Anonymous. Circa 275 BC. Æ Aes Grave As (64.5mm, 213.60 g, 3h). Tarquinii (Etruria) mint. VF.

CNG Feature Auction 133
Lot: 483. Estimated: $ 2 000

Roman Republican, Bronze, Coin-in-Hand Video

Sold For $ 7 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Anonymous. Circa 275 BC. Æ Aes Grave As (64.5mm, 213.60 g, 3h). Tarquinii (Etruria) mint. Forepart of boar left / Spearhead. ICC 121; HN Italy 215. Green-brown patina, minor roughness. VF. Extremely rare.

Bronze was, from very early times, the traditional medium of exchange for the peoples of central Italy. Economically and artistically the region was behind when compared with the highly developed monetary systems of the Greek colonies in the south. Initially, the population of this area, including the Romans, made do with irregular lumps of bronze, known as Aes Rude, for their currency requirements. Toward the close of the 4th century BC, they advanced to producing cast bronze bars with designs on both sides. These large and cumbersome pieces are known today by the term Aes Signatum. Later still, probably around 280 BC, cast bronze coinage on circular flans (Aes Grave) was introduced and gradually superseded the bars as the 3rd century progressed, the transition being complete by about the time of the end of the First Punic War (241 BC). Aes Grave were produced in a range of denominations, initially from the As (weighing approximately 324 grams or one Roman pound) down to its twenty-fourth part, the Semuncia. The large Aes Grave issues, commencing circa 225 BC, were on a somewhat reduced standard, with the As weighing about 275 grams, although they were still quite massive and likely inconvenient for use in everyday commerce. At the same time, for convenience, a bimetallic monetary system was introduced with the inclusion of silver didrachms, known as quadrigati, and a smaller denomination called quinarii. As inflation took its toll the Romans replaced the smaller bronze denominations with struck coins, introducing new bronze and silver denominations when they reformed circa 212-211 BC.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 133 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 15-16 September 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 133 – Session Two – Lot 309-594 will be held Tuesday morning, 15 September 2026 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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