Let him take up some particular province; say, for example, Sicily, in which there were some fifty towns which struck coins. He will soon find that the numismatics of these fifty towns will be a field for study which will amply reward him for the labour he bestows upon it. § OF THE PRICES OF GREEK COINS. The prices which Greek coins fetch at sales depend upon their rarity, their state of preservation, and their size, not much upon the artistic or the historical interest, or upon the metal of which they are composed. Thus, a gold coin of Alexander the Great, being common, may be obtained almost at metal value, while a rare copper coin of some obscure town in the heart of Phrygia may cost almost as many pounds as the gold coin of Alexander does shillings. II. ROMAN COINS. § GENERAL CLASSIFICATION. The coins of ancient Rome are not artistically as interesting as those of Greece. They are, however, most useful for all who desire to become acquainted with the history and institutions of the eternal city. They may be divided into the following classes:-- _Coins of the Republic._ I. Heavy Bronze coins cast in a mould, _Æs Grave_. II. The so-called _Consular_ or _Family_ series, consisting of silver and bronze struck coins, together with a few gold pieces. _Coins of the Empire._ III. Gold and silver, struck by the authority of the Emperor. IV. Bronze (commonly called Large, Middle, and Small Brass), struck by authority of the Senate, and distinguishable by the letters S. C. (Senatus-Consulto). V. Imperial medallions in all metals, not intended to circulate as money. § OF THE ÆS GRAVE. (1) The _æs grave_ was the earliest money used in Rome and throughout the central and northern parts of the Italian peninsula. It consisted of the As (or unit) and its divisions and multiples, as follows:-- As. _Obv._ Head of Janus; _Rev._ Prow of ship. Mark of value I Semis (1/2 As). _Obv._ Hd. of Jupiter " " S Triens (1/3 As). " " Pallas " " .... Quadrans (1/4 As). _Obv._ Head of Hercules " " ... Sextans (1/6 As). " " Mercury " " .. Uncia (1/12 As). " " Roma " " . MULTIPLES OF THE AS. Dupondius (2 Asses). _O._ Hd. of _R._ Prow of Pallas; ship. Mark of value II Tripondius (3 Asses). " " " III Decussis (10 Asses). _O._ Head of Roma. " " X The above types are those of the coins of Rome itself. The æs grave of the other Italian states had different types.