Roman currency bar ("aes signatum") with chicken design, early 3rd century BC Loan from @britishmuseum 1867,0212.4 Cast copper alloy currency bar (aes signatum). Obverse - two chickens facing each other. Between them stars above and below. Reverse -

Roman currency bar ("aes signatum") with chicken design, early 3rd century BC

 

Loan from @britishmuseum

1867,0212.4

 

Cast copper alloy currency bar (aes signatum). Obverse - two chickens facing each other. Between them stars above and below.

 

Reverse - two tridents with two dolphins between.

 

From the Roman Republic, issuer anonymous; c. 280BC-250BC

Minted in Rome, Italy

 

The designs on this currency bar are thought to refer to naval battles of the First Punic War (264 BC-241 BC). The tridents and dolphins on the reverse symbolise the sea, and the two stars and chickens on the obverse are thought to refer to the function of Castor and Pollux as protectors of sailors (Crawford 1974, p.718, note 2)

Purchased from Giulio Sambon, 1867

 

@mcrmuseum

#dolphin #staffquiz #treasurehunt

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