Coinage Reforms of 211 BC

Sale: CNG 76, Lot: 1160. Estimate $3000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 12 September 2007.  Sold For $4300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Anonymous. 211-208 BC. AV 60 As (3.36 g, 12h). Rome mint. Bearded head of Mars right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet; LX (mark of value) behind / Eagle with wings spread standing right on thunderbolt; ROMA below. Crawford 44/2; Bahrfeldt 4a; Sydenham 226. EF, tiny die break from crest to beard. Lustrous.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 41 (19 March 1997), lot 1517.

Rome's military successes in the later stages of the Second Punic War, especially the capture and sack of Syracuse, enabled her to undertake a fundamental reform of the coinage in 211 BC. This included the introduction of a series of three small gold denominations valued at 60, 40, and 20 asses. The types were identical in each case, a bearded head of Mars, god of war, on obverse, and an eagle on thunderbolt (representing Jupiter) on reverse. The issue extended over a period of about three years and Rome seems to have been the principal mint.