Two soldiers and a sow: added my first serrate denarius!

Congrats on the new coin with provenance. Here's my highest grade C. Sulpicius Galba denarius (and only one):

C. Sulpicius C.f. Galba, AR serrate denarius, Rome, 106 BC
Obv: Jugate and laureate heads of Dei Penates left
Rev: Two male figures standing facing one another, each holding a spear and pointing at sow which lies between; L above. C SVLPICI. C F in exergue
Size: 18.5mm, 3.96g
Ref: Crawford 312/1, RSC Sulpicia 1

"But Cato, in the Origin of the Roman Race instructs us thus: that a sow bore thirty piglets in the place where Lavinium now is, and when Aeneas had decided to establish a city there and was lamenting on account of the sterility of the soil, that in sleep there appeared to him likenesses of household gods encouraging him to persevere in the establishment of the city which he had begun; for, after as many years as were the offspring of that sow, Trojans would move to fertile spots and more fruitful soil and would establish the city of the most famous name in Italy."
- ORIGO GENTIS ROMANAE Thomas M. Banchich 2004​

 

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That's an attractive example of this very interesting type! Congrats on the new acquisition.

Since coin grading appears to have evolved into the fourth pillar of modern science and became a bit too much for me, I follow a simple binary system: for me, a coin is either desirable or non-desirable. Desirability is determined, roughly in that order, by historical interest, overall aesthetic appeal, gaps in my collection, type of wear, amount of wear, provenance, and rarity.

Thus, highest grade, shmighest grade – but below are two (in my eyes) quite desirable serrati:


Roman Republic, moneyer: C. Marius C. f. Capito, AR denarius serratus, 81 BC, Rome mint. Obv: CAPIT; head of Ceres, diademed, r., control number CV; control mark (whip?) before. Rev: C. MARI. C. F. / S. C; ploughman with two oxen l.; above, control number CV. 18mm, 3.88g. Ref: RRC 378/1c.


Roman Republic, moneyer C. Naevius Balbus, denarius serratus, 79 BC, Rome mint. Obv: diademed head of Venus right, SC behind. Rev: Victory in triga right, C NAE BALB in exergue; above, CLXXXX. 17mm, 3.72g. Ref: Crawford 382/1b.

 

I have always been partial to denarii of Plautia - with Medusa and reverse of the Aurora. I think the four horse reverse is so impressive.

Den. of Hostilia is intriguing since the obverse portrait of a Gaul has been linked to Vercingetorix (though probably just supposition).

The last denarius with obverse of Roma, reverse of the Dioscuri, c. 211 BC is not rare, but I fell for the expression on Roma's face and overall "warmness" of the coin.

 

Oh, and here's my only serratus :


L. Procilius L.F., Denarius - Rome mint, 80 BC
Head of Juno Sospita right, clad in goat’s skin, S . C behind
Juno Sospita in biga right holding spear and shield. A snake below biga. [L. PROCILI. F] at exergue
19,5 mm - 3.89 gr
Ref : RCV # 307, RSC, Procilia # 2

Q

 

Nice coin; but that is a fiddle she is holding (a rather large fiddle)

L PROCILIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS PROCILIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Bust of Jupiter right, SC behind
REVERSE: L PROCILI F, Juno Sospita advancing right with sheild, spear aloft and serpent before
Struck at Rome 80 BC
3.7g, 19mm
Cr379/1, Syd 771, Procilia 1

 

I love the republican coinage there’s so much variety on the them compared to the imperial coins , some lovely examples on here.
L. MANLIUS TORQUATUS c113/112 BC

Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma facing right, X below chin, ROMA (MA in monogram) behind, all within Celtic torc border.

Reverse: Horseman galloping left, holding spear and shield, L TORQVA below, Q above, EX S C in ex.

 

You are absolutely correct -- once you get around all the quadrigas and such.

 

Once upon a time, I thought that Roman Republic coins were boring -- nothing but endless Romas on the obverse, and bigas and quadrigas on the reverse. After I bought a copy of Roman Silver Coins Vol. I some years ago, and leafed through it to look at all the photos, I knew better!

 

True enough - there's a lot of variety in the silvers. Not so much in the bronzes.

ATB,
Aidan.