I have had good luck this year finding and purchasing conch shell cast bronze. From left to right and top to bottom: Astralaga/Astralaga sextans, 20.0 grams Astralaga/Conch Shell biunex, 18.4 grams Conch Shell/Conch Shell sextans, 33.6 grams Fragment of Conch Shell/Caedus sextans, 17.2 Bronze Conch Shell, 46.1 grams Silver ingot (hacksilber?), 6.86 grams, the vendor said Asia Minor, 7th to 6th cent BC Fragment of Dolphin/Thunderbolt triens, 30.6 grams Lead Conch Shell, 54.4 grams Bronze triangular bar, 87.4 grams Ramo Secco fragment, 53.8 grams bronze bar fragment, 62.0 grams Fragment of bronze disc with decorations, 28.4 grams I fibbed a bit in the title. There are two pieces that are not bronze. All are in the pre-struck-coin time. I read an interesting book on pre-coin silver from the Near East: Hacksilber to Coinage... edited by Miriam Balmuth, ANS 2001. The hacksilber in that book looks more like crescent moons than the piece I show above. If anyone has a similar piece, please post it. I have looked for bronze conch shells on the internet and have found about 40. I will post details later when I have some time.
Great collection @rrdenarius ! They are fascinating monies. I am still looking for a Ramo Secco, yours are gorgeous. I have a few that you mentioned above: Oscan-Latin Aes Formatum shell with Ribs 4th BCE Oscan-Latin Aes Formatum shell 25mm 12.8g RR Aes Grave Uncia 269-240 BCE Astragalus knuckle-bones Roman Republic Anonymous issue Aes Grave Triens , Libral Standard 46mm, 90.3g, 9.3mm thick 280-276 BCE Rome Mint Obv: Thunderbolt; •• •• across field. Rev. Dolphin right; •••• below. Ref: Crawford 14/3; Haeberlin pl. 39, 7-10. Thurlow & Vecchi 3; Sear 538
You don't have it pictured, but I have to throw in my Aes Rude... just a cool concept making this money. Aes Rude - bronze ca 5th-4th Century BCE 29-7mm 32.4g Ex: Forum Ancient Coins Evidently, they poured molten bronze or brass into a cauldron of water, stirring it so the bronze or brass broke into smaller clumps. I thought that would be fun to watch, with the water instantly exploding into steam! It is an interesting way to make "pocket change"...
Nice collection, RR. I just am beginning to get into aes and only have a few pieces. Just picked up this one a couple weeks ago: APULIA Luceria Quatrunx (AE; 29mm; 27.92g) 217-212 BC. Thunderbolt on domed field. Rev. Club and four dots. TV 282.
Very cool collection of cast shell coins! Minor point though- they are not conchs, they are scallops (or clams or cockles... but not conchs ).
@TIF You are correct, in English. I am not correct, even in Italian. But I am close. Shell translates from English to Conchiglia in Italian. I dropped the iglia, oops. All of the sites I use for cast AES use the Italian words. FORVM, who sells similar items, calls them bipod or scallop shells. The top right piece - Repubblica Romana - Elemento a forma di conchiglia. Ae. Peso gr. 46,18. Buone condizioni. Roman Republic - element in the shape of a shell. Ae. Weight gr. 46.18. Good conditions.
Great rock collection, Gene! I love seeing your early Italian stuff - bravo on a fantastic assortment. I wonder if you're giving Brian a run for his money, or he's giving you a run for yours. You guys seem to have cornered the market on this genre - you're like the Rockefeller brothers of cast Italian bronzes.
Naw, Gene has THE collection! He blows mine away with the cool variety, and quantity! He really has some cool stuff!
I am looking at a cameo from Venice as a 42nd anniversary gift for my wife. (We are still negotiating the picture to use.) The web site offers shell cameos, see below. The translation of conchiglia here is conch shell. Maybe someone here can check the translation. Italian version - ORECCHINI CAMMEO SARDONICO FIORE CONCHIGLIA SFIOCCATO Fiore orecchini cammeo sfioccato in sardonico, orecchini pendenti con cammei incisi artigianalmente a mano su conchiglia sardonica montati su argento 925% bianco in stile veneziano, certificato Made in Italy, prezzo direttamente dal produttore. English version - SHELL SARDONICA CAMEO FLOWER EARRINGS SFIOCCATO Flowers Sardonica cameo dangle earrings silver, handcraft genuine Italian conch shell cameo jewelry dangle earrings, sterling silver setting in sfioccato style, handmade in Italy. Buy online direct from the producer. https://www.eredijovon.com/en/2585-shell-sardonica-cameo-flower-earrings-sfioccato.html PS - I know, more than you wanted to know about Shells in Italian.
