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Aes signatum (Latin;lit. 'stamped bronze') consisted of cast ingots ofbronze of measured quality and weight, embossed with a government stamp, used ascurrency inRome and central Italy starting in the 5th century BC before the introduction ofaes grave in the mid 3rd century BC.[1] When exactly they were first made is uncertain. Popular tradition ascribes them toServius Tullius, but due to the high quality of art found on even the earliest specimens, this seems very unlikely. A date in the midst of the 5th century BC is generally agreed on. Designs featured are that of a bull, an eagle, and other religious symbols.[2]
The earliestaes signatum was not cast in Rome proper, but in central Italy,Etruria,Umbria, andReggio Emilia. It bore the image of a branch with side branches radiating from it, and was calledramo secco (lit. 'dry branch'). The bars did not adhere to a set weight standard, varying from about 600 to 2500 grams when complete. They were usually broken into subdivisions, and few complete specimens survive today. The survivingramo secco bars are usually quarter, half or three quarter bars, or minor smaller pieces which could be classified asrough bronze. The same fragmentation into smaller change applies to lateraes signatum issued by the city of Rome, which did correspond to the Roman heavy standard for theas. They weighed approximately 5asses when whole. They could technically be termed aquincussis, although they are not marked with any value.
The Romanaes signatum conforms more strictly to size and weight standards because they are an official issue, where theramo secco bars were more of a recognizable item of barter exchange that would be weighed, rather than taken at a face value.Ramo secco bars were not issued by governing bodies, and could have been made at any foundry facility.
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