Chonky coins of the Roman Republic

[Ryro]

It's not even Thanksgiving yet and my latest RR chonker weighs over 40 gr!

Anonymous, after 211 BC. As (Bronze, 33 mm, 41.00 g, 1 h), Rome mint. Laureate head of Janus, I (mark of value) above. Rev. ROMA Prow to right; above, I (mark of value). Crawford 56/2. McCabe Group C3 (related to RRC 80/89, from South Italian mint). RBW 200-202. Sydenham 143. Good Fine. 

Certainly not as big as my Rude fatty cake:

BRONZE AGE. Proto Money. "Aes Rude" Style Bronze Cake shaped Ingot (2000-400 BC). 261 g, 6 cm.

This type of ingots is an intermediate product of prehistoric copper processing in Europe and an early form of currency. It was available both in pure copper and in various mostly natural bronze alloys. The archaeological finds contain both whole cakes in various sizes and pieces.

Purchased from Numismatik Naumann Feb 2022

Nor as petty as my favorite chonker from just before, or at the start of, the second Punic war:

ROMAN REPUBLIC. Anonymous. AE Aes Grave Triens (92.37 gms), Rome Mint, ca. 225-217 B.C. VERY FINE. Cr-35/3a; TV-53. Obverse: Helmeted head of Minerva left; four pellets (mark of value) below; all set upon raised disk; Reverse: Prow right; four pellets (mark of value) below; all set upon raised disk. A pleasing specimen despite its crudeness, with charming green surfaces. A test cut across Minerva's face is noted for completeness. Ex Stacks & Bowers 

But I'm very happy to have won it as it is a monetary change due to heavy ass-whoopings from the Carthaginians.

In 216, one of the single worst militaristic defeats ever, Cannae occurred thanks to the genius of Hannibal Barka (means thunderbolt).

And in 211 the Romans made moves on Iberia and again were badly trounced.

These heavy losses would lead to the decrease in size of the coinage that the Roman republic would make. Hence my new little chonker. 

 

 

 

Thanks for taking a look. Please post your heavy RR coins, coins from the second Punic war, Carthage, or anything that could knock a grown man out!

[mcwyler]

Roman Republic, Anonymous sextantal series. From 211 BC. Ae As, 32mm, 36.06g. Head of Janus bifrons, I above / Galley prow right, I above, ROMA below. Crawford 56:2, Vecchi 98.
 

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Very cool!  Unfortunately I only have a few decrepit medium ones, maybe 15 or 20 grams.  Nothing worth showing.

[red_spork]

As struck RR go they don't get much bigger than the McCabe group A1 and A2 asses. This is my largest struck RR by a good bit

Roman Republic As(39mm, 54.64g), Anonymous post-semilibral series, 215-212 BC, Rome mint. Laureate head of Janus; above, I / Prow of galley right; above, I; ROMA below. Crawford 41/5 var(no struck as listed); McCabe group A2; R. Russo, Essays Hersh, 1 & 4-7 and pl. 15, 1 & 4-7

Ex Musa Numismatic Art, 20 April 2024, ex W.B. and R.E. Montgomery collection, ex Ed Waddell, ex Bombarda Collection, A. Tkalec AG Auction September 2008, 8 September 2008, lot 206

[JAZ Numismatics]

Nice coins everyone! Here's a crusty sextans currently in my stock...

ROMAN REPUBLIC. 

Anonymous. Circa 225-217 BC.

Æ Sextans, 32mm, 26.0g, 3h. Rome mint.

Obv.: Head of Mercury right, wearing winged petasos.

Rev.: Prow of galley right; ROMA above

Ref.: Crawford 38/5; Sydenham 85.

Edited November 24, 2024 by JAZ Numismatics

[Octavius]

Central Italy, Uncertan. AE Aes Grave As 66 mm (335 g), 3rd century BC. Helmeted head of Minerva left. Reverse: Kantharos. ICC 257; HN Italy 344. Fantastic glossy apple-green patina. Choice Very Fine.
Ex Julio Belluscio Collection, purchased between 1980 and 1990.

 

 

Etruria, Tarquinii. AE Aes Grave As (295.21 g), ca. 275 BC. Forepart of boar left. Reverse: Spearhead. ICC 121; HN Italy 215. Extremely Rare. Green and brown patina. Very Fine.
Ex Julio Bellescio Collection, purchased between 1980 and 1990.
 

 

 

Rammo Secco of republican Rome , c. 6th - 4th century BC. g.878.

 

Roman Republican As c. 275 BC , g 288.9, 68mm, Apollo / Apollo.  Vecchi ICC 33.

 

[Alegandron]

RR Aes Grave Anon 280-276 BCE Triens 46mm 90.3g 9.3mm thick Tbolt-Dolphin Rome Crawford 14-3 T Vecchi 3
 

ROMAN Republic
Aes Grave Issue, Æ Quadrans, 59.82g
Mint of Rome Anonymous issue; ca. 269-242 BCE
Obv: dog walking left, three pellets below
Rev six-spoked wheel, three pellets between
Ref: Cr 24/6a; Thurlow-Vecchi 34
Comments Dark green patina, fine.
Ex: from the David Sellwood Collection

 

RR AE Aes Grave Sextans 270 BCE 37mm 55.28g Dioscuri R and L

 

RR Aes Grave Uncia 269-266 BCE 10.1g Astragalus knuckle-bone - knuckle-bone Thurlow- Vecchi 21 Craw 21-6 Rare

[Alegandron]

Here is one that @Qcumbor might appreciate…. 😀

Luceria AES Grave Anonymous 217-215 BCE Uncia 7.35g Frog-Corn Ear pellet retrograde L T-V 285

[Alegandron]

A MINI CHONKY or CHONKETTE
 

I believe this is Rome’s smallest denomination,

1/48th of an As, 1/4th of an Uncia... the Quartuncia


RR Anon AE Quartuncia 217-215 BC Roma Prow Cr 38-8 S 624



Roman Republic
217-215 BCE,
AE Quartuncia
15.2 mm, 2.56 grams.
Obverse: Head of Saturn right.
Reverse: ROMA - Prow, right .
Reference: Crawford 38/8

[Qcumbor]

4 hours ago, Alegandron said:

Here is one that @Qcumbor might appreciate…. 😀

Luceria AES Grave Anonymous 217-215 BCE Uncia 7.35g Frog-Corn Ear pellet retrograde L T-V 285

Yummy !

😀Q

[Alegandron]

6 hours ago, Qcumbor said:

Yummy !

😀Q

I grew up eating frog-legs!  Double yummy!

[Alegandron]

On 11/24/2024 at 11:26 AM, Ryro said:

Please post your heavy RR coins, coins from the second Punic war, Carthage

Oh, wow, I could dump coins in this thread for days for this period of Roman History...  🙂

 

[Roman Collector]

Those are some chunky ones, @Ryro! I like my Republican bronzes like I like my salsa ...

... thick & chunky!!!
 

 

Anonymous, Second Punic War, 218-202 BCE.
Roman Republican Æ as, 27.8 g, 31.1 mm, 1 h.
Uncertain mint south of Rome (Campania?).
Obv: Laureate head of bearded Janus, I above.
Rev: Prow of galley, right; I above, ROMA below.
Refs: Group D1, McCabe, Andrew. "The Anonymous Struck Bronze Coinage of the Roman Republic" in Essays in honour of Roberto Russo / ed. by Peter G. van Alfen and Richard B. Witschonke. - Zürich ; London : Numismatica Ars Classica NAC, 2013, pp. 141-144.

[mcwyler]

One - not so chunky I'm afraid - from the old enemy

 

Carthaginian Domain, Sardinia, c. 264-241 BC. Æ (20mm, 4.88g, 3h). Wreathed head of Kore-Tanit l. R/ Head of horse r.; letter before. Piras 54; SNG Copenhagen (Africa) 151.

[Alegandron]

RR

Anon

AE Semis 211-206 BCE

Saturn S Prow ROMA

Sear 766 Craw 56-3

Spain Second Punic War

[Alegandron]

RIGHT after the Second Punic War

I have posted this before, but it is the largest Hand-Stamped Ancient Coin (not a pour-cast coin), in my collection... and, honestly, a 15-Shekel Coin (roughly 30 Denarii) is an odd denomination. I am not sure if they truly know its denomination, but this one is a "HORSE" of a Coin:

These were minted after Hannibal was defeated by Scipio at the Battle of Zama in 202 BCE. Carthage was defeated and owed massive indemnity payments to Rome. Hannibal was asked to lead Carthage and reorganize their finances... This appears to be the largest denomination at 15 Shekels.



Seller write-up:
Carthage.
Circa 201-175 BC.
Æ 15 Shekels
45 mm. dia. 7.5 mm. thick. 102.6 g
Obv: Wreathed head of Tanit left
Rev: Horse standing right; uraeus above.
Ref: MAA 104 ; SNG Copenhagen 400.
Comment: Original green patina.
Note: The largest Carthaginian coin and this one is likely one of the largest coins struck in antiquity.
rare