Crawford, Imitations 67, "foot" symbol, Italy, 1st century BC

A wonderful Italian imitation of a Roman Republic semis, this time with a foot(or perhaps just a backwards L?) above the prow. Sternberg, who previously sold this coin 21 years ago, thought this was some sort of unique official issue, however it is definitely an imitation. Rome not only tolerated, but seemingly encouraged the minting of imitations like this by private individuals during the first century BC when the Rome Mint mostly stopped minting bronze between the Social War and the Imperatorial Period. Citizens needed bronze for small change, so a number of small, private mints throughout Italy minted a wonderful series of imitations in a variety of styles.

Imitations of Roman Republic coinage, Italy, Æ Semis(9.75g). 1st century B.C., Italian mint. Laureate head of Saturn right, S behind/Prow of galley right; above, foot facing left; below, ROMA. Cf. Crawford "Unofficial Imitations and small change under the Roman Republic," AIIN 29(1982), 67

Ex Sternberg 35, 29 October 2000, 389

Видео Crawford, Imitations 67, "foot" symbol, Italy, 1st century BC канала Jordan Montgomery