I am like lots of folks and chomping at the bit due to stay at home orders / advise. I picked up a couple of RR snacks to help pass the time. The coins are from Italy, so shipping will take a month or so. I will borrow the seller's pics for this post. Both coins are well worn, but have enough on the coin to make an ID. Roman Republic Victroiatus, C/M Series, Sicily circa 211-208 Obv - Laureate head of Jupiter r.; behind, C. Rev - Victory standing r. crowning trophy; between them, M. In exergue, ROMA. 3.05 grams 16.78 mm qBB R Cr. 71/1a I think it is interesting this coin has two control letters, one on the obv and one on the rev. Roman Republic, Staff series Æ As. Rome, 206-195 BC. Obv - Laureate head of Janus, I above Rev - Prow right , staff above, I before, ROMA below. 35.4 grams 33.0 mm qBB. Patina verde. R. Crawford 112/3 – note that in Cr 112/3, the staff is above the prow and mark of value to the right of prow. In Cr 106/4 the mark of value is above the prow. Crawford lists the similar Asses: Club Series, 89/3, 208 BC Staff and Club Series, 106/4, 208 BC Staff Series, 112/3, 206 - 195 BC It is a bit difficult to tell a club from a staff on well worn coins. The club tapers more than on this coin, but I would have liked to see a bit longer staff. Cr 106 places the mark of value above the prow, and this coin clearly places it in front of the prow. Problems like this make RR coin collecting fun. The seller called the coin Cr-106/4. What do you think?
Nice snacks, @rrdenarius . Here is a snack Victoriatus on a Fat Flan: RR Anon AR Victoriatus 211-206 BC Jupiter Dioscuri Sear 49 Craw 44-1
I think this is one of the most interesting types in the victoriatus series. The obverse head of Jupiter is rendered with very strong character. I think this is the only Victoriatus with two mintmarks or symbols, each on opposite sides of the coin in the victoriatus denomination, and the only victoriatus with a symbol or mintmark on the obverse (From memory so if I'm wrong about this correct me please). It comes with missing C's and missing M's, (so you need two more.)
My example of the C/M Victoriatus: Rome. The Republic. C/M Series, 211-208 BCE AR Victoriatus (3.26g; 18mm). Sicilian mint (?) Obverse: Laureate head of Jupiter facing right; C behind. Reverse: Victory crowns trophy; M between; ROMA in exergue. References: Crawford 71/1a; RBW 300; Sydenham 112; BMCRR (Italy) 252. Provenance: Ex Andrew McCabe Collection; Vecchi 7 (6 Oct 1997) Lot 571; NAC 1 (29 Mar 1989) Lot 561.
Here is my Club Series As: Rome. The Republic. Club Series, 208 BCE. AE As (54.36g; 37mm). Southeastern Italian Mint. Obverse: Head of Janus; I (mark of value = 1 As) above. Reverse: Prow facing right; club, above; I (mark of value), before; ROMA, below. References: Crawford 89/3; Sydenham 213; BMCRR 312. Provenance: Ex Roma E-Live Auction 2 (30 Aug 2018), Lot 495. Weight and fabric are one way to differentiate well-worn specimens where style may be tougher to appreciate. Club Series Asses are massive. Crawford suggests that the weight standard of the series was based on an As of approximately 54 grams, and the weight of my above example is consistent with that proposed weight standard. Crawford estimated the weight standard of the Cr 112 Staff Series asses at 36 grams - much lighter. The fabric of my Club As and other examples (see, e.g., McCabe “Anonymous Struck Bronze Coinage,” example RRC89.3.3) display a pronounced, conical-shaped flan consistent with flans produced in open molds. Note how the reverse face of this coin has a much smaller diameter than the obverse face, evidencing the conical flan. If the coin isn't too worn, style of the prow is another clear separator. Note the difference between the prow stem of my coin and yours. Prow stem on my coin is short and fat; on yours longer and more slender. Even on well-worn coins, these major device differences should be apparent.
I have some similar ones - C/M victoriatus: A staff as (Cr. 106/4) I got at NYINC 2018 - fairly odd, corroded thing: ATB, Aidan.
