This coin was a recent eBay win. It is a very late anonymous as, struck on the semuncial standard circa 91-86 B.C. during the period of the Social War and the beginning of the conflict between Marius and Sulla. While there were several large silver emissions during this period the total output of bronze was comparatively tiny and likely was a token issue more than anything else. The Rome mint's bronze output during this period was so tiny that "prow" bronzes minted and circulating at this time, especially outside of the city of Rome, seem to be unofficial issues minted in multiple locations across Italy. Not long after this type was minted the Republic ceased minting bronze altogether with an issue of Sulla circa 82 B.C. and did not resume until the chaos of the Civil Wars of the 40s B.C.. Roman Republic Æ as(12.02g, 27mm, 12h), anonymous, semuncial, circa 91-86 B.C.. Rome mint. Laureate head of bearded Janus; I above / Prow right; above, ROMA and before, I. Crawford 339/1c; McCabe group M1 Ex Roma Numismatics e-Sale 4 lot 507, ex Andrew McCabe Collection, AM#09198-12 As always, feel free to share anything related
Very cool!! Here's one of those later civil war issues, from Sextus Pompey: And my earliest, after 211 BCE (37.4g, 35.5mm):
Super capture of this tough to get issue! Congrats @red_spork ! My As cover different Republic periods, but no Social War issues! Bummer! 211-206 BCE: RR Anon AE As 211-206 BC sextantal Janus Prow Anchor S 628 Cr 50-3 BLASIO: RR AE As P.CORNELIUS P.F. BLASIO BC 169-158 35mm 42.5g S 703 Syd 370 Cr 189-1 MACEDONIAN OCCUPATION: RR Roman Occupied Macedonia Gaius Publilius, Questor Amphipolis Mint As AE26 As ROMA Griffin MAKEDONWN TAMIOV GAIOV POPAILIOV oak wreath BC 148-146 SNG COP 1318
Very nice addition @red_spork . Here's my Anonymous Social War example of a different variety of the type (See McCabe M1.As.3). Note mark of value is above prow and interesting deck structure. Rome. The Republic. Anonymous, 91 BCE. AE As (10.47g; 28mm). Rome mint. Crawford 339/1b; Sydenham 679; McCabe Group M1. Provenance: Ex E.E. Clain-Stefanelli (d. 2001) Collection [Naville 23 (12 June 2016) Lot 319].
I also have one for Pompey in the later Civil Wars: RImp Pompey 42-38 BC AE As Janus Prow Magnus Sear 1394 Craw 479-1
Nice capture @red_spork! I also have a bronze AS issued during the period of the Social War. 90 BC C. Vibius C.f. Pansa AE As 8.5gm - 27 mm Obv: Laurel head of Janus Rev: Three prows right, usually with palm-branch below, caps of Dioscuri or l before, moneyer's name below only with ROMA above Reference: 342/7b
