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Crawford 238/3, ROMAN REPUBLIC, L. Antestius Gragulus, AE Quadrans
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Rome. The Republic.
L. Antestius Gragulus, 136 BCE
AE Quadrans (3.87g; 18mm).
Rome Mint.
Obverse: Head of young Hercules wearing lionskin headdress, facing right; ●●● (mark of value), behind.
Reverse: Prow right; ●●● (mark of value), before; LANTES (NTE ligate) above; ROMA below.
References: Crawford 238/3e; RBW 983 (this coin illustrated); Sydenham 452d; BMCRR 981var (see note 1); SRCV-I 1142.
Provenance: Ex FORVM Ancient Coins; Andrew McCabe Collection; RBW Collection [NAC 61 (Oct 2011) Lot 979]; Goodman Collection [CNG 45 (1998) Lot 1536].
The moneyer is not known except for his coins. He may have been the son of C. Antestius who was moneyer in 146 BCE. Some of his quadrantes depict a jackdaw on the prow which was likely a pun on his name Gragulus. These quadrantes are quite rare, with Crawford reporting only 9 total examples in Paris of 5 different varieties.
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