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<p>[QUOTE="IdesOfMarch01, post: 3304463, member: 39084"]Ever since I started collecting ancient coins over a decade ago, I've admired the early Roman silver didrachm colloquially known as a quadrigatus. The artistry and history always appealed to me, having been struck initially around 225 B.C., and in large quantities around 218 B.C., the time that the Romans declared war on Carthage.</p><p><br /></p><p>These are large silver coins (22mm or so) showing a Janiform head that most modern literature describes as the Dioscuri portrayed in a slightly unusual manner, rather than the god Janus as in earlier coin literature. They are referred to as "didrachms" since their weight was six scruples, which corresponded to the weight of a Greek didrachm. They're also referred to as "anonymous" Roman silver. The name "quadrigatus" comes from the quadriga (four-horse chariot) on the reverse.</p><p><br /></p><p>I've bid on a number of these coins over the years, but until now had always been outbid on the higher quality examples. While not uncommon coins, the artistry of these coins runs the gamut from adequate to "good style." Also, I wanted a reverse that had the reverse ROMA incuse in a raised tablet, rather than the usual lettering style.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]875746[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Anonymous ca. 225 - 214 BC</p><p>AR Didrachm - Quadrigatus 22mm, 6.65 g., 5h Rome mint</p><p>Crawford 28/3 Sydenham 64a</p><p>Laureate head of Janus; curved truncation. Rev. Jupiter hurling thunderbolt w. right hand, holding scepter in left hand, in quadriga r. driven by Victory; ROMA in exergue incuse on solid tablet. Ex Gasvoda collection.</p><p><br /></p><p>My coin illustrates (what I consider) good portrait style on the obverse and a fairly full reverse scene, with only a slight portion of Jupiter's winged thunderbolt falling off the flan.</p><p><br /></p><p>A decade or so after these coins started to be minted, the Roman Republic would standardize on the silver denarius, a coin of approximately half the weight, and this coin ceased to be struck.</p><p><br /></p><p>Feel free to post examples of Roman coinage from this pre-denarius period![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="IdesOfMarch01, post: 3304463, member: 39084"]Ever since I started collecting ancient coins over a decade ago, I've admired the early Roman silver didrachm colloquially known as a quadrigatus. The artistry and history always appealed to me, having been struck initially around 225 B.C., and in large quantities around 218 B.C., the time that the Romans declared war on Carthage. These are large silver coins (22mm or so) showing a Janiform head that most modern literature describes as the Dioscuri portrayed in a slightly unusual manner, rather than the god Janus as in earlier coin literature. They are referred to as "didrachms" since their weight was six scruples, which corresponded to the weight of a Greek didrachm. They're also referred to as "anonymous" Roman silver. The name "quadrigatus" comes from the quadriga (four-horse chariot) on the reverse. I've bid on a number of these coins over the years, but until now had always been outbid on the higher quality examples. While not uncommon coins, the artistry of these coins runs the gamut from adequate to "good style." Also, I wanted a reverse that had the reverse ROMA incuse in a raised tablet, rather than the usual lettering style. [ATTACH=full]875746[/ATTACH] Anonymous ca. 225 - 214 BC AR Didrachm - Quadrigatus 22mm, 6.65 g., 5h Rome mint Crawford 28/3 Sydenham 64a Laureate head of Janus; curved truncation. Rev. Jupiter hurling thunderbolt w. right hand, holding scepter in left hand, in quadriga r. driven by Victory; ROMA in exergue incuse on solid tablet. Ex Gasvoda collection. My coin illustrates (what I consider) good portrait style on the obverse and a fairly full reverse scene, with only a slight portion of Jupiter's winged thunderbolt falling off the flan. A decade or so after these coins started to be minted, the Roman Republic would standardize on the silver denarius, a coin of approximately half the weight, and this coin ceased to be struck. Feel free to post examples of Roman coinage from this pre-denarius period![/QUOTE]
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