My most recent purchase is this humble AE As issued by L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi in 90 BC to fund the Social War 90 BC - Roman Republic. L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi Æ AS / FRVGI Attribution: Crawford 340/4; Calpurnia 18; Sydenham 677 Date: 90 BC Obverse: Head of Janus Reverse: Prow right, FRVGI below Size: 26.25mm Weight: 9.72 grams Description: nearing VF Ex. Marc Breitsprecher This As is one of four coins I own dating to the Social War period: 4.04g Head of Mutinus Titinus right, hair in a winged diadem Pegasus springing from a platform inscribed "Q TITI" RSC Titia 1 Ex. Aegean Numismatics Q. Titius. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.91 g.) Rome mint, struck 90 BC Obv. Head of young Bacchus (or Liber) right, wearing ivy wreath. Rev. Pegasus springing right on tablet inscribed Q TITI. Crawford 34 About good VF, Beautiful old cabinet toning, iridescent around devices. Ex. Marti Classical Numismatics Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo right, Reverse: Horseman galloping right, long caduceus above, L. PISO FRVGI / T in two lines below. Weight: 3.92 grams. Diameter: 19.26 mm. Ex. Lodge Antiquities Feel free to post pictures of your coins minted during the Social War!
Yesterday, I bought from Marc Breitsprecher also a Titius - Bacchus denarius like yours. It's on the way, haven't received it yet. The reference for Crawford is 341/2. The gens Titia was a plebeian family in ancient Rome, though the person of the moneyer Quintus Titius is obscure; he certainly was a contemporary of Sulla, also a colleague of C. Vibius Pansa and triumvir monetalis in 90 BC. Bacchus is the Latin form of Bakchos, a name of Dionysos, the god of wine, ecstasy, rapture and exhilaration in Greek mythology. According to ancient legends, the winged horse Pegasus was conceived by Poseidon and the gorgon Medussa. When Medussa was killed by Perseus, Pegasus sprang up from Medussa’s neck and had as twin brother Chrysaor. Another legend says that he was born from the spot where Medussa’s blood dropped onto the earth. Pegasus brought lighting and thunder to Zeus, and was tamed by Bellerophon. After Bellerophon died, Pegasus returned to Mount Olympus to help the gods. Rome, 90 BC 4.04 g, 16.63 mm Crawford 341/2; Sydenham 692; Titia 2; Ob. : Anepigraphic; Head of Bacchus right, wreathed in ivy Rev.: Pegasus prancing right from a tablet inscribed Q•ΤΙTI Picture by Marc:
Congratulations. It is an interesting era with readily available Roman silver coins, although there are a few quite rare issues. The bronze are usually very heavily worn and often scarcer than denarii. The coins of the Italian insurgents are much rarer. The Roman state had to issue massive quantities to fund their counter-efforts.
