I really love this denomination. My hunch is that it was struck in much larger quantities than the survival finds indicate. At any rate, my latest one is from the short reign of Titus. Titus Æ Quadrans, 2.45g Rome mint, 80-81 AD Obv: IMP T VESP AVG COS VIII; Head of Minerva, helmeted, r. Rev: S C in laurel wreath RIC 254 (C). BMC 219. BNC 255. Ex Kölner 115, 29 October 2021, lot 359. A small issue of quadrantes dated COS VIII were struck for Titus sometime in 80 or 81. Although the frequency rating in RIC is listed as 'common' for this Minerva type, this denomination as a whole is fairly uncommon for Titus. Their rarity today is likely a result of them being of low value and typically not hoarded. Feel free to post your quadrantes!
That's a very nice specimen, congratulations! While I have a total of 3 of the type, none is as nice as yours. Here's the best I have. Domitian issued a very similar type with IMP DOM AVG, which appears to be much more common from my experience.
Copper Coin (AE Quadrants’) minted in Rome during the reign of CLAUDIUS in 41 A.D. Obv. TI.CLAVDIVS.CAESAR.AVG. Modius. Rev. PON.M.TR.P.IMP.COS.DES.IT.: around large S.C. RCS #640. RIC #84 pg.126. DVM #19 pg.82. (several times during CLAUDIUS reign, bread riots broke out in Rome, this was an ongoing publicity effort to reassure Romans of the adequacy and stability of the grain supply from North Africa.)
Thank you for pointing out that Domitian later faithfully copied this quadrans. Domitian Æ Quadrans, 2.47g Rome Mint, 84-85 AD Obv: IMP DOMIT AVG GERM; Minerva bust, helmeted, r., draped Rev: S C in laurel wreath RIC 236 (R). BMC 484. BNC 520. Acquired from London Ancient Coins, July 2020.
Nice one, @David Atherton! I like quadrantes, though I don't have a whole lot of them. I have only one of Minerva. Not a spectacular example but, as they say, it looks better in hand. Anonymous--Domitian to Antoninus Pius. Roman AE quadrans, 14.9 mm, 2.51 g, 5 h. Rome, A.D. 81-161. Obv: Helmeted and draped bust of Minerva right. Rev: S-C, Owl standing left, head facing. Ref: RIC 8. My favorite quadrans is this Venus and dove one from the same series. Anonymous--Domitian to Antoninus Pius. Roman Æ quadrans, 12.9 mm, 2.37 g, 4 h Rome, A.D. 81-161. Obv: Bust of Venus, diademed, draped, right. Rev: S-C, dove standing right. Ref: RIC II, p. 218, 24; BMCRE --; Cohen VIII, p. 268, 10.
Great crested helmet, @David Atherton . I have no quadrans yet but here is one of my favorite helmet coins. EDITED 12/5/21: I changed Askalon to Jerusalem based on some excellent information provided by @Broucheion.
Hi @Deacon Ray, This type is now thought to be from Jerusalem. See http://numismatics.org/pocketchange/sco-update/ ("Seleucid Coins Online as a Clearinghouse for New Information", ANS Pocket Change Blog entry) - Broucheion
Here is one of the anonymous Venus/Dove type quadrans - it showed up in an eBay lot and really puzzled me when it came to attributing it - my experience with this denomination being about nil - Anonymous Æ Quadrans Issued in period of Domitian to Antoninus Pius (c. 81-161 A.D.) Rome Mint Diademed and draped bust of Venus right / Dove standing right, SC in exergue. RIC 24; Cohen 10. (2.43 grams / 13 mm) eBay Aug. 2018
Thank you, @Broucheion —that’s an excellent site. Oliver Hoover has written some great books on Seleucid coins.
My oldest Quadrans is also my heaviest: ROMAN Republic, Aes Grave Issue, Æ Quadrans, 269-242 BCE 59.82g Mint of Rome Anonymous issue Obv: dog walking left, three pellets below Rev six-spoked wheel, three pellets between Ref: Cr 26/6a; Thurlow-Vecchi 34 Comments Dark green patina, fine. Ex: from the David Sellwood Collection Ex: Baldwin
