FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board
Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Roman Coins Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Justin L1 on January 27, 2024, 11:04:20 am
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Hello-
I recently picked up this Aes Graves on a whim and have been spending some time trying to properly attribute it. The photos when listed were poor showing it as dark brown when it really has a charming dark green patina. Further it was listed without a weight which made it hard to classify. On my kitchen scale (not the most accurate)-this coin weighs 105g. So would one classify this as towards the lighter end of a Semilbral reduction coin (ca. 132g)? or towards the heavier end of a Post Semilibral reuction coin (ca. 81g)? I know that design elements can help further refine this but I have neither the references or experience to nail that one down. Do we simply guess or do we label something like this more of a transitional piece? I added it to my gallery as being of 'Semilibral' reduction based on weight an appearance with the attribution below? Does this seem reasonable-or should I make changes?
Thanks for the help,
Justin
AE Aes Grave As: 217-215 BC
ID: AE Aes Grave As; Semilibral weight standard
Denomination: Aes Grave As
Year: 217-215 BC
Obverse: Bearded Head of Janus (without mark of value on obv.)
Reverse: Prow of Galley Left.
Mint: Rome
Weight & Measures: ~105g
References: Sear 572, CR-38/1, CRR 89, ICC 63.
Provenance: Ex Stacks Bowers Galleries (January 2024 NYINC Auction); Lot 55206.
Notes: Janus (/ˈdʒeɪnəs/ JAY-nəs; Latin: Ianvs [ˈi̯aːnʊs]) is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings. The “Prow” series (Reverse) was not a commemoration of a specific event but more a general assertion of mastery over the Mediterranean Sea and subsequent trade.
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... So would one classify this as towards the lighter end of a Semilbral reduction coin (ca. 132g)? or towards the heavier end of a Post Semilibral reuction coin (ca. 81g)? I know that design elements can help further refine this but I have neither the references or experience to nail that one down. Do we simply guess or do we label something like this more of a transitional piece? I added it to my gallery as being of 'Semilibral' reduction based on weight an appearance with the attribution below? Does this seem reasonable-or should I make changes?
...
AE Aes Grave As: 217-215 BC
ID: AE Aes Grave As; Semilibral weight standard
Denomination: Aes Grave As
Year: 217-215 BC
Obverse: Bearded Head of Janus (without mark of value on obv.)
Reverse: Prow of Galley Left.
Mint: Rome
Weight & Measures: ~105g
References: Sear 572, CR-38/1, CRR 89, ICC 63.
...
A difficult topic, that´s probably why nobody answered so far :)
You can find the work of Haeberlin "Aes Grave: das Schwergeld Roms und Mittelitaliens einschliesslich der ihm vorausgehenden Rohbronzewährung" on the web site of the Bibliotheque National de France. It´s slow so have to be patient when opening and downloading it:
http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k8803718/f5.image.r=haeberlin.langEN
http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k880368k/f1.image.r=haeberlin.langEN
I am not so familiar with this but I would say that the coin is of the "urban reduced semilibral standard, later period". Examples can be found on plate 49. I don´t know how Haeberlin separated the earlier from the later period. Maybe the transition is smoothly.
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Attached a screenshot of a part of plate 49. Coin 1 weighs 132,76 g, coin 6 only 91,30 g.
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Thank you for the thoughtful response and info/link Antoninus1! I will definitely make my way through the material! It would stand within reason that these coins can be classified more specifically-but sometimes knowing where to find the proper information is difficult.
-Justin