Anonymous, Didrachm, 225-212 BC
Rome - Silver - AU(50-53) - Crawford:28/3
PLEASE NOTE: this collector's item is unique. We therefore cannot guarantee its availability over time and recommend that you do not delay too long in completing your purchase if you are interested.
Janiform head of Dioscuri, laureates, within a grenetis.
Quadriga galloping to the right driven by winged Victory; before her, Jupiter draped at the waist holding a scepter in his left hand and hurling thunderbolt with his right hand; incuse legend within a rectangle below; all within a circle.
Attractive and well-centered didrachm revealing most of the iconography on both sides and adorned with a splendid golden patina with iridescent tones. Our specimen is in an excellent state of preservation, revealing numerous details. The veins of the laurel leaves on the head of Janus are clearly visible, as are the strands of his hair. The muscles of Jupiter and the horses are also visible. Our coin was minted during the period when Rome defeated the Gauls at the Battle of Clastidium in 222 B.C. and at the start of the Second Punic War. The quadriga led by Victory and Jupiter preparing to hurl his thunderbolt testifie to the warlike context in which Rome found itself at the time. Their dynamic position, bent forward, and the speed of the quadriga moving to the right, represented by the horses' raised front legs in full run, attest to the vigor of the scene and a future victory. Janus, an important deity in the Roman pantheon, is represented by two heads, one looking to the past and the other to the future. He is responsible for peace and war, and his temple, whose doors are open in times of conflict, bears witness to his military role. A well-preserved, eye-pleasing didrachm with an iconography intimately linked to war, victory and future. HN Italy 334; HGC 1, 238; Crawford 28/3 and Sydenham 64. Faune d'Argent Collection.
ROMA
6.71 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
An “AU(50-53)” quality
As in numismatics, it is important that the state of conservation of an item be carefully evaluated before it is offered to a discerning collector with a keen eye.
This initially obscure acronym comprising two words describing the state of conservation is explained clearly here:
About Uncirculated(50-53)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has circulated well from hand to hand and pocket to pocket but the impact on its wear remains limited: the coins displays sharp detailing and little sign of being circulated. The number (50-53) indicates that at least half of the original luster remains. Closer examination with the naked eye reveals minor scratches or nicks.
You might be wondering why there are different ranges of numbers behind the same abbreviation. Well, we’ll explain:
The numbers are subdivisions within a category, showing that the state of conversation is the same but coins may be at the higher or lower end of the scale. In the case of AU, the range (55-58) indicates that the luster is better preserved in than a similar coin described as (50-53).
