Res Publica Coin Gallery

Roman Republic Æ Semis(18.688g, 30mm). Anonymous post-semilibral series, 215-212 BC. Rome mint. Laureate head of Saturn right, S behind/Prow of galley right, S above, ROMA below. Russo p. 140, 2 and pl. 16, 10 (same dies); McCabe Anonymous A1.Sm.2; cf. Crawford 41/6e; Sydenham -; Russo RBW 123-124.

Very Rare

Privately purchased from FORVM Ancient Coins, November 2015, ex Andrew McCabe collection

A type that was once extremely rare(thought to be unique by Crawford!) and though it has become less rare in recent years, still a fairly rare type as far as struck prow bronzes go. This example is lightweight for the type at ~18 grams, likely due to being overstruck, but is a die match to other known specimens. Generally a coin this worn would be passed over by me, but its rarity wouldn't allow me to let it go. This bronze comes from a series that included both struck and cast semises and represents an interesting point in the evolution of Republican bronze coinage in the Second Punic War.

Posted on

Thursday 14 January 2016

Tags

anonymous, bronze, ex.mccabe, overstruck, prow, rare, saturn, semis

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