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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Nemo, post: 2100259, member: 58462&quot;]Although I rarely add coins from the Republic, this one caught my attention and I&#039;m very glad it ended up in my collection. It really is a beautiful work of art. I hope you enjoy it.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]394774[/ATTACH] </p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Anonymous Didrachm / Quadrigatus</b></p><p>Anonymous. Silver Didrachm (6.80g, 22.5mm), ca. 225-214 BC. Uncertain mint. </p><p><br /></p><p>O: Laureate head of Janus (Dioscuri?), two annulets atop head. </p><p>R: ROMA incuse on solid tablet in exergue, Jupiter, hurling thunderbolt and holding scepter, in galloping quadriga right driven by Victory.</p><p><br /></p><p>- ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. Described by auction house as Crawford 29/3 Sydenham 65</p><p><br /></p><p>David Vagi gave a nice write up of this type -&quot;Silver Quadrigatus Roman coinage was fortified during the Second Punic War. In addition to gold coins, the Romans issued copper and silver coins, sometimes in enormous quantities. The principal silver coin of the war was a reduced-weight didrachm called a &quot;quadrigatus&quot; after its reverse design, a four-horse chariot (quadriga) bearing Victory and Jupiter. There are many varieties of quadrigati, as revealed by differences in die engraving, metal purity and production standards, not to mention subtle variations of the main design. This suggests that several mints issued quadrigati at different times, and under quite different circumstances. The double-head on the obverse usually is described as the god Janus because of its distinctive form, but the faces are of young men, and it more likely represents the Dioscuri, the gods Castor and Pollux, who were credited with saving Rome at the Battle of Lake Regillus nearly three centuries before.&quot;[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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