FIRST Silver Coin of ROME

Upon my return visiting my Grandkids, I received my Roman Republic Didrachm that I won. Double-Joy! Grandkids and Roman Republicans!

This is the first Silver coin struck by the Roman Republic, as prior coinage was all bronze. This is considered 'pre-denarius' coinage. This variety was struck before the First Punic War which started in 264 BCE. However, according to Sear, these Didrachmae were probably minted in connection with King Pyrrhus invading Italy in 280 BCE at the request of the Tarentines. I love it: Let's go to WAR, so we can make some cool coins to pay for it!

Pre-denarius Silver Didrachmae and Drachmae were minted by Republican Rome in several varieties from 280 to 211 BCE. Later the Drachmae were known as Victoriatus. In 211 BCE, the Didrachmae was replaced by the Denarius which was a reduced AR weight. Personally, I believe the Romans started minting the Drachm and Didrachm denominations as they were trading as well as coming into conflict with the Greeks of Southern Italy and with the Greek States themselves. They already had a well established monetary system with the bronze Aes Graves / Rude / Formatum / Signatum / etc. as trade with the Central Italian Cities.

This coin intrigued me as it has the legend 'ROMANO' (Of the Romans) that is legible on the reverse under the Horse Head. Every time I searched, this legend was worn off on other examples. Although I love my coins gently worn (so as to know they were actually transacted by Ancients), my capture criteria was to have this ROMANO legend feature reasonably visible.


Roman Republic
Anonymous, 280-275 BCE
Didrachm (Silver, 20mm, 7.28 g 11)
Uncertain mint (Neapolis?)
OBV: Helmeted head of bearded Mars to left; oak spray to right
REV: Horse’s head right, wearing bridle, on base inscribed ROMANO; to left, stalk of grain.
REF: Sear 22; Crawford 13/1; HN III 266. Sydenham 1
COMMENTS: Minor reverse corrosion.
From a Swiss collection, formed in the 1990s

Please feel free to post any of your pre-denarius or any cool early Roman Republic coins!

 

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Holy fricken wow => that's a total winner!! (I love the Mars portrait, congrats) ... oh, and of course I love the horse of course!!



Ummm, this is an example of my pre-denarius AR-RR ...

Roman Republic, Anonymous AR Victoriatus

 

Superb coin. Thanks also for the interesting writeup.

 

Bitchin coin, I like that one alot. Very nice, Brian!

 

Wonderful coin! Holding out for one with a visible legend makes all the difference.

 

Amazing coin, and informative writeup. Thanks for sharing
I understand very well your enjoyment, having felt myself the same when I recieved this one some time ago (but I remember very well the feeling at the time of opening the enveloppe on its arrival)



Republic, Didrachm Rome mint c. 269-266 BC
No legend, Diademed head of young Hercules right, with club and lion's skin over shoulder
ROMANO, She wolf right, suckling Romulus and Remus
7.29 gr
Ref : RCV # 24, RSC # 8

Q

 

Now that is a real humdinger Al.

 

Cuke: I REALLY like yours! Well done! Beautiful...

 

Thank you! When I received the coin, I understood why my quest to get the ROMANO was tougher: the "tablet" where ROMANO on the reverse is written on a high point on the bottom of the coin. So the Horse's cheekbone and the ROMANO bear the brunt of any rubbing or wear when pushed across a table or bar-top.

 

NICE Victoriatus! Well done... and I figgered YOU would like the Horsey-Head!

 

thanks dawg

 

I have no Roman that old but I have a old Roman that at least in my collection is older and bigger than the rest.

Roman Republic
Italy, Rome
P.CORNELIUS P.F. BLASIO (BC 169-158)
AE Sexstans Standard As 35 mm x 42.5 grams.
Obverse: Laureate head of Janus, mark of value above.
Reverse: Prow right, P.BLAS above mark of value before ROMA below
Ref:Sear 703,Babelon Cornelia 6. Sydenham 370. Crawford 189/1.
Prov: ex ebay (2/2016), ex. Naville Numismatics Auc. 8 Lot 90 (7/2014), ex. Ex I. Vecchi sale 3, 344.(1996)

 

What a fantastic coin Alegandron! Excellent write-up too.

 

At 42.5g, that is a pig of Bronze!

 

Yea but your coin is bananas.

 

he is also know for the: "Pyrrhic victory"

 

Fantastic acquisition, @Alegandron! Congratulations

 

Thank you so much!

 

@Alegandron ---You KNOW I absolutely LOVE that Didrachm....and what a terrific write-up!!!! As @Bing would say: I WANT THAT COIN!!! GIVE IT TO ME NOW!!!!!

I couldn't figure out what to post since I just have denari, so I just included a couple of my favorites....



Congrats AL!!!!!