Money it's a crime Share it fairly but don't take a slice of my pie Money, so they say, Is today. But if you ask for a raise it's no surprise that they're Giving none away, away, away... How could we ever live without it? Easily, if you ask the presocietal ancients. Heck, Egypt had a society that was able to thrive for nearly twice the time since the invention of money til now on essentially a trade and barter system. Though, don't be fooled. This was largely due to the abundance brought by the Nile. It seems to be no coincidence that as large scale societies began their inflation there was then a need for an item or items that had a uniform value. If we were to do business on a mass scale we would need a way to divvy up the pie fairly. Ideally it needed to have its own value. Be nice if it could be melted down into a weapon. It'd also be nice if it was easily transportable. Enter METAL! No. Not that type of metal. The type that we often refer to as proto money. Much like the headbanging brohiems above, it's basic, ain't to pretty to look at and you might even find them in a pit smacking into eachother. But in it's archaic rudimentary style it speaks to me. In a recent auction I saw this very interestingly folded bronze piece of Roman proto money, referred to as formatum. I've not seen it look not shaped like this. It almost reminds me of an axe head that was melted for ease of trade (just a guess). But without further ado, here's my new piece (their pic and mine): Aes premonetale. Aes formatum, 6th-4th century BC. AE. g. 64.72 mm. 40.00. Former Artemide Kunstauktionen Oh, and yeah, it's a heavy lil mother lugger. Surely you could say this metal is...heavy This is only my 2nd piece of Roman proto money. My first being this fun rude boy (read more about him here https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-message-to-you-rude-aes.313659/) picked up from a sale at forum: Aes rude (Latin: "rough bronze"), used perhaps as early as the early 8th century B.C., was the earliest metal proto-currency in central Italy. In the 5th century B.C., bronze replaced cattle as the primary measure of value in trade. Other bits of proto money that I own: Celtic bronze ring money dates from approximately 800 to 50 BC, when these sturdy bronze rings were traded as currency among the Celtic tribes of Northeastern Europe, and later, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Olbia, Sarmaia Circa 5th-4th Century BC. AE 30mm Dolphin proto money. Leaping dolphin with a bulbous tail, protruding eye. (Though I've just read that these types were probably used as votives) I've seen lots of different types of proto money posted here on CT and would love it if we could compile as many different types, as well as all you've got, in this thread! And so as not to song bomb you in my puny title and then leave you hanging...
What a fun read . I have no aes rude or formatum to share . @rrdenarius will certainly have some contributions.
Thanks @TIF! Well then. That's not very "rude" of you at all One can only hope that he shares. Seeing those pics he posted of his collection at the Houston show made this man salivate! You know you're obsessed when you are calculating the hours of the drive and the excuses you'll tell your spouse to take a drive just to see a display!
Great songs! My times... Great write up, and cool coins Mr. @Ryro ! I love the AES stuff... ITALIA Aes Formatum AE Bronze Ax Head ca 5th-4th C BCE sextans size 44.8mm 56g Oscan-Latin Aes Formatum shell with Ribs 4th BCE Oscan-Latin Aes Formatum shell 25mm 12.8g Italia Aes Rude - bronze ca 5th-4th Century BCE 29.7mm 32.4g Celtic AE Ring 800-500 BCE Amber w- Fly Israelite AR 2 Gerah Hacksilber ca 8-6 C BCE 8.8x10mm 1.12g ex David Hendin RARE
WoWiE! @Alegandron, my bruv from another muv. Thanks. Glad you liked the jams and as for your pieces... I LOVE em all Formatum shell is high on my list. As is some hacksilber (David Henden, very cool provenance). But a freakin Amber drip with a fly inside??! Where, how old and AWESOME! Thanks for sharing buddy
A bit of an ancient collecting niche admittedly. I wonder what it is that draws me to proto money and apparently so few others? And why it's so darned expensive then!?
Nice piece! I am like you, I have not seen a folded plate piece. Can you tell if it was cast in that shape, cast in a plate and then folded, or something else? It looks like the piece was broken by the irregular shapes on some sides. Your piece is a bit over the weight of an early Sextans (2/12 ths of an As). Those pieces were probably traded by weight, cut could have been traded by size without scales. Two plates that were broken into shapes. You can tell where the RS bar below (lower left of first pic) was broken from the mold in the second pic.
Cool stuff you fellers got there, @Ryro , @Alegandron , and @rrdenarius ! Not cool enough for me to abandon my imperial and provincial pursuits and start amassing protomoney, but fun to watch you guys!
Wonderful pieces! Can I ask, what's your largest/heaviest piece of pre money? Funny enough, I'm pretty sure it wasn't cast in this shape. This particular side makes it look folded at least 3 times! And the other side shows signs of what looks to me like folding:
The rude is just under 36 gr. With the new guy weighing in at a voluptuous 64.72. But nothing compared to that beautiful brick you own. That beaut coulda bought a villa...probably still could! Veeeery nice my friend. Thanks for sharing
