Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Alegandron, post: 2246730, member: 51347&quot;]Hello everyone.&nbsp; I am fascinated with Early Roman History, and particularly the Res Publica portion of their history!&nbsp; The Republic was the proving ground of ideas, struggles, and successes that later created the Roman Empire that everyone is fascinated with.&nbsp; Personally, I always loved &quot;going back to basics&quot;, &quot;laying sound foundations&quot;, &quot;understanding the root cause&quot; of things, the &quot;kernel of truth&quot; in legends, and the beginnings of history as to what made a people successful.&nbsp; Hence, my love for the history of the Roman Republic...</p><p><br /></p><p>When the Greek world was using Silver and Electrum as their basis of coinage, Central Italy was using bronze.&nbsp; When the Greeks had learned to strike gorgeous images into coinage, Rome and Central Italy were playing with rock weights... albeit bronze - Aes Rude.</p><p><br /></p><p>5th and 4th Century BCE Central Italy had no real access to silver in any quantity.&nbsp; However, they were able to mine copper to make into bronze.&nbsp; Since Central Italy was an agrarian society, their trade needs were focused on common needs, and the use of bronze weights in the form of Aes Rude suited them.&nbsp; However, this can be considered their first account of trade as it was based on a fiat material representing asset value for trade.&nbsp; It was virtually their first &quot;Coinage&quot;.</p><p><br /></p><p>Further, I am fascinated that Early Rome used Aes Rude as a crude form of &quot;coinage&quot; for trade in the 5th and 4th Century BCE, progressed to casting Aes Signatum (large bronze rectangular plates), to Aes Grave (heavy cast bronze round coinage weight from a pound to smaller weights), then not until 280 BCE to Silver Didrachm and finally silver Denarii in 211 BCE...&nbsp; Contrast this to the Greeks starting silver and electrum coinage approx 7th Century BCE.</p><p><br /></p><p>I could not resist &quot;going back to basics&quot;, &quot;having the foundation&quot;, &quot;understanding the root cause of early Roman trade&quot;, and captured an Aes Rude.&nbsp; It befitted my eclectic needs!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]443912[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]443913[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Roman Republic</p><p>Aes Rude</p><p>Bronze (AE)</p><p>ca. 5th - 4th Century BCE</p><p>Max Length 29.7mm, 32.4g</p><p>Sear Vol 1&nbsp; #505</p><p>Provenance: FORVM Ancient Coins</p><p><br /></p><p>Since I am not sure if there are many CT members that have an eclectic &quot;coin&quot; such as this, <b>I invite everyone to post their eclectic ancient coinage or trade implements </b>(Personally, I have Scythian Arrowheads, Celtic Brass Ring money, Amerind Stone Ax Head, etc. also.)[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in