★ Published in 1956 ★

Central Italy, uncertain mint Æ Currency Bar. Circa 6th-4th centuries BC. 'Ramo secco' pattern on each side. ICC pp. 26-7, 3; Garrucci pp. 5-8, pls. 7-11; Haeberlin pp.10-19, pls. 6-8; ERC III pp. 207- 212; CMRR p. 4, 2; Craddock, P.T. and Meeks, N. 'Italian currency bars', in Italian Iron Age Artefacts, J. Swaddling (ed.), London 1986, pp. 127-130; D. Neri. 'Aspetti premonetali e monetali nell'Emilia centrale, aes signatum e moneta greca da Castelfranco Emilia', in QAER 1, Bologna 1998; E. Pellegrini and R. Macellari, I lingotti con il segno ramo secco, considerazioni su alcuni aspetti socio-economici nell'area etrusco-italica durante il periodo tardo arcaico, Biblioteca di 'Studi Etruschi' 38, Pisa-Roma 2002. 1865.00g, 148 x 74 x 30mm.

One of the finest known examples; mounted vertically on stand. Extremely Rare.

This bar published in The Collector's International Magazine 12, Turin 1956, p. 59;
Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XI, 7 Apr 2016, lot 533 (sold for £14,000);
Ex Artemide Aste s.r.l. (San Marino), Auction XXVIII, 10 April 2010, lot 1121.

From about the 6th century flat cast copper currency bars or ingots with a high ferruginous content appear, often bearing a cross-section design called by Italian numismatists 'ramo secco' (dry branch or twig). They appear in hoards throughout Italy and Sicily, with a concentration of finds in Etruria and the Padana, often together with aes rude lumps. They do not equate to a set weight standard and are usually found broken into subdivisions.

Before denominated round cast coins were introduced in early third century central Italy, all bronze transactions had to be weighed, and not counted, by dispensatoris (dispensers or cashiers). This manner of exchange necessitated the use of a balance and has left a rich legacy to the Latin language, e.g., expensa, inpendia, dependere, stipendia, aerarium, aestimare. Most striking of all was the formula per aes et libram (with bronze and balance), which was used to designate the formal ceremony of emancipatory contracts. All these terms lasted well beyond the introduction of struck coinage and have passed into modern languages.

The Latin term aes signatum (signed or marked bronze) was used by Pliny (HN 33.13.43) for the cast currency bars supposedly issued by King Servius Tullius. These bars were frequently converted to aes rude. The term was misused by 19th and 20th century numismatists and has been avoided in this catalogue.