Quincunx (Roman coin)

The quincunx was a bronze coin minted during the Roman Republic. It was not part of the standard coinage of the Roman monetary system. The quincunx was produced only during the Second Punic War (218 to 204 BC), by mints at Luceria (mod. Lucera), Teate (mod. Chieti), Larinum (mod. Larino), and northern Apulia. After the defeat of Cannae during the Second Punic War, a coin with the same value was minted in Capua.

A quincunx of Larinum
Bearded head of Mars, wearing Corinthian helmet [L]ADINOD, warrior on horseback galloping left; five pellets in exergue.
Circa 210–175 BC. Æ 22mm – 7.95 g.

The word quincunx comes from Latin quinque meaning "five" and uncia meaning "one-twelfth", since the coin was valued at five-twelfths of a bronze as (also called a libra).

Its value was sometimes represented by a pattern of five dots arranged like the points of a die, so this pattern also came to be called quincunx.

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