Vettia, Denarius Serratus, 70 BC
Rome - Silver - AU(55-58) - Crawford:404/1
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.
Bearded head of King Tatius, right.
Figure dressed in a toga, driving biga at pace, the horses in parading attitude, holding reins in the right hand and a magistrate's staff in the left; behind, corn-ear.
Issuer: T. Vettius Sabinus. A denarius with very interesting iconography. A complex political discourse hides behind this coin, which has a magnificent dark grey patina enhanced by beautiful golden tones. The observe represent Titus Tatius, the legendary king of the Sabines and later co-king of Rome with Romulus, to emphasise the monetary's cognomen ‘Sabinus’, given to Roman families descending from the Sabines. On the reverse, the meaning is more debated, but according to Babelon, it is a representation of Spurrus Vettius, the interrex that arranged the election of Numa Pompilius as the second king of Rome (a Sabine king) after the death of Romulus. He is presented as administering justice on his chariot, as specified by ‘IVDEX’ (Judex, the judge). Combined with the corn-ear behind, this creates another layer of interpretation by referring to T. Vettius Sabinus' function as curule aedile, with a double reference to the word “currus” (chariot). This word is also used to refer to the curule seat (‘sella curulis’), one of the attributes of the aedile used in the exercise of his magistracy. RRC 404/1. Faune d'Argent Collection.
T͡A SABINVS / S·C
IVDEX // T·VETTIVS
3.93 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(55-58)” 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(55-58)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has been in circulation but sufficiently little that its original beauty is preserved almost in its entirety. The wear is barely visible and any other defect can only be identified with a magnifying glass or a particularly keen eye. The number (55-58) indicates that between three quarters and almost all of the original luster remains.
