I've owned a few of these over the years but end up parting with them for some reason or another. Recently, I saw this for sale at a very low price and in the title was the weight. I thought it was an error but after talking to the seller, it's legit. When it arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. I found some over 20+ grams and one 10 grams heavier than mine on CNG at 46 grams. So it seems these "Heavy Units" are scarce to rare compared to the much lighter types. Does anyone know why there was a weight reduction or if the weight mattered with these? Spain, Castulo Mid 2nd century B.C. Æ Heavy Unit O: Diademed male head right. R Sphinx right, left forepaw raised; star to right. 36.36g 34mm ACIP 2126; SNG BM Spain 1298
That's a good question. Nice coin by the way - beautiful patina! My example is on the heavy weight side as well at 32.77 grams. 34mm, 12h. ACIP 2113 Ex Roma E-Sale 61, lot 67; Ex Javier Paris Collection.
IBERIAN AE As OBVERSE: Diademed male head right. REVERSE: Sphinx standing right, raising forepaw; star above paw, letter below Struck at Castulo Early 2d century BC 33mm, 25.3g CNH pg. 332, 9; Burgos 697
Nice new addition. This first one is ex @bcuda , if anyone knows why the change in weight he would: IBERIA, Kastilo. Early 2nd century BC. Æ As (31mm, 26.02 g, 9h). Diademed head of male right / Griffin standing right, raising forepaw; to right, star above forepaw, KO (in Iberian) below. ACIP 2113. Earthen green-brown patina. Good Fine. From El Iberico Collection. I can tell you why this one has a reduced weight...
Wow, I had no idea these could be that hefty! Now I want one. Maybe someone has the time and inclination to do a plot of the weights of all of these on acsearch, to see if there's a bimodal distribution. That would be good evidence for two different modules.
Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. T. Carisius. 46 BC. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.83 g, 3h). Rome mint. Head of Sibyl Herophile right, hair elaborately decorated with jewels and enclosed in a sling and tied with bands / Sphinx seated right. Crawford 464/1; CRI 69; Sydenham 983; Carisia 10. Good VF, toned, areas of flat strike. From the Demetrios Armounta Collection. Ex Baldwin’s 57 (23 September 2008), lot 59.
Lovely coins shown... @Mat that is big and has a lovely patina.. Castulo, Spain AE As. 30 mm, 22g. 76-45 BC. ISCER SACAL, youthful male head right. CAST SOCED, sphinx right. Burgos (2008) 709; Ripolles 905; Villaronga 14.
