One VNCIA sized Aes Grave Fragment

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by rrdenarius, Jan 28, 2020.

  1. rrdenarius

    rrdenarius non omnibus dormio Supporter

    DSCN4226 (2).jpg DSCN4229 (2).jpg
    A fragment of unidentified Aes Grave As, after 280 BC. AE.

    Possibly cut to provide small change, just like the cast bronze ingots were usually cut for payments of smaller amounts in the 3rd century. The weight of this fragment is close to one uncia = 1/12th of an As (27.29 gr).

    DSCN4224.JPG
    3” (7.62 cm) circle drawer
    2.74” (6.96 cm) camera cap cover
    Small lines = 0.5” (1.27 cm)
    Cut Aes dimensions - 40.64 X 18.79 X 10.23 mm
    Inner radius 5.3 mm smaller than outer
    Estimate outer Dia = 66 mm
    Estimate inner Dia = 56 mm
    I estimate the diameter of the coin to be 66 mm (2.6 ") and the inner ring to be about 10 mm smaller. I found 14 examples of Cr 35/1 in Grueber, BMCRR. The diameter of 13 listed coins was 2.51".

    I looked in Thurlow & Vecchi and found several Asses that have an inner rim and a straight line near the edge of that rim: TV-1, TV-6, TV-16, TV-36, TV-37, TV-51a (cR 35/1), TV-57. These are the most likely to my cut coin.

    Anyone here care to guess the coin ID????

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    This coin fit in my one VNCIA, uncia, ounce collection shown above. Items on the left are older than those on the right.
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2020
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  3. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Wow, just really like that piece! It is amazing how they were able to knock that piece off to fairly represent a denomination that was needed. Of course, I am sure they had tools and measurements at the time to be able to accomplish making change reasonably easily.

    I am sorry that I cannot help, @rrdenarius . I am not near my Vecchi books to scour the plates. I have a RUDE that is approx an Uncia. LOL, but THIS would not help...

    Italia Aes Rude  - bronze ca 5th-4th Century BCE 29.7mm 32.4g.jpg
    Italia Aes Rude - bronze ca 5th-4th Century BCE 29.7mm 32.4g roughly Uncia

    Otherwise, I only have later AES GRAVE Unciae:


    Luceria AES Grave Anonymous 217-215 BCE Uncia 7.35g Frog-Corn Ear pellet retrograde L T-V 285.jpg Luceria AES Grave Anonymous 217-215 BCE Uncia 7.35g Frog-Corn Ear pellet retrograde L T-V 285


    RR Aes Grave Uncia 269-266 BCE 10.1g Astragalus knuckle-bone - knuckle-bone Thurlow- Vecchi 21.JPG
    RR Aes Grave Uncia 269-266 BCE 10.1g Astragalus knuckle-bone - knuckle-bone Thurlow- Vecchi 21
     
  4. SeptimusT

    SeptimusT Well-Known Member

    Very nice piece! All I have from this period is a tiny rude fragment, but here’s an Imperial era weight that was probably an uncia before being broken and abraded for the past 2,000 years.

    85AA7FE0-3890-4116-8FD7-516E68C676BB.jpeg
    20g, 30mm height, found Salisbury, UK
     
  5. rrdenarius

    rrdenarius non omnibus dormio Supporter

    That is a great weight. Do you think it is Mercury? It looks like a small steelyard weight to me. They came in many forms. Some of mine.
    DSCN1862.JPG DSCN2316.JPG
     
  6. SeptimusT

    SeptimusT Well-Known Member

    Yes, I think it's definitely Mercury. I haven't been able to date it any more securely than Imperial, though. There are similar pieces listed on the Portable Antiquities Scheme site, but they cover a 400 year period! I have another steelyard, but I'm no longer confident in its authenticity.
     
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