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Crawford 122/3, ROMAN REPUBLIC, Dog Series, AE As
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Rome, The Republic.
Dog Series, 206-195 BCE.
AE As (35.91g; 34mm).
Rome Mint.
Obverse: Laureate head of Janus; I (mark-of-value) above.
Reverse: Prow right; dog symbol above; I (mark-of-value) to right; ROMA below.
References: Crawford 122/3; Sydenham 251; BMCRR 489-90.
Provenance: Ex A.J. Scammell Collection [DNW (3 Jun 2020) Lot 119].
Shortly after the introduction of the denarius coinage, the Romans began adding symbols and letters to their coins. In many cases both anonymous coins and coins with symbols/letters can be linked by identical styles, suggesting they were near-contemporaneous issues by the same mint. Symbols were frequently re-used on subsequent series; see, for example the three separate Anchor Series of coins produced in the late third century and second century BCE.
This particular bronze As bears a dog symbol above the prow. The identity of the moneyer or persons responsible for producing these symbol coins is generally unknown. However, because some symbols are later repeated on certain named coins in the Republican series, family connections to the earlier symbol coins are sometimes proposed by researchers. In the case of the dog symbol, we see later silver and bronze coins of the Antestia gens bearing similar dog symbols. For an example, see the following coin in my gallery: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-145800 . It is possible, though unproven, that a member of the Antestia gens was responsible for production of this early bronze dog series as well.
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