| Author |
Replies: 21 / Views: 3,381 |
|
Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
I recently purchased this coin because I liked it. It was unusual (to me) because I didn't recognise any of the names. (There was a Gargonius that was a moneyer.) Roman Republic - Family Gargonius, Ogulnius and Vergilius GAR OGVL VER Series Anonymous AR Denarius. Rome, 86 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Jupiter driving quadriga right, holding reins and preparing to hurl thunderbolt. Crawford 350A/2; Syd 723; RSC (Anonymous) 226. 18mm, 3.67g, Can anyone enlighten me further on what I have written here, please?  
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Italy
1790 Posts |
 Nice TC. I once read somewhere that people would sometimes strike off parts of older heavy denarii to keep the weight in line with the then current weight standards for denarii. This was only for Republican denarii though. I will have to find that article again. 
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Italy
1790 Posts |
When this coin was struck 86 BCE Sulla was kicking the crap out of mithridates in the 1st mithradatic war.- Fun fact
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 1121 Posts |
Thanks, A.M.
Interesting! If you can find that reference I would be interested in reading it because it seems as though a piece has been (forcibly) removed from the 'meatiest' part of the coin (as opposed to general wear).
|
|
Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Sear comments on this one (#266 in the current edition):
Although obviously connected by type with the signed denarii of Gargonius, Ogulnius and Vergilius the reason for this exceptionally late issue of anonymous coins is unclear.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Italy
1790 Posts |
Edited by Augustus Maximus 12/28/2014 6:35 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 1121 Posts |
Thanks, Med. I didn't get that from the 'Wildwinds' reference I looked up.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 1121 Posts |
A.M. - GREAT! Thanks for looking that up.
I had a quick look. Didn't find it. Any closer clue, please?
I will read the whole thing (in time).
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Italy
1790 Posts |
It is a few sentences under the heading "Clive Stannard: Papers on mint techniques"
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Italy
1790 Posts |
.... and under "The adjustment al marco of the weight of Roman Republican denarii blanks by gouging"
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 1121 Posts |
Terriffic. Thanks A.M. I did find it in the end. 'Al Marco'
I want to read the whole article, now.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 1121 Posts |
Now I can see why the weights of the Denarii are all over the place, if the moneyers didn't pay much attention to getting an 'average' weight of each flan anywhere near the same.
This, (of course), would have applied to all coins, at least up to this period. (even back to the Obols, of Greece, I am guessing.)
Tres interessante.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I love the style of this piece. Very interesting.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
nice one indeed TC, the details are very sharp, especially on the obverse. all the more interesting that it as been weight adjusted.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Italy
1790 Posts |
@TC I am very sure they stopped this practice during the Imperial period though.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 1121 Posts |
Does the 'gouging' make this coin more collectable?
I confess that any that I have looked at on 'Wildwinds' (and the like) have not been 'gouged', so I cannot compare the value.
Does the 'gouging' give the coin it's own Sears (or similar) number? (I suspect not.)
Edited by Topcat7 12/29/2014 01:51 am
|
| |
Replies: 21 / Views: 3,381 |