My latest arrival very likely had a colourful history because of its lowly status. These are the kind of coins that have an unknowable but rich history. Vespasian Æ Quadrans, 2.31g Rome Mint, 77-78 AD RIC 1015 (R). BMC 740A. Obv: IMP VESPASIAN AVG; Rudder on globe Rev: P M TR P P P COS VIII; S C in field; Caduceus, winged Acquired from Numismatica Prada, April 2019. The quadrans in the early imperial period typically lacked an imperial portrait. Possibly the denomination was deemed so lowly by mint officials that a portrait was considered improper. They were struck haphazardly and functioned primarily as an urban low value coinage in Rome and central Italy. The quadrans was the typical fee for entry into the baths, a urinal, or for a tryst in a cheap brothel. Being of rather low value quadrantes were not typically hoarded and thus are relatively scarce today. The rudder over globe suggests Vespasian's continued steady hand guiding the empire. This example is nicely centred and well preserved for the type. Show off your quadrantes!
Quadrans: RR C Curiatius f Trigeminus 135 BCE Æ quadrans 18 mm 4.8g Rome Hd Hercules lionskin 3 plts - CCVR F ROMA prow Victory wreath 3 plts Cr 240-4a; Syd460b RR AE Quadrans 18mm 3.6g Rome 206-195 BCE Hercules R wearing lions skin pellet behind - ROMA Prow of galley right 3 pellets Cr339-4a; Syd679c RR Aes Grave AE Quadrans 230 BCE Dog 3 pellets Six spoked wheel 59.8g Craw 26-6a Th-Vecchi 34 RR Anon AE 28mm 19.2g Quadrans - Sicily mint 214-212 BCE Hercules-Erymanthian boar headress - Bull ex RBW Craw 72-7 Scarce Frentani - Larinum AE 18mm Quadrans 210-175 BCE Herakles - Centaur SNG COP 272
There actually was a quadrans with the image of Trajan's Column struck under that dude's reign. I used to have it in my old collection (that I sold when I was 18) unfortunately. I paid almost $100 for it back in the 1980's. The dealer, Frank L. Kovacs, told me it was quite rare.
Not one you see too often! I like it. My most recent quadrans is one very often seen, but not in this condition: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG, modius / PON M TR P IMP P P COS II around large S C. RIC 90.
Great coin. Never seen the type! One of my favorite Vespy quotes starts, "Smell this coin..." Gaius (Caligula) 37-41 CE. Æ Quadrans (17.5mm, 2.48g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 40. C • CAESAR • DIVI • AVG • PRON • AVG •, pileus between S C / PON • M TR • P • III • P P • COS • TERT • around R • C • C •. RIC I 45; BMCRE 61-3; BN 107-8. Choice EF, green patina, traces of earthen deposits. Claudius Æ Quadrans. Rome, AD 42. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG around modius on three legs / PONT M TR P IMP COS II around large SC. RIC 90. Claudius (41-54 CE), Quadrans,Rome, 25 January - 3 December AD 41, AE TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG, around hand holding scales; below, P N R, Rv. PON M TR P IMP COS DES IT, around S C. RIC 85; C 71. Domitian Circa 81-161 AD. Æ Rome Quadrans (14 mm, 1.34 gm). Diademed and draped bust of Venus right / Dove standing right. RIC II 24; Cohen 10. Near VF
But my favorite is: AUGUSTUS AE Quadran OBVERSE: SISENNA MESSALLA IIIVIR, altar REVERSE: APRONIVS GALLVS AAAFF around SC Rome 5 BC , Moneyers Apronius, Galus, Messalla, and Sisena 3.0g, 17mm RIC 463 or 200 in Old RIC
An older purchase, and an interesting example from the Flavian period- auction house photo. Not in ric but maybe in the addendum? David, I am surprised you passed on a chance to mention Vespasian’s famous quote regarding urine and taxes: Pecunia non olet (money doesn’t stink).
I actually had the quip in my notes to include in the write-up but somehow forgot. Thanks for mentioning it because it's a perfect fit for the theme of the thread! Your semis is indeed in the Addenda - RIC 835A. Awesome coin with a great provenance!
Did you know the quadrans (Greek κοδράντης) is mentioned twice in the Bible? The two verses are: Mark 12:42 καὶ ἐλθοῦσα μία χήρα πτωχὴ ἔβαλεν λεπτὰ δύο, ὅ ἐστιν κοδράντης. "And one poor widow came and threw two leptons, which is a quadrans." Matthew 5:26 ἀμὴν λέγω σοι, οὐ μὴ ἐξέλθῃς ἐκεῖθεν ἕως ἂν ἀποδῷς τὸν ἔσχατον κοδράντην. "Truly I tell you, you will not come out from there until you have paid back the last quadrans." My favorite quadrans: Trajan, AD 98-117. Roman AE quadrans, 3.68 g, 16.4 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 98-117. Obv: IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG, laureate bust right, drapery on left shoulder. Rev: She-wolf walking right; SC in exergue. Refs: RIC 692; BMCRE 1060; Cohen 338; RCV --; Woytek 599b1.
Here's my spindly pincher quadrans, Claudius 41-54, mint Rome. TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG around hand holding scales/ PON M TR P IMP COS DES IT around large SC. 15.5 mm, 1.77 gr. And these two coins were described as (Provincial) half quadrans. And yes, they are very small. Left Hadrian: AE10 half quadrans Hadrian 117-138. Rome Mint for Antiochia Seleucis. Obv. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind. Rev. SC over Γin wreath. 10 mm, 1.02 gr. RPC online III, Nr. 3711 (with a different year letter; and called a chalkous). Right Trajan: AE11 half quadrans Trajan 98-117. Rome Mint for Antiochia Seleucis. Obv. Laureate bust right. Rev. SC in wreath. 11 mm, 1.48 gr. RPC online Nr. 3680 (‘chalkous’).
A recent purchase related to the half quadrans. A Trajan shewolf quadrans struck on a half quadrans flan, 10.9 mm, .80 g, 12 h.
