My Aes Rude - or Am I Rude?

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LOL, lovit! 6 Daughters...do you know HOW many times I have heard that???

 

You are probably on a list now lol

 

Wow. It's nice to be on somebody's list and not their "s" list.

 

Great find Bing but the Italians made them in the hundred thousands to skewer the barbarians with so they don't care much about them as much as artworks....

 

Lots of replies but only two examples posted, so I thought that I would add my Aes Rude.

 

Bing - I just heard a siren go past my house. I think that they were headed your way. Would you like me to hold onto those (for you?) - Just jealous.

 

Your Aes Rude looks great! You have a Moon Rock like me! Size and weight?

 

Thanks, Alegandron. This one measures 19 mm x 6 mm and it weighs 8.91 gm.
It was purchased from a reputable U.S. dealer.
I do have a number of examples of 'Proto' money including 'Dolphins' Celtic 'Rings', 'Wheels', 'Arrow' points, 'Cowrie' shells, 'Balls', and so on.

 

Great write-up and rockoin. I'm curious as to the value these pieces had in their era. In trade would you expect to get a large vessel of wine or just a pull off of the jug?

 

Were I to have been around in those days I would have asked for the large vessel, but probably 'settled' for a 'pull' off of the jug.

The only information I have is that they were used in a 'bartering' situation.

 

I understand it was barter by weight. I do not know the weight value for respective goods. However, if you think about it: raw bronze could be melted to create various implements for farming or war. Ergo, there is a built-in intrinsic value of bronze to other goods. I figure there is a "cost" of casting, so that may be imputed when trading for chickens or an iugerum of land... I have been very curious what the weights of Aes Rude for goods were in trade.

 

I chose my Aes Rude that I OP above at around 31g as it was a around and a little more than the Aes Grave Uncia weight of 27g (Libral Standard). I wondered what an Uncia purchased? ...

 

I have seen the subject of buying power of ancient coins discussed several times. I have a book with Selections from the Numismatist on Ancient and Medieval Coins. It has an article from 1916 on the subject of prices. Edward Newell quoted Pliny (a Roman historian) that in 250 BC, one As, about 300 grams of bronze, would buy one of the following:
a modius (18.5 quarts) of wheat
a measure of wine
10 pounds of oil
12 pounds of meat
30 pounds of dry figs
When I googled the following phrase "The purchasing value of coins of the classic period Edward Newell" I found the article on line at:
http://www.mocavo.com/The-Numismatist-Volume-Xxix/887035/220
I am sure I have a more recent book, but alas it is buried somewhere in my treasures room.

 

On the subject of RR coins, were you able to add anything to your collection in the Agora auction that ended today, @Alegandron ? I saw you were bidding on at least one of the lots I was considering but I decided to back off and focus on a few more.

 

I think Aes Rude traded for its metal value. I have a couple of bronze items that fit in the time period, but are formed.
piece of a bronze knife

bronze Knucklebone or astragalus this was a gaming piece or used for divination (casting lots)

 

I wanted the lot of 7 cut aes rude a couple of auctions ago, but alas I was #2 bidder.

 

Yes, won the Litra. And thank you.

 

Very nice!

 

Love the astragalus @rrdenarius; I want one of those! Here is my aes rude (I'm a rotten photographer, so it is a bit blurry):