Anonymous Semilibral Quartuncis, Struck Rome, 217 to 215 BC, Cr 38/8 Roman Republican AE, Anonymous, Semilibral, Quartuncis, Struck Rome 217 to 215 BC Obv – helmeted head of Roma, R, wearing an Attic helmet with peaked visor, wearing ear ring of one drop Rev – Prow right, above ROMA, note the structure above deck on this boat is at about a 30 degree angle. At first I thought it might be double struck, but that is the design. I guess the Romans wanted rain to flow off the front of the pilot house. 3.24 grams; 15.4 X 16.1X 0.24 mm; 9h Crawford – 38/8, this group is based on an As of 128 grams. 128 / 48 = 2.67 BMCRR – Rome 169, Grueber notes that D’Ailly of the British Museum was the first to recognize this denomination. Babelon and Mommsen did not have this denomination. BMCRR lists 16 examples with a weight range of 1.88 to 4.28 grams, Avg Wt = 3.01 g, St Dev = 0.71; Avg Dia = 16.0. Sydenham – 88 or 110, Syd calls the obverse Bellona, the Roman War Goddess, and gives a weight range of 4.3 to 2 grams for #88 and 4.3 to 1.9 grams for #110. Syd says the only difference in 88 & 110 is weight. Sear – 624, Sear comments the QU is the smallest RR denomination and was issued only briefly during the Semilibral period, 217 to 215 BC. With declines in RR bronze coin weights, the denomination ceased, never to be resumed. Albert die Munzen der Romischen Republik – #110, This book arrived this week. I will have to use Google translate until I learn more German! · Obv - Romakopf mit attischem Helm; in German · Obv - Roma head with Attic helmet; translated to English · Rev – Prow right, in ex ROMA RBW – 110 This coin is one of 8 I bought at a coin show yesterday. The coins were in old envelopes and all said: Ex. an old hoard from off the Italian Coast; Elsen 37, 12/17/94, #227. Seven of the eight were RR bronze coins and one Spanish AE Semis. Does anyone have information on this hoard or Elsen #37, 12/17/94? Post your coins from known hoards.
Nice Quartuncia Gene! Love that Hmmmm.... me maybe nada on Hoards... but I have some Quartuncia. Interesting that it is simultaneous mintage to the RR Litra (pretty much the same size). I THINK that the Quartuncia were for Roman circulation, and Litrae were for Magna Graecia and Sicilian trade and circulation... RR Anon AE Quartuncia 217-215 BC Saturn Prow BRN Cr 38-8 S 624 RR Anon AE Quartuncia 217-215 BC Roma Prow Cr 38-8 S 624
I can't tell you anything about that sale or that hoard but I can tell you the envelope looks like one of RBW's to me. The handwriting and that format are all very similar to several that came with ex RBW coins I purchased. I'm still looking for a nice quartuncia myself, I've looked at several but just haven't pulled the trigger just yet.
Someone sent me the pages describing the lot that included my coin. There is a note about lots 209 to 227 being from an Italian sea hoard. I do not speak French, but I know google translate: the Lots under the numbers 209 227 are a small part of a great treasure in the sea formerly in Italy I noticed one quarter-uncia with a patina similar to my coin in acsearch.info. LAC Auction 43, lot 164; May 21, 2014; 25 GBP
A beautiful quartuncia you have there @rrdenarius ! I have one too, and copied the note from Sear in my descritpion to point out they've been minted for a short period only Republic, Quartuncia Rome mint, circa 217-215 BC Head of Roma right, wearing a crested helmet Prow of galey right, ROMA above 3,41 gr - 15 mm Ref :RCV # 624 According to RCV, "the quartuncia is the smallest denomination of the Roman bronze coinage, and has been briefly produced during the semilibral weight standard. With the further decline in the weight of the bronze coinage after 215 BC, issue of the experimental quartuncia ceased." Q PS : nothing more to add to your translation from french, Google got it
Beautifull Quartuncia RRdenarius , congrats. Here are 3 more from that Italian beach hoard, these were part of a 22 coins lot , all from the same collector , bought the lot in a CNG auction. Jean Elsen is the most famous Belgian auction house.
