I have picked up several Roman scale weights, scale parts and coins showing scales. This coin is in the latter group and was a consolation for what I really wanted (which I will show at the bottom of this post on the off chance one of our group was the high bidder). Claudius (41-54). Æ Quadrans Rome, 41 AD Obv - Hand with scales; CAESAR AVG TI CLAVDIVS around, PNR between scale pans Rev – In center - S C; around – PON M TR P IMP COS DES IT RIC I 85 Sear RCV1 – 1864 BMCRE – 174 Van Meter 1 – Claudius 20; AE quadrans ERIC 1 – Claudius I, O18.a/R15 Sear notes PNR could mean either: · Pondus Nummorum Restitutum, the weight of the coinage restored · Ponderum Norma Restituta, the standard weights restored 17 mm 2.57 g 7 h VF, Brown patina, well centered obverse, some surface corrosion My editorial comments: one quadrans is 1/3 rd of an As. This coin is 2.57 grams. The coin is fiduciary because the weight is nowhere near 1/3 rd of a Roman Pound (110 grams). It is near the weight of some late RR quadrans. The finger technique is correct, but they are not centered between the pans. I wanted this coin, a CA series semiuncia, but was willing to bid only 20 - 25% as much as the high bidder. I have several other coins with scales and see several in current auctions. Now I need to decide if I have enough examples. Diocletian and Monea with scales. a double pan balance with 1.5 asses in weights and aes rude. Post your scale coins.
Great theme you have going! Constantine I Antioch mint 337 to 347 AD Obvs: DV CONSTANTINVS PT AVGG, Constantine veiled right. Revs: IVST VEN MEM, Aequitas standing facing, head left, scales in right hand, scroll in left. SMANI AE 14x16mm, 2.08g RIC VIII 64 Claudius 41 AD AE Quadrans Obvs: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG, Hand holding pair of scales. PNR Revs: PON M TR P IMP COS DES IT, Around large SC 16mm, 4.1g Ref: 1984 RIC I 84
No, a quadrans is 1/4 as. 1/3 of an as was called a triens. Modern collectors have trouble with this because the Romans marked their fractions with dots indicating the number of twelfths the coin was worth. Three dots was 1/4 while 4 dots were 1/3. The liberal (as = a pound) standard of the early Republic was decreased many times before Claudius came along.
Shame you missed out on the semuncia but I have a feeling you'll get another chance at the type. There seem to be many of these CA bronzes coming to market recently. I believe them all to be genuine but perhaps representing a new find. The sextans used to be the rarest denomination for the series but the handful of new examples allowed me to purchase mine for the relatively low opening bid after it went unsold at auction.
COOL Coins and scales @rrdenarius ! Love the pans w/ wgts and Rude! Very cool display you created! I was just thinking of this the other day: Scale devices and or features. RI Antoninus Pius 138-161 BCE BI Tet Alexandria Egypt Dikaiosyne Scale Egypt Pharaoh Nektanebo II 361-343 BCE Ram Scales Weiser 1 - Butcher 11 uncertain no Syria RR Annius Luscus Hispaniensis 82-81 BCE AR Den Fem scales caduceus Quadriga Q Sertorius S 289 Cr 366-1 RR Cordius Rufus 46 BCE AR Den Jugate Dioscuri Venus scales S 440 Cr 463-1
Great theme, @rrdenarius! Not surprising that you picked up that quadrans . Sorry you missed that semiuncia-- it's a doozie! SYRIA, uncertain (formerly attributed to Egyptian pharaoh Nektanebo II) 3rd century CE AE11, 4.4 gm Obv: Ram leaping left, head reverted Rev: Scales; countermark with helmeted bust right Ref: Weiser 1 (Nektanebo II of Egypt)
Claudius quadrans So, I appear to have lots of rudders and ears of corn, but just the one scale Very nice coins there! (didn't mean to attach that other Macrinus coin)
Here's my Claudius quad spot! Claudius, AE Quadrans , AD 42. O: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG, hand holding scales, PNR in field; R: PON M TR P IMP PP COS II around S C. RIC 91, Cohen 73. 17 mm, 3.2 g.
Just lost out on a coin I was really stoked about myself. Sorry, but cool thread and great coin! Here's mine...
Dikaiosyne and Nemesis both hold scales. Dikaiosyne because she was the personification of equity and fairness, particularly in commercial affairs. Nemesis to counterbalance the good fortune awarded by Tyche. Dikaiosyne: Faustina Jr, AD 161-175. Billon Tetradrachm, 13.82 g, 23.2 mm. Alexandria, AD 148/9. Obv: ΦΑΥCΤΙΝΑ CЄΒΑCΤΗ, pearl-diademed and draped bust, right. Rev: L ΔѠΔЄΚΑΤΟΥ (regnal year 12 of Antoninus Pius), Dikaiosyne seated left, holding scales and cornucopiae. Refs: Köln 1944; Dattari 3238; BMC 1317; Emmett 1938. Nemesis, the "winged tipper of the scales of life," according to Mesomedes. Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman provincial Æ; 22.3 mm, 5.97 g. Thrace, Pautalia, AD 193-211. Obv: ΙΟΥΛΙΑ ΔΟΜΝΑ CΕΒΑ, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: ΠΑΥΤΑΛΙΩΤΩΝ, Nemesis standing left, holding scales and short staff and corner of robe, wheel at feet, left. Refs: Ruzicka 482; Moushmov 4222.
