The Numismatic Chronicle 171 Offprint - Royal Numismatic Society

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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.
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