Quadrans

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The quadrans (literally meaning "a quarter") was a low-value Roman bronze coin worth 1/4th of an as. The quadrans was issued from the beginning of cast bronze coins during the Roman Republic with three pellets representing three unciae as a mark of value. The obverse type, after some early variations, featured the bust of Hercules, while the reverse featured the prow of a galley. Coins with the same value were issued from other cities in Central Italy, using a cast process.

After ca. 90 BC, when bronze coinage was reduced to the semuncial standard, the quadrans became the lowest-valued coin in production. It was produced sporadically until the time of Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD). Unlike other coins during the Roman Empire, the quadrans rarely bore the image of the emperor. The quadrans was also known as teruncius, i.e. "three unciae".

See also

• Roman currency
• Cast coins

External links

• Quadrans (Roman Imperial), Quadrantes, Semis, Semisses

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Last updated on Saturday January 19, 2008 at 10:00:37 PST (GMT -0800)
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