After 6 years of collecting the Roman Republic I finally bought my first quadrigatus recently. I'm not sure why it took me so long but I'm hoping it doesn't take me quite so long to add the next one. This quadrigatus may look a bit ugly, but it is special as an example of the only quadrigatus issue with a mint-mark: the wheat ear below the horses' hooves. The wheat-ear(sometimes called a "corn-ear" or a "grain-ear") is a mintmark the Romans used on multiple issues struck at Sicilian mints during the Second Punic War, however while there are multiple pre-denarius aes grave issues with mintmarks, this was the first silver issue of the war to have a mint-mark, a practice which did not become common until the introduction of the victoriati and denarii. These types were previously very rare, and Charles Hersh in "A Sicilian quadrigatus mint: the issue with a wheat ear control-mark" only found 33 examples of the type, including this example which is cited as 17b(dies O12/R11) but not illustrated. By my count, the number has roughly doubled since then, to about 60, but even so the type still only comes up roughly once per year and most of the new examples do not have a pre-MOU provenance which makes them difficult to acquire as an American collector. This example is a budget example in pretty much every way but I am quite happy with it and given my budget constraints, it is the perfect example of this important issue: Roman Republic AR didrachm or Quadrigatus(6.74g), grain-ear(corn-ear) series, 214-212 BC, Sicilian mint. Laureate, Janiform head of Dioscuri. Border of dots / Jupiter in quadriga right, driven by Victory - Jupiter holds sceptre in left hand and hurls thunderbolt with right hand; below, grain-ear; in linear frame, ROMA. Line border. Crawford 42/1; BMCRR Romano-Campanian 108; Hersh 17b(this coin), dies O12/R11 Purchased from Martina Dieterle, 3 November 2021, ex Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 52, 7th October 2009, lot 768, ex RBW Collection(but not cited), ex Münzen & Medaillen fixed price list 491, August 1986, lot 31, ex Morgantina B Hoard #94 A note about the provenance: when this coin was sold at NAC 52 no provenance was given. I discovered this coin's provenance after a friend provided a copy of Hersh's die study on this issue, "A Sicilian quadrigatus mint: the issue with a wheat ear control-mark" in Essays Carson-Jenkins. In the die study, Hersh 17 represents the same die pair as my coin, which he labeled O-12 and R-11, and cited two examples, as illustrated below. I was initially reasonably certain that 17b was likely my coin from the dies and weight but after a bit of digging I found a second example in the sales record from these dies that was close enough in weight to plausibly be the cited coin. Thankfully, @Valentinian was able to help me out. I have bought a handful of catalogs from him in the past(and I highly recommend anyone looking for books and catalogues check out his website), so I suspected he might have a copy of the cited M&M FPL and reached out via email. He came back with a scan from that price list, attached below, which is indisputably my coin and confirms the provenance. As always, feel free to post anything relevant
For some relevant coins, here are a few more from my collection from Sicily, some with the mintmark, others fully anonymous: An uncia. Crawford places this in the same Crawford 42 series that the quadrigatus above is in, but it is not clear to me if these should actually be situated as such, however the issue is likely contemporary and probably related to the military activities surrounding the Siege of Syracuse. Roman Republic Æ Uncia(20.43 mm, 6.35 g, 7 h). Corn-ear(grain-ear) series. 214-212 B.C. Sicilian mint. Helmeted head of Mars right; behind, • / Prow of galley right; ROMA and grain ear above; below, •. Crawford 42/4; Sydenham - Ex Old Pueblo Coin, Tucson AZ, eBay, 13 Feb 2020, ex Agora 68, 15 Aug 2017, lot 149, ex RBW Collection, ex Lanz 40, 25 May 1987 This victoriatus is a scarce example of Crawford 67/1, a fully anonymous issue that shares some stylistic similarities with some of the victoriati with the wheatear mintmark. Crawford places all the corn-ear victoriati under a single number, Crawford 72/1, however they come in a variety of styles, some matching this 67/1 type and others closer to the 70/1 minted below, and I believe the mint-marked examples should be broken up into separate types, just like the fully-anonymous ones. Roman Republic AR Victoriatus(16 mm, 2.98g, 6h). Anonymous, circa 211-208 B.C., Sicilian mint. Laureate head of Jupiter right. Border of dots / Victory right crowning trophy; in exergue, ROMA. Line border. Crawford 67/1; BMCRR Italy 137 This type, Crawford 68/1a with the wheat-ear mintmark on the reverse and the angular obverse style and "spike" on the back of the helmet is an exceedingly rare type, however its fully-anonymous counterpart of the same style, Crawford 68/1b, which lacks the mintmark, is much more common. It's not obvious why so few dies of this issue have the mintmark, but it is one of my favorite Roma/Dioscuri coins in my entire collection Roman Republic AR Denarius(4.35g, 11h), Corn-ear series, 211-208 B.C., Sicilian mint. Helmeted head of Roma right with "spike" on rear of helmet; behind, X / The Dioscuri galloping right; below, corn-ear(wheat ear); ROMA in linear frame. Crawford 68/1a This victoriatus, like the 67/1 above, is a fully anonymous sicilian issue, but shares many stylistic similarities with those with the wheat-ear mintmark. This is one of my favorite victoriatus issues because of the expressive, high relief engraving the obverses often exhibit. These fully anonymous issues are much more commonly encountered in the market than the examples with the mintmark and I do not yet have an example with the mintmark. Roman Republic AR Victoriatus(17 mm, 3.35g, 11h). Anonymous, circa 211-208 B.C., Sicilian mint. Laureate head of Jupiter right. Border of dots / Victory right crowning trophy; in exergue, ROMA. Line border. Crawford 70/1; BMCRR Italy 139; Russo RBW 297(variety with double skirt). This Crawford 72/4 quinarius is the more common of the two quinarii issues with the wheat-ear mintmark. The rarer type, in a similar style to the 68/1a illustrated above, is still missing from my collection. These examples tend to be very finely engraved and in my opinion are some of the best engraved quinarii struck during the Second Punic War. Roman Republic AR quinarius(15mm, 2.05g, 11h). Anonymous, wheat-ear/corn-ear series, ca. 211-210 B.C., Sicilian mint. Helmeted head of Roma right, V behind / The Dioscuri riding right, each holds a spear; wheat-ear/corn-ear below; in linear frame, ROMA. Crawford 72/4; Sydenham 194 Ex RBW Collection, Agora 73, 3/27/2018, lot 206, privately purchased from Dmitry Markov, 9 September 1994
AWESOME, @red_spork ! I would enjoy having the Sicily version! Here is one of mine... RR Anon AR Heavy Denarius Quadrigatus Didrachm 215-213 Janus Roma Relief tablet S 32 Cr 28-3
Great acquisition. I didn't even know about quadrigati bearing a mint mark My own (and only) example - with no mint mark... Q
Very interesting write-up @red_spork - and I find the coin quite attractive despite a few issues. Everything I know about the corn-ear mintmark I got from your earlier post here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/th...narius-is-really-special.355002/#post-4114872 Here's my only contribution - a very sad uncia, corn-ear barely visible: Roman Republic Æ Uncia Anonymous Corn Ear Series (214-212 B.C.) Sicily Mint Helmeted head of Roma right, pellet behind. / ROMA, prow right, corn ear above, pellet below. Crawford 42/4a. (6.36 grams / 20 mm) eBay Sep. 2019
This is a really great example of one of the fully anonymous types. I'm hoping I can add one of these in the next year or so. Thanks for sharing
Great write-up of one of my favorite areas of the early silver coinage. I think the Sicilian quadrigatus issue is one of the most interesting coins of the many quadrigatus types. As you suggest the coinage attributed to Sicily is of very fine and unique style. I don't understand this.. it seems you have the rarer wheat-ear quinarius issue in your 68/1a. What other similar issue is still missing from your collection? Here is a corn ear denarius issues attributed to Sicily: Denomination: Denarius Metal: AR Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma r.; X behind. Border of dots Reverse: Dioscuri riding r. ROMA in raised letters in frame. Wheat/Corn ear below Mint: Sicily Weight: 4.7 g Reference: RRC 72/3 Provenance: Naville 14-Dec-2015
You certainly found a rare type with interesting pedigree. I have only seen that come up a few times, never when I was ready for it. I think another one sold privately this year, again while I wasn't paying attention.
@red_spork - great find and collection. I have a few Sicily overstrikes. Most are not pretty coins, but I like them.
My coin is the tiniest coin of this series Av 20 Asses Sicilian Mint 211-210 BC Obv Head of Mars right bearded wearing Corinthian style helmet. To left XX Mark of value. Rv Eagle standing right on thunderbolt wings open. Below grain ear. Crawford 72/2 RBW 303 1.11 grams 11 mm Photo by W. Hansen This has to be one of the smallest coins I still own. It appears to be double the value of a silver denarius.
Congrats! You’re the first person I’ve seen post a Quadrigatus. I also recently picked one up because I love the history of them and they are a good size with a cool design from the Roman Republic. I know I’ve shared it before on the forum but with this particular thread about a Quadrigatus I can’t help myself from sharing again. Anonymous. Ca. 225-214/2 BC. AR didrachm or quadrigatus (23mm, 6.64 gm, 7h). NGC AU 5/5 - 3/5, overstruck. Uncertain mint. Laureate head of youthful Janus, two small annulets on top of head / Jupiter, hurling thunderbolt with right hand, scepter in left, in fast quadriga right driven by Victory; ROMA incuse on raised tablet below. Crawford 29/3. Sydenham 64. I love that the silver is silver paid by Carthage after the First Punic War. There is so much history to the coin.
What a historically important coin, @red_spork! And kudos to you and @Valentinian for tracking down its provenance!
For me that's one of the most fun parts of collecting. I have a whole bunch of provenance homework that I need to get caught up on as soon as I get a free day to travel to the ANA library again but I'm glad I could get some help with this.
