Triple threat: three horses on a coin signed by three moneyers

The following coin features a triga, a device that is featured on only two major types of the entire Republican series(you can see the other one from my previous post here), and the legend on the reverse is something that has caused consternation among collectors for over a century. Most modern collectors believe this issue to have been struck by three moneyers working together: Appius Claudius, T. Manlius(or Malloleius or Mallius) and Q. Urbinius, either in 111 or 110 B.C., but there has always been some debate. Some sources like Greuber(BMCRR) interpret the "Q [VR]" at the end of the legend as "Quaestores Urbani" but Crawford rightfully points out that only one Quaestor Urbanus was in charge of the Aerarium at this time and the 17th century Italian antiquarian Count Borghesi pointed out that both the imagery of the three horses and the device on the obverse, with a circle inscribed within a triangle, suggest three moneyers instead of two quaestors.


Roman Republic AR Denarius(3.88g), Appius Claudius, T Manlius Mancinus(or T Malloleius or Mallius), Q Urbinius, 111 or 110 B.C., Rome mint. Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, quadrangular device. Border of dots / Victory in triga right, holding reins in both hands; in exergue, AP CL T [MANL](or [MAL]) Q [VR]. Border of dots. Crawford 299/1a; Sydenham 570; BMCRR Rome 1290

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Very nice coin and an interesting writeup.

 

Sweet triga, red_spork (congrats)

Hmmm, pretty sure I don't have a triga (*sigh*)

 

Attractive example @red_spork . Love the wild triga!

 

I have been on the lookout for a triga reverse. Nice!!!

 

I actually do know the difference between three and four, lol, but this Spanish issue of C. Annius and L. Fabius Hispaniensis of 82-81 BC, Crawford 366/1a, seems germane in its depiction of a lively, animated team of horses, the lead horse with its head turned back to glance at the driver:


I suspect that both of these coins and similar ones such as the denarii of C. Naevius Balbus ultimately derive, at least in their general "inspiration", from much earlier tetradrachms of Syracuse like this one:



ps: I've had this Annia coin for decades. It's not bad overall but I wouldn't buy it now; the weakness of the lead horse and the mostly missing thunderbolt below the bust of Anna Perenna would "kill" it for me.

 

Very nice Triga @red_spork ! And yours as well @Volodya ...

I have both of the Trigas, albeit in a more pedestrian presentation:

1) Pulcher Mallius Mancinus Urbinius


RR Pulcher Mallius Mancinus Urbinius 111-110 BCE AR Den TRIGA Sear 176 Cr 299/1a


RR Clodius Pulcher T Mallius AR Den 111-110 BCE ERROR Flipover Double-Strike Roma Triga Cr 299/1b Sear 176


2) Naevius Balbus:


RR Naevius Balbus 79 BCE AR Den Venus SC TRIGA Sulla Sear 309 Cr 382/1


WHY a TRIGA?: The third horse was usually an older/experienced horse for Bigas and Quadrigas. It was used a guide or training horse for the two younger horses on the Biga...

 

I think so too. I've seen a few very artistic dies for both issues that make me think someone was drawing inspiration from these earlier types. Given the Romans' affinity for Greek art and whatnot at this time I wouldn't at all be surprised if some families had a handful of these earlier Greek coins laying around for their art.

 

Great coin

 

Nice coin, Spork! Sometimes the object on the obverse is 3 sided, sometimes 4. We discussed it some here. I think mine is 4, but it's not well defined.

 

Great new coin Red-Spork!! Its a great type. I actually have one to share:

Appius Claudius Pulcher, T Manlius Mancinus & Q Urbinus
AR Denarius. 111-110 BC.
O: Helmeted head of Roma right, square behind
Rx: Victory in triga right, one horse looking back, AP CL T MANL Q VR in ex.

 

Very nice! But you have one error in your ID:

Should read T MANL AP CL Q VR - yours is the variant with the names in a different order than mine.

 

Great catch Red_spork! I didn't notice the difference. Kinda cool that the they cut the dies with names in different order.

 

Yup. Interestingly they only cut it two ways: the way on yours and the way on mine. The Q VR is always at the end. There are different theories for this but I think that they probably only actually needed two moneyers running the mint that year(they had 3 each year but not all 3 made coins each year - some years had 1 or none) and maybe each of the two put his name first on the actual coins he was overseeing the production of but who knows.

 

I reviewed by eye CoinArchives for the first 100 hits of 299/1a and 1b and I believe I see a pattern. 1a - AP CL T (MAL) Q (VR) has a triangular symbol the obverse like Spork's and 1b - T (MAL) AP Cl Q (VR) has a quadrangular like mine and TJC. I found at least one example of 1a with a quadrangular, but looking at 200 coins that there has to be some order to it.

Dealers so badly mangle the correct reference on this issue (I bought mine as a 300/1!) that it is very inconsistent in CoinArchives so you have to pay attention to the reverse legend when scanning for symbols. I definately believe it is a purposeful pattern. Perhaps the obverse symbol and reverse legend was changed over time where there might have been some crossover at the mint where old obverse dies were used with the new legend variety reverse.