Semuncia

Roman Republican Semuncia, attributed 215-211 BC, (bronze, weight 5.1 g, diameter 20 mm).
• Obverse: Head of Mercury wearing winged petasus, facing right;
• Reverse: Prow of galley, facing right, ROMA above.

Roman Republic, Semuncia 217-215 BC. Diameter 20 mm, 6.08 g. Turreted and draped female head r. / Horseman r., holding whip in r. and reins in l. hand. 1 line below: "ROMA". Dark green patina.

The semuncia (Latin half-ounce), symbol '𐆒', was an ancient Roman bronze coin valued at one-twenty-fourth of an as produced during the Roman Republic. It was made during the beginning of Roman cast bronze coinage as the lowest valued denomination. The most common obverse types were a head of Mercury or an acorn, and the most common reverse types were a prow or a caduceus.^[1] It was issued until ca. 210 BC, at about the time the same time as the denarius was introduced.

References

1. Sear, David R. (2000). Roman Coins and Their Values - The Millennium Edition. Volume I: The Republic and The Twelve Caesars, 280BC-AD96 (pp. 177-178, 188-189 and 257-258). London: Spink. ISBN 1 902040 35 X

See also: Roman currency and Roman Republican coinage.