Log in or Sign up
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
An overstrike you don't see every day: Uncia over semuncia
>
Reply to Thread
Message:
<p>[QUOTE="red_spork, post: 4229989, member: 74282"]If you go through Bahrfeldt, Hersh or Crawford's tables of overstrikes you'll find something really shocking: there is only a single <a href="https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10420814m" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10420814m" rel="nofollow">uncia-over-sextans overstrike</a> listed from the D'Ailly collection and now in Paris. Crawford later published a second example in CMRR, but even so, you basically never see them. This is quite strange for a handful of reasons, first and foremost that the Crawford 38 semilibral semuncia is an extremely common type, and in theory should have been widely available for overstriking. Second, the Crawford 41/10 Uncia usually weighs 5-8 grams, about the same as the 38/7 semuncia, making it seem like an even better candidate for overstriking. Finally, many 41/9 sextantes are known overstruck on 38/6 unciae, so many that it almost seems like you see as many or more overstruck as on fresh flans. So why so few unciae overstruck on semunciae?</p><p><br /></p><p>If you hoped that I would have an explanation, unfortunately you'll be disappointed. I've got nothing. The Romans struck great numbers of 41/10 unciae so these should be very common. To me this overstrike falls into the category of coins you'd expect to be common, but in practice and even in specialized overstrike collections, you almost never see it. I have no idea why, but I was very happy when I finally managed to decode the undertype of this uncia that a friend pointed out to me. It took me a bit to get it, but if you look in front of the obverse chin you can see Mercury's petasos. On the reverse you can see a trace of the undertype prow's rostrum tridens poking out at the top left of the overstruck prow. The devices, style, module size and weight leave only a single possibility for the undertype: the 38/7 semuncia. I'll attach a photo at the end that will help you see it better if you can't spot of from the photo of the coin alone.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1081954[/ATTACH]</p><p>Roman republic Æ Uncia(6.06g, 22mm, 10h), anonymous "post-semilibral" series. 215-212 BC. Head of Roma right, wearing attic helmet; to left, • / Prow right; above, ROMA; below, •. McCabe Group A2; Crawford 41/10</p><p><br /></p><p>Overstruck on semilibral semuncia, Crawford 38/7, McCabe Group AA; For 41/10 overstruck on 38/7, cf. Crawford, table XVIII 20, Hersh 40, Bahrfeldt 5</p><p><br /></p><p>Purchased from London Ancient Coins, February 2020</p><p><br /></p><p>As promised, this illustration may help you see the undertype if you're having trouble. Feel free to share any interesting overstrikes you may have.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1081955[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="red_spork, post: 4229989, member: 74282"]If you go through Bahrfeldt, Hersh or Crawford's tables of overstrikes you'll find something really shocking: there is only a single [URL='https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b10420814m']uncia-over-sextans overstrike[/URL] listed from the D'Ailly collection and now in Paris. Crawford later published a second example in CMRR, but even so, you basically never see them. This is quite strange for a handful of reasons, first and foremost that the Crawford 38 semilibral semuncia is an extremely common type, and in theory should have been widely available for overstriking. Second, the Crawford 41/10 Uncia usually weighs 5-8 grams, about the same as the 38/7 semuncia, making it seem like an even better candidate for overstriking. Finally, many 41/9 sextantes are known overstruck on 38/6 unciae, so many that it almost seems like you see as many or more overstruck as on fresh flans. So why so few unciae overstruck on semunciae? If you hoped that I would have an explanation, unfortunately you'll be disappointed. I've got nothing. The Romans struck great numbers of 41/10 unciae so these should be very common. To me this overstrike falls into the category of coins you'd expect to be common, but in practice and even in specialized overstrike collections, you almost never see it. I have no idea why, but I was very happy when I finally managed to decode the undertype of this uncia that a friend pointed out to me. It took me a bit to get it, but if you look in front of the obverse chin you can see Mercury's petasos. On the reverse you can see a trace of the undertype prow's rostrum tridens poking out at the top left of the overstruck prow. The devices, style, module size and weight leave only a single possibility for the undertype: the 38/7 semuncia. I'll attach a photo at the end that will help you see it better if you can't spot of from the photo of the coin alone. [ATTACH=full]1081954[/ATTACH] Roman republic Æ Uncia(6.06g, 22mm, 10h), anonymous "post-semilibral" series. 215-212 BC. Head of Roma right, wearing attic helmet; to left, • / Prow right; above, ROMA; below, •. McCabe Group A2; Crawford 41/10 Overstruck on semilibral semuncia, Crawford 38/7, McCabe Group AA; For 41/10 overstruck on 38/7, cf. Crawford, table XVIII 20, Hersh 40, Bahrfeldt 5 Purchased from London Ancient Coins, February 2020 As promised, this illustration may help you see the undertype if you're having trouble. Feel free to share any interesting overstrikes you may have. [ATTACH=full]1081955[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]
Your name or email address:
Do you already have an account?
No, create an account now.
Yes, my password is:
Forgot your password?
Stay logged in
Coin Talk
Home
Forums
>
Coin Forums
>
Ancient Coins
>
An overstrike you don't see every day: Uncia over semuncia
>
Home
Home
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Activity
Recent Posts
Forums
Forums
Quick Links
Search Forums
Recent Posts
Competitions
Competitions
Quick Links
Competition Index
Rules, Terms & Conditions
Gallery
Gallery
Quick Links
Search Media
New Media
Showcase
Showcase
Quick Links
Search Items
Most Active Members
New Items
Directory
Directory
Quick Links
Directory Home
New Listings
Members
Members
Quick Links
Notable Members
Current Visitors
Recent Activity
New Profile Posts
Sponsors
Menu
Search
Search titles only
Posted by Member:
Separate names with a comma.
Newer Than:
Search this thread only
Search this forum only
Display results as threads
Useful Searches
Recent Posts
More...