Roman Republican AR Denarius

Anonymous [Crescent] Cr 137/1

Ca. 194-190 B.C.

 Mint - Rome

 

The first description is from the auction company, Triskeles, with a few changes. My thoughts are below.

Anonymous [Crescent]. Ca. 194-190 B.C. AR denarius (20 mm, 3.60 g, 10 h). Rome. Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, X / the Dioscuri riding right; above, crescent; below ROMA in in linear frame. Crawford 137/1; Grueber 575; Sydenham 314; RSC 20i. Lightly toned. Pleasing very fine.

A duplicate from the RBW Collection of Roman Republican Coins. Purchased privately from Richard Schaeffer in 1992.



Country	Roman
Type or era	Republican
Coin type	Denarius
Mint	Rome
Issued by	Cresent
Issued by	Anonymous Cresent
Title of issuer	moneyer
Mint Date	-194	-194 to -190
Weight	3.59
Weight - max	4.04		4.73
Weight - min	3.21		3.68
Weight - avg	3.71		4.00
Weight - st dev	0.21		0.27
Number	18		19
Diameter - max	19.8	18
Diameter - min	19.23
Diameter - max	20.7		20.3
Diameter - min	17.0		18.0
Diameter - avg	19.3		19.3
Diameter - st dev	1.147		0.890
Metal	Ar
Serrated	N
Crawford #	137.1		57.2
BMCRR	575		431
Sear: #	39	Sear does not list Cr 137.1	39
RSC: #	20i		20i
CRR	314		219, 265
CRI
NMWar			149
NMCr	32	33
Orientation	10
Orientation
Purchased from	Triskeles
Purchase date	10.3.13
Price	$157.20
Currency	$
Excahange rate
Grade	VF
Grade	VF
Centering	Obv is 5% off center, but flan is large enough that all features are on coin, including border. Rev is 9% off center and the end of theDioscuri capes are off flan as is part of lineborder,about 60% of line border is on flan.
Strike	well struck, dies on obv & rev show some wear and flow lines, faces on Dioscuri are not complete, reins and lances are well formed
Flan flaws	none
Style	Roma visor is peaked which is later than 211, A is version with cross from center of right line to center of base. This series is one of the last to use a V shape for the cross.
Patination	light toning with traces of earlier and darker toning near features.
Damage	none
Obverse	Roma
Reverse	Dioscuri Crescent
Obverse	head of Roma R, wearing winged helmet with visor in 3 pieces and peaked, decorated with gryphon, I shaped ear ring, bead necklace, hair tied and falling in 3 locks, behind mark of value = X
Reverse	Dioscuri on horseback charging R, each holds spear and wears chlamys, cuirass and pileus; surmounted by stars, above crescent, below in linear frame ROMA. This issue has the three archaic forms of A.
Obverse dies	30		60
Reverse dies	37		75
No VCoins
No CNG
No WW
Coin Arch
V Cat
The anonymous Roma / Dioscuri with crescent silver denarii were probably issued by more than one moneyer. Crawford assigns two numbers: #57.2 is dated 207BC, has a die estimate of 60/75, a wt std of 4.4 g, an avg of 4.03  for 25 coins and was assigned to Rome;  #137.1 is dated 194 - 190 BC, has a die estimate of 30/37, a wt std of 3.9 g, an avg of 3.81  for 16 coins and was assigned to Rome. Grueber assigns two number series: #431 - 435 are in period II, have a wt range of 3.56 - 4.34 and was assigned to Rome;  #575 - 578 are in period III , have a wt range of 3.3 - 3.8 g, and was assigned to Rome. Sydenham assigned three #s: 219, 265 & 314. The British Museum on line gives examples of the two series of crescent denarii. I have difficulty telling one from the other. The ear ring on Roma in the older type seems to have more than one piece, and the Dioscuri's horses seem to be rearing more. The only "definite" difference is the average weight of the earlier series is heavier. The weight ranges overlap significantly. The first two coins are attributed as Cr 57/2 and the second two are 137/1 by the British Museum on line. You can compare more of these issues at the BM web site http://www.britishmuseum.org