I have posted some of these before. I feel these little coins minted prior to the Denarius Reform of 211 BCE are an interesting aspect of the Roman Republic, and its relationship with the Italian Allies. I am curious who have or even collects the Anonymous Roman Republic Litrae? They are said to be relatively common, however I do no see too many being posted. The seem to be afterthought type of purchases. Here are some of mine: PLEASE POST ANY ROMAN REPUBLIC LITRAE YOU HAVE! RR Anon AE Litra Minerva ROMANO Horse Head 17.1g 270-269 BCE Sear 592 RR Anon AE Litra 260 BCE Minerva star ROMANO Horse Hd Craw 17.1g Sear 593 RR Anon AE Litra 241-235 BCE Mars Beardless Horse Head GREEN Craw 25-3 Sear 594 RR Anon AE Litra 234-231 BCE Apollo Horse Rearing Craw 26-3 Sear 595 RR Anon AE Litra 230-226 BCE Mars Club Galloping Horse Craw 27-2 Sear 596 PLEASE POST ANY ROMAN REPUBLIC LITRAE YOU HAVE!
I'm happy with mine I purchased from Warren a while back, I agree they are interesting as they were in the first early Roman struck coinage. ROMAN REPUBLIC 273-269 BC, AE Litra, Head of Minerva, ROMANO horses head. RRC 17/1a, 18.5mm, 6.02gm Early struck coinage.
Some really fun coins Gandy (LOVE the minty patina on #3!) Wish I had one. Here are a couple, 1 afterthought/snack and then a whole meal, from that neighborhood: Anonymous after 276 BC. Mint in southern Italy Bronze Æ 22 mm., 7.25 g. nearly very fine ROMAN REPUBLIC. Anonymous. AE Aes Grave Triens (92.37 gms), Rome Mint, ca. 225-217 B.C. VERY FINE. Cr-35/3a; TV-53. Obverse: Helmeted head of Minerva left; four pellets (mark of value) below; all set upon raised disk; Reverse: Prow right; four pellets (mark of value) below; all set upon raised disk. A pleasing specimen despite its crudeness, with charming green surfaces. A test cut across Minerva's face is noted for completeness. Ex Stacks & Bowers
I have a few - one of the last coins I received is a litra: Bronze Litra Obv. Laureate head of Apollo right Rev. ROMA - Horse galloping left, with bridle Mint: Rome (ca. 234-231 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 3.20g / 15mm / - References: Sydenham 29 Crawford 26/3 BMCRR Romano-Campanian 70-74 Bronze Litra Obv. Helmeted head of beardless Mars right; behind, club Rev. ROMA - Horse galloping right; above, club Mint: Rome (ca. 230-226 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 2.96g / 16mm / - References: Sydenham 24 Crawford 27/2 RBW 53 HN Italy 315 A half litra: Bronze Half Litra Obv. Head of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet Rev. Dog walking right Exergue: ROMA Mint: Rome (ca. 234-231 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 1.73g / 13.5mm / 9h References: Sydenham 30 Crawford 26/4 RBW 51 HN Italy 309 And a double litra: Bronze Double Litra Obv. Female head right Rev. Lion walking right, usually holding spear in mouth and touching spear with left forepaw Exergue: ROMANO Mint: South Italy (ca 275-270 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 11.33g / 22mm / 2h References: Crawford 16/1a Provenances: Ex. Thersites Collection These three I've had for years and still haven't added to Tantalus. I need to dig them out again and weigh them and attribute them properly - I got as far as taking photos in May. This should be Cr. 25/3, with sickle behind the horse's head - unfortunately, the obverse patina has chipped quite a bit: I believe this is a Cr. 17/1 litra - it's heavier than the previous example, as far as I recall and I believe the reverse legend is behind the horse's head - mostly off the flan. I'm not even certain this is Roman, but it might be Cr. 17/1a (Minerva head left, horse's head right): ATB, Aidan.
Wow, everyone, great posts! Here is a Half-Litra: RR Anon AE Half-Litra 234-231 BCE Roma Phrygian Dog S 598 Cr 26-4 And a COUPLE Double-Litrae: RR AE Double Litra 235 BCE 19.5mm 6.54g Rome mint Hercules r club - Pegasus r club ROMA Cr 27-3 HN Italy 316 S 591 RR Anon AE Double-Litra 275-270 BC Apollo Lion S 590 Cr 16-1a
And, those are KILLER examples of Litrae, @akeady ! Nice. I knew you would come through... we share a lot of collecting interests! Thank you for tossing them out there!
I have not ever seen these before. Thanks everyone for posting and teaching me a little something. I really love the horse design on the reverse. So regal. I love this minty patina too!
Read your first post and figured I needed to add a Litrae to the want list. Now you’re posting halves and doubles!!!
Pre-Denarius Reform Roman Republic coinage is the DARKER Side of the Dark Side. We don’t have cookies... we have Brownies.
I was going to go look it up, as I am very interested in that one. Unfortunately, I am traveling and not near my resources. Then, lol, I saw it was YOU, and thought... “wait, this guy knows this series WAY more than I do!”. What a super coin! My ugly Dopple-Litra that I posted is walking in the opposite direction. Yours has great detail with the lion’s mane. I see a cut across the obverse, is that someone trying make it a Litra for change? Great coin! I really like that one. Thanks for posting.