Roman Republican Coins from the Ahala Collection, May 2013, PART 2, RRC 101 to RRC 300

Roman Republican Coins from the Ahala Collection, May 2013, PART 1, RRC 1 to RRC 100

Roman Republican Coins from the Ahala Collection, May 2013, PART 3, RRC 301 to RRC 546

The following coins, from my personal collection, will soon be owned by other collectors. I am reducing the size of my coin collection. In some cases I have two coins of the same type, and one must go. In other cases these are the only examples of a coin I ever owned, but to reduce space and to make my collection easier to manage, it is time for me to let go of them and let others have the pleasure of owning them. Many rare and unusual coins are included. I though to make a web-page so that I can comment on them, and explain what is important and interesting about them, in memory of some very special coins.

Q Series AR Quinarius. Apulia, 211-210 BC. Head of Roma wearing Attic helmet, V behind / The Dioscuri riding right, Q below, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 102/2d. 1.41g, 16mm, 4h. Good Very Fine. Scarce. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Knife Series AR Denarius. Uncertain mint, 211-208 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind / The Dioscuri riding right, knife below, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 109/1. 3.88g, 20mm, 12h. Very Fine. Some areas of corrosion; reverse fields tooled. From the Andrew McCabe Collection; Ex CNG 129, 21 December 2005, lot 275.

Ted Blume-Poulton has convincingly shown that this is not a knife, in the normal sense, but a falcata or Spanish/Gaulish sword. In Ted's words: "The Falcata was a Celt-Iberian weapon, primarily Iberian. It was in use in Spain over the last half millennia B.C. The Romans probably first came in contact with it during the Second Punic War, usually seeing it from the wrong end, which was frequently fatal. The power of the weapon and the quality of its metal became legendary. The replica shown in use here measures 59cm blade length, overall 74.4cm. The weight of the piece is 1,949 grams. The falcata is a chopping or slashing blade. A blow would be delivered in a wide sweeping action with the point of impact at the widest part of the blade. The most effective force would require the arm to be straight (somewhat like the hammer throw). This means there would be little control once the sweeping blow was commenced. It would be very difficult to parry such a blow with a gladius and the impact on a shield or body armour would be considerable. This replica is perhaps copied from no. 10475 in Museo Archeologico Nacional Madrid."

Staff Series AR Victoriatus. Rome, 206-195 BC. Laureate head of Jupiter right, staff before / Victory right crowning trophy, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 112/1. 3.00g, 18mm, 3h. Very Fine. Scarce. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Staff Series AR Denarius. Rome, 206-195 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, staff before, X behind / The Dioscuri riding right, ROMA in linear frame before. Crawford 112/2a. 3.81g, 19mm, 6h. Very Fine. Rare. From the Andrew McCabe Collection; Ex CNG 129, 21 December 2005, lot 291.

Rostrum Tridens Series AE As. Rome, 206-195 BC. Laureate head of Janus, I above / Prow right, rostrum tridens and I above, ROMA below. Crawford 114/2. 27.88g, 31mm, 10h. Good Fine. Scarce. From the Andrew McCabe Collection; Ex CNG 61, 25 September 2002, lot 1155; Ex Tony Hardy Collection.

An exceptional Roman Republican bronze, which rarely come as well centred and with good clear relief all round.

Helmet Series AE Sextans. Rome, 206-195 BC. Head of Mercury right, two pellets above / Prow right, ROMA above, helmet before, two pellets below. Crawford 118/5. 6.16g, 20mm, 12h. Good Fine. Rare. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Thunderbolt Series AE Semis. Rome, 206-195 BC. Laureate head of Saturn right, S behind/ Prow right, S above, thunderbolt before, ROMA below. Crawford 119/4. 8.24g, 23mm, 2h. Good Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Of generally correct style for the era including the form of prowstem and the peaked deck structure but possibly an ancient imitation.

Thunderbolt Series AE Sextans. Rome, 206-195 BC. Head of Mercury right, two pellets above / Prow right, thunderbolt before, ROMA above, two pellets below. Crawford 119/7. 7.45g, 20mm, 9h. Good Fine. Scarce. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

META Series AR Victoriatus. Rome, 206-195 BC. Laureate head of Jupiter right / Victory crowning trophy, meta between, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 124/1. 2.48g, 16mm, 9h. Good Fine. Scarce. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Meta Series AE Quadrans. Rome, 206-195 BC. Head of Hercules right, three pellets behind / Prow right, meta above, three pellets before, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 124/5. 8.79g, 21mm, 8h. Good Fine. Very Rare. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

ME series AE Triens. Rome, 194-190 BC. Helmeted head of Minerva right, four pellets above / Prow right, ME ligate above, four pellets before, ROMA below. Crawford 132/5. 11.34g, 23mm, 6h. Fine. Very Rare. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

LPLH series AE Triens. Rome, 194-190 BC. Helmeted head of Minerva right, four pellets above / Prow right, LPLH monogram above, four pellets before, ROMA below. Crawford 134/4. 9.48g, 23mm, 5h. Good Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Bull and MD series AE Triens. Rome, 189-180 BC. Helmeted head of Minerva right, four pellets above / Prow right, bull and MD ligate above, four pellets before, ROMA below. Crawford 142/3. 12.93g, 24mm, 6h. Fine. Rare. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Shield and MAE Series AE As. Rome, 189-180 BC. Laureate head of Janus, I above / Prow right, shield and MAE above, I before, ROMA below. Crawford 143/1. 35.20g, 34mm, 6h. Good Fine. Rare. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

MAT series AR Denarius. Rome, 179-170 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind / The Dioscuri riding right, MAT monogram below (T is invisible), ROMA in exergue. Crawford 162/2a. 3.37g, 18mm, 12h. Good Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

MAT series silver and bronze come in a wide range of styles and engraving quality. The letters MAT on the silver often appear as MA, as on this coin, but a tiny cross-bar can be seen. Some of the silver is of very fine engraving quality, evidently not including this coin which is also struck from somewhat worn dies. The bronze consists of issues with lettering before or above the prow. They are of different styles. Both the fine quality and less-fine silver clearly differ in style from RRC 172 MA. Dating in this period is, in general, insecure because of the preponderance of bronze coinage, and the small number of silver issues are insufficient to lay out a precise order. All these factors lead me to believe that there were probably two separate MAT issues of silver and bronze that have not yet been distinguished.

MAT series AE Quadrans. Rome, 179-170 BC. Head of Hercules right, three pellets behind / Prow right, MAT ligate above, three pellets before, ROMA below. Crawford 162/6a. 5.50g, 22mm, 4h. Good Fine. Scarce. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

PAE Series AE Quadrans. Rome, 169-158 BC. Head of Hercules right, three pellets behind / Prow right, PAE ligate above, three pellets before, ROMA below. Crawford 176/4. 4.81g, 20mm, 1h. Good Fine. Rare. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Q. Opeimius AE As. Rome, 169-158 BC. Laureate head of Janus, I above / Prow right, OPEI above, I before, ROMA below. Crawford 190/1. 19.80g, 31mm, 2h. Good Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Imitative Star Series AE Quadrans. Rome mint style, 169-158 BC. Head of Hercules right, three pellets behind / Prow right, ROMA above, star before, three pellets below. Cf. Crawford 196/4; cf. R. Schaefer and A. McCabe, "A Fresh Look at Roman Republic Star Bronzes, Crawford 113 and 196", Numismatic Chronicle 2011. 5.15g, 19mm, 3h. Good Fine. Scarce. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Anonymous AR Denarius. Rome, 157-156 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind / The Dioscuri riding right, ROMA within three-sided frame below. Crawford 198/1. 3.16g, 18mm, 6h. Near Very Fine. Scarce variety with three-sided frame around legend. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Anonymous AR Denarius. Rome, 157-156 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind / The Dioscuri riding right, ROMA within three-sided frame below. Crawford 198/1. 3.86g, 18mm, 6h. Near Good Very Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

SAR Series AR Denarius. Rome, 155 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind / Victory in biga right, SAR below, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 199/1. 3.74g, 19mm, 5h. Good Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

C. Maianius AE Triens. Rome, 153 BC. Helmeted head of Minerva right, four pellets above / Prow right, circa MAIANI above, four pellets before, ROMA below. Crawford 203/4. 6.73g, 23mm, 3h. Good Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

C. Junius C. f. AE As. Rome, 149 BC. Laureate head of Janus, I above / Prow right, C IVNI above, I before, ROMA below. Crawford 210/2. 19.40g, 30mm, 4h. Good Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Q. Marcius Libo AE As. Rome, 148 BC. Laureate head of Janus, I above / Prow right, Q. MARC above, LIBO before, ROMA below. Crawford 215/2a. 26.50g, 29mm, 6h. Good Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

L. Sempronius Pitio AE As. Rome, 148 BC. Laureate head of Janus, I above, dividing PI-TIO / Prow right, L SEMP above, I before, ROMA below. Crawford 216/2a. 20.40g, 30mm, 4h. Good Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

C. Terentius Lucanus AE As. Rome, 147 BC. Laureate head of Janus, I above / Prow right, Victory with wreath flying and C TER LVC above, I before, ROMA below. Crawford 217/2. 26.89g, 31mm, 2h. About Good Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

C. Terentius Lucanus AE Semis. Rome, 147 BC. Laureate head of Saturn, S behind / Prow right, Victory with wreath and C TER LVC above, S before, ROMA below. Crawford 217/3. 11.29g, 27mm, 8h. Good Fine. Scarce. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

M. Aurelius Cotta AR Denarius. Rome, 139 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, COTA below chin, X behind / Hercules, holding club and reins, driving galloping biga of centaurs right, the centaurs each carrying branch; M. AVRELI below, ROMA raised on tablet in exergue. Crawford 229/1a. 3.60g, 19mm, 6h. About Very Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Gn. Gellius AE Triens. Rome, 138 BC. Helmeted head of Minerva right, four pellets above / Prow right, CN GEL above, ROMA below, four pellets before. Crawford 232/3. 6.52g, 19mm, 12h. Good Fine. Scarce. From the Andrew McCabe Collection; Ex RBW Collection, NAC 61, 5 October 2011, lot 960; Ex Italo Vecchi Sale 3, 1996, lot 444.

P. Calpurnius AE Quadrans. Rome, 133 BC. Head of Hercules right, three pellets behind / Ship right on which stand pilot and Victory with wreath, P CALP above, ROMA on side of ship, three pellets before, dolphin below. Crawford 247/3. 4.03g, 19mm, 10h. Fine. Very Rare. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

The first struck bronze without a prow on the reverse, instead there is a complete galley, with Victory standing at centre, and a ship's pilot at left; at either end near stern and prow are masts. A very rare and important coin. Not a great example but the key features of the galley are all clear. The word ROMA is inscribed on the side of the galley and there is a dolphin under. Possibly the best example of RRC 247/3 is in the Ahala collection.

M. Vargunteius AE Semis. Rome, 130 BC. Laureate head of Saturn right, S behind / Prow right, M VARG above, S before, ROMA below. Crawford 257/2. 6.52g, 23mm, 9h. Near Very Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Cn. Domitius AE Semis. Rome, 128 BC. Laureate head of Saturn right, S behind / Prow right, CN DOME above, S before, ROMA below. Crawford 261/2. 6.63g, 21mm, 9h. Good Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

C. Plutius AR Denarius. Rome, 121 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind / Dioscuri riding right, C PLVTI below, ROMA in exergue. Crawford 278/1. 3.77g, 19mm, 9h. Very Fine. Scarce. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Anonymous AR Denarius. Rome, 115-114 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind, ROMA below / Roma, helmeted, seated right on two shields, holding spear before her; wolf standing right at her feet, head turned back, suckling Romulus and Remus, in left and right fields, two birds flying towards her. Crawford 287/1. 3.82g, 20mm, 9h. Good Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

This remarkable type is the last truly anonymous denarius of the Roman Republic. It parallels in design Sextus Pomponius' denarius with the wolf and twins, the shepherd Fostulus and fig tree. Perhaps it was issued by the same gens.

T. Didius AR Denarius. Rome, 113-112 BC. Helmeted head of Roma right, XVI monogram below, monogram of ROMA behind / Two soldiers fighting, one attacking with a whip, the other defending with a sword, T. DEIDI in exergue. Didia 2; Crawford 294/1. 3.76g, 20mm, 6h. Good Fine. From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

Fighting Gladiators on this coin make it one of the most popular Roman Republican coin types. As is usual in popular gladiatorial contests, the contestents are differently equipped and armoured. The prime-time of gladiatorial contests was in the "Bread and Circus" days of the Roman Empire, "Duas tantum res anxius optat panem et circenses", as satirised by Juvenal.

Roman Republican Coins from the Ahala Collection, May 2013, PART 3, RRC 301 to RRC 546

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