ANONYMOUS. Didrachm. (Ar. 6.62g/20mm). 225-212 BC Rome. (Crawford 3/28). Obv: Double-fronted laureate head of Janus. Rev: Jupiter driving chariot to the right, below legend incuse: ROME. Good Very Fine/ Very Fine.
The didrachma is considered the predecessor of the denarius. Specifically, the specimens that have a quadriga on their backs are also known as quadrigates. Regarding the obverses, despite the fact that the double-faced bearded god usually appears bearded, there are exceptions without a bearded one, in the chronological range that goes between 225 and 137 BC and in two specific types of coins: the contemporary aces to the Volterra coins and quadrigatis, like this one, which were in circulation between 225 and 212 BC We consider it interesting to literally quote the words of Doña María Teresa Pradas Blasco ("The numismatic image of Janus") about the parallelism of these pieces with other contemporaries : “The gold and silver coins (quadrigati) correspond to this context, with a Greek invoice and weight, put into circulation by Rome between 225 BC. C. and 212 a. C., with representation of beardless two-faced, which have their parallel in the Capua shekel of 216 a. C., with a female double head, attributed to Hannibal during his occupation of Campania for the exceptional use of electro, the omission of the name of ROME and the choice of the Carthaginian female type, doubled as a concession to the custom of the area."
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