ROMAN REPUBLIC, AR Victoriatus, 211-206 B.C.

Silver victoriatus, SRCV I 49, RSC I 9, Crawford 53/1, Sydenham 83, EF, Rome mint, 211 - 206 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Jupiter right; reverse ROMA, Victory right, crowning trophy with wreath in right.

The victoriatus is actually a drachm and was minted to facilitate trade with the Southern Italy Greeks, for which denarii were too new and perhaps not easily understood. Later when Rome's influence in South expanded, about 170 B.C., the production ceased.