Roman Republican Star Bronzes, RRC 113, RRC 196

[ahala 91]

Richard Schaefer and myself have taken a fresh look at the Roman Republican Star Bronzes, RRC 113 and RRC 196, and have just published a paper on them in the numismatic chronicle, 2011.

Here is the paper for download (pdf):

http://royalnumismaticsociety.org/NC_Offprints/NC171/NC171_Offprint_112021_Schaefer.pdf

And here is the abstract of what we found:

The Star bronzes RRC 113 and 196 are among the most difficult to classify in the Roman Republican series. Crawford dates RRC 113 to 206-195 BC and RRC 196 to 169-158 BC. Although the as and semis denominations are plentiful and easy to classify, their lower fractions, except the star-before quadrantes, are rare. The traditional dating of fractions with star above (RRC 113) to 206-195 BC and those with star before (RRC 196) to 169-158 BC is based on the perception that the plentiful star-before quadrantes are lighter than those with star above. There are, however, two issues of star-before quadrantes, a rare heavier issue whose style is close to that of RRC 113, and the much commoner light quadrantes with erratic design features. The latter seem to form part of the large volume of unofficial lightweight semisses and quadrantes produced after 150 BC. Design elements of the other fractions with star before are consistently like RRC 113, and those with star above are like RRC 196. Thus we propose to switch the lighter fractions, associating the star-before fractions with RRC 113 in 206-195 BC and the star-above fractions with RRC 196 in 169-158 BC. Although the official RRC 113 and RRC 196 lower fractions cannot be distinguished from each other by weight alone, an analysis of weights shows the unofficial quadrantes to be consistently much lighter than the official issues.

Here are some links to relevant coins:

RRC 113 - new arrangement including OFFICIAL quadrans:

As: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/3752887792/

Semis: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/3350850337/

Triens: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/3584563611/

Quadrans: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/6961452345/

(the official quadrans is extremely rare)

RRC 113 - new arrangement:

As: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/3350851855/

Semis: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/5944599708/

Triens: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/5943897945/

Quadrans: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/3351688404/

UNOFFICIAL IMITATIONS:

Semis: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/3351379361/

Quadrans: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/3351831892/

Quadrans: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/3934332928/

For the first unofficial quadrans note the sketchy prow design where the parallel bottom lines and prow stem are rough copies of prior coin designs rather than an original Rome mint prow taken from a mint standard. The obverse style, whilst well engraved and charming, represents a more youthful figure than Hercules.

The second unofficial quadrans has a well engraved obverse. Despite the excellent engraving style of the obverse this is still probably imitative - the prow is just not right consider for example the prowstem and keel lines compared with an official quadrans here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/6961452345/

Many of you will be looking at your "Star Before" Quadrans examples and hoping they are official. Unfortunately there is probably 99% chance they are NOT official. If anyone thinks they have an official "Star Before" quadrans from the same or similar dies to this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ahala_rome/6961452345/

please let us know on this forum or drop me an email!

The picture below is an OFFICIAL RRC 113 Star Quadrans (extremely very RARE!!!!).

cheers

Andrew and Richard

[acraf 2448]

Very compliments and thanks for the availability of your paper in pdf !

This study is very eshaustive and settles various pending questions about Republican bronzes with star (the Crawford classfication is inadequate for this and also other symbols).

I hope that our experts in Roman Republican bronzes can offer further arguments.

[gpittini 1498]

DE GREGE EPICURI

Ho scaricato il contributo recente di Mccabe e Schaefer (ma devo ancora leggerlo) ed ho dato un'occhiata a qualcuno dei links. Da questo a saper classificare i singoli esemplari, ce ne corre. Chiedo quindi un parere su questo asse con stella, che pesa 23,7 g. e misura da 28,5 a 30 mm. Aspetti iconografici: la stella mi sembra avere solo 7 raggi; sul ponte l'edicola è molto bassa; l'occhio della nave è allungato, e presenta la forma di un delfino. Di che sottogruppo si tratta?

[gpittini 1498]

Ecco il R.

[ahala 91]

Hello

This is an As, RRC 196/1. The design is normal. Here is the example from my collection. You can see that the style and the design are the same. There are 8 point on the star, but the number of points is not so important.

regards

Andrew

[gpittini 1498]

DE GREGE EPICURI

Thanks, Ahala! I am working for the photos I promitted.They are coming soon.