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Roman Republic, anonymous Uncia

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Roman Republic, anonymous Uncia (obverse) Roman Republic, anonymous Uncia (reverse)

This Roman bronze coin is cast, not minted. It bears a pellet on each face, thus being marked as an uncial – a small coin valued at one twelfth of an as.

The god on the obverse is Sol, the sun god, identified by his crown of sunrays. Sol was the brother of Luna, the goddess of the moon; for her stands the crescent on the reverse. The two stars above symbolize Castor and Pollux, twin brothers who later personally appeared on Roman silver coins. Castor and Pollux, or in Greek Kastor and Polydeukes, were the eponyms of a bright pair of stars in the Gemini constellation.

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Signet Sunflower Foundation