Purchased in 2016 - First to Arrive in 2017

Thanks, there was actually three on my watch list and two sold for more than I paid for this one, so as you probably know wait too long you miss out.

 

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I would have liked to see them all eating that....

 

IDK why, but that made me think of the story of the Nuns that spent so much time making chocolate that they got in trouble and the church forbade them from making it lol.

 

*self-edit*

 

Super pick-up @Bing...and terrific write-up!!

Wonderful posts everyone...and now there's another RR denarius I have to have LOL

 

Great reverse type Bing!

 

Nice coin and history Bing!

A lot has been written on the subject. My take is:
Romans started issuing denarii in about 211 BC at about 4.5 grams per coin. At the time one denarius was worth 10 asses and had a mark of value = X vs the As mark of value = I. Inflation dropped the weight of Roman asses and denarii, but the bronze coin weight dropped faster. In about 140 BC denarii were retarrifed to 16 asses = XVI.

After a couple of years XVI changed to * (splat). A few years later the middle line was dropped and an X returned to denarii.
The As started at a weight of about 300 grams in 250 BC, it dropped to about 80 grams in 214 BC and finally to about 20 grams in the late republic. The denarius started at about 4.5 grams in 211 BC and dropped only slightly to 4 grams in the late republic. These weights may be off a bit, but the direction is right.