3. Roman premonetary sign Aes Formatum, "shell" type, VI-IV century BC.

Before Rome developed a uniform currency system, it set exchange rates for oxen and sheep in bronze. Since bronze was used as a weight reference during this period, bronze treasuries sometimes contain everyday objects, such as axes, weights and various forms of animals, like this shell. The shape was obtained by casting the bronze into a seashell. We don't know what they were originally called, but now we refer to these items as Aes Formatum. Aes Formatum began to be used after the use of aes rude (small pieces of bronze) and inspired the development of Rome's first real coinage system, Aes Grave.

Dimensions

custom d=28 mm

Description

bronze

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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