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Quincunx

Issuer Luceria
Year 217 BC - 212 BC
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Shape Round (irregular)
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Obverse description Two crossed bones or knucklebones rendered in high relief, displayed diagonally in saltire formation across the central field of the flan. Above the junction of the bones, five pellets arranged in a quincunx pattern serve as the value mark, denoting five unciae. The flan is irregular and slightly chipped at the edges, consistent with the cast bronze fabric typical of the Lucerian series. The overall style is bold and schematic, characteristic of central Italian aes grave production of the Second Punic War period.
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Obverse lettering L
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Additional information

Luceria, a Latin colony in Apulia, struck bronze coinage during a window of acute military crisis — these years overlap almost exactly with Hannibal's Italian campaign, including the catastrophic Roman defeat at Cannae in 216 BC. Whether Luceria's mint was producing to supply local military logistics or simply continuing colonial monetary tradition under extreme duress is unresolved, but the timing is difficult to ignore. The colony itself was strategically vital, garrisoned and contested throughout this period.

The quincunx denomination — five unciae — appears rarely in colonial bronze series and Luceria's output is among the better-documented examples of it.

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