coin Uncia
Object number
LDSAL1264.4
Production place
Umbria
Material
copper alloy
bronze
bronze
Technique
Casting
Dimensions
Weight: 14g
height: 28mm
:
width: 26mm
depth: 8mm
height: 28mm
:
width: 26mm
depth: 8mm
Content description
Obverse showing vase (very worn)
Reverse spearhead
Reverse spearhead
References
Reference (free text)
vol 46
Reference (free text)
p.33
Uncia with obverse showing two handled Kantharos (very worn) and spearhead reverse. Tuder, Umbria mint. BMC Greek (Italy) Tuder class 1.9.
LDSAL 468 (LDSAL 1225-1237; 1264.1-31)
Roman republican copper-alloy coins (3rd century BC)
Italy (exact provenance unknown)
Donated on 28th November 1889 by William John Belt Esq MA FSA
These large copper-alloy (bronze) discs are the oldest coins in the Society’s collection. They belonged to the collection of W.J. Belt FSA, a keen antiquarian with interests in Roman and English Antiquities. Belt practiced as a ‘Barrister at law’ and lived for a number of years in Italy; it is likely he collected these coins whilst there.
Like many collectors of this time, Belt was clearly knowledgeable about his personal collection and produced a small handwritten catalogue of the coins according to numismatic standards of the time. This he left to the Society with the coins. Unfortunately, the coins became separated from this document, along with a catalogue that was published by the Royal Numismatic Society in 1948; in the later 20th century the coins were no longer recognised as coins and were given new numbers with no donor information.
In early 2018 this collection was recognised once more as being an important group of early Roman coins. The two catalogues were then re-discovered and are today reunited with the coins in this case. It is hoped more research can now begin.
Known to antiquarians as ‘aes grave’ (heavy bronze) these coins were cast rather than struck and are made from copper-alloy (bronze). The different sizes reflect the different denominations of coin. The largest denomination was the as, which originally equated to 1 Roman pound (around 324g). Each denomination was a fraction of an as: the semis a half, triens a third, quadrans a quarter, sextans a sixth and the uncia was a twelfth. The Belt collection contains examples of each denomination: the heaviest coin weighs 397g, while the lightest weighs just 14g. The oldest in the collection date from 280-276 BC, while the newer examples date from 225-217 BC. As these coins were minted by cities or states (rather than Emperors) they show different motifs: these include Gods and Goddesses and an array of animals including horses, boars, dolphins, tortoises and sleeping dogs.
Roman republican copper-alloy coins (3rd century BC)
Italy (exact provenance unknown)
Donated on 28th November 1889 by William John Belt Esq MA FSA
These large copper-alloy (bronze) discs are the oldest coins in the Society’s collection. They belonged to the collection of W.J. Belt FSA, a keen antiquarian with interests in Roman and English Antiquities. Belt practiced as a ‘Barrister at law’ and lived for a number of years in Italy; it is likely he collected these coins whilst there.
Like many collectors of this time, Belt was clearly knowledgeable about his personal collection and produced a small handwritten catalogue of the coins according to numismatic standards of the time. This he left to the Society with the coins. Unfortunately, the coins became separated from this document, along with a catalogue that was published by the Royal Numismatic Society in 1948; in the later 20th century the coins were no longer recognised as coins and were given new numbers with no donor information.
In early 2018 this collection was recognised once more as being an important group of early Roman coins. The two catalogues were then re-discovered and are today reunited with the coins in this case. It is hoped more research can now begin.
Known to antiquarians as ‘aes grave’ (heavy bronze) these coins were cast rather than struck and are made from copper-alloy (bronze). The different sizes reflect the different denominations of coin. The largest denomination was the as, which originally equated to 1 Roman pound (around 324g). Each denomination was a fraction of an as: the semis a half, triens a third, quadrans a quarter, sextans a sixth and the uncia was a twelfth. The Belt collection contains examples of each denomination: the heaviest coin weighs 397g, while the lightest weighs just 14g. The oldest in the collection date from 280-276 BC, while the newer examples date from 225-217 BC. As these coins were minted by cities or states (rather than Emperors) they show different motifs: these include Gods and Goddesses and an array of animals including horses, boars, dolphins, tortoises and sleeping dogs.