which is the beak or ram portion of a Roman galley (used for ramming and sinking enemy vessels). Also, it is a scarce coin, with only 7 examples in the Paris collection reported by Crawford. Below is my example of the larger As coin of the same series, again with a rostrum tridens anove the prow. Odd thing about this series is that on the Asses, the rostrum tridens symbol faces left, but on the smaller denominations (like your quadrans) it faces right.
I must be missing something. If the 'rostrum tridens' is the sharp 'pointy thingy' under the bow (used for ramming and sinking of enemy ships) then doesn't this one face right as my one does, and as most do? As I say, what am I missing here?
@Carausius Aha! (Light bulb moment) You are not referring to the one on the prow of the galley but the one depicted ABOVE the prow. Now I am with you. I must admit that I am having difficulty seeing the 'rostrum trident' on my coin. I am more inclined to the bull or the boar like the horse on Andres coin.
Then I have:- Anonymous, AE Quadrans, 212-195 BC. Head of Herakles facing right, three dots behind. / Prow right, three dots below, 'Rostrum Trident' series, Crawford 114/5 Correct?
I notice that no-one uses the term "Teruncius" (three pellets). Is there a reason for that? Everyone substitutes "Quadrans" for "Teruncius" and I wonder if one 'term' is more Politically Correct than the other, or is there another reason?
The name quadrans has nothing to do with the 3 dots, but with the value against the As, one fourth of it. found an As in my collection with a bull on deck(I think)
I'm particularly fond of this plump fish/star coin, and of the rest of the heavy luceria series. Is this fondness shared among aficionados ?
Nice coins, everyone. Just yesterday I got my very first Roman Republican bronze in the mail, and I spent a couple hours last night trying to track it down. The flip it came in said it was a triens of the "staff and club" series. After looking through Andrew McCabe's wonderful website, I don't think that is correct; the 2 horizontal lines aft of the "deck house" are part of the boat, I think, not staffs or clubs. It weighs only 5.99 grams which I think puts it in Crawford 56/4 and McCabe Group H1? Any corrections welcome. I am at the beginning of a steep learning curve here! Roman Republic Æ Triens Anonymous Issue (after 211 B.C.) - Rome Mint Helmeted head of Minerva right, four pellets above / ROMA, prow of galley right, four pellets in exergue. Crawford 56/4; McCabe Group H1 (light weight; often overstruck on Punic Æ) (5.99 grams / 23 mm)
I have and enjoy a few Aes Grave from Rome, Luceria, and Italia... I am looking to get your Dolphin Teruncias/Quadrans some time. And yours is a beautiful example also! Here's my Froggy: Luceria AES Grave Anonymous 217-215 BCE Uncia 7.35g Frog-Corn Ear pellet retrograde L T-V 285
