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Crawford 095/1b, ROMAN REPUBLIC, VB Series VictoriatusRome. The Republic.
VB Series, 211-208 BCE
AR Victoriatus (3.35g; 18mm).
Uncertain mint.

Obverse: Laureate “small” head of Jupiter facing right.

Reverse: Victory crowns trophy; VB ligate in field; ROMA in exergue.

References: Crawford 95/1b; RBW 390; Sydenham 113; BMCRR (Italy) 235; RSC 36m.

Provenance: Ex NAC 84 (20 May 2015), Lot 773; privately purchased from Or Gestion Numismatique (Paris) in 2009.

About 212 BCE, when the Romans introduced the denarius system, they also introduced a collateral denomination of silver coin, the victoriatus. As evidenced by its different weight standard, debased metal, iconography and missing denominational mark, the victoriatus was not integral to the denarius system but was produced for a special purpose. While the denarius and its fractions, the quinarius and sestertius, all depicted Roma and the Dioscuri, victoriati depicted Jupiter and Victory crowning a trophy. Further, while denarii were produced from nearly pure silver, victoriati were made from debased silver of about 70% purity. Based on the weight standard of Magna Graecia drachms, victoriati were likely designed specifically for payments to Greek cities of southern Italy and hoard evidence supports circulation largely in southern Italy.

The VB Victoriati were issued in two, distinct obverse styles: one with a large head of Jupiter in high relief and nearly filling the obverse field; the second with a smaller head. This coin is the small-head variety.

Rome ceased issuing victoriati circa 170 BCE. Perhaps because of their debased metal (which discouraged hoarding), victoriati continued to circulate in Gaul for many years until they functioned as de facto quinarii due to metal loss from wear. Their continued popularity caused Rome to later issue quinarii bearing the same devices (Jupiter/Victory and trophy).
CarausiusJun 22, 2018
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Crawford 30/1, ROMAN REPUBLIC - AR Didrachm - QuadrigatusRome, The Republic.
Anonymous, 225-214 BCE.
AR Didrachm/Quadrigatus (6.29 g; 21mm).
Rome Mint.

Obverse: Janiform head with irregular neck truncaction.

Reverse: Jupiter and Victory in fast quadriga, galloping right; ROMA incuse on trapezoidal tablet below.

Reference: Crawford 30/1; Sydenham 64b; BMCRR 95; Gentilehomme I.E.3-4.

Provenance: From an American collection; privately purchased from Tom McKenna in 1980's.

The last few series of Roman silver didrachm coinage, produced from 225-214 BCE, are nicknamed "quadrigati" because of the common reverse type of Jupiter and Victory in a fast quadriga. Crawford's arrangement of quadrigati into distinct series requires a great amount of study to understand. Collectors and dealers alike often misattribute quadrigati among Crawford's series.

The Crawford 30 series of quadrigati, to which this example belongs, have a distinct obverse style, notably a thick, single sideburn between the janiform heads with various neck truncation styles ranging from straight – wavy – convex. On the reverse, Victory stands further back, on the backboard of the chariot with more of her garment visible. ROMA legend is always incuse on this series, though tablets range from square to trapezoidal.
5 commentsCarausiusJun 20, 2018
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Crawford 198/1, Roman Republic - Anonymous DenariusRome. The Republic.
Anonymous, 157-156 BCE.
AR Denarius (4.18 g; 18 mm).
Rome mint.

Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma facing right with peaked visor and earring of long, single drop; X (mark-of-value = 10 asses), behind.

Reverse: The Dioscuri galloping right holding spears; two stars above; ROMA below in linear frame.

References: Crawford 198/1; BMCRR (Italy) 390; Brinkman 43.

Provenance: Acquired with an Italian export permit.

This is the last variety of fully anonymous denarii struck by the Roman Republic, and it is often mistaken for the earlier and more common Crawford 53/2. Both types depict Roma in a peaked-visor helmet. The most obvious differences are that the rider's cape on Cr. 198 is longer at the top than the bottom - looking almost wing-like - and the horse's tail extends straight-out on Cr. 198. The variety is rarely so well centered as this specimen which clearly shows that the ROMA legend is within a three-sided frame (most examples showing only two sides of the frame).
2 commentsCarausiusJun 19, 2018
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Crawford 340/1, ROMAN REPUBLIC - L. Piso Frugi - AR DenariusRome, The Republic
L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi, 90 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.90 g; 19mm)
Rome mint.

Obv: Laureate head of Apollo facing right; Q (control mark) behind head and D (control mark) under chin.

Rev: Rider with palm on horse galloping right; L PISO FRVG below; E (control mark) in exergue.

References: Crawford 340/1; Sydenham 665a; Banti 89/6; Calpurnia 11.

Provenance: Ex Student and Mentor Collection [NAC 83 (20 May 2015) Lot 322; ex Nicolas Collection [Leu 17 (May 1977) Lot 337].

L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi was moneyer in 90 BCE, during the time of the Social War. He later attained the office of Praetor in 74 BCE, but did not appear to distinguish himself further.

The Social War was a civil war between Rome and her Italian allies who had broken-away in a demand for citizenship rights. It was a time of massive coinage output by the Rome mints, likely to pay the costs associated with the conflict. As a result, Frugi's coins are among the most common in the entire Roman Republican series. Crawford estimates 864 obverse and 1080 reverse dies were used to produce Frugi's denarii. Both obverse and reverse dies bear control marks of varying complexity, and no control mark has more than one die.

This type alludes to the annual celebration of the Ludi Apollinares instituted by Frugi's ancestor during the Second Punic War. These games were held at the Circus Maximus in July of each year and lasted 8 or 9 days, consisting of horse racing and performances.
CarausiusMay 20, 2018
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Crawford 340/1, ROMAN REPUBLIC - L. Piso Frugi - AR DenariusRome, The Republic
L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi, 90 BCE.
AR Denarius (4.01g; 18mm)
Rome mint.

Obv: Laureate head of Apollo facing right; VII (control mark) behind.

Rev: Rider with palm on horse galloping right; VII (control mark) above; L PISO FRVG below; Roma monogram in exergue.

References: Crawford 340/1; Sydenham 661; Banti 44/1 (this coin illustrated); BMCRR 1900; Calpurnia 11.

Provenance: Ex Stoeklin Collection [Nomos 14 (17 May 2017) Lot 236; ex Haeberlin Collection [Cahn-Hess (17 Jul 1933) Lot 1184].

L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi was moneyer in 90 BCE, during the time of the Social War. He later attained the office of Praetor in 74 BCE, but did not appear to distinguish himself further.

The Social War was a civil war between Rome and her Italian allies who had broken-away in a demand for citizenship rights. It was a time of massive coinage output by the Rome mints, likely to pay the costs associated with the conflict. As a result, Frugi’s coins are among the most common in the entire Roman Republican series. Crawford estimates 864 obverse and 1080 reverse dies were used to produce Frugi’s denarii. Both obverse and reverse dies bear control marks of varying complexity, and no control mark has more than one die.

This type alludes to the annual celebration of the Ludi Apollinares instituted by Frugi’s ancestor during the Second Punic War. These games were held at the Circus Maximus in July of each year and lasted 8 or 9 days, consisting of horse racing and performances.
1 commentsCarausiusMay 20, 2018
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Crawford 410/1, ROMAN REPUBLIC - Musa - AR DenariusRome, The Republic.
Q. Pomponius Musa, 56-52 BCE
AR Denarius (3.76g; 20mm).
Rome Mint.

Obv: Q•POMPONI – MVSA; Head of Apollo facing right, hair tied with band.

Rev: HERCVLES – MVSARVM; Hercules facing right, wearing lion skin and playing lyre.

References: Crawford 410/1; Sydenham 810; Pomponia 8.

Provenance: Ex Collection of an English Amateur Scholar [NAC 92 (May 2016) Lot 1669]; Munzen und Medaillen XIX (Jun 1959) Lot 98; L. Hamburger 95 (1932} Lot 238; Manuel Vidal Quadras y Ramon (d. 1894) Collection [E. Bourgey (Nov 1913) Lot 526].

Q. Pomponius Musa punned his name by depicting the Muses on a series of coins. Musa’s coins have long been favorites of Roman Republican collectors both for their high-style and because they form a mini-series within the larger series of Republican moneyer coins. Basically, they're fun-to-collect tray candy.

Musa is unknown except for his coins, which, combined with scant hoard evidence, makes precise dating of the series difficult. For many years, scholars (including Crawford) dated the series to 66 BCE. However, the absence of any examples of the series in the large Mesagne hoard caused Hersh and Walker to bring down the date of the series to 56 BCE. In "Roman Moneyers and Their Coins" (2nd ed), Michael Harlan suggested a later date of 52 BCE due to the large number of moneyers attributed from 57-54.

This example of Musa's series does not depict a Muse at all, but Hercules Musarum – Hercules as patron of the Muses. In 187 BCE, Marcus Fulvius Nobilior, celebrating victories in Greece, dedicated a Temple of Hercules Musarum in Rome, near the Circus Flaminius. This round temple contained statues of Hercules and the nine Muses. It is possible that the reverses of Musa’s coins depict the actual statues contained within this temple, which were likely brought back to Rome as spoils from Greece. Over 100 years after this temple was consecrated, Cicero praised Nobilior for honoring poetry and the arts in his victory over the Greeks.

Apollo is often depicted androgynously on ancient coins. The standard references consistently attribute the obverse heads on all varieties of Musa’s coins as Apollo; but the depictions are notably different between the Hercules Musarum variety and the nine Muse varieties. On the above coin, the deity’s hair is down and tied, and generally consistent with many depictions of Apollo on other Roman Republican coins (see, e.g., denarii of L. Calpurnius Piso and C. Calpurnius Piso). Comparatively, the head on the Muse varieties of this series are considerably more feminine in appearance and laureate, though lacking earrings, necklaces or other feminine accents. Admittedly, this more feminine type head has also been attributed by scholars as Apollo on other coin types (see, e.g., denarii of P. Clodius and C. Considius). However, within the same series the different styled heads appear to depict different deities. Given the Muse emblems behind each head on the nine Muse types, it’s possible that the feminine heads are not Apollo, but the Muses themselves. Michael Harlan agrees with this interpretation in both editions of "Roman Republican Moneyers and their Coins." More research on this issue is needed.
3 commentsCarausiusMay 20, 2018
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Crawford 20/1, ROMAN REPUBLIC - AR DidrachmRome, The Republic.
Anonymous, 269-266 BCE.
AR Didrachm (7.28g; 21mm).
Uncertain mint.

Obv: Diademed head of youthful Hercules facing right, with lion skin and club over shoulder.

Rev: She-Wolf suckling the twins, Romulus & Remus; ROMANO in exergue.

References: Crawford 20/1; Sydenham 6; BMCRR (Romano-Campanian) 28-33.

Provenance: Ex Dr. Walter F. Stoeklin Collection [Nomos AG eSale 9 (25 Mar 2018) Lot 2]; Adolph Hess Auction (19 Dec 1933), Lot 3.

The earliest Roman Didrachm coinage commenced in the late fourth century BCE. While earliest didrachms bore the inscription ROMANO, they were not struck in Rome and didn’t really circulate in Rome! The earliest didrachms were likely produced in Naples or some other nearby mint. Kenneth Harl, in "Coinage in the Roman Economy" theorizes that Roman didrachms were likely valued at 10 asses and were possibly called “denarii” in their day.

This coin is from the large, third issue of didrachms produced around the time of the Pyrrhic War, circa 269 BCE. In "Natural History", Pliny wrote that the Romans first struck silver coins “in the 485th year of the city, when Q. Ogulnius and C. Fabius were consuls, five years before the First Punic War [=269 BC].” (NH 33.42-44) Some surmise that Pliny’s now infamous text refers to the above coin type. Pliny’s text confounded for generations the determination by Roman numismatists of the introduction date for the denarius, with many scholars interpreting his statement as evidence for an early introduction; that “literal” theory having been disproven by Thomsen’s analysis in “Early Roman Coinage” and the indisputable evidence of the destruction level finds at Morgantina.

In "Roman Republican Coinage", Michael Crawford assigned this type to the Rome mint, but Crawford turned non-committal regarding the mint in his later book, Coinage and Money Under the Roman Republic. Previous scholars (Babelon, Grueber, Sydenham) had attributed this series to Campania. The reverse bears the first depiction of the she-wolf and suckling twins on a Roman coin, representing the mythical founding of Rome. The emblematic nature of this scene likely influenced the mint assignment by some researchers. Indeed, subsequent coins bearing this scene have similarly been assigned to Rome by some authors, perhaps without justification, based on the “Roman” character of the scene – notably the Eagle/Wolf and Twins AE Sextans (Crawford 39/3) of the semi-libral reduction in 217-215 BCE, which I believe is likely a Campanian product. There would be countless more such depictions of the wolf and twins on Roman coins during the ensuing centuries [Crawford 183; Crawford 235/1; Antoninus Pius; Maxentius; Constantine “commemoratives”, etc.]. According to Pliny, Q. Ogulnius was a consul when this coin was likely first produced, and the reverse may allude to the wolf and twins statue erected in Rome by Ogulnius’ grandfather and great uncle, the brothers Quintus and Gnaeus Ogulnius, in 296 BCE.
2 commentsCarausiusMay 19, 2018
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Crawford 219/1, ROMAN REPUBLIC, C. Antestius, AR DenariusRome, The Republic.
C. Antestius, 146 BCE.
AR Denarius (4.07g; 20mm).
Rome Mint.

Obv: Helmeted head of Roma facing right; C ANTESTI behind; X (mark-of-value) below chin.

Rev: Dioscuri galloping right with couched spears; puppy below, with front feet raised; ROMA in exergue.

References: Crawford 219/1e; Sydenham 411; BMCRR 860; Antestia 1.

Provenance: Ex Artemide Auction 2 (1996), Lot 411.

The moneyer is unknown. Grueber suggests he may have been the son of C. Antestius Labeo, who was a Senator and ambassador to Macedonia circa 167 BCE. Crawford disputes this assertion.
1 commentsCarausiusApr 21, 2018
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Crawford 133/2, ROMAN REPUBLIC, Cn. Baebius TampilusRome, The Republic.
Cn. Baebius Tampilus, 194-190 BCE.
AR Denarius (4.02g; 19mm).
Rome Mint.

Obv: Helmeted head of Roma, facing right; X value mark behind.

Rev: Dioscuri riding right with couched spears; TAMP monogram above; ROMA in linear frame below.

References: Crawford 133/2b; Sydenham 334; Banti 1/2 (this coin illustrated); BMCRR 557-8; Baebia 1.

Provenance: Ex Stoeklin Collection [Nomos 14 (17 May 2017) Lot 220]; ex E.J. Haeberlin Collection [Cahn-Hess (17 Jul 1933) Lot 345].

The identity of the moneyer is not entirely clear, as there are several family member possibilities, based on prosopographical evidence. There are two sub-varieties of this denarius, one with the monogram above the Dioscuri as this coin, and the other with the monogram below the horses. Both types are scarce.
1 commentsCarausiusApr 21, 2018
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Crawford 542/2, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Marc AntonyRome, The Imperators.
Marcus Antonius, 32 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.72g; 18mm).
Athens Mint.

Obv: ANTON AVG IMP III COS DES III III V R P C. Bare head of Antony facing right.

Rev: ANTONIVS AVG IMP III, in two lines.

References: Crawford 542/2; HCRI 347; Sydenham 1209.

Provenance: Ex Andrew McCabe Collection [CNG eSale 385 (26 Oct 2016) Lot 470]; CNG 49 (17 Mar 1999), Lot 1316; Reinhold Faelten Collection [Stack's (20 Jan 1938) Lot 1495].

On the obverse, behind Antony’s ear, a small letter P, likely an engraver’s signature, is hidden within the hair line. This coin was struck in Athens in 32 BCE, while Antony and Cleopatra lived extravagantly among the Greeks. The coin’s inscription refers to a designated third consulship that Antony was supposed to share with Octavian in 31 BCE. Around the time this coin was minted, Antony notified his wife, Octavia (Octavian’s sister), in Rome that he was divorcing her. Octavian was outraged. Cleopatra’s growing influence over Antony was soon used by Octavian as progaganda to unite Italy and the West against Antony. Thus, the designated third consulship referenced on this coin never occurred, as the designated consuls went to war instead, ending with Antony’s naval defeat at Actium in September 31 BCE.
5 commentsCarausiusApr 18, 2018
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Crawford 044/6, ROMAN REPUBLIC, AR Quinarius, c. 212-211 BCERome, The Republic.
Anonymous, c. 212-211 BCE.
AR Quinarius (2.55g; 16mm).
Rome Mint.

Obv: Helmeted head of Roma, facing right, with early, curved visor; V (mark-of-value=5 asses) behind.

Rev: Dioscuri galloping right with couched spears and stars above heads; ROMA below in linear frame.

References: Crawford 44/6; Sydenham 141; BMCRR 9-12.

Provenance: Ex RBW Collection [Agora 68 (15 Aug 2017), Lot 150]; ex CNG XXVII (29 Sep 1993).
2 commentsCarausiusApr 02, 2018
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Crawford 045/2, ROMAN REPUBLIC, Anonymous AR QuinariusRome, The Republic.
Anonymous, c. 211 BCE.
AR Quinarius (2.22g; 15mm).
Rome Mint.

Obv: Helmeted head of Roma facing right; V (mark-of-value=5 asses) behind.

Rev: Dioscuri galloping right with couched spears; ROMA in frame below; ** above.

References: Crawford 45/2; SRCV 42

Provenance: Ex NAC 73 (18 Nov 2013), Lot 19; ex NAC sale 8 (1995), Lot 464.
1 commentsCarausiusApr 02, 2018
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Crawford 501/1, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Brutus, AR DenariusRome, The Imperators.
Brutus, 43-2 BC
AR Denarius (3.76 g; 21 mm)
Mint traveling with Brutus

Obv: LEIBERTAS. Liberty head facing right.

Rev: CAEPIO BRVTVS PRO COS. Lyre with quiver and filleted olive branch.

References: Crawford 501/1; HCRI 199; Smyth (1856) IX/11(this coin described).

Provenance: Ex NAC 84 (2015), Lot 859; NAC 9 (16 Apr 1996), Lot 758; NAC 4 (27 Feb 1991), Lot 289; NAC 2 (21 Feb 1990), Lot 481; Duke of Northumberland Collection [Sotheby's, 4 Nov 1982, Lot 475], acquired before 1856.

Liberty is a common theme on coins of the tyranicides who claimed to have liberated The Republic from the regal aspirations of Julius Caesar; so it's no surprise to find Libertas prominent on this coin of Brutus. Sear points out that the reverese is likely derived from the frequent depiction of lyres, quivers and fillteted branches on Lycian Leage coins. This issue was iikely struck in Lycia.

This coin holds the oldest, verifiable provenance in my collection. It is from the Duke of Northumberland Collection, catalogued by Admiral William Smyth in his 1856 book, "Descriptive Catalogue of A Cabinet of Roman Family Coins Belonging to His Grace the Duke of Northumberland," and subsequently sold by Sotheby’s in 1982. The Smyth book has no plates (line drawn or otherwise), but it does contain detailed descriptions of the collection coins with weights in grains. This coin is among those described in Smyth’s book, therefore it must have been acquired by the Duke’s family before 1856. Smyth described the collection as being in the Duke’s family for many years, so the ownership history conceivably dates to the 18th century.
1 commentsCarausiusApr 02, 2018
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Crawford 511/2, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Sextus Pompey, AR DenariusRome, The Imperators.
Sextus Pompey, 42 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.87g; 21mm).
Sicilian mint.

Obv: [M]AG PIVS IMP [ITER]. Bust of Neptune facing right; trident over shoulder.

Rev: [PR]AEF CLAS ET OR[AE MAR IT EX S C]. Naval trophy.

References: Crawford 511/2; HCRI 333; Sydenham 1347 (R5).

Provenance: Ex Stack's Bowers August 2016 ANA (10 Aug 2016), Lot 20139; ex Nomos Obolos 4 (21 Feb 2016), Lot 522; ex RBW Collection [NAC 63 (17 May 2012), Lot 538]; privately purchased from SKA Zurich, July 1985; De Falco FPL 77 (Dec 1967), Lot 134.

Sextus Pompey was a son of Pompey the Great. After Caesar's assassination, in 43 BCE, he was honored by the Senate with the title "Commander of the Fleet and Sea Coasts". Shortly following this honor, the Second Triumvirate was formed and placed Sextus' name on their proscription list. Sextus soon occupied Sicily where he provided haven to other Romans proscribed by the Triumvirs. He retained control of Sicily from 42 to 36 BCE.
5 commentsCarausiusApr 02, 2018
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Crawford 500/7, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Brutus and Lentulus Spinther, AR DenariusRome, The Imperators.
Brutus and Lentulus Spinther, 42 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.91g; 20mm).
Military Mint (Smyrna?).

Obv: BRVTVS; axe, simpulum and knife.

Rev: LENTVLVS SPINT; jug and lituus.

References: Crawford 500/7; HCRI 198; Sydenham 1310; BMCRR East 80-1; Junia 41.

Provenance: Ex Stoeklin Collection [Nomos14 (17 May 2017) Lot 301]; ex Munzhandlung Basel 6 (18 Mar 1936), Lot 1483; ex Trau Collection [Gilhoffer & Ranschburg & Hess (22 May 1935), Lot 37].

The sacrificial implements on the obverse refer to Brutus' membership in the college of Pontifs. The implements on the reverse refer to Spinther's membership in the augurate since 57 BCE.

Spinther was the son of P. Cornelius Lentulus, whose nickname was Spinther (reportedly because he resembled an actor by that name). It was a nickname that his father clearly liked as both he and his son later used it on coins. His father was an aristocrat of the Cornelia gens, who was liked by Julius Caesar and worked with Cicero in suppressing the Cataline conspiracy. He was later governor of part of Spain. With Caesar’s help, his father was elected consul in 57BC, when he recalled Cicero from exile. Thereafter he governed Cilicia, at which time Cicero wrote him a still-surviving letter. As relations deteriorated between Caesar and Pompey, both Spinthers sided with Pompey. Despite initial offers of amnesty by Caesar, Spinther senior would not remain neutral and was eventually killed or committed suicide during the civil wars. His son later allied with Caesar’s assassins and struck coins for both Brutus and Cassius.
4 commentsCarausiusApr 02, 2018
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Crawford 480/22, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Marc Antony, AR DenariusRome, The Imperators.
Marcus Antonius, Apr-May 44 BCE
AR Denarius (4.09g; 19mm)
Rome Mint.

Obv: Antony's bearded, veiled head facing right; jug behind; lituus before.

Rev: P.SEPVLLIVS//MACER. Desultor on horseback, holding whip, galloping right with second horse; wreath and palm behind.

References: Crawford 480/22; HCRI 142; Antonia 2.

Provenance: Ex Kuenker 262 (13 Mar 2015), Lot 7819; Gorny & Mosch 141 (10 Oct 2005), Lot 238; Gorny & Mosch 133 (11 Oct 2004), Lot 378; Argenor Auction 6 (22 Apr 2004) Lot 114.

Minted in 44 BCE, shortly after the assassination of Julius Caesar, this denarius depicts Antony in mourning - veiled and unshaven - likely as he appeared in the Forum when he gave his famous funeral oration. It is probably the first depiction of Antony on a coin. The reverse shows a desultor with two horses, and likely refers to games held in 44 BCE which were largely dedicated to Caesar's memory. The type can be found in better condition, but rarely this complete.

Desultors appear on several Republican coin types, including Crawford 297/1, 346/1 and 480/21. Desultors rode multiple horses and likely changed horses through some sort of fancy leap or dismount maneuver. The practice, with four horses rather than two, is referenced in the Illiad (II.15.680), so likely dates to Homeric times or earlier. As depicted on Republican coins, a Roman desultor rode two horses, bare-back which he managed by reins and whip, and he wore a pileus (felt cap) typically associated with the Dioscuri. The pileus raises the possibility thst the practice had religious connotations rather than a mere circus trick.
2 commentsCarausiusMar 31, 2018
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Crawford 23/1, ROMAN REPUBLIC, AE 28 - RARERome, The Republic.
Anonymous (circa 240 BCE).
AE 28 (17.05g; 28mm).
Sicilian Mint.

Obv: ROMANO; Head of Roma facing left in crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin; cornucopia symbol behind nape of neck.

Rev: ROMA-NO; Eagle standing left on thunderbold, head turned right, sword before.

References: Crawford 23/1; Sydenham 30 (R8); Burnett & McCabe O5/R5:2 (this coin illustrated); Manganaro (1981-82) pl. 16 (this coin illustrated).

Provenance: Ex Tony Hardy Collection [CNG 63 (21 May 2003) Lot 1112].

Burnett and McCabe recently published a paper regarding this issue in which they conclude that it was likely small (only 6 obv and 8 rev dies identified) and minted in Sicily circa 240 BCE. This would have been about the time that the inscription on Roman coins was changing from ROMANO to ROMA. The reverse was based on a Ptolemaic bronze octobol and the obverse likely depicts an early rendering of the goddess Roma (in Corinthian, rather than Attic, helmet). Three obverse symbols have been identified (helmet, plough and cornucopia) and a fourth is uncertain.
CarausiusMar 30, 2018
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Crawford 26/3, ROMAN REPUBLIC, AE LitraRome, The Republic
Anonymous, c. 235 BCE.
AE Litra (2.36g; 14mm).
Rome Mint.

Obv: Laureate head of Apollo facing right.

Rev: Horse rearing left; ROMA below.

References: Crawford 26/3; Sydenham 29; BMCRR (Romano-Campanian) 70-74.

Provenance: Ex CNG Classical Numismatic Review XLII.3 (2017), Lot 460942; ex RBW Collection (not in prior sales); Aes Rude (19 Sep 1987), Lot 86.

By about 240 BCE, the inscription on struck Roman Republican coins had changed from ROMANO to ROMA. This coin is part of the second series to include the ROMA legend.
1 commentsCarausiusMar 22, 2018
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Crawford 21/4, ROMAN REPUBLIC, Aes Grave Quadrans Rome, The Republic.
Anonymous, c. 265 BCE.
AE Aes Grave Quadrans (68.58g; 43mm).
Rome Mint.

Obv: Right hand; ●●● (mark-of-value = 3 unciae) on left.

Rev: Left hand; ●●● (mark-of-value) on right.

References: Vecchi, ICC 44; Haeberlin pp. 66-67, plts 27-28; Crawford 21/4.

Provenance: Ex Baldwin's Auction 99 (4 May 2016), Lot 599; purchased from A.H. Baldwin & Sons, Ltd., Dec 1959.
5 commentsCarausiusMar 22, 2018
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Crawford 337/3, ROMAN REPUBLIC, D. Silanus, 91 BCERome, The Republic.
D. Silanus, 91 BCE.
AR Denarius (4.06g; 20mm).
Rome Mint.

Obv: Roma head, wearing winged helmet ornamented with gryphon head, facing right; N behind.

Rev: Victory in biga galloping right; VII above; D SILANVS L F//ROMA in exergue.

References: Crawford 337/3; Syd 646; BMCRR 1772; Junia 15.

Provenance: Ex NAC 100 (30 May 2017), Lot 1447.

This moneyer is unkown except from his coins. The control marks on these coins may have several dies. The issue must have been huge, as Crawford estimates near 600 obverse and 663 reverse dies.
1 commentsCarausiusMar 22, 2018
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Crawford 178/1, ROMAN REPUBLIC, Lucius Cornelius Cinna, AE AsRome, The Republic.
Lucius Cornelius Cinna, 169-158 BCE.
AE As (32.53g).
Rome Mint.

Obv: Laureate, bearded head of Janus.

Rev: Prow facing right; CINA above; [ROMA] below; I (mark-of-value) before.

References: Crawford 178/1; BMCRR 804-6; Sydenham 368; RBW 752 (this coin illustrated); Cornelia 11.

Provenance: Ex Kuenker eLive Auction 46 (25 Jul 2017) Lot 53; ex RBW Collection [NAC 61 (2011), Lot 748]; ex Aes Rude 56 (1994), Lot 150.

Crawford surmises that the moneyer is L. Cornelius Cinna who become consul in 127 BCE. The significant passage of time from his moneyership when this coin was struck and consulship 27 years later is attributed to him being the first in his family to reach the office, and thus he failed to get elected to the intervening, required office at the earliest possible time. These prescribed political offices, their order and timing, are referred to as the "Cursus Honorum." When considered with available prosopographical evidence, the Cursus Honorum is a critical clue for dating and attributing Roman Republican coins.
CarausiusMar 22, 2018
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Crawford 311/1, ROMAN REPUBLIC, L. Scipio AsiagenusRome, The Republic.
L. Scipio Asiagenus, 106 BCE.
AR Serrate Denarius (3.95g; 19mm).
Rome Mint.

Obv: Laureate head of Jupiter facing left; R● (control mark) behind.

Rev: Jupiter in quadriga galloping right, hurling thunderbolt and holding scepter; L●SCIP●ASIAG in exergue.

References: Crawford 311/1a; Sydenham 576; BMCRR 1372; Cornelia 24

Provenance: Ex Gemini XII (11 Jan 2015), Lot 287; HJB 163 (25 March 2009), lot 224; ex A.K. Collection [Triton XII (6 Jan 2009), lot 462 (part)]; Münzhandlung E. Button Auction 101 (28-29 October 1959), Lot 149.

Each control mark in this series is a single die. The reverse recalls the moneyer's ancestor, L. Cornelius Scipio (son of Africanus), who had a victory against the Syrians in 190 BCE and took the name Asiagenus. The moneyer was likely the L. Cornelius Asiaticus that became consul in 83 BCE. He served in the Social War and was allied with Marius at the time of his consulship. He was imprisoned by Sulla and released. However he was later proscribed by Sulla and fled Rome.
3 commentsCarausiusMar 22, 2018
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Crawford 452/2, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL - Julius Caesar - AR DenariusRome, The Imperators.
Julius Caesar, 48 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.71g; 20mm).

Obverse: Head of Venus facing right; LII behind.

Reverse: Trophy with Gallic shield, carnyx and axe; CAESAR below.

References: Crawford 452/2; Sydenham 1009; HCRI 11; RSC 18.

Provenance: Ex Student/Mentor Collection [NAC 83 (15 May 2015) Lot 407]; ex Glendining's October 1965, Lot 22.

The Roman numeral LII behind the goddess' head on the obverse of this coin is accepted as a reference to Caesar's age at the time of the issue. There is some disagreement on the identity of the obverse goddess. Crawford identifies her as Venus, who is often depicted on Caesar's coins. Sear, in History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators, suggests Clementia (clemency) as the goddess, and a reference to Caesar's fairness to his countrymen following the defeat of Pompey at Pharsalus.
4 commentsCarausiusMar 14, 2018
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Crawford 433/2, ROMAN REPUBLIC - M. Junius Brutus - AR DenariusRome, The Republic.
Rome Mint.
M. Junius Brutus, 54 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.84g; 19mm).

Obverse: BRVTVS; head of L. Junius Brutus facing right.

Reverse: AHALA; head of C. Servillius Ahala facing right.

References: Crawford 433/2; Sydenham 907; BMCRR 3864; Junia 30.

Provenance: Ex Barry Feirstein Collection [NAC 45 (2008) Lot 14]; ex NAC 11 (1998), Lot 279.

Struck by chief assassin of Caesar during his early political career. The coin depicts Brutus' illustrious ancestors on both sides of his family. The Brutus side is Lucius Junius Brutus, who expelled the Tarquin kings from Rome and became consul in 509 BCE. The Ahala side is C. Servilius Ahala who was celebrated by Cicero for having slain a traitor. At this point in his political career, Brutus was in opposition to Pompey, and it's likely that this coin type is intended to remind the general public of Brutus' pedigree against tyranny.
3 commentsCarausiusMar 14, 2018
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Crawford 097/8, ROMAN REPUBLIC, L Series, AE SemunciaRome, The Republic.
L Series, circa 211-208 BCE.
AE Semuncia (3.52g; 18mm).

Obverse: Mercury head facing right, wearing winged petasus.

Reverse: Prow r; above ε; be ROMA; before L; above, ε (mark-of-value).

References: Crawford 97/8; Sydenham 178g (R5); Kestner-Hannover 1090; BMCRR (Italy) ----.

Provenance: Ex Bertolami Fine Arts 24 (22 Jun 2016), Lot 371.

There are only four examples of this rare semuncia of Luceria in the Paris collection. There were no examples in the British Museum collection at the 1910 publication of BMCRR.
1 commentsCarausiusMar 14, 2018
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Crawford 14/5, ROMAN REPUBLIC - AE Aes Grave SextansRome, The Republic.
Anonymous, circa 280 BCE.
AE Aes Grave Sextans (50.76g; 36mm).

Obverse: Shell seen from outside; two pellets (mark-of-value=2 unciae) below.

Reverse: Caduceus; two pellets (mark-of-value) in field.

References: Crawford 14/5; Vecchi ICC 30.

Provenance: Ex SteveX6 Collection; Collection of a Director [CNG eSale 392 (1 Mar 2017), Lot 434]; Auctiones 5 (2-3 Dec 1975), Lot 285.

Aes Grave were a significant departure from the previous Roman bronze money in that they were denominated with marks of value, and thus did not require weighing. At least three separate series of Roman Aes Grave use shells as types on sextantes (see Crawford 21/5 in this gallery). This is likely a traditional nod to the shell shaped Aes Formatum that were used for monetary exchange prior to the adoption of Aes Grave by Rome. The old Aes Formatum astragaloi (knuckle bones) are similarly re-used on Aes Grave Unciae which depict both sides of a knuckle bone (See Crawford 14/6, 21/6 and 25/9).
1 commentsCarausiusMar 14, 2018
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Crawford 21/5, ROMAN REPUBLIC - AE Aes Grave SextansRome, The Republic.
Anonymous, circa 265 BCE.
AE Aes Grave Sextans (43.28g; 35mm).

Obverse: Scallop shell seen from outside; two pellets (mark-of-value=two unciae) below.

Reverse: Scallop shell seen from inside.

References: Crawford 21/5; Vecchi, ICC 45.

Provenanc: Numismatica Ars Classica 40 (2007), Lot 365.

Aes Grave were a significant departure from the previous Roman bronze money in that they were denominated with marks of value, and thus did not require weighing. At least three separate series of Roman Aes Grave use shells as types on sextantes (see Crawford 14/5 sextans in this gallery). This is likely a traditional nod to the shell shaped Aes Formatum that were used for monetary exchange prior to the adoption of Aes Grave by Rome. The old Aes Formatum astragaloi (knuckle bones) are similarly re-used on Aes Grave Unciae which depict both sides of a knuckle bone (See Crawford 14/6, 21/6 and 25/9).
1 commentsCarausiusMar 14, 2018
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Crawford 26/1, ROMAN REPUBLIC - AR DidrachmRome, The Republic.
Anonymous, 234-231 BCE.
AR Didrachm (6.74g; 20mm).

Obv: Laureate head of Apollo facing right.

Rev: Horse rearing left; ROMA above.

Reference: Crawford 26/1; Sydenham 27.

Provenance: Ex Kuenker (25 Sep 2017) Lot 508; ex Bernhard Terletzkli Collection; ex Dr. Hagen Tronnier Collection; ex Kunker Auction 94 (2004), Lot 1650; ex Auctiones 10 (1979), Lot 303.

By about 240 BCE, the inscription on struck Roman Republican coins had changed from ROMANO to ROMA. This coin is part of the second series to include the ROMA legend.
4 commentsCarausiusMar 07, 2018
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AE Aes Signatum or Aes FormatumCentral Italy (Rome?).
Anonymous, 4th-3rd Century BCE.
AE Aes Signatum or Aes Formatum - Fragment (209g; circa 70mm).

A peice of an Aes Signatum or Aes Formatum ingot. Both sides show indecipherable remnants of design.

Provenance: Ex Dr. Neussel Collection [Peus Auction 420/421 (1 Nov 2017), Lot 18]; purchased on eBay from D.F. Grotjohann (17 Oct 2009).
CarausiusMar 07, 2018
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Crawford 35/1, ROMAN REPUBLIC, Janus/Prow Series, Aes Grave AsRome, The Republic.
Janus/Prow Series, circa 225-217 BCE.
AE Aes Grave As (256.29g; 64mm).

Obv: Head of Janus; - (value mark) below neck.

Rev: Prow right; I (value mark) above.

Reference: Crawford 35/1; Vecchi, ICC 74; Sydenham 71.

Provenance: Ex Kuenker Auction 280 (26 Sep 2016), Lot 315; ex Hannelore Scheiner Collection; acquired 1966 from Martin Nading of Fort Wayne, IN.

Aes Grave were a significant departure from the previous Roman bronze money in that Aes Grave were denominated with marks of value, and thus did not require weighing. The prow series of Libral Aes Grave was a very large issue. E.J. Haeberlin included nearly 1,200 examples of the As 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 and to the closing of the doors of the Temple of Janus in recognition of the peace. This same iconography subsequently became emblamatic of the As for several centuries of Roman struck bronze coinage.
7 commentsCarausiusMar 07, 2018
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Crawford 24/7, ROMAN REPUBLIC, Roma/Wheel Series, Aes Grave Sextans Rome, The Republic
Roma/Wheel Series, circa 230 BCE.
Rome Mint.
AE Aes Grave Sextans (39.25 g).

Obv: Tortoise with segmented shell.

Rev: Wheel with six spokes.

Reference: Crawford 24/7; Vecchi ICC 71.

Provenance: Ex E.E. Clain-Stefanelli (d. 2001) Collection [NAC 92 (23 May 2016), Lot 248.
1 commentsCarausiusMar 07, 2018
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AE Aes Rude - Before 300 BCECENTRAL ITALY (Rome?)
8th-3rd Century BCE
Aes Rude (221.1g; circa 60mm long)
Rough cast bronze; as made.

Reference: Vecchi, ICC 1; BMCRR (Aes Rude) 1-11; Thurlow-Vecchi p. 15. pl. 2.

Provenance: Ex Jencek Historical Enterprises, acquired privately 14 Feb 2011 from Frank Kovacs; ex David Hendin (acquired mid-1980's from Italo Vecchi).

The relative abundance of copper in Italy made bronze a natural means of exchange among the people of central Italy. The initial medium was rough lumps of unmarked bronze which, lacking any governmental imprimatur or denomination, were weighed for each transaction.
1 commentsCarausiusMar 07, 2018
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Crawford 044/5, ROMAN REPUBLIC, Semi-incuse Early AR Denarius - Second Punic WarRome, The Republic.
Anonymous, ca. 212 BCE
Rome Mint
AR Denarius (4.48g)

Obv: Head of Roma in splayed-visor helmet, facing right; X (mark of value = 10 asses) behind.

Rev: Dioscuri galloping right with couched spears; two stars above; ROMA, semi-incused, below.

Reference: Crawford 44/5; Sydenham 167; RSC Anonymous 1a.

Provenance: ex NAC 84 Part II (21 May 2015), Lot 1622.

This example is among the earliest of the very first denarii issue by the Roman Republic, circa 212 BCE. From 218-212 BCE, the excessive cost of the war with Hannibal and Carthage had necessitated debasement of Rome's silver quadrigatus coinage and several weight standard reductions in the bronze coinage. It was possibly the sack of Syracuse in 212 BCE that provided the silver infusion that Rome needed to reform their debased currency and introduce the denarius system. The earliest denarii had a semi-incuse ROMA inscription on the reverse, as seen here, reminiscent of the fully-incuse and semi-incuse inscriptions on the earlier quadrigati coinage. This early-style inscription was soon replaced by a relief inscription within a linear frame.
2 commentsCarausiusFeb 18, 2018
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Crawford 042/2, ROMAN REPUBLIC, Overstruck "Anonymous" Corn Ear AE QuadransRome, The Republic.
Corn Ear Series (No Corn Ear), 214-212 BCE.
AE Quadrans (16.76g; 29mm).

Obv: Head of Hercules right in boarskin; three pellets (mark of value = 3 unciae) behind.

Rev: Bull leaping over snake; three pellets (mark of value) above; ROMA below.

Reference: Crawford 42/2var (no corn ear): See Russo, Essays Hersh (1998) p. 141.

Provenance: ex Agora Auction 70 (21 Nov 2017) Lot 194; ex RBW Collection duplicate (not in prior sales); ex P. Vecchi Auction 6 (14 Sep 1981) Lot 245.

In "Roman Republican Coinage", Michael Crawford recognized many silver “symbol” Republican series for which there were parallel “anonymous” types omitting the symbols. This coin is an anonymous version (missing symbol) of the Corn Ear Quadrans of the Crawford 42 series, produced in Sicily. It is identical in style to the Sicilian Corn Ear coins and only misses the symbol. Roberto Russo wrote about these anonymous coins in his article “Unpublished Roman Republican Bronze Coins” (Essays Hersh, 1998), where he notes that the parallel issue of anonymous silver coins to series with symbols applies equally to the bronze coins. Andrew McCabe takes this approach much further in his article “The Anonymous Struck Bronze Coinage of the Roman Republic” (Essays Russo, 2013) in which he links many of the anonymous Republican bronzes to symbol series based on precise style considerations. The takeaway from all this is that for many of the Roman Republican symbol series of the late Second Punic War and early 2nd Century BCE, there are parallel anonymous series identifiable by style. The rationale for these parallel issues is unclear, though possibly related to (a) governmental approvals for the issue or (b) mint control of the precious metal source from which the issue was struck or (c) workshop identification.

This particular example is overstruck, showing particular evidence of the under-type on the reverse. Based on that evidence and weight of the coin, I’ve concluded the under-type a Hieron II AE Obol imitative of Ptolemy II. The edge of the reverse shows the hairline of Zeus as depicted on this Hieron II issue.
1 commentsCarausiusFeb 18, 2018
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Crawford 544/15, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Antony Legion III DenariusRome, The Imperators.
Mark Antony, 31 BCE.
Mint travelling with Antony.
AR Denarius (3.69g; 18mm).

Obv: ANT AVG III VIR R P C; Galley right.

Rev: LEG III; Aquilia between two standards.

Reference: Crawford 544/15; HCRI 350; Syd 1217; Viereck, Die Römische Flotte (1975), p. 292 (this coin illustrated).

Provenance: ex CNG Classical Numismatic Review (Jul 2017); ex Triton IV (5 Dec 2000), Lot 432; ex Sternberg XII (18 Nov 1982), Lot 512; ex H.D.L. Viereck Collection (bef. 1975).

Produced by Antony in the lead-up to his final defeat at Actium by Octavian’s navy (commanded by Agrippa), the legionary series was a huge issue that recognized 23 legions under Antony’s command. These coins would continue to circulate throughout the Empire for several centuries after Antony’s loss, partly because their notoriously debased silver discouraged hoarding.
3 commentsCarausiusFeb 18, 2018
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Crawford 342/2, ROMAN REPUBLIC, C. Vibius Pansa DenariusRome, The Republic.
C. Vibius Pansa, 90 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.87g).

Obv: PANSA; mask of Pan, facing right.

Rev: C. VIBIV[S C F]; mask of Silenus, facing right.

Reference: Crawford 342/2; Sydenham 688 (R6); BMCRR Rome 2309; E. Clain-Stefanelli, Life in Republican Rome (1999), pg. 68 (this coin illustrated)

Provenance: ex E.E. Clain-Stefanelli (d. 2001) Collection [NAC 92 (23 May 2016), Lot 308]; ex Munzen und Medaillen 61 (7-8 Oct 1982), Lot 266; ex Auctiones 7 (1977), Lot 554.

Naming puns on ancient coins became popular early with the Greeks (i.e. celery plant on coins of Selinos) and continued with the Romans. C. Vibius Pansa liked to joke about his name by depicting Pan on his coins. This denarius is a rare variety with the names beneath the portraits, rather than behind. Silenus’ portrait has a characteristic die break in the eye socket that nearly all coins struck from this die share - see Crawford's plate coin and RBW's coin for other examples of this die break. Either the die failed early, or most extant specimens were struck late.
3 commentsCarausiusFeb 18, 2018
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Crawford 28/3, ROMAN REPUBLIC, Didrachm - QuadrigatusRome, The Republic.
Anonymous, 225-214 BCE.
AR Didrachm/Quadrigatus (7.25 g; 21mm).
Apulian Mint.

Obv: Janiform head with straight neck truncaction.

Rev: Jupiter and Victory on fast quadriga, right; ROMA in relief within linear frame below.

Reference: Crawford 28/3; Sydenham 65; BMCRR 101; Gentilehomme II.B.1.

Provenance: Ex NAC 92 (24 May 2016), Lot 1517.

The last few series of Roman silver didrachm coinage, produced from 225-214 BCE, are nicknamed "quadrigati" because of the common reverse type of Jupiter and Victory in a fast quadriga. Crawford's arrangement of quadrigati into distinct series requires a great amount of study to understand. Collectors and dealers alike often misattribute quadrigati among Crawford's series.

The Crawford 28 series of quadrigati, to which this example belongs, really should be split into two separate series. The first (early) series of 28s are almost certainly the earliest of the quadrigatus coinage - struck in good silver and of fine style in high relief with ROMA incuse in a rectangular tablet. The second (later) series of 28s, shown here, is of lower quality style and fabric; the neck truncation is wide and straight; ROMA is in relief in a linear frame. Like other Apulian coins, they typically show tabs or other signs of cast flan production, visible here at 2h reverse.
1 commentsCarausiusFeb 16, 2018
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Crawford 29/3, ROMAN REPUBLIC - AR Didrachm - QuadrigatusRome, The Republic.
Anonymous, 225-214 BCE
AR Didrachm/Quadrigatus (6.91g; 22mm).

Obv: Janiform head.

Rev: Jupiter and Victory in quadriga galloping right; beneath, ROMA in relief on raised tablet.

Reference: Crawford 29/3; Sydenham 64d

Provenance: ex Numismatik Lanz 163 (7 Dec 2016), Lot 154; Gorny & Mosch 69 (1994), Lot 493.

The last few series of Roman silver didrachm coinage, produced from 225-214 BCE, are nicknamed "quadrigati" because of the common reverse type of Jupiter and Victory in a fast quadriga. Crawford's arrangement of quadrigati into distinct series requires a great amount of study to understand. Collectors and dealers alike often misattribute quadrigati among Crawford's series.

This example is from the Crawford 29 series, recognizable by the "V" neck truncation on the Janiform head, and the ROMA inscription in relief on a trapezoidal tablet. Crawford also recognized an incuse variety of this series, again with a fully-trapezoidal tablet. Crawford 29 series flans are generally well made.
5 commentsCarausiusFeb 16, 2018
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Crawford 397/1, ROMAN REPUBLIC, Spinther AR DenariusRome, The Republic.
Pub. Lentulus P.f.L.n. Spinther, 71 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.85g; 18mm).
Rome Mint

Obv: Q●S●C; Hercules head right.

Rev: P●LENT●P●F / [L]●N; Genius Romani seated facing on chair, holding coruncopia and scepter, being crowned by Victory.

References: Crawford 397/1; Sydenham 791(R6); BMCRR 3329.

Provenance: ex Collection of a Director [Triton XX (10 Jan 2017) Lot 525; ex Eton College Collection [Sotheby's (1 Dec 1976) Lot 219).

In my humble opinion, this is one of the more artistic reverse types of the Roman Republic denarius series – almost Greek in execution. It depicts Genius of the Roman People exerting dominance over the world with one foot on the globe while being crowned victorious. The message may be related to the ongoing wars with Sertorius in Spain, Mithridates in the East and possibly the servile revolt led by Spartacus in Italy (if the 71BC date proposed by Hersh and Walker is accepted, see below). Other members of the Cornelia gens also depicted Genius of the Roman People on their coinages, so the cult of Genius may have been important to the family, or it may be coincidental that the Corneliae happened to strike these coins during strife when the message of the Genius of the Roman People would have been appropriate. Crawford agrees with the latter explanation. SC [Senatus consulto] in the obverse legend suggests it was struck by special decree of the Roman Senate.

The coin is scarce and missing from many major hoards, making it difficult to precisely date. In fact, it’s listed in only four hoards on Table XIII in Crawford’s Roman Republican Coin Hoards. Of those four hoards: in two hoards (Cosa and Palestrina), it’s deemed the final issue (terminus ante quem), lacking the context of later coins; in the third hoard (Tolfa), it’s the next to last issue with the last being a serrate denarius of Q. Creperei Rocus, which Crawford dates to 72BC; and in the fourth hoard (San Gregorio), it appears in the middle context in which Rocus is again the next latest coin. Crawford’s Roman Republican Coinage dates the coin 74BC, concurring with Grueber’s dating in the British Museum Catalogue. David Sear stuck with Crawford’s dating of 74BC in the Millennium Edition of Roman Coins and Their Values. However, in their 1984 analysis of the Mesagne Hoard (which contained no examples of this coin), Hersh and Walker revised the dating to 71BC, which lumps the Spinther issue with several other, non-serrate, “SC” issues of the late 70s. Hersh and Walker re-date the serrate Rocus issue to 69BC, where it is lumped with other serrate issues. In my collection catalogue, I’ve chosen to use the 71BC date proposed by Hersh and Walker, because it fits neatly with the fabric and special circumstances of the coinage and is consistent with the cursus honorum dates discussed in the following paragraph.

The moneyer was the Quaestor, P. Cornelius Lentulus, whose nickname was Spinther (reportedly because he resembled an actor by that name). It was a nickname that he clearly liked as both he and his son later used it on coins. Spinther, an aristocrat of the Cornelia gens, was liked by Julius Caesar and rose through the cursus honorum, beginning with his Quaestorship when this coin was struck. He was elected Aedile in 63BC and worked with Cicero in suppressing the Cataline conspiracy. The date of his Aedileship is important in that 6-8 years was the required waiting period between Quaestor and Aedile in the cursus honorum, the career path for a Roman politician, which is consistent with Hersh and Walker’s proposed dating of this coin issue to 71BC; Crawford’s dating of 74BC implied that Spinther failed to reach the Aedileship for several years after he qualified for the position (being elected in the first qualification year was an important distinction to the Romans, though certainly an accomplishment that many Roman aristocrats failed to attain). He was later governor of part of Spain. With Caesar’s help, he was elected consul in 57BC, when he recalled Cicero from exile. Thereafter he governed Cilicia, at which time Cicero wrote him a still-surviving letter. As relations deteriorated between Caesar and Pompey, Spinther sided with Pompey. Despite initial offers of amnesty by Caesar, Spinther would not remain neutral and was eventually killed or committed suicide during the civil wars. His son later allied with Caesar’s assassins and struck the well-known LENTVLVS SPINT coins for both Brutus and Cassius.

This example comes from the Eton College Collection, which was auctioned by Sotheby’s in 1976. Eton College initiated its ancient coin collection by acquiring a large group of British Museum duplicates in the 1870s, and Eton added to this collection in the ensuing years. By the mid-1970s, the ancient coin market was white-hot, and Eton decided to cash-out the lion’s share of its collection, keeping a representative core for study purposes. I’ve contacted the British Museum’s Department of Coins and Medals to link this coin to the original tranche of BM duplicates purchased by Eton. Unfortunately, before adoption of modern curatorial standards, the BM did not accession duplicates into the BM collection; rather, they simply put duplicates into the “duplicates cabinet” without cataloging them. These uncatalogued duplicates would be sold or traded from time to time to acquire needed specimens for the BM collection. There might be record of the transaction somewhere at the BM, but there would be no description of the duplicates sold. By 1980 or so, the BM began cataloguing all coins, even duplicates. There is an 1880s book published about Eton's Roman coin collection, but it describes only a representative sample of the collection and this coin is not included.

6 commentsCarausiusFeb 16, 2018
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Crawford 341/4, ROMAN REPUBLIC, "Mule" Titia/Pansa AE AsRome, The Republic
Q. Titius, 90 BCE
AE As (10.78g; 27mm)

Obv: Head of Janus w/rounded beard (Pansa obv die).

Rev: Prow r; palm-branch behind prow; Q●TITI above (Titius rev die)

Reference: Crawford 341/4d; Hannover 2942 (dies); c.f. Hannover 2974 (Pansa)(obv die)

Provenance: Savoca 12 (22 Jan 2017) Lot 457

Hybrid mule of rare Q. Titius reverse with a "rounded-beard" Janus obverse of Pansa. See Hannover 2974 (Pansa) for only other known example bearing this reverse control mark.

Circa 90 B.C., during the time of the Social War, Q. Titius and C. Vibius C.F. Pansa were co-moneyers at Rome. The Social War was a civil war between Rome and her Italian allies who had broken-away in a demand for citizenship rights. It was a time of massive coinage output by the Rome mints, likely to pay the costs associated with the conflict. Not much is known of TItius or Pansa. TItius is the only member of the TItia gens for whom coins are known. Pansa was possibly the father of the later Pansa who struck coins in 49 BC and became consul in 43BC.

Some of TItius’ silver coin types feature a male head with long, pointed beard. There is speculation that the head represents Mutinus Titinus, another name of the minor god Priapus, and a naming pun for Titius. His AE asses overwhelmingly depict a Janiform head with atypical, long. pointy beard, resembling the head shown on his silver coins.

On the other hand, obverses of Pansa’s AE asses overwhelmingly depict Janus with a more traditional, curled beard. The fact that the obverse styles of Pansa’s and TItius’ contemporaneous asses are so different supports the argument that the pointy-bearded character on TItius’ coins represents someone other than Janus.

The fact that Titius and Pansa served as moneyers at the same time is evidenced by occasional mules of Titius’ pointy-bearded obverses with Pansa reverses and vice versa.

An online search of acsearch, Coin Archives and Coins of the Roman Republic Online yielded only four auction sales and one ANS example of this rare reverse, and all of them were paired with a pointy-bearded obverse. However, the Kestner Museum Hannover has a similar mule that may be a double die match to my coin (see Berger, Hannover 2942). Further, the Kestner Museum has a Pansa AE As in their collection with an apparent obverse die match to my mule (see Berger, Hannover 2974).

Are these Titius/Pansa mules indicative of particular administrative practices at the mint?

One possibility is that obverse dies, which contained no legends, were mixed freely among the two moneyers; however, the overwhelming conformity of pointy-bearded TItius asses and curled-beard Pansa asses refutes this suggestion. The mules are too scarce to suggest any freewheeling intent.

Second possibility is that all dies, TItius’ and Pansa’s, were controlled by a central mint repository which assigned the dies to teams at the commencement of work shifts and likely collected them for security at the end of work shifts. Care was certainly taken to pair pointy-bearded Janus obverses with TItius reverses, as evidenced by the super-majority of extant coins. Mistakes were inevitably made. How long it took the mint to correct such mistakes is unclear. The fact that my collection and the Kestner Museum share a mule from the same dies suggests that a good number of coins were made by those dies. The fact that Kestner Museum also has the same Pansa obverse die paired with a correct Pansa reverse proves that die combination was a likely mistake; whether the correct pairing was made at a previous work shift, at a subsequent work shift when dies were reassigned, or in the middle of the same work shift cannot be determined – the coins are not in such great condition that die states can be easily compared.

Third, the mules suggest that TItius’ and Pansa’s coins were struck at the same mint and perhaps in the same workshop by different striking teams. I don’t think it’s possible to extrapolate whether the dies were controlled on a workshop basis vs. a full mint basis.
1 commentsCarausiusFeb 16, 2018
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Crawford 455/1, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Restio AR DenariusRome, Moneyer Issues of the Imperatorial Period.
C. Antius Restiio, 47 BC
Rome Mint

Obv: RESTIO; Head of Restio right.

Rev: C ANTIVS C F; Hercules advancing right with club and trophy.

Reference: Crawford 455/1b; HCRI 34; Sydenham 970 var (no cloak over arm); Banti Antia 1/2 (this coin illustrated); G. Lahusen, Die Bildnismunzen Der Romischen Republik, pl. 61, no. 37 (this coin illustrated)

Provenance: ex Student & Mentor Collection [NAC 83 (20 May 2015) Lot 411]; ex F. Sternberg VII (1977), Lot 448; ex Carlo Crippa List 3 (1967), Lot 394.

This is a rare variety of Restio denarius, on which Hercules bears no cloak over his left arm. Banti's corpus contains only three examples of this variety, one of which is this coin.
3 commentsCarausiusFeb 16, 2018
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Crawford 544/19, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Antony Legion VI DenariusRome, The Imperators
Mint traveling with Antony, ca. 31 BC
AR Denarius

Obv: ANT AVG III VIR R P C; Galley right.

Rev: LEG VI; Aquilia between two standards.

Reference: Crawford 544/19; HCRI 356

Provenance: ex CNG 103 (Sep 2016) Lot 664; ex Kirk Davis FPL 37 (Jan 2002), No. 45.

Produced by Antony in the lead-up to his final defeat at Actium by Octavian’s navy (commanded by Agrippa), the legionary series was a huge issue that recognized 23 legions under Antony’s command. These coins would continue to circulate throughout the Empire for several centuries after Antony’s loss, partly because their notoriously debased silver discouraged hoarding.

2 commentsCarausiusFeb 16, 2018
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Crawford 039/2, ROMAN REPUBLIC, Collateral Semilibral Struck AE QuadransRome, The Republic.
Semilibral Reduction, 217-215 BC
AE Struck Quadrans (37.12g; 33mm)

Obv: Youthful hd of Hercules in boarskin r; three pellets (mark of value=3 unciae) behind

Rev: Bull leaping right, snake below; three pellets (mark of value = 3 unciae) above; ROMA below

Reference: Crawford 39/2; Sydenham 94

Provenance: Dr. W. Neussel Sen. (d. Dec. 1975) Collection [Peus Auction 420/421 (1 Nov 2017), Lot 65]

This coin is part of a short-lived series struck collateral to the standard prow types (Crawford 38) in 217-215 BC. The economic hardship on Rome imposed by Hannibal’s invasion led to a rapid decline in the weight of Roman bronze coins, resulting in the adoption of a semi-libral bronze standard (AE As of ½ Roman pound) and eventual elimination of cast coins. The Series 39 types and their relationship to contemporaneous Second Punic War events are interesting to ponder. Hercules is an important figure, appearing on two of the 10 available sides of the series. Likely this is a paradigm of Roman stregnth and heroism during the War. While Crawford attributes the 39 series to the Rome mint, I believe the types and fabric of the coins are inconsistent with the contemporaneous, Crawford 38 prow types which are also attributed to Rome.
CarausiusFeb 16, 2018
   
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