Summary

Victoriatus, Issued by Ancient Roman Republic, 207 BC
Minted in Rome

Obverse Description

Laureate head of Jupiter facing right

Reverse Description

Winged Victory standing facing right placing a wreath on a military trophy; in exergue, ROMA; between Victory and trophy, a cornucopiae

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

In 211 BC the Romans introduced a new coinage system based on the copper denomination an As. Copper coins were struck as fractions of an As , silver coins as multiples (the quinarius - 5 As, the denarius - 10 As) and in gold 20, 40 and 60 As. These new coins bore no simple relationship with the Greek based coinages of Italy which Rome had been using prior to 211 BC. This coin, the Victoriatus was created to fill that gap, it was the quivalent of the Greek style drachma in common use by Rome's neighbours in Southern Italy. This example bears a cornucopiae privy mark which dates its production to 207 BC.

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