Most of the coins on my bid list in the most recent Naville auction went a bit(or a lot) higher than I expected, but I was happy to see after the dust settled that I'd won the following lot: a fully anonymous variant of the "C·AL" denarius from a Second Punic War-era Sicilian mint. Crawford argues that there were at least two such mints on Sicily operating in parallel but in a different style as can be seen on this coin attributed to the other Sicilian mint and both mints issued signed and fully-anonymous types. While both types share the visor style with three parallel lines(which only occurs on Sicilian types), the horn sticking out of the back of the helmet on the other type is an easy way to differentiate the two. Given the amount of fighting that the island of Sicily saw during the war, it's no real surprise that the Romans likely needed an immense amount of coinage and consequently may have needed multiple mints to keep up with demand. Roman Republic AR Denarius(19.5mm., 4.35g), anonymous(related to C·AL series), 209-208 B.C., Sicilian mint. Helmeted head of Roma right with loop beneath visor; behind, X / The Dioscuri galloping right; below, ROMA in linear frame. Crawford 75/1c; Sydenham 191a; Russo RBW 321 For anyone interested in reading more about these fully anonymous types I'd like to point out the excellent guide by Steve Brinkman and Pierluigi Debernardi, to whom I owe a great deal of gratitude for providing a lot of great information on these complicated types Please share anything relevant!
WOW!! What a terrific example!!! Like Bing, my Roma/Dioscuri denarius dates quite a bit later but I just happened to have thrown a bid at an anonymous example that is stated to have been struck at Rome after 211 BC and according to your very timely link (which I bookmarked), a 'streaming cape/small head-helmet' variety...or RIC 53/2. Unfortunately, it looks like it has been trampled by several of Hannibal's surviving elephants LOL
I believe I've seen the one you're bidding on. It's got its problems(as does mine) but it's a nice example nonetheless. 53/2 is probably a few years later, and probably comprises multiple issues stretching out a few years. The guide mentions "after 208 B.C." as their estimate on it and I think that's probably closer to the correct date given that this issue was huge but yet some early denarii hoards don't include it at all.
Yes, it certainly does. A late night impulsive bid that I'm still puzzled about LOL. That super cool portrait must be the main reason...and lack of sleep?
Nice job @red_spork ! That is an incredible find! Congrats! I do [edit] have one from Sicily due to your research and reattribution... THANK YOU! I think your version refers to "C-AL(egandron)... Like "see Alegandron... you need to gift this GREAT denarius to him... The only one that I have close to the time period is: RR Anon AR Denarius Roma 211-206 BCE ROMA incuse Dioscuri Sear 37 Crawford 68/1b (RE-ATTRIBUTED) and RR Anon AR Quinarius 211-208 BC Roma Dioscuri Sear 42 Crawford 44/6 and RR Anon AR Sestertius 211-208 BC Roma Dioscuri S 46 Crawford 44/7 and RR Anon AR Victoriatus 211-206 BC Jupiter Dioscuri Sear 49 Crawford 44/1
Unless I am mistaken this is actually 68/1b, another fully anonymous issue from Sicily. Congrats, I am extremely envious, because that is a really great example!
I also love the funky style of the "A" in ROMA on the reverse for this time period. Always reminded me of a retrograde falling-down "F" !!!
EXCELLENT! Thank you! I was using the Seller's attributes from long ago. I was ACTUALLY looking at your Link to see if mine was a correct attribute! I will change my attribute. THANKS for helping!!!
Nice coin RS! I agree with you on the anonymous denarii web site by I like the anonymous Victorati web site also (which I think you have linked here) - http://stevebrinkman.ancients.info/anonymous/AnonymousVictoriatii.html The feather anonymous is similar to the Crawford 75. Both have the parallel visors, loop on visor, rear horses tail... I have a couple of loopie coins -
I have this "scar face" anonymous cataloged as being struck at Rome, but truly I am not sure: ANONYMOUS ROMAN REPUBLIC AR Denarius OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, X REVERSE: The Dioscuri galloping right; in exergue, ROMΛ in raised letters within linear frame Struck at Rome 214-213 BC 19.8mm, 3.45g Sydenham 140. Crawford 44/5
A very pretty Sicilian denarius, Crawford 79/1. The early use of serration has never been satisfactorily explaned:
It's difficult to say with so much off-flan but I don't see some of the usual indicators of 44/5 such as the incuse legend. It sort of looks like the 46/1b cited in the guide based on the shape of the head and the stars, but I'm not completely certain on that.
