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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Alegandron, post: 2401409, member: 51347&quot;]I received my mail, and wow, I got a <b><i>PIG of Bronze</i></b> today!</p><p><br /></p><p>The Aes Grave series of Roman Republic and Italian cast coins are very distinctive.&nbsp; Being of cast bronze, they are very heavy, relatively smooth, and just feel GREAT in-hand.&nbsp; They were minted in the 3rd BCE at various mints across Central Italy.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Aes Grave series of coins were considered Pre-Denarius issue.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Romans used a Libral Standard (Libra = 1 Roman Pound or approx 322-329 grams)</p><p>The more common denominations include the:</p><p><b>As</b> (12 Unciae)</p><p><b>Semis</b> (6 Unciae)</p><p><b>Triens</b> (4 Unciae or Three to an As)</p><p><b>Quadrans</b> (3 Unciae or 4 to an As),</p><p><b>Sextans</b> (2 Unciae or 6 to an As),</p><p><b>Uncia</b> (12 to an As)</p><p>Additionally, <b>Semuncia</b> (1/2 Uncia) were produced.</p><p><br /></p><p>There were even 10 Asses, 5 Asses, 3 Asses, and 2 Asses produced! Huge.</p><p><br /></p><p>Needless to say, an As is a Roman Pound in weight (approx 322-329g), these coins can be MONSTERS in weight and size.</p><p><br /></p><p>During the fifth century BC, the value of bronze was prescribed by Roman Law and codified in the famous “Twelve Tablets” – circa 450 BC.&nbsp; An As at that time was TEN Libral Pounds!</p><p><br /></p><p>For simplicity, general purchasing power that I have gleaned over a few publications are:</p><p>1000 Asses = 1 Ox</p><p>10 Asses = 1 Sheep</p><p>10,000 Asses = 1 Horse</p><p>10,000 Asses = 1 SLAVE</p><p>100,000 Asses =&nbsp; You were well off in Roman society</p><p>Less than 15,000 Asses of worth, you were poor or part of the Prolitariate.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Aes Grave I received today is a <b>Triens, or 1/3 of an As</b>.&nbsp; Pretty hefty, and would be pretty wild to have as pocket change!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]494964[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]494965[/ATTACH]</p><p>Roman Republic</p><p>Anonymous issue</p><p>Aes Grave <b>Triens</b> , Libral Standard</p><p>46mm, 90.3g, (OH! and 9.3mm THICK!)</p><p>280-276 BCE</p><p>Rome Mint</p><p>Obv:&nbsp; Thunderbolt; •• •• across field.</p><p>Rev. Dolphin right; •••• below.</p><p>Ref:&nbsp; Crawford 14/3; Haeberlin pl. 39, 7-10. Thurlow &amp; Vecchi 3; Sear 538</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><span style="color: #b30000">Please feel free to post any Pre-Denarius issues, any of your BIG HEAVY Coins, or any cool issues from the Roman Republic!</span></i></b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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