Today's mail brought an early example of a Roman coin. According to Crawford this coin is part of the series dated 280 to 276 BC. It is the first series attributed to Rome (earlier issues were cast ingots or coins not from Rome). Aes Grave Quadrans Hand Barley Cr. 14/4; Rome 280-276 BC Roman Republic, Quadrans, Aes Grave, Rome, 280 – 276 BC Dioscuri/Mercury series, Cast Quadrans Obv - Right hand; at left, three pellets. Rev - Two barley-grains; between, three pellets. Flan is broken from removing sprue at bottom. The coin has an earthen deep olive green patina. Casting has low profile at fingers and dots. Good VF. This is an early, heavy, coin. The equivalent weight of an As is 331 grams. From about 280 BC, Rome issued large round coins, ….. unlike most fiduciary Greek bronze issues, the Roman coins were of full intrinsic weight, clearly denominated with symbols and pellets and based on the Roman Libral As of about 324 grams.” Italian Cast Coinage, Italo Vecchi; pg 31 82.8 grams Diameter = 43 mm (34 mm at sprue break) X 12 mm thick Cr. 14/4. Vecchi ICC 29. HN Italy 271.
I like it. Thanks for posting it - early AE from the Roman Republic still baffles me mostly - this helps.
Great “great” coin, @rrdenarius! This is an area within the Roman republican numismatics that I like to study and to collect. Unfortunately, they are not easy to find, the prices are not affordable and besides, my collection does not reach a dozen. Here's my example: Aes Grave Quadrans (275-270 B.C.); Rome mint; Libral standard; 81.56g; Cr 14/4 (ex-Jean Elsen).
Nice early / heavy coin. A Roman pound, or As, weighed 327 grams. Initial cast coins had an As that was +/- this weight. Your coin is near that = 81.56 X 12 / 3 = 326 grams! Finding Aes Grave can be a challenge, but I think worth the effort. I have several books on the subject and like a comment (I can not find the source) that Aes Grave are less common, but not as heavily collected as coins. They are relatively hard to find and relatively low price. My heavy coin box (at the bank vault).
Thank you! Lovely coin box! Here’s a picture of my pennies: I also have an As, already posted here in a thread about 2 years ago, but it was considered probably a forgery. Anyway, it’s a kind of coins that impress me.
Sometime, I will be on the prowl for the Hand AES Quadrans. Great job snapping that Handy-Barley AES @rrdenarius ... I really like it. My AES Quadrans are a little later - and it has a puppy-dawg on it: RR Aes Grave AE Quadrans 230 BCE Dog 3 pellets Six spoked wheel 59.8g Craw 26-6a Th-Vecchi 34
I've only got one coin from this Crawford 14 series, and it's my only cast Æ as well but it's one of my favorites. Such a cool little hunk of metal: Roman Republic Æ Aes Grave uncia(27 mm, 25.52 g), anonymous, 280-265 B.C., Rome mint. Astragalos(sheep knucklebone) seen from above; • / •. Crawford 14/6; Vecchi ICC 31; HN Italy 273; Thurlow-Vecchi 6a; Haeberlin plate 40, 19 Ex Triskeles Auction 20(Vauctions 325), June 30 2017, lot 513, ex CNG E-Auction 115, May 25 2005, lot 328