And now, entering stage left, is a cast bronze from Apulia, a most singularly chunky Uncia, weighing 45.7 grams, while measuring only 30 mm in diameter. This coin is quite round with a pronounced vertically to it. I sporadically collect cast bronze coinage. My efforts to add a coin to this part of the collection have been challenged due to the high demand and high prices for nice cast coinage of Rome and surrounding regions. Never really inexpensive at any time, prices appear to be surging in this area. Getting back to this coin, it is, I think, a great example of what Doug Smith calls Wabi-Sabi. What was originally a bronze coin of a bright golden brown color when it emerged from the mint has now acquired a beautiful, thick green patina, with earthen deposits scattered across both sides. This coin is saying "I am really old. Where's my Social Security benefit?" Apulia, for those who may not be familiar with its geographical location, is the region forming the section of Italy's heel. This region of Italy, rich in agriculture, especially olive production, was first colonized by Bronze Age Mycenean Greeks. Over the ensuing centuries the region was, at one time occupied, partially, by the Muslim Saracens who established the brief Emirate of Bari. Apulia, Luceria Æ Uncia. Circa 225-217 BC. Frog / Corn-ear; • in field. HN Italy 674; ICC 342; Haeberlin p. 184-185, 1-56 pls. 71, 3-6 and 95, 7. 45.70g, 30mm. This coin was acquired from Roma Numismatics in their December 2020 E-Sale 78, lot 150. It seems to have been sold previously, by Ars Coin Wien, for €500. When this sale occurred, I cannot say with any accuracy. Please feel free to post anything you wish. Thanks
I like Froggy! And I like even better that it’s called Froggy! I just shelled out 17€ for what looks like a distant relative of his: Parion, Mysia. Drachm 500-475 BC.
Fantastic, @robinjojo ! Aes Grave from Luceria Luceria AES Grave Anonymous 217-215 BCE Uncia 7.35g Frog from above- Corn Ear pellet retrograde L Thurlow & Vecchi 285 Ex: Stephen Album Auction
I don't have any frogs, but I understand in many parts of the world their habitats have been threatened. So we should be supporting ancient frogs, at least if we can't protect current frogs from climate change.
Grew up eating frog legs. Had them many times, even during travels to Asia and Europe (HAD to have them in France).
I had to do the same thing in 10th grade biology class. We were supposed to draw the internal organs of the poor frog. I was so put off my drawing ended up looking like an impressionistic rendering of an environmental disaster. Additionally, the frogs were supposed to be anesthetized, and I suppose they were, but when we unpinned them, after theoretically killing them, one girl's frog immediately got up and hopped around, freaking the class out. Yes, frogs are endangered, and I hope this dissection requirement for biology students is no longer in force. I think that there must be better, more human alternatives. BTW, here's a classic cartoon that I'm sure many have seen before:
Dissecting a frog was a rite of passage from middle school to high school for 8th grade science students in NY during the mid 80s. Some scheduling genius at my middle school decided to have biology right before lunch and we had several "rowdy" students. One of them took a half dissected frog into the cafeteria and it was tossed all over the place. It was not a pretty sight.... The dean picked up the poor dead frog with his hands and quickly disposed of it with all the kids laughing... Post-Mauryan Erich: Mugamukha (ca 100 BCE - 50 CE) Pb Unit (AICR-516; Gupta-54) Obv: Frog with scale-like symbol above Rev: Brahmi legend mugamukha
And then there is Aristophanes: “better not bring up a lion inside your city, But if you must, then humour all his moods.” ― Aristophanes, The Frogs
That is a nice frog, @robinjojo. Congratulations! I recently acquired two of them in one auction, and I found out I've fallen in love aes grave! There's nothing that beats the feeling of holding one of these heavyweights of Roman history in hand. The weight, the size, the feel, the incredibly high profile of the cast, the simplicity of depiction...these coins are physically satisfying in a way no other coin can satisfy. I googled a bit and found out the heaviest aes grave ever cast was a 'decussis', worth no less than10 asses. Although cast at a reduced standard, it still weighed in at over 1100gr. Imagine holding that in hand! Декуссис — Википедия (wikipedia.org) My only regret is, as you rightly pointed out, that collecting them can be a costly undertaking. Fractions are relatively affordable, but once you get to semi's, asses and dupondii...Guess I'll have to start saving. Here is my example from Luceria: Love the patina on your frog, @octavius. A poisonous frog!
The ones we got were already in formaldehyde & quite dead, as they should have been. Perhaps someone pulled a stunt like in our class: it was well publicized ahead of time when we were going to do this. Someone in our class (not me, although I wish I thought of it) actually smuggled a live bullfrog into class, & chaos broke out. I always suspected our science teacher was involved/encouraged this act, but it was never proven. He seemed to enjoy the fracas as much as most (but not all) of the students. Yup, NY! Btw, nice frogs everyone, especially yours @octavius, even though it's really a Todi (froggie)
Interesting frog-coin. I don't have any either, but now regret it.... People are afraid of eating frogs because they imagine eating an actual frog, and alive. Would you eat an entire turkey, alive, with its feathers and screaming ? Of course not Frog legs basically look just like mini-ribs, accomodated with butter, garlic and parsley, and you drink a dry yet flowery burgundy chardonnay with them : just delicious ! Here are some before pictures I've taken Q
