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Currency bar Ramo secco bar
| Issuer | Uncertain Etruscan mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 601 BC - 301 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Cast |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Reverse of the cast bronze Ramo secco currency bar, presenting a corresponding dry branch motif in low relief, mirroring the obverse design though with a somewhat less defined rendering. The bifurcated branch form rises from a narrow base, its surface showing the coarse, pitted texture typical of Etruscan aes signatum casting. The field is otherwise plain, with no inscriptions or subsidiary devices, and the irregular edges of the bar are clearly visible, reflecting the rudimentary production methods of pre-monetary Etruscan exchange media. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Plain |
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| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
The ramo secco bars occupy a contested space in early Italian monetary history — whether they functioned as currency, proto-currency, or simply weighed bronze for trade settlement remains unresolved. Haeberlin's foundational work grouped them typologically, but attribution to a single Etruscan authority has never held up under scrutiny. Multiple production centers are likely.
The three-century date range reflects genuine uncertainty, not carelessness.