Coin (reverse), Didrachm

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This silver didrachm of Rome was minted between 280 and 276 BC, possibly at Metapontum in southern Italy. It is one of the earliest attempts of minting coins by the Romans. This picture shows the reverse of the coin. A didrachm had a value of two drachmai. The coin's weight averaged 4 grams or slightly above, with a diameter of about 16 millimeters. The drachm supposedly took its name from a handful (drax) of six iron spits (obeloi), which were formerly used as currency. This ratio of six obols to the drachm continued long after the invention of coinage. The word is probably derived from "drax" - Greek for as much as you could hold in a hand. The Romans also used drachmai but created a new system of coinage around about 211 BC.

The reverse of the coin has a horse's head facing to the right, on a base, with a corn ear behind him. The inscription ROMAN[O] is on the base.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-000-363-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.C15001
• Date: 280 - 276
  Between 280 and 276 BC
  
• Material: Silver; fairly worn. Inscription: Obv. Head of bearded Mars to left, wearing Corinthian helmet; oak-sprig behind / Rev. Horse's head to right on base; corn-ear behind; ROMAN [O] on base
  Coin Type: Crawford 13/1
  Coin, didrachm
  
• Dimensions: 21.00 x 20.00 mm D / Die Axis: 4.0
  
• What: Coin Type: Crawford 13/1
  Coin, didrachm
  
• Subject: Queen Street Coin Collection
  
• Who: Mars
  
• Where: Metapontum (?)
  Roman Republic
  
• Event:
• Description: Silver didrachm of Rome, minted at Metapontum (?), 280 - 276 BC
  
• References:
  • Crawford, M.H. Roman Republican Coinage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1976. 
• Translations:
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