The Oddest Roman Republic.....

That's a short arm.

 

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That looks like a "Stannard scoop" on the obverse of that (your?) coin. It was how the mint adjusted weight for a group of coins using a chisel to shave some weight off of select coins.

 

Now that's an interesting fact. I wondered what that was all about, besides 'familial genetics'

 

Thats cool

 

Or possible gouge marks from the time before the flan was struck to bring it back to an appropriate weight?

And, although I think Doug is probably right, my first reaction was that this could be an early example of "assimilating" a divine portrait to the features of a living man. Since Marius was 60 at this point in time, had not fully fallen out of favor as yet, and would be most apt for assimilation with Mars than any other god... it sort of works. And here's a semi-wrinkly portrait of him from (probably) a decade earlier in his life (just havin' some fun here, don't quote me on this):

 

Well, I just got a rather "odd" Republican coin (mailman dropped it off while I was out cutting lawns) Luckily my wife was home to sign for it!
AV Aureus C. Norbanus/ L. Cestius 24mm. 8.13g. 43BC
obv. Draped bust of Sibyl
rev. Cybele on throne in biga, pulled by two lions!

 

Not odd... just gorgeous! Very nice!

 

Beautiful Pman

 

WOW, very very nice! I want a RR Aureus...

 

Thanks, I must admit....someone on a throne being pulled on a biga by two lions is quite amazing!

 

@panzerman Ihave no problem with you continuing to buy up the gold RR as I really can't afford them anyway. So keep it up (and stay away from the silver or you might find a horse's head in bed with you).

 

Hey, if it's a "Romano[rum]" didrachm with Mars / Horse's head (ca. 275 BCE), you can put that right... here... on my desk. Or in my bed. I don't care.

 

Heres a Rottie tucked in bed!

 

Do you mean... Like THIS?


Roman Republic
Anonymous, 280-275 BCE
Didrachm (Silver, 20mm, 7.28 g 11)
Uncertain mint (Neapolis?)
OBV: Helmeted head of bearded Mars to left; oak spray to right
REV: Horse’s head right, wearing bridle, on base inscribed ROMANO; to left, stalk of grain.
REF: Sear 22; Crawford 13/1; HN III 266. Sydenham 1
COMMENTS: Minor reverse corrosion.
From a Swiss collection, formed in the 1990s

 

Aaaah... aaaaahhhh! AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!... Segue to shot of birds flying past Beverly Hills house at dawn...

Seriously, @Alegandron , if THAT didrachm showed up in my bed, I'd be all "Ahahaha! Mine, mine, mine!"

BTW, very nice didrachm!

 

Although I wouldn't kick this one out of bed for eating crackers... (wish I could say I own it)

Bertolami Fine Arts - ACR Auctions - Auction 24, Lot 342
Anonymous, Didrachm, Rome, before 269 BC; AR (g 6,49; mm 20; h 7); Helmeted head of Mars r., Rv. Bridled horse's head r.; behind, sickle; below, ROMA. Crawford 25/1; Sydenham 24; HNItaly 297. Rare. Old cabinet tone, about extremely fine - extremely fine. Estimate: 2000 GBP...

 

Thank you. I looked hard between having "ROMANO" legible, and being able to fit into my costing structure, and finally found it.

 

Yes, definitely a challenge to balance eye appeal, desired attributes (not everyone cares about legends; some of us do), and price. And finding the right coin to fit the parameters is sweet!

 

I have the RR Litra Version...


Roman Republic
Anonymous Issue
AE Litra 241-235 BCE
Obv: Beardless Head of Mars r., in crested Corinthian Helmet
Rev: HORSE HEAD, sickle behind, ROMA below
Ref: Sear 594; Crawford 25/3

Poor Man's Versions minted as RR LITRAE!
(Actually, several of the designs or obv or rev were replicated on the Litra issues.