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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Mikey Zee, post: 2266212, member: 72818&quot;]I was hoping to win two superior examples that I had bid on at Agora, but I was out-bid by a very insistent competitor....so I &#039;settled&#039; on these two types; both of differing obverses and denominations than I already have and both struck by the last years of the 2nd Carthaginian War.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have discovered (or actually &#039;rediscovered&#039;--- one and the same thing at this point in my life LOL) that Roman Republic bronzes totaled 16 different denominations from about 280-126 BC, yet only five were not valued in fractions of an AS or a Roman pound of 12 ounces or &#039;unciae&#039;.</p><p><br /></p><p>Initially established as 12 uncia, the As was reduced to 10 by 270 BC, then to 5 by about 225 and by about the start of the Second Punic War (218 BC) to a ratio of 1.5 to 1 uncia. Rome was virtually bankrupt and the currency almost worthless.</p><p><br /></p><p>The posted Triens and&nbsp; Quadrans, originally established about 280-275 BC, once had the respective values of 1/3 of an AS and/or 4 uncia; and 1/6 of an AS and/or 2 uncia. It&#039;s astounding that those ancient Romans persevered and ultimately became masters of the known world.</p><p><br /></p><p>Since both of the coins were struck after 211 BC, they would have circulated just after the Battle of Cannae, the subsequent &#039;stalemate&#039; and Hannibal&#039;s strategic retreat within southern Italy. By 203 BC Hannibal returned to Carthage to confront Scipio Africanus at Zama, only to be defeated by Scipio, and later exiled until his death circa 183-181 BC.</p><p><br /></p><p>Anonymous AE Triens circa 211 BC; 23,3 mm, 4 .38 grams, Rome Mint</p><p>Helmeted head of Mercury right, four pellets above</p><p>ROMA, Prow of Galley with four pellets below</p><p>Crawford 56/4, Sydenham 143b (EX RBW Collection).</p><p>[ATTACH=full]450797[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Anonymous Quadrans, Uncertain Mint; After 211 BC, 19.8 mm, 3.86 grams</p><p>Head of Hercules right, wearing lion-skin headdress, three pellets behind</p><p>ROMA, Prow of Galley, three pellets below</p><p>Crawford 56/5, Sydenham 143c (EX RBW Collection).</p><p>[ATTACH=full]450798[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Please feel free to post any coin you wish and please feel free to correct any errors I may have made...<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Hmmm, With all these &#039;Prows&#039; I could start my own &#039;fleet&#039; <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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