Didrachm Anonymous; ROMA

Features

Issuer RomeRoman Republic (509 BC - 27 BC)
Period Republic (509 BC - 27 BC)
Type Standard circulation coin
Years 234 BC - 231 BC
Value Didrachm (2)
Currency Drachm (? - 235 BC)
Composition Silver
Weight 6.62 g
Diameter 19 mm
Shape Round (irregular)
Technique Hammered
Orientation Variable alignment ↺
Demonetized Yes
Number
N#
67099
References RRC# 26/1,
Michael H. Crawford; 1974. Roman Republican Coinage / Volume 1. Introduction and catalogue. Cambridge University Press, London, United Kingdom.
And 1 more volumes.
CRR# 27,
Edward Allen Sydenham, Leonard S. Forrer; 1952. The Coinage of the Roman Republic. Spink & Son, London, United Kingdom.
RCV I# 28,
David R. Sear; 2000. Roman Coins and Their Values / Volume 1. The Republic and the Twelve Caesars 280 BC-AD 96. Spink & Son, London, United Kingdom.
RSC# 37,
Herbert A. Seaby, David R. Sear, Robert Loosley; 1978. Roman Silver Coins / Volume 1. The Republic to Augustus (3rd edition). Numismatic Fine Arts Intl, London, United Kingdom.
And 4 more volumes.
BMC RR# 68,
Herbert Appold Grueber; 1910. Coins of the Roman Republic in the British Museum / Volume 1. Aes Rude, Aes Signatum, Aes Grave, and Coinage of Rome from B.C. 268. British Museum, London, United Kingdom.
And 2 more volumes.
RBW# 47-48
Roberto Russo; 2013. The RBW Collection of Roman Republican Coins. Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG, Zürich.

Obverse

Laureate head of Apollo right.

Reverse

Horse prancing left; above, inscription.

Script: Latin

Lettering: ROMA

Mint

Rome (ancient), Italy

Comments

For this type, Crawford found an estimate of nine right-hand corners and twelve reverse corners. Crawford also points out that Bahrfelt found eighteen examples, while Hersch listed eighty, and thirteen didrachms were known from the treasures. The authors of the catalog of the Haeberlin collection (Adolph E. Cahn and Adolph Hess) remarked on the style of this didrachm. This type is one of the rarest Roman coins of Greek origin (Rarity grade R3).

One of the earliest Roman coins, it was previously attributed to Capua or Campagnia. Struck on a Roman-Campanian standard, this Greek coinage does not yet feature Roman iconography. The types are Hellenistic. Right and reverse are not far removed from the first Campagnian standard didrachms minted between -280 and -275 at the time of the war against Pyrrhus (RCV. 2). Only the legend on the reverse (ROMA) allows this coinage to be traced back to Rome after the First Punic War. The chronology of this Romano-Campanian didrachm remains controversial. First fixed by H. A. Grueber between -312 and -290-, this type is traditionally dated between -234 and -231. Recently, D. Sear prefers to assign it a broader chronological range, between -235 and -230. In very good style, it predates the start of the Second Punic War and is not found with the Janiform-headed Roman-Campanian quadrigates or didrachms, as M. Crawford points out (RRC. p. 40-41). His demonstration is based on the Catanzaro treasure (IGCH. 2019), discovered in 1967 and containing thirty-six silver coins, buried at the end of the -IIIth century, of mixed composition with species from Southern Italy (Taranto, Heraclius, Bretiens), Carthaginian (half-shekel), accompanied by a Romano-Campagnian didrachm of this type. Alongside the didrachm, this issue also includes a drachma, a litra and a half-litra for silver, with associated bronze aces, semis, quadrans and sextants.

Roman coins, Laurent Schmitt, Michel Prieur.Automatically translated

See also

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Date VG F VF XF AU UNC
ND (234 BC - 231 BC)  Photo $ 2800

Values in the table above are expressed in USD. They are based on evaluations by Numista users and sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only; they are not intended to be relied upon for buying, selling or exchanging. Numista does not buy or sell coins or banknotes.

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This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

Past sales

Pictures Sale Date Grade Sold price
Picture 1 of a sold Didrachm (Anonymous; ROMA)Picture 1 of a sold Didrachm (Anonymous; ROMA)
Heritage Auctions
2017 August 3 ANA World Coins & Ancient Coins Signature Auction - Denver 3056
Lot 30102
Internet Archive
3 Aug 2017 AU
(NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 3/5)
USD 8225.00
(incl. buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold Didrachm (Anonymous; ROMA)Picture 1 of a sold Didrachm (Anonymous; ROMA)
Heritage Auctions
2012 January 2-3 World & Ancient Coins Signature Auction- New York 3016
Lot 23123
Internet Archive
2 Jan 2012 XF
(NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 3/5)
USD 2070.00
(incl. buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold Didrachm (Anonymous; ROMA)
CNG
Auction 124
Lot 471
Internet Archive
19 Sep 2023 VF USD 3250.00
(+ buyer's premium)
Picture 1 of a sold Didrachm (Anonymous; ROMA)Picture 1 of a sold Didrachm (Anonymous; ROMA)
Heritage Auctions
2012 April 25-May 1 World & Ancient Coins CICF Signature Auction- Chicago 3019
Lot 23228
Internet Archive
25 Apr 2012 VF USD 863.00
(incl. buyer's premium)
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