Three RR's from the RBW Collection

These arrived today. The first is a Janus as with surfaces I like to call mineral moss...



Roman Republic, c. 148 BC, bronze as of M.ATILI SARAN, 31 mm, 23.95 grams.
Obverse: Laureate bust of Janus.
Reverse: ROMA|I|M.ATILI, prow r.
Reference: Crawford 214/2a.

 

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Very attractive example!!!

 

Here's a colorful and very detailed quartuncia - surfaces a bit grainy, but the character of the coin more than made up for that in my opinion...



Roman Republic, 217-215 BC, bronze quartuncia of 15.2 mm, 2.56 grams.
Obverse: Head of Saturn right.
Reverse: ROMA - Prow, right .
Reference: Crawford 38/8.

 

WOW, this one has all you'd hope to see....My example is missing almost all of the reverse 'prow'---something a bit common on these issues for one reason or another...

 

This coin has @red_spork written all over. Are you watching that one buddy? Don't let it get away. Personally I'm not into RR bronzes, which is fortunate for my wallet because if I was into RR bronzes, I'd be begging JA right now to name his price, any price, for this beauty.

 

I'm certainly considering it if there's room in my budget for it. It's a type I've been looking for (and been outbid on multiple times, including bidding on this example itself ) for a bit. I'm looking forward to seeing what JA's third coin is though.

 

Somebody lost their brand new penny in a field. The surfaces look like they got roughed up by some soil. Otherwise the detail is pretty damn good.

Here come Furius Purpurio with a denarius of Diana (or Luna)...



Roman Republic, c. 169 - 158 BC, silver denarius of PVR of 18 mm, 3.03 grams.
Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma to right.
Reverse: PVR beneath Diana in biga to right.
Reference: Crawford 187/1.

 

I always get nervous when you guys start talking about buying and selling in the open forum. The mods have a very light touch around here, which I'm sure is deeply appreciated by everyone. If you want to talk about buying, please send me a PM.

 

I just realized, my example is a 'uncia' of Saturn and JA's is a 'quartuncia'---a denomination I am missing as well....

I need to research all of this a bit more LOL

 

I don't know why, but I'm a sucker for big bronze coins.

 

If I won the lottery, you'd see a LOT of big bronzes in my collection. I know it's rather vapid, but there's just no substitute for holding a large, ancient bronze.

 

+1

 

I still like silver, but, hey, I can't argue against the big bronzes.

 

I agree.
Cast As or Aes Grave, 258 grams. Janus head / Prow right
Cast bar or Aes Signatum, 105 grams, broken to the size of a Triens.

 

This coin has an interesting name play. The moneyer, PVR = Furius Purpurio, adds a Murex shell. This shell was used to make purple die.


http://mexicovacationrental.org/ancient-art-purple/

 

I would really like to add those to my collection. I've never even seen one in person.

 

My latest RR. And I paid way too much for this pretty obverse.

Anonymous. 211-208 B.C.
AE sextans (19 mm, 4.92 g, 10 h).
Mint in central Italy.
Draped bust of Mercury right, wearing petasus; above, two pellets
ROMA above, prow of galley right; above, Victory flying right, holding wreath; in exergue, two pellets. Crawford 61/6; Sydenham 148d

 

That is a wonderful obverse. Perhaps the best I've seen.

 

I've seen them at shows. It's hard to image how commerce was transacted with these things. Maybe one was worth a house, and it's all you needed for a big purchase?