Just about all the ancient coins I see in photos are not perfectly rounded like you see with coins of the last few centuries. The ancients I've seen are either elongated, jagged shaped, or free-form in circumference. I was wondering if they were perfectly round at the time they were made and simply lost their roundness over long period of time or if they were unable to produce them round due to the primitive technology of their time.
I would not say 'unable' but it was not a priority most places. Coins were hammered rathered than slowly pressed and no retaining collar was used. If the hand held dies were not perfectly aligned, the coin would be out of round. Some mints were more careful than others. Some only cared how much metal was in the coin. If you want more, visit my discussion on 'fabric': http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/fabric.html
Nice condition, but definitely not round! Poseidonia, Lucania, AR stater, c 430-420 BC, 17 x 21 mm, 8.06 g. OBV: Nude Poseidon striding to right, wearing chlamys around shoulders and hurling a trident / REV: Bull walking to left.
This coin only exhibits "roundish qualities." From the Home and Lifetime of the Buddha. Archaic 5 Shana.
i did a quick scan trying to figure out which was my most round ancinet, here what i came up with.. 1 century china, wang to the mang.
