I have always been fascinated by these coins. Many of them bear the portraits of Hadrian and Pius, though they are supposed to be various gods. Today I scored this one and was pleased that few noticed it (they dont come up that often, my last one I found 25 years ago): Anonymous issues. temp. Hadrian–Antoninus Pius, AD 117-161. Æ Quadrans (19mm, 3.40 g, 6h). Rome mint. Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Mars right / Cuirass. RIC II (1st ed.) 19. VF, dark green and brown patina. It goes well my my other example: Anonymous, attributed to the reign of Hadrian, 117 - 138 AD Æ Quadrans, 14mm, 2.4 grams Obverse: Bust of Mercury right wearing winged petasus. Reverse: S C, Winged caduceus. Reference: RIC31
Beautiful quadrantes. I have one example of that first type but I dunno if it's even worthy of being mentioned next to yours. It was basically a freebie a while back:
Sweet addition, Ken ... I saw that example and was very tempted to "leap at it", but I still had another target in mind (which sadly, fell through) ... *sigh* => congrats again on a great OP-score
Ardy => I still regret not buying that baby off of you when you were looking for wedding-cash!! (it's a great coin)
*whatev* ... hey keep feeding me those low-ball bids (I eat that "stuff" up!!) Cheers (I hope your marriage is still bringin' it!!)
Nice Quadrans @Ken Dorney ! They are a neat little denomination. I do not have any from the Imperial period, but I do have a few from the Republican Era, as well as one from an Ally (The Frentani, cousins to the Samnites) The Aes Grave from the Pre-Denarius period weighs at 60g. Hefty bit of change!
I agree these quadrantes are more interesting than generally given credit. I got the ones I have when they were cheap and disrespected.
I'm glad this post came up, I have one similar to the top OP but on mine the cuirass has arms and legs? I will post it in a few hours when I get home. Has anyone seen one like that before?
Excellent OP coins. ANONYMOUS Æ Quadrans OBVERSE: Winged petasus REVERSE: S-C, winged caduceus Struck at Rome, Late 1st-mid 2nd century AD 15mm, 2.36g RIC II 32
Reference. RIC 19 (pag. 218); Cohen 26; Weigel 10 Obv. Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Mars right Rev. S-C Cuirass. 2.41 gr Note from CNG. Under Trajan and Hadrian several series of bronze quadrantes were struck in the names of the imperial mines in Noricum, Dalmatia, Pannonia and Moesia (Dardania). These operations supplied metal for the mint at Rome, and perhaps were the sites of workshops to produce coinage for local circulation or as donatives. Some scholars believe these pieces were struck at Rome itself, and served some unidentified function, much as the contemporary "nome" coinage struck at Alexandria in Egypt. Whatever the circumstances, these pieces saw limited use, and, except for one rare type struck by Marcus Aurelius, were not issued at any other period.
The rare "coins of the mines" have the size of quadrantes and are regarded as of the quadrans denomination: METAL AVRELIA NIS 17 mm, 2.85 grams. The coin is "anonymous" but the portrait profile is identifiable as one of the "good emperors." Do you recognize it? See BMC III page cix for comments on coins of the mines and pages 533-535 and plate 98 for mine coins of this period (but not this type). RIC III p. 313 1255 "uncertain" R2 under Marcus Aurelius (because of the reverse legend) but the portrait resembles his adoptive father.
All of the 'anonymous' posts are fantastic!! Especially the Imperial quadrants---- Hugely interesting with terrific eye-appeal! Alas, all I have is one Republican example.
As promised Under magnification there is no tooling and the legs, arms, head all are raised from the flan. 2.43g
