Unlike imperial coins that explicitly name an emperor, few Roman Republican coins have types that indicate the date of the coin. Nevertheless, scholars assign them dates. In 2016 I wrote a web site on how scholars assign dates to Republican coins. http://augustuscoins.com/ed/Repub/TimelineTable.html Today I added this coin to that page: Denarius. 20-19 mm. Victory crowning winged helmeted head of Roma right. X behind. The Dioscuri riding right, ROMA in exergue, and below the horses C TER LVC for C. Terentius Lucanus, who is unknown to history (although he may be related to the man who freed the playwright Terence). When is it from? How do we know? This type is interesting for being early (because the design is the Dioscuri riding right, which continues the first denarius design), yet it is the first type to add the extra "Victory crowning Roma" to the obverse. Clearly, the reference is to some victory. But, Roman were fighting wars continually. Which war? Which victory? My page has a link at the top to the rest of the story about this coin. It is within a timeline of important Republican events and types. Show us an interesting Republican coin!
Thanks Warren for the write-up, beautiful coin! This was an affordable coin of this beautiful series: Attribution: Crawford 410/3; Pomponia 11; Sydenham 813 Date: 56 BC Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo right, uncertain symbol behind Reverse: POMPONI / MVSA; Clio, the Muse of History, standing left, leaning on pedestal, holding scroll Size: 19.75 mm Weight: 3.22 grams Description: good Fine. A deep bankers mark on the reverse I think one of these is a jewel for an ancient collector since she is the carrier of the scroll of history as ancient coins are also.
Another nice coin and informative write up Warren, I can contribute with this republican with an interesting although gory history. Publius Fonteius P.f. Capito AR silver denarius. Struck 55 BC or later. P FONTEIVS CAPITO III VIR CONCORDIA, laureate, diademed, & veiled head of Concordia right. Reverse - T DIDI to left, VIL PVB to right, the Villa Publica: building consisting of two stories, each with a row of columns, to which gates are attached; the lower columns are surmounted by arches, the upper ones by a sloping roof; IMP below. Cr429/2b, Syd 901a. 18mm, 3.6g. Built to house the censor's records, the Villa Publica was later used by city magistrates to receive foreign ambassadors. In 82 BC, the Villa Publica was the scene of a horrific massacre, as Sulla ordered the deaths of some 4,000 Samnite and Democrat rebels holed up within (Seneca). Titus Didius, grandfather to the moneyer of this issue, P Fonteius Capito, undertook an extensive restoration of the Villa Publica in 93 BC. Interestingly, Capito himself would undertake to restore the building many years later, in 34 BC.
I REALLY like your page @Valentinian ! I have read it a few times before, and I have nearly all the milestones that you have laid out. I really enjoyed Kenneth Harl's "Coinage in the Roman Economy 300 BC to 700 AD". I liked his notion that the "Didrachm" actually started in 310 BCE through 211 BCE were, in the ROMAN's perspective, called a DENARIUS. Being 10 Asses composed a Denarius, and the CURRENCY Reform of 212-211 created a reduced Denarius. Personally, I see the Didrachm of Magna Graecia and the Punic Shekel being of similar size and weight. Then the Romans began minting Silver coins for the first time during 4th and 3rd Century STARTING at roughly that size (the "Heavy" Denarius to the Romans or the Didrachm known to others.) So... My personal opinion is that the FIRST DENARIUS of Rome is: Anonymous, circa 310-300 BCE Heavy Denarius / Didrachm Tarrifed at 10 Asses (Silver, 20mm, 7.28 g 11), uncertain mint (Neapolis?). Helmeted head of Mars to left; oak spray to right. Rev. Horse’s head right, wearing bridle, on base inscribed ROMANO; to left, stalk of grain. Crawford 13/1. HN III 266. Sydenham 1. Minor reverse corrosion, otherwise, about very fine. From a Swiss collection, formed in the 1990s. RR Anon AR Heavy Denarius - Didrachm 275-270 BCE ROMANO Apollo-Galloping Horse Sear23 10 Asses = Denarius Anonymous AR Heavy Denarius / Didrachm. Rome, circa 265-242 BC. Head of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet, cornucopiae behind / ROMANO, Victory standing right, attaching wreath to long palm, YY in right field. Crawford 22/1; RSC 7. 6.55g, 18mm, 6h. Very Fine. From the Eucharius Collection Tarrifed at 10 Asses = Denarius RR Anon Ca 240 BCE AR Heavy Quinarius Drachm 16mm 3.0g Rome Helmet Hd Mars r - Horse’s hd sickle Cr 25-2 Syd 25 RSC 34a Rare 5 Asses = Quinarius Anonymous AR Heavy Denarius / Didrachm. Rome, 234-231 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Horse prancing left, ROMA above. Crawford 26/1; RSC 37. 6.63g, 20mm, 12h. Very Fine. Tarrifed at 10 Asses = Denarius RR Anon AR Heavy Denarius Quadrigatus Didrachm 225-215 BCE Craw 28-3 Sear 31 10 Asses = Denarius RR Anon AR Heavy Quinarius Drachm Half Quadrigatus 225-212 BCE 3.1g 18mm Janus Jupiter in Quadriga L Victory ROMA Craw 28-4 Sear 35 SCARCE 5 Asses = Quinarius THEN, due to the DISASTERS of the 2nd Punic War (Battles of Trebbia, Lake Trasimene, and Cannae), Rome was SCRAMBLING for hard currency. This led to a major reform of the currency which resulted in a REDUCED Denarius known for several hundred years afterward until approx 200 CE, then further debased, then eliminated approx 275 CE. Reduced Denarius - Post Denarius Reform RR AR Denarius 214-208 BCE Roma R X behind - Dioscuri R ROMA linear frame stars Sicily RARE Cr 68-1b approx 4.0g The Year that Carthage was made EXTINCT: RR AR Denarius C Antestiu Rome 146 BCE 3.97g 19.0mm Helm hd Roma R X C ANTESTI - Dioscuri gllpng R puppy-dog running ROMA LAST Coinage of the Carthaginian Empire: Carthage Third Punic War Serrate Double Shekel 149-146 BCE 12.8g 26mm Wreathd Tanit-Horse pellet raised leg SNG COP 404 My thoughts.
Nice example @Valentinian They are all interesting. I. MINUCIUS C.F. AUGURINUS AR DENARIUS OBVERSE: Head of Roma right, star behind REVERSE: TI MINVCI C F on left, RO-MA above, AVGVRINI on right; 2 togate figures, one holding a simpulum, the other a lituus, standing by statue on column, grain ears on either side of the column Rome, 134 BC 3.86g, 17mm Cr243/1, Syd 494, Minucia 9 The reverse refers to a bronze monument erected outside of Portia Trigemina (at Rome) to L. Minucius Augurinus for his distribution of corn to the common people at a low price. The column and statue (a modius with corn ears) was erected at public expense some time after. Undoubtably there are subtle issues to this reference that did not survive the passage of time.
Valentinian, I have purchased 4 coins from your site so far (awaiting the latest 2 in the mail - very excited for their arrival). As a new Ancient Coin collector I would like to thank you very much for the wealth of information on your site. The effort you put in is amazing. Also selling reasonably priced, extremely interesting examples of great coins has really opened up the hobby to me. Thank you for everything that you do. I appreciate having a place to learn and safe place to buy. I am always watching for your new additions.. Thank you!
I just received this coin yesterday. Q. Sicinius and C. Coponius. Denarius, mint moving with Pompey 49, AR. Q·SICINIVS – III·VIR Head of Apollo r., hair tied with band; below, star. Rev. C·COPONIVS – PR·S·C Club upright on which hangs lion's skin with head r.; in l. field, arrow and in r. field, bow. Babelon Sicinia 1 and Coponia 1. Sydenham 939. Sear Imperators 3. RBW 1558. Crawford 444/1a. This coin was minted in 49 BC, the year Caesar crossed the Rubicon and marched on Rome bringing centuries of a republic government to an end. Q. Sicinius produced his first coins in Rome, but fled with the Pompeiians and much of the rest of the Senate into exile as Caesar closed in on the city. This coin was minted in a military mint, somewhere in the East where Pompey and the exiled government marshaled their forces for eventual conflict with (and destruction by) Caesar's armies. I find it interesting how well executed this issue is, and many of the post exile issues in fact, as you'd think they were made under less than ideal circumstances while on the run. Also, Pompey and the departing Senators fled in such a hurry that they left the treasury of Rome behind, so where did this silver come from?
NICE! I wonder with Legios and Imperators on the run, how much looting or "contributions" accreted to their Cause as the were wandering around the Asian Provinces... Lots of old wealth there amongst the populace, local magistrates, and temples... My Denarii from 49 BCE: Caesar Boogying over the Rubicon: RR Caesar AR Denarius 49 BCE Traveling Mint Elephant-Pontificates Sear 1399 Craw 443-1 With Pompey on the Run: RR Sicinius Coponius 49 BCE Apollo Club Pompey Moneyer Exile S 413 Cr 444-1 ROME - Business as usual? RR Acilius Glabrio 49 BCE AR Den Salus Valetudo snake S412 Cr 442-1
@Valentinian Great website. I am sure I will be referring back to it often. Of particular interest to me was your review of the reference works on RR coins. I only use Sear's "Roman Coins And Their Values" and "Roman Silver Coins" since I only dabble in the Republican stuff. I have often wondered about the how of dating them, so that was also very interesting to me. Good job!
The only logical explanation imho for the X to the XVI valuation is that there was a shortage in silver around 141 BC in the Republic. It lasted for a couple of years untill the Romans got their on hands on new silver hoards by conquering new terrotories. The denarius could go back from XVI asses to the old standard of 10 asses. at first a bar was added to the new X to make it clear this was the new standard(again) Later on dropping that bar , and the X was business as usual. I dont see many denarii with XVI on it, which seems normal for the short period they were issued. just my 2cents.
A very interesting addition to your article @Valentinian Here's an interesting issue that has similarly confusing dating. This triens weighs 5.75 grams. The style is quite similar to Crawford 56 issues minted in Rome near the end of the Second Punic War but the weight standard is around half the weight standard of those issues. Some have assumed these issues to have been minted much later, close to the time of the Social war but McCabe has convincingly argued, based on the stylistic similarities with contemporary Rome mint issues and the fact that some of these show clear evidence of overstriking on Sardo-Punic, Southern Italian and Sicilian issues that these are, in fact, late Second Punic War issues overstruck on captured booty. These generally show little wear, suggesting they didn't circulate much. Perhaps they were simply camp money or alternatively, were meant to help drive the adoption of a Roman system in territories that had an existing system based on a completely different weight standard. A very interesting phenomenon regardless of where the true answer lies. Roman Republic Æ Triens(20.5mm, 5.75g), anonymous, after 211 BC, Sardinian, Sicilian or Southern Italian mint. Helmeted head of Minerva right; above, four pellets / Prow right with flat-topped deck structure; above, ROMA; below, four pellets. cf. Crawford 56/4; McCabe group H1(halfweight overstrikes); Russo RBW 207-208. Ex Vecchi 3, 1996, lot 124, Fallani collection
The Second Punic War was probably one of the biggest drivers for Reform of Rome's coinage. Massive losses in battle, parts of Italia ravaged by Hannibal, worries about permanent defection of Rome's Allies, loss of monies and precious metals, treachery over the 16 years of this War from 218-202 BCE. The Roman Republic and the peoples of Rome were tested to their limits. This was truly a World War for the Ancient Era as well as a War for Extinction. Rome changed their currency during this War, of which many of the reforms lasted for several hundreds of years: Semuncia: RR Anon AE Semuncia 217-215 Mercury Prow S 620 Cr 38-7 1/24th of an As Uncia RR Anon AE Uncia 217-215 BC Roma Attic Prow Cr 38-6 S 615 1/12th As Sextans: RR Anon AE Sextans 217-215 BCE She-Wolf Twins Eagle Syd 95 Cr 39-3 S 609 1/6 of an As Quadrans: RR Anon AE 28mm 19-2g Quadrans - Sicily mint 214-212 BCE Hercules-boar headress - Bull ex RBW Craw 72-7 1/4th of an As Triens: RR Anon AE Triens 211-206 BC Minerva Prow Cr 56-4 S 911 1/3rd of an As Semis: RR Anon AE Semis Rome after 211 BCE Laureate hd Saturn r S - Prow r S ROMA 19.3g 26mm Craw 56-3 1/2 As AS RR Anon AE As after 211 BC Janus I Prow Cr 56-2 Sear 627 As = the original Bronze Roman Currency Unit, which transitioned to the Silver Denarius in 310 BCE. The Currency Reforms of approx 211 BCE, created a Currency that lasted for several hundreds of years through the Republic and into the height of the Roman Empire. AR Sestertius: RR AR Sestertius After 211 BCE 12mm 1.0g Rome mint Roma r IIS - Dioscuri riding stars in ex ROMA Sear 46 Craw 44-7 RSC 4 1/4th of a Denarius or 2-1/2 Asses - IIS on the obverse means 2 Asses plus a Semis... 10 Asses to a Denarius at this time. 16 Asses to a Denarius did not happen until approx 142 BCE or soon after the THIRD Punic War. Quinarius: RR Quinarius 212-195 BCE 1.8g Luceria mint Anon Craw 98B-1 VERY RARE 5 Asses or 1/2 of a Denarius DENARIUS: RR Anon AR denarius Roma 211-206 BCE ROMA incus Dioscuri single horn-helmet Sear-- Craw 68-1b SICILY ISSUE RARE was cr 44-5 1 Denarius = 10 Asses or 2 Quinarii or 4 Sestertii or 20 Semis or 30 Triens or 40 Quadrans or 60 Sextans or 120 Unciae or 240 Sumuniciae (bunches) Gold coinage was really not a major part of Roman Currency at this time. The Gold Aureus really did not come into play until Augustus, 200 years later. Their were some some rare Gold Staters (yeah, I want to get some). At this time the Senate focused on BRONZE and SILVER for currencies. The excitement of Orichalcum, Copper, and Gold did not come into pay until Augustus (ANOTHER reform)
Great coins and great site. Here is one of my favorite republican coins 82-80 BC C. Servilius Vatia Restoration Laureate head of Apollo right; lituus and B behind, mark of value below chin (XVI monogram) Battle between two mounted horsemen, the one on the left armed with a sword, the other with spear, his shield inscribed M C SERVEIL Restored Issue 82-80 BC. Original being of C. Servilius 127 BC 3.48g Crawford 370/1b; Sydenham 720; Servilia 7 Scarce ex-Canadian Coin This is the Wildwinds example! David Sear's Millennial addition comments: "This type represents a remarkable revival of the issues of the monetary triumvirate which had held office approximately 45 years earlier though with the substitution of Apollo for the Roma head on the obverse. As well as being complimentary to several of Sulla's most prominent supporters Crawford suggests that their true purpose was to enable Sulla to issue a civil coinage without appointing a new triumvirate of moneyers for 82 BC or, alternatively, to celebrate the restoration of the Republic in 80."
OH YEAH! We do not want to forget the QUINCUNX... yeah, that 5/12th of an As that came out of the Second Punic War! Rare, but part of the menagerie of Roman Republic Currency! Roman Republic Anonymous AE 23mm Quincunx 211-200 BCE 6.96g Apollo, P behind Luceria mint 5 pellets , Dioscuri on horses Cr 99-4 Syd 309 Sear 910 Rare Short lived denomination, never revived. 24 Quincunx to a Denarius!
