2022-02-03 Thu

Serrated denarii are unique to the Roman Republic with most issued from the late 2nd to early 1st century BC. As it is known the denarii serrati represent a particular and original typology of republican denarii having the edge indented. Comprising about two dozen issues, these coins were struck on planchets (blanks) with edges serrated with cuts of a blade.

The motivation behind the edge serration is not known, and scholars have devoted a great deal of thought to the matter. Some believe it was an anti-counterfeiting device intending to expose the interior of the coin at its edge, thus reducing the likelihood of plated forgeries.

The denarius shown above depicts a draped bust of Diana to right, with bow and quiver over the shoulder on the obverse with legend GETA downwards behind, III•VIR downwards before. The reverse depicts a boar standing to right, wounded by a spear and attacked by a hound to right along with the legend C•HOSIDI•C•[F] in exergue.

Image Courtesy: coinarchives.com