A surprisingly PURDY Semuncia!

I won this at auction that the photos did not really depict how nice this coin is. I received it and was REALLY gobsmacked as to the beauty of what a lotta folks consider a "mundane" part of Roman Republic coinage.

Struck during the infamous 2nd Punic War or the War with Hannibal...


Roman Republic
AE Semuncia
217-215 BCE
17.6x19.4mm, 4.1g
Obv: Head of Mercury r., in winged Petasus
Rev: Prow of Galley, ROMA above (when I reflect it in light, "OMA" stands out)
Sear 620; Crawford 38/7

Please feel free to post any of your cool AE's from pre-denarius Roman Republic!

 

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Wow, that is a remarkably detailed portrait! Lovely

 

I was really surprised by the Prow...usually they are just wiped out an many of them...

 

Wow Al great coin, very good details with just a little rub, also looks a little like the reverse of coin is cupped.

 

Yes, that is a correct observation, it IS a little cupped; hence the camera not capturing the ROMA legend above the Prow!

 

Is it the size of a denarius or bigger?

 

Dopey 'ole me! I did not spec it! 17.6x19.4mm, 4.1g

 

pretty much the same as a denarius

 

Very nice semuncia! My first Republican bronze was one of this same type but of a slightly different style(there are 5 or so noticeably different engraving styles used on these, as expected for a huge issue):


Roman republic Æ Semuncia(5.50g), anonymous semilibral series. 217-215 BC. Head of Mercury right, wearing winged petasos / Prow right; ROMA above. Crawford 38/7; Sydenham 87.

 

that is a very nice one aleg!

i have a bargain bin semuncia...

 

Very nice Mr M! Details are great. Yeah, they were POUNDING out the coins for the War with Hannibal! (Second Punic War).

 

I always found "prow" reverses just as boring as most see "standing/seated gods" boring. But I like obverse portrait on the OP coin and nice look overall.

 

Great detail on the obverse, what a wonderful facial expression on Mercury!

Here's my semiunica which was minted the same time as yours, but with a different subject matter


Roman Republic 217-215 BC
AE Semiunica - 5.88 gm - 20 mm
Obv: Turreted and draped female bust right, wearing drapery and necklace
Rev: Horseman galloping right holding whip, ROMA below
Ref: Cr. 39/5, Syd 97, SR 619, BMCRR (Romano-Campania) 136

 

awesome!! => that leaves more for Alegandalf and myself ... man, I love coins with ships on 'em (they're almost as cool as coins with animals) ... oh, and I totally agree with Doug's comments that finding a sweet coin with the Ark and the animals would be the ultimate winna-winna!!

Fantastic OP-addition, my friend ... gawd, I love the good ol' anonymous AE RR prow examples (congrats on a great coin) ... hmmm, I'm not sure which is more cool, the life-like obverse, or the sweet detailed ship? (total winner)



SIDENOTE => semuncia (I had to look it up, wiki ... hopefully it's correct)

Sadly, I don't have an example of a Semuncia (now on my wish-list)

Ummm, but I do have examples of a few other AE RR denominations (wanna see 'em, again and again?)

Semis






Quadrans



As (ummm, a couple of sweet lookin' asses actually)




Triens (Hemiliton?)

 

Wow those are cool coins.
I only have one prow, it is not very good, but there is an elephant's head on it which makes up for the lack of quality


L Caecilius Metellus
Coin: Bronze semis
- Laureate head of Saturn right; S behind
- Prow of galley right; elephant's head above, S before, ROMA below
Mint: Rome
Wt./Size/Axis: 4.85g / 22mm / -
References:

• Crawford 262/2
• Sydenham 497
• BCM RR 1048

 

Wonderful posts one and all !!!

The semuncia I am bidding on is a bit lower grade than the majority of them I see posted here, but I'll still love it for what it is LOL

 

Is the an eye on the prow of the ship?



Awesome coin. I love the hat on that guy. That would look real good in this collection.

 

It would have to be a big flip.

 

Nice job, Steve, great coins!

 

Agreed! Great Semis with a Jumbo-the-elephant head!