The Numismatic Chronicle 171 Offprint - Royal Numismatic Society

The Numismatic
Chronicle 171
Offprint
A Fresh Look at Roman Republican
Star Bronzes, RRC 113 and 196
by
RICHARD SCHAEFER and ANDREW McCABE
LONDON
THE ROYAL NUMISMATIC SOCIETY
2011

ROMAN REPUBLICAN STAR BRONZES, RRC 113 AND 196 99
A Fresh Look at Roman Republican
Star Bronzes, RRC 113 and 196
RICHARD SCHAEFER and ANDREW MCCABE
Abstract. The Star bronzes RRC 113 and 196 are among the most diffi cult to classify in the
Roman Republican series. Crawford dates RRC 113 to 206-195 BC and RRC 196 to 169-158
BC. Although the as and semis denominations are plentiful and easy to classify, their lower
fractions, except the star-before quadrantes, are rare. The traditional dating of fractions with
star above (RRC 113) to 206-195 BC and those with star before (RRC 196) to 169-158 BC is
based on the perception that the plentiful star-before quadrantes are lighter than those with
star above. There are, however, two issues of star-before quadrantes, a rare heavier issue
whose style is close to that of RRC 113, and the much commoner light quadrantes with erratic
design features. The latter seem to form part of the large volume of unoffi cial lightweight
semisses and quadrantes produced after 150 BC. Design elements of the other fractions with
star before are consistently like RRC 113, and those with star above are like RRC 196. Thus
we propose to switch the lighter fractions, associating the star-before fractions with RRC
113 in 206-195 BC and the star-above fractions with RRC 196 in 169-158 BC. Although the
offi cial RRC 113 and RRC 196 lower fractions cannot be distinguished from each other by
weight alone, an analysis of weights shows the unoffi cial quadrantes to be consistently much
lighter than the offi cial issues.
1. Introduction and prior research
The Roman Republican Star bronzes, Crawford 113 and 196, are among the most
diffi cult to classify in the Republican series. Crawford dates RRC 113 to 206-195
BC (hereafter, Period 1) and RRC 196 to 169-158 BC (Period 2). In 1864 Baron
d’Ailly noted that ‘Les nombreuses monnaies qui portent ce symbole [Astre] offrent
une singulière condition : dans les deux métaux, argent et bronze, et dans chaque
valeur diverse, les têtes au droit ont entre elles, sur toutes les espèces, une certaine
conformité dans les traits de la fi gure et dans les agencements, que l’on ne saurait
méconnaître, malgré la variété de talent des artistes qui ont gravé les coins; tandis que
le revers exhibe souvent des dispositions différentes, soit dans la forme du symbole,
soit sur la place qu’il occupe dans le champ.’ The situation is certainly confused by
differences in obverse and reverse style and placement of the star symbol. In this
paper we will try to sort out the confusion.
D’Ailly noted that one style of Star asses and semisses is clearly and consistently
of a higher artistic standard. This style coincides with that of other Period 1 bronzes,
such as those with the rostrum tridens (RRC 114) or bird and rudder (RRC 117B).
These good-style Star asses and semisses, RRC 113/2 and 113/3 (Figs 1, 2) 1 , can
1 Photograph credits. Figs 1, 6, 14, 15, 17: CNG; Figs 2, 12, 16: Andrew McCabe; Figs 3, 4, 5, 7, 8,
9, 10, 11, 13: Roberto Russo.

100
RICHARD SCHAEFER and ANDREW McCABE
easily be distinguished from a number of other Star asses and semisses, which are
artistically less competent and are of slightly lower weight standard although their
weights do overlap with the bronzes of good style. The style of these other pieces,
RRC 196/1 and 196/2 (Figs 3, 4), coincides with that of the other Period 2 bronze
issues (for example RRC 192, 193, 194 and 195). So d’Ailly had reached the point
of distinguishing two different issues of Star bronzes.
Fig. 1: Period 1 as Fig. 2: Period 1 semis
Fig. 3: Period 2 as Fig. 4: Period 2 semis
Fractional Star bronzes are all rare except for the very common quadrantes with
star before the prow. D’Ailly divides the corpus into various styles but does not
propose any specifi c arrangement. However, since he notes that the star-before
quadrantes are lighter and more erratically engraved (Figs 12, 13), this is generally
taken to mean that they are to be associated with Period 2 asses and semisses.
D’Ailly did not notice that among the many lower-weight star-before quadrantes in
his own collection there were four that were of higher weight and in style equal to
the fi ne-style (Period 1) asses and semisses. When the star-before quadrantes were
assigned to Period 2, by association the other star-before fractions became linked to
the Period 2 asses and semisses, and, by default, fractions with star above the prow
were linked to the Period 1 fi ne-style series. The arrangement is easy to use, the large
denominations being distinguished on the grounds of Period 1 or 2 style, and the
smaller star-before denominations classifi ed to Period 2 and, by default, star-above
to Period 1.
Crawford does not dispute this arrangement. For RRC 113, he illustrates the as.
For RRC 196 he illustrates the as and the quadrans, although the quadrans which
he uses, the key coin in the story, is of a different and fi ner style than that usually
encountered.

ROMAN REPUBLICAN STAR BRONZES, RRC 113 AND 196 101
Neither Grueber nor Sydenham 2 distinguish the issues but rather gather all star
coins together, Sydenham as his catalogue number 264, Grueber as Rome 461-
469. Interestingly Grueber describes the BM quadrantes as ‘exceptionally light
weight’ (3.5 to 5g). He lists in footnotes several varieties which are not in the British
Museum. 3
Two other numismatists have looked at the series, Santini and Zehnacker. 4
Santini reproduces d’Ailly’s arrangement with the addition of further examples. He
admits that the classifi cation presents many diffi culties, such are the irregularities
and inconsistencies of the series, probably stemming from differences in mints and
periods. He repeats the basic classifi cation of the asses into one recognisably goodstyle
main issue (RRC 113/2), and other issues (RRC 196/1). As for the fractions,
the conclusion that the many star-before quadrantes are of lighter weight confi rms
the general classifi cation, but is reinforced by the fact that star-before trientes are
also of lighter weight. So he again supports the classifi cation suggested by d’Ailly.
Zehnacker, while considering the silver in great depth, defers again to d’Ailly on
bronzes, but compounds the misunderstanding of the bronze issues by including
line-drawings of imaginary asses with star before or star under prow and using them
to discuss matters of style.
None of these numismatists commented on the specifi c technical details of the
reverse design, which provide the solution to the classifi cation dilemma.
2. Features of proper RRC 113 asses and semisses (Period 1 style)
As mentioned above, the two denominations that can be classifi ed without diffi culty
are the asses and semisses. The following features are present consistently in all
examples of RRC 113 (Figs 1, 2 above and Fig. 5 below):
Reverse:
1. Prow-stem is straight, long and slim.
2. Two close lower wales (horizontal lines above keel but below the mid-wale
line of dots) curve down and, from left to right, converge toward keel.
3. Wales meet in a short rostrum tridens which projects, if at all, only a little past
the hull.
4. The A in ROM_ is open, i.e. the bar of the A is angled and is connected to only
one of the two vertical supports of the letter.
Obverse:
5. Stern, regular, uniform features
6. Beards made mostly of tufts
The same features occur on the semisses.
2 H. Grueber, Coins of the Roman Republic in the British Museum (London, 1910, repr. 1970); E.
Sydenham, The Coinage of the Roman Republic (London, 1952).
3 Grueber, op. cit., p. 55 note 2.
4 A. Santini, Saggio di catalogo generale della monete consolari anonime con simboli (Milan, 1939);
H. Zehnacker, Moneta : recherches sur l’organisation et l’art des émissions monétaires de la République
romaine (289-31 av. J. C.) (Rome, 1973).

102
RICHARD SCHAEFER and ANDREW McCABE
Fig. 5: Period 1 as
3. Features of proper RRC 196 asses and semisses (Period 2 style)
Consider the same features on RRC 196 asses and semisses (Figs 3, 4 above and Fig.
6 below).
Reverse:
1. Prow-stem is short, fat and curved.
2. The lower wale is always equidistant from the upper wale and the keel, even
when this distance diminishes over the length of the keel.
3. Wales are joined by a line or dots to form a long rostrum tridens, projecting
well past the hull.
4. The A in ROMA is closed, i.e. the bar in the A is horizontal and connected to
both the vertical supports of the letter.
Obverse:
5. Features more irregular and sometimes upwards gazing; faces often appear
amused or surprised.
6. Beards made of long individual strands projecting downwards.
Fig. 6: Period 2 as
4. Features of fractional star-before bronzes – to be reclassifi ed with RRC 113
The particular star-before bronzes which concern us, examined in the same way,
match RRC 113 in every respect (Figs 7, 8 below) 5 .
1. Prow-stem is straight, long and slim.
2. The two close lower wales curve down and converge from left to right toward
keel.
5 No Period 1 sextans is illustrated – BMCRR 413, cited by Crawford, does not seem to have a star
before the prow, and there are no other known examples. Also, no star unciae are known.

ROMAN REPUBLICAN STAR BRONZES, RRC 113 AND 196 103
3. Wales meet in a short rostrum tridens which projects, if at all, only a bit past
the hull.
4. The A in ROM_ is open, i.e. the bar of the A is angled and is connected to only
one of the two vertical supports of the letter .
Fig. 7: Period 1 triens Fig. 8: Period 1 quadrans
Omitted from this picture are the many poorer-style, lighter-weight quadrantes
(Figs 12, 13 below) which so many experts have mentioned, and which have caused
all the star-before fractions to be wrongly associated with Period 2 rather than
Period 1.
5. Features of fractional star-above bronzes – to be reclassifi ed with RRC 196
Having established the Period 1 and 2 characteristics from the star asses and semisses,
and noted that these agree with other contemporary bronze issues, e.g. Rostrum
Tridens (RRC 114) for Period 1 and AT (RRC 192) for Period 2, let us now look at
the lower fractions. Supposedly associated with Period 1, the triens, quadrans and
sextans tell a different story. Examining fi rst the reverse style, we see the following
(Figs 9, 10, 11, below):
1. The prow-stem is short, fat and curved.
2. The lower wale is always equidistant from the upper wale and the keel, even
when this distance diminishes over the length of the keel.
3. Wales do not meet but form a long rostrum tridens, projecting well past the
hull.
4. The A in ROMA is closed, i.e. the bar in the A is horizontal and connected to
both the vertical supports of the letter.
Although classifi ed by Crawford as Period 1, the star-above triens, quadrans and
sextans differ consistently from Period 1 style, and exhibit the characteristics of
Period 2. Clearly they must be associated with RRC 196 rather than with RRC 113,
in correction of the view of d’Ailly and Crawford.
Fig. 9: Period 2 triens Fig. 10: Period 2 quadrans Fig. 11: Period 2 sextans

104
RICHARD SCHAEFER and ANDREW McCABE
6. Small change issue, non-RRC 113 star-before quadrans (Figs 12, 13)
There exist many more numerous star-before quadrantes which cannot to be assigned
to RRC 113. The examples illustrated in Figs 12, 13 are better than average, but,
compared with both RRC 113 and 196, they show defects.
Fig. 12: Small change quadrans Fig. 13: Small change quadrans
The lettering is erratic, and the prow designs are irregular in several respects, for
example shaky lines occur frequently. There is no convergence into any rostrum
tridens; instead the lines of the lower wales continue and never join. The prow-stem
varies greatly, as does the line to the right of the apotropaic eye. Instead of being
straight, the line is curved on Fig. 12 (and a superfl uous line added higher on the
prow-stem) and is missing in Fig. 13. There is often an extra line (especially clear
in Fig. 13) just above the deck and under the deckhouse. The three dots below are
sometimes irregularly spaced (Fig. 13). Not all these errors, of course, are present
on each coin, but there are enough to reveal that they are not from an offi cial mint.
The obverses tell a different story. Sometimes they are crude, but at other times quite
good (e.g., Fig. 13). But the reverse errors and occasional obverse irregularities on
poorer examples, along with the coins’ light weights, indicate that they are part of
neither RRC 113 nor 196, but a separate group.
We believe that these non-RRC 113 star-before quadrantes form part of the large
volume of lightweight semisses and quadrantes termed unoffi cial imitations and
small change by Crawford in 1982. 6 Some of these issues are rare, but some are quite
common. Crawford did not include these irregular Star quadrantes in his article,
presumably because, not noticing their lightness and inferior style, he followed the
previous classifi cation as noted in the introduction. Crawford provisionally dated this
unoffi cial small change c.100-c.25 BC. The beginning is suggested by the absence
of as and sextans imitations; the end-date refl ects Augustus’ large production of
quadrantes.
Crawford’s main criteria for considering struck bronzes offi cial seem to have been
acceptable style and a range of denominations. Apart from one extraordinary issue of
semis alone, RRC 82/1, the coin evidence indicates that Rome’s policy was to produce
for public use bronze issues containing multiple denominations. After 211 BC, only
a handful of very rare issues comprise only one bronze fractional denomination. If
we take into account discoveries since Crawford’s RRC was published, fewer than
fi ve such issues remain, and these will probably be eliminated in the future. Since
the non-RRC 113 star-before quadrantes are common, lightweight, highly irregular
6 Michael Crawford, ‘Unoffi cial imitations and small change under the Roman Republic’, AIIN 29
(1982), pp. 139-164.

ROMAN REPUBLICAN STAR BRONZES, RRC 113 AND 196 105
in style, and comprise only one denomination, we believe that they are an unoffi cial
small change issue.
Because they were evidently produced in large quantities, the non-RRC 113
quadrantes swamp the genuine RRC 113 Rome mint quadrantes. However, despite
their varying designs, their one point of consistency is that they never resemble
the RRC 196 asses and semisses with their fat, short, curved prow-stem and other
notable features. So we have the answer to the classifi cation riddle. Take the small
change star-before quadrans away from RRC 196 and the rest of the star bronzes
can be neatly reclassifi ed. This is reinforced by the evidence of weights (see section
8 below) which indicate that these coins were struck on a standard typically a third
lower than any other RRC 113 or RRC 196 denomination.
7. Obverse styles of the Period 2 trientes, quadrantes and sextantes
As discussed earlier, the Period 2 as and semis can be clearly distinguished by both
their obverse and reverse styles. Note that the lower fractions, because their obverses
are too inconsistent in style, can be defi nitively distinguished only by their reverses,
which clearly differ from Period 1. On the obverse, the Period 2 heads are generally
smaller, but in style they widely range from fi ne to crude. Compare for example
some other typical coins from the period.
Fig. 14: AT sextans RRC [192/5] (in RRC the AT issue
is listed from as to quadrans, 192/1 to 192/4, but no
sextans was then known; about eight have been found
subsequently)
Fig. 15: Ass sextans RRC 195/5
Fig. 16: Ass quadrans RRC 195/4
Fig. 17: AT quadrans RRC 192/4
In Fig. 14, the RRC 192 AT sextans has a classic obverse head of fi ne style, as does
to a lesser degree Fig. 16, a RRC 195 Ass quadrans. To judge solely by obverse style,
they are worthy of the earlier Period 1 coins. But the RRC 195 Ass sextans of Fig.
15 and the RRC 192 AT quadrans of Fig. 17, on the other hand, show crude obverse
heads with cartoon-like features such as large staring eyes. Yet all these coins are
issues of Period 2. Thus obverse style is not a good guide, and reverse style is the
only sure guide to distinguish Period 1 from Period 2.

106
8. Weights
RICHARD SCHAEFER and ANDREW McCABE
Analysis of the star coin weights raises complex problems. We have surveyed coins
from published and internet auctions over the last decade as well as from major
public collections. 7
Although there are suffi cient weight data on the easily distinguished RRC 113/2
and RRC 196/1 as, and the RRC 113/3 and RRC 196/2 semis, the data available for
other fractions is very limited. For example Michael Crawford’s archived papers
in the British Museum indicate that he considered two star-above trientes in Paris,
weighing 10.70 and 10.41g, and eight star-before trientes in Paris and Hannover
weighing an average 6.93g. 8 Weights for quadrantes cannot be accepted sight-unseen,
given the variable design features. Sextantes are so rare as to defy weight analysis.
At fi rst glance the limited trientes data seem to support the existing classifi cation.
However many of the Paris coins are very worn, and thus best not included in the data.
A wider survey of well-preserved pieces which we have viewed in person or from
photographs shows that the offi cial smaller fractions, as opposed to the unoffi cial
quadrantes, cannot be distinguished by weight between Period 1 and Period 2, nor
by diameter.
For each type we give the sample size and the average weight (mean). As sample
sizes are small, we have calculated a ‘90% confi dence range’ for the mean – within
which the mean of a theoretically large sample should (with 90% confi dence) fall. If
the ‘90% confi dence range’ of two issues do not overlap, the issues were probably
made to different weight standards. If the ‘90% confi dence range’ of two issues
overlap, it is our view that the two issues cannot be distinguished by weight alone.
Weights are rounded to the nearest half gram: it is not statistically meaningful to be
more precise.
RRC 113/2 as: 14 coins averaging 33½ g (90% confi dence range is 31 to 36g)
RRC 196/1 as: 39 coins averaging 22½ g (90% confi dence range is 21½ to
23½ g)
RRC 113/3 semis: 3 coins averaging 15g (90% confi dence range is 14 to 16 g)
RRC 196/2 semis: 20 coins averaging 13½ g (90% confi dence range is 13 to
14½ g)
Star-before triens: 6 coins averaging 7½ g (90% confi dence range is 6 to 9 g)
Star-above triens: 9 coins averaging 9 g (90% confi dence range is 8 to 9½ g)
Star-before quadrans offi cial issue: 4 coins averaging 7g (90% confi dence range
is 6 to 8g)
Star-above quadrans: 6 coins averaging 6½ g (90% confi dence range is 6 to 7g)
Star-before quadrans, later small change: 37 coins averaging 4½ g (90%
confi dence range is 4 to 4½g)
Insuffi cient sextantes were available to include in the data.
7 Public collections: ANS, Bibliothèque Nationale (Paris), Kestner Museum (Hannover), and Museo
Civico (Milan). Private collections: Russo, Witschonke, Goodman, McCabe, Blume-Poulton and
others.
8 Michael Crawford, archive of notes compiled in the preparation of Roman Republican Coinage,
British Museum.

ROMAN REPUBLICAN STAR BRONZES, RRC 113 AND 196 107
Since the 90% confi dence ranges of RRC 113 and RRC 196 asses do not overlap,
they were probably struck to a different standard. In Fig. 18 below, the histogram
illustrates the two standards. The RRC 113 as average (31-36g) clearly exceeds the
uncial standard of 27g and the offi cial standard is probably higher than the average
weight. The RRC 113 semis (average as weight 28-32g) also suggests a standard
heavier than uncial. The RRC 196 asses, which average 21-23g, a bit less than uncial,
were probably offi cially on an uncial standard. Coins over 30g are probably RRC
113, and those under 20g are probably RRC 196. Coins between 20 and 30g need to
be assessed by style.
Fig. 18
The RRC 196 as is relatively light as compared with its fractions; the latter are
however consistent with an uncial standard as the confi dence ranges for the RRC 196
semis, star-above triens and quadrans all indicate an as weight in the 24-29g range.
The small change quadrantes indicate an as weight average of 16-18g. Not only
is this half of RRC 113 but is also much below the RRC 196 as, RRC 196 semis, and
other fractions. Therefore we conclude that they form a lighter and probably later
issue.
Since the weight standards of the offi cial star-before and star-above triens and
quadrans overlap considerably, we cannot determine by weight alone if they follow
different weight standards, nor whether the star-above precedes or follows the starbefore
coins. But the stylistic analysis in Sections 2-5 shows that the fractions hew
closely to the as styles, so they may be assigned to the as they resemble. Space
precludes further analysis, but further confi rmation can be found in the style and
weight of other contemporary Period 1 and Period 2 bronze issues.
9. A New Classifi cation of Star Bronzes
We have made the case above for a new classifi cation of Star bronzes. It only remains
to tabulate the new classifi cation in its proper sequence. Where rearrangement is
necessary, coins moved are assigned a number with prefi x R (Revised) so as to leave
Crawford’s existing references intact.

108
RICHARD SCHAEFER and ANDREW McCABE
RRC 113: New Classifi cation: star above prow on as and semis, before on lower
fractions
Characteristics as described in Sections 2 and 4 above:
Star-above as, RRC 113/2. Figs 1, 5
Star-above semis, RRC 113/3. Fig. 2
Star-before triens, R.RRC 113/4 – new classifi cation, formerly RRC 196/3.
Fig. 7
Star-before quadrans, R.RRC 113/5 – new classifi cation, formerly RRC 196/4.
Fig. 8
Star-before sextans, R.RRC 113/6 – new classifi cation, formerly RRC 196/5 9 .
RRC 196: New Classifi cation: Star always above prow
Characteristics as described in Sections 3 and 5 above:
Star-above as, RRC 196 /1. Figs 3, 6
Star-above semis, RRC 196/2. Fig. 4
Star-above triens, R.RRC 196/3 – new classifi cation, formerly RRC 113/4.
Fig. 9
Star-above quadrans, R.RRC 196/4 – new classifi cation, formerly RRC 113/5.
Fig. 10
Star-above sextans, R.RRC 196/5 – new classifi cation, formerly RRC 113/6.
Fig. 11
Unoffi cial Small Change Star Quadrantes Issue
Without any link to a series headed by an as and semis, the small change star
quadrantes need to be classifi ed separately. They are clearly much later than the
well-made RRC 113 series, given their light weight and erratic reverse styles, and
are also different in style from the regular RRC 196/4 quadrans, as well as having the
star before rather than above the prow.
Characteristics as described in Section 6 above:
Star-before quadrans, later small change issue – new classifi cation, formerly
RRC 196/4. See other small change unoffi cial issues discussed in Crawford
1982 (n. 6 above). Figs 12, 13.
9 This classifi cation is theoretical since, to our knowledge, no example exists – see note 5 above.