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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Al Kowsky, post: 8296022, member: 97383&quot;]R.C., Thanks for posting this interesting article <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie50" alt=":happy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. I sold all but two of my Republican denarii, but the one pictured below I kept because the die work is excellent &amp; the coin is in mint state. This issue is very common &amp; falls into the date range expressed in the article when the debasement occurred. Most of these coins show little wear &amp; most of them must have been found in hoards. They were issued to pay soldiers fighting for the Marian Party against the forces of General Sulla. For a long time it was assumed that Nero was the first to debase the denarius by 10%, obviously this wasn&#039;t the case <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie85" alt=":smuggrin:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. I remember reading another article on Nero&#039;s debasement where a number of his denarii were also tested for fineness, &amp; the sample tested turned out to be 80/85% pure <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie9" alt=":eek:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. If I can find that article again I&#039;ll post it <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1466965[/ATTACH] </p><p><b>Roman Republic, 83-82 BC. Quintus Antonius Balbus, Praetor. AR denarius: 4.07 gm, 19 mm, 5 h. Obverse: Laureate head of Jupiter. Reverse: Victory in quadriga holding reins, wreath, &amp; palm frond. Crawford 364; Sear 279.</b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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