Libral
Encyclopedia
The libral standard compares the weight of coin
s to the bronze as, which originally weighed one Roman pound
, but decreased over time to 1/2 pound (the semi-libral standard), and further. It is often used in discussions of ancient coinage in Italy, especially Etruscan coins
and Roman Republican coinage
. The adjective libral is related to libra, the Ancient Roman
unit of weight, and is not related to the word liberal
.
The libral standard began with the era of the aes grave
(heavy bronze) coinage in Rome, circa 450 BC, where one as weighed one Roman pound (libra
), or twelve Roman ounces (unciae
). This changed when the weight of the aes grave was decreased to approximately 10 unciae (the "light libral standard") circa 270 BC, remaining at that level until 225 BC. It then suddenly fell to 5 unciae (the "semi-libral standard") around the start of the second Punic war in 218 BC, before finally falling to 1.5 - 1 unciae around 211 BC.
The libral/semi-libral standards were followed by the sextantal standard and the triental standards.
Many Greek city states (colonies) were founded on the Italian peninsula and Sicily during this time period; these are collectively referred to as Magna Graecia
. The coinage of those city-states is more closely related to the rest of the Ancient Greek world (which included many colonies along the Mediterranean and Black Sea
coasts), and generally has no relationship to the Etruscan/Roman units.
Coin
A coin is a piece of hard material that is standardized in weight, is produced in large quantities in order to facilitate trade, and primarily can be used as a legal tender token for commerce in the designated country, region, or territory....
s to the bronze as, which originally weighed one Roman pound
Ancient Roman units of measurement
The ancient Roman units of measurement were built on the Hellenic system with Egyptian, Hebrew, and Mesopotamian influences. The Roman units were comparatively consistent and well documented.-Length:Notes...
, but decreased over time to 1/2 pound (the semi-libral standard), and further. It is often used in discussions of ancient coinage in Italy, especially Etruscan coins
Etruscan coins
Like the Egyptians, Phoenicians and Carthaginians, the Etruscans were also rather slow to adopt the Greek invention of coinage. The brief period of Etruscan coinage, with the predominance of marks of value, seems to be an amalgam that reconciles two very different monetary systems: the ‘primitive’...
and Roman Republican coinage
Roman Republican coinage
Coinage came late to the Roman Republic compared with the rest of the Mediterranean, especially Greece and Asia Minor where coins were invented in the 7th century BC. The currency of central Italy was influenced by its natural resources, with bronze being abundant and silver ore being scarce...
. The adjective libral is related to libra, the Ancient Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
unit of weight, and is not related to the word liberal
Liberal (disambiguation)
-Politics:* Liberalism** Classical liberalism** Conservative liberalism** Economic liberalism** Social liberalism-Canada:* The Liberal Party of Canada, a center-left-wing party* The New Democratic Party , a social-liberal party-United Kingdom:...
.
The libral standard began with the era of the aes grave
Aes grave
Aes grave is a term in numismatics indicating bronze cast coins used in central Italy during the 4th and 5th centuries BC, whose value was generally indicated by signs: I for the as, S for semis and pellets for unciae...
(heavy bronze) coinage in Rome, circa 450 BC, where one as weighed one Roman pound (libra
Ancient Roman units of measurement
The ancient Roman units of measurement were built on the Hellenic system with Egyptian, Hebrew, and Mesopotamian influences. The Roman units were comparatively consistent and well documented.-Length:Notes...
), or twelve Roman ounces (unciae
Ancient Roman units of measurement
The ancient Roman units of measurement were built on the Hellenic system with Egyptian, Hebrew, and Mesopotamian influences. The Roman units were comparatively consistent and well documented.-Length:Notes...
). This changed when the weight of the aes grave was decreased to approximately 10 unciae (the "light libral standard") circa 270 BC, remaining at that level until 225 BC. It then suddenly fell to 5 unciae (the "semi-libral standard") around the start of the second Punic war in 218 BC, before finally falling to 1.5 - 1 unciae around 211 BC.
The libral/semi-libral standards were followed by the sextantal standard and the triental standards.
Many Greek city states (colonies) were founded on the Italian peninsula and Sicily during this time period; these are collectively referred to as Magna Graecia
Magna Graecia
Magna Græcia is the name of the coastal areas of Southern Italy on the Tarentine Gulf that were extensively colonized by Greek settlers; particularly the Achaean colonies of Tarentum, Crotone, and Sybaris, but also, more loosely, the cities of Cumae and Neapolis to the north...
. The coinage of those city-states is more closely related to the rest of the Ancient Greek world (which included many colonies along the Mediterranean and Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
coasts), and generally has no relationship to the Etruscan/Roman units.