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Crawford 35/2, ROMAN REPUBLIC, Janus/Prow Series, Aes Grave Semis
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Rome, The Republic.
Janus/Prow Series, circa 225-217 BCE.
AE Aes Grave Semis (135.3g; 52mm).
Rome Mint.
Obverse: Laureate head of Saturn, facing left; S (mark of value) below neck; all on raised disk.
Reverse: Prow facing right; S (mark of value) above; all on raised disk.
References: Crawford 35/2; ICC 76; Sydenham 73; BMCRR 23-29.
Provenance: Ex Munzen und Medaillen GmbH, Auction 40 (4 Jun 2014), Lot 455; Auctiones AG Auction 13 (1983), Lot 505.
The prow series of libral Aes Grave was a very large issue. E.J. Haeberlin included over 300 examples of the Semis in the weight analysis within his monumental "Aes Grave". The Prow series Aes Grave was initially based on an As of about 270 grams. The iconography likely refers to the role of Rome's new and powerful navy in the victory over Carthage in the First Punic War. Both obverse and reverse iconography from the various denominations of this series would continue through the Republican struck bronze coinage.
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