Roma, ending this Thursday, some very rare coins: https://www.romanumismatics.com/e-sale-93/2022-01-06?catId=&cat_id=26 some highlights two-torches Diana stags and crescent denarius, first offered in the last decade (RBW had one) and there is only one example on ACSearch / CoinArchives (the RBW coin) unique Plaetoria denarius with awl in left field. This type with its symbols has been studied and documented for hundreds of years, yet no one ever saw this variety butterfly as - no vine leaf!! very rare and much sought after Luceria cast as with L before prow - none offered in the last two decades except teh RBW coin and an example in Triton XV (2012) True Billon quadrigatus, yellow metal; the only other example in recent auction records is the English Amateur Scholar coin, struck from the same die pair as this, and this coin comes from the same source Whilst late quadrigati weighing typically 5.4 grams are relatively common, the colour and surface of this very rare billon issue reveal its unusually low silver content; examples struck in bronze - not plated - are also known. This was likely an emergency issue from Apulia, at around the same time as the introduction of the new denarius coinage, cf. RRCH 86 (Canosa) that contained both quadrigatus and denarius coinage. Clive Stannard believes this issue may have been struck at the besieged island fortress of Tarentum. Comparison with the prior lot shows the same design elements e.g. compact thick flan, general style and relief reverse legend, so though an emergency coinage it was clearly a continuation issue, struck to a well defined standard and norms, with perhaps an exchange promise to good silver. The weight standard of this reduced issue was likely exactly one sixtieth of a Roman pound (between 5.40 and 5.45 modern grams); earlier didrachms weighed 1/48 pound and the first denarius issues weighed 1/72 pound. A very rare and important part of Roman monetary history. https://www.romanumismatics.com/e-sale-93/2022-01-06?catId=&cat_id=26 Andrew McCabe
