WOW! Am I impressed with my Roman Litrae that came in the mail today! The offer pics were decent, but I was expecting obvious ancient wear. However, the old saying: "better-in-hand" MORE than applies when I opened the envelopes today! I took a chance bidding, and was determined to capture these... I was NOT disappointed! The Romans were toying with various denominations prior to the silver Denarius standards after 211 BCE. In trade, the Greeks did not care for the Roman and Central Italy Aes Grave standards of massive weight bronze coins. From 280-211 BCE, the Romans produced AR Didrachmae, AE Litrae, AR Drachmae, etc. to trade with the Southern Italy Greeks (Magna Graecia) - remember, @TIF...sound out the proper hard Latin consonants and proper vowel pronunciation in your head... These Roman Litrae series were produced during the 1st Punic War and through to and during the 2nd Punic War with Carthage... "Delenda est Carthago"...as stated much later by @Mikey Zee... or was that Cato the Elder prior to the 3rd Punic War and annihilation of Carthage... Roman Republic, 230-226 BCE, anonymous bronze Litra of 15.5 mm, 3.35 grams. Obverse. Mars head right, club behind. Reverse: Horse to right, club above, ROMA below. Reference: Crawford 27/2. Ex. David Hendin; RBW, purchased from CNG, RBW's envelope and notations are included. Roman Republic, c 241-235 BC, anonymous bronze litra of 15.4 mm, 2.72 grams. Obverse. Head of Mars, right, beardless, wearing Corinthian helmet. Reverse: ROMA - Horse's head, right, with bridle ; behind, sickle. Reference: Crawford 25/3. Ex. David Hendin; RBW, purchased from Baldwin's 2/1989, RBW's envelope and notations are included. Honestly, the coins-in-hand look much better than the photos above! I have been on a buying spree lately honoring the Res Publica. So far I have NOT been disappointed with my captures! OH! And Please be sure to post any of your Italy, Sicily, or Roman Litrae!
If they look any better in hand, then they must be more than marvelous. Excellent coins. I own just one litra, but it's from Sicily and not even a whole coin! GELA, SICILY AR Litra OBV: Naked horseman galloping left holding spear & shield REV: Forepart of man-headed bull right Struck at Gela, Sicily, 425BC 0.36g; 13mm SNG Cop 275, BMC 52, Jenkins 405; HGC 2 374
NICE!!! Archeloos! Love the man-faced Bull! God of the Rivers... And, yes, they are excellent...I was ecstatic when I opened the package!
I always seem to find it hard to argue with you 'AL'...I feel the same about Bing's coin and OBVIOUSLY have the same feeling of joyous excitement about yours!!! BTW, I just placed a few modest bids on a litra and a semis---but nowhere near as wonderful as your examples. Sincerest Congrats, coin buddy!!!
Awesome news, Alegandalf => I'm always happy to hear when coins arrive, better than their seller-photos (congrats) cheers
excellent coins! i had my eye on both of them (watch listed) but wasn't able to bid for various reasons. i posted this in the provenance thread, but it's also a republican ex. RBW...so I think our coins know each other. Roman Republic, c. 169 - 158 BC, bronze as of A. CAE Obverse: Laureate bust of Janus. Reverse: ROMA|I|A.CAE, prow r. Reference: Crawford 174/1. Ex. RBW, purchased from R. Schaefer 12/10/1993; 33 mm, 31.7g
COOL! They are cousins! I went through some of my collection after the Provenance Thread, and found that I have several ex RBW's! FUN! Oh, and BTW...thank you - thank you for not bidding me up! I felt that I won at VERY fair bids that I researched.
Here are a few Roman litra issued before the Punic Wars began, around 273-270 BC. Roman Republic, anonymous bronze double litra Obv: Head of young Hercules right, clad in lion's skin; club below Rx: Pegasus flying right; club above, ROMA below. Æ 2 litra 6.93 gm - 19 mm Ref: RRC 27/3, Syd 23a Roman Republic, anonymous bronze litra Obv: Helmeted head of Minerva l. in crested Corinthian helmet Rx: ROMAN[O], horse's hd. AE litra 4.26gm - 16 mm Ref: RRC 17/1a, Syd 3
And just to make sure all the Roman litra denominations are included in this thread, here is an anonymous bronze 1/2 litra Roman Republic, anonymous bronze 1/2 litra obv: Head of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet. Rx: Dog walking right, his left foreleg raised; in exergue ROMA AE 1/2 litra 1.95gm - 12 mm Ref: RRC 26/4, Syd 22
Oops! I forgot to mention the date of the ½ litra. It was minted around 230-225 BC, between the 1st and 2nd Punic Wars.
Thanks -- these are some of my favorites! But yours are fairly impressive as well I just love Roman Republican bronze.
