Aes grave
Aes grave ("heavy bronze") is a term in numismatics indicating bronze cast coins used in central Italy during the 3rd century BC, whose value was generally indicated by signs: I for the as, S for semis and pellets for unciae. Standard weights for the as were 272, 327, or 341 grams, depending upon the issuing authority.[1]
The main Roman cast coins had these marks and images:
Image | value | mark |
---|---|---|
Ianus | As | I |
Iupiter | Semis | S |
Minerva | Triens | four pellets |
Hercules | Quadrans | three pellets |
Mercury | Sextans | two pellets |
Bellona or Roma | Uncia | one pellet |
Issuing cities
[edit]Main series were from Rome, Ariminum (Rimini), Iguvium (Gubbio), Tuder (Todi), Ausculum (Ascoli Satriano), Firmum (Fermo), Hatria - Hadria (Atri), Luceria (Lucera), and Latin central Italy. Other series have unknown provenance.
Gallery
[edit]- As (c. 235 BC)
- Triens (c. 241–235 BC)
- Sextans (c. 289–245 BC)
- Quincunx (coin) (after 220 BC)
- Uncia (coin) (c. 275–270 BC)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Michael H. Crawford (1974). Roman Republican Coinage. Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–. ISBN 978-0-521-07492-6.
Further reading
[edit]- Haeberlin, Ernst: Aes Grave, Das Schwergeld Roms und Mittelitaliens einschließlich der ihm vorausgehenden Rohbronzewährung, Halle 1910.
- Head, Barclay V.: Historia Nummorum, a Manual of Greek Numismatic, London, 19112.
- Sear, David: "Roman Coins and Their Values," Volume I, Spink.
- Sydenham, Edward A.: Aes Grave A Study of the Cast Coinages of Rome and Central Italy. London, Spink, 1926.
- Italo Vecchi. Italian Cast Coinage. A descriptive catalogue of the cast coinage of Rome and Italy. London Ancient Coins, London 2013. Hard bound in quarto format, 84 pages, 90 plates. ISBN 978-0-9575784-0-1
External links
[edit]Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aes Grave.