Item number: A198

Year: 112-111 BC

Material: Silver

Size: 19.4 x 17.0 x 1.5 mm

Weight: 3.82 g

Manufactured by: Roman mint, third workshop

Provenance: Coincraft 2016

This is a denarius coin minted by the Roman Republic’s moneyer Titus Quinctius during the period of 112-111 BC.

The obverse of the coin features a profile portrait of Hercules, wearing a lion skin and carrying a club. The reverse side depicts a speeding two-horse chariot (biga) with a charioteer, and above the chariot is the letter “T,” indicating that the coin was minted in the third workshop of the Roman mint. Below the chariot is a mouse, with the letters “TI Q” on either side, abbreviating the name Titus Quinctius. At the very bottom, in Latin letters, is the inscription “D S S,” which stands for “De Senatus Sententia,” meaning “By Official Order of the Senate.”

During the Roman Republic, to avoid the prominence of individual personalities, coins were minted with side portraits of deities, and even those in power at the time would generally refrain from putting their own facial portraits on coins.

Biga:
The term “Biga” (Latin) refers to a type of dual-wheeled chariot extensively utilized in both ancient Roman and Greek societies, typically drawn by two horses. Its applications encompassed transportation, competitive events, military engagements, and religious rituals. Nevertheless, over time, the emergence of alternative tactics such as infantry and cavalry gradually supplanted the military significance of chariots. By the late period of the Roman Empire, chariots had gradually faded from the military arena, becoming obsolete equipment in history.

However, chariot racing, as a popular cultural phenomenon, has successfully endured. This competition has remained widely embraced, even continuing to be held in Constantinople during the Byzantine period. It was even included as an event in the ancient Olympic Games. To this day, chariot racing events persist in various regions, perpetuating the allure of this ancient tradition.

Denarius:
The denarius was a small silver coin introduced by ancient Rome around 211 BC and was one of the most common currencies in circulation until it was gradually replaced by the Antoninianus in the mid-3rd century during the Roman Empire.

物件編號: A198

年代: 公元前 112-111 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 19.4 x 17.0 x 1.5 mm

重量: 3.82 g

製造地: 羅馬造幣廠，第三作坊

來源: 錢幣工藝 2016

此枚為公元前112-公元前111年期間羅馬共和國的鑄幣家提圖斯‧昆克提烏斯鑄造的第納里烏斯銀幣。

硬幣的正面刻有海克力斯的側面肖像，身上披著獅皮並背有棍棒。硬幣的背面為奔馳的雙輪馬車(Biga)，以及駕駛馬車的戰士，馬車上方刻有字母T，代表此枚硬幣於羅馬鑄幣廠的第三作坊鑄造。馬車的下方有一隻老鼠，老鼠的左右兩側刻有「TI‧Q」文字，為鑄幣者提圖斯‧昆克提烏斯Titus Quinctius 的縮寫。硬幣的最下方以拉丁字母刻有「D‧S‧S」的銘文，為「De Senatus Sententia」的縮寫，意為「根據元老院的正式命令」。

羅馬共和國時期為避免出現獨大的出眾個體，鑄造貨幣時會雕刻眾神的側面肖像，即便是當時掌握大權者也盡量不會在鑄幣上刻上自己的臉部肖像。

比加Biga:
Biga(拉丁文)，是古羅馬和希臘廣泛使用的一種雙輪戰車，由兩匹馬拉動。它的用途包括運輸、競技、軍事和宗教儀式等。然而，隨著時間的推移，其他戰術如步兵和騎兵的興起，逐漸取代了戰車在軍事上的地位。到了古羅馬帝國後期，戰車已經逐漸退出了軍事舞台，成為了歷史上的一種過時裝備。

儘管如此，戰車競技作為一項流行文化得到了成功的傳承。這項競技一直廣受歡迎，甚至在拜占庭時期的君士坦丁堡仍然舉辦。它甚至被列入古代奧運會的項目。時至今日，各地依舊存在著這種馬車競技賽事，延續著這項古老傳統的魅力。

第納里烏斯(Denarius):
第納里烏斯是古羅馬從約公元前211年開始發行的一種小銀幣，是最常見的流通貨幣之一，直到公元3世紀中期才逐漸被羅馬帝國發行的貨幣安東尼尼安努斯(Antoninianus)取代。