Lesson plan

Triens

Aes grave Triens (107.00 g) The triens ( trientes) was an ancient Roman bronze coin produced during the Roman Republic valued at one-third of an as (4 unciae). While earlier cast specimens date as far back as the emergence of the Aes Grave around 280 BC, a new, lighter triens was first struck as part of a family of fractional bronze coins including semis, quadrans, sextans and uncia with the introduction of the Denarian System of Roman currency around 211 BC. The most common design for the triens featured the bust of Minerva and four pellets (indicating four unciae) on the obverse and the prow of a galley on the reverse. Minting of new Roman republican bronzes, including the triens, slowed throughout the second and first centuries BC, ceasing altogether by the late 80's BC. Later, in Frankish Gaul, the term "triens" was often used for the tremissis, since both terms meant "a third".

Back to article

Article summary

Aes grave Triens (107.00 g) The triens ( trientes) was an ancient Roman bronze coin produced during the Roman Republic valued at one-third of an as (4 unciae). While earlier cast specimens date as far back as the emergence of the Aes Grave around 280 BC, a new, lighter triens was first struck as part of a family of fractional bronze coins including semis, quadrans, sextans and uncia with the introduction of the Denarian System of Roman currency around 211 BC. The most common design for the triens featured the bust of Minerva and four pellets (indicating four unciae) on the obverse and the prow of a galley on the reverse. Minting of new Roman republican bronzes, including the triens, slowed throughout the second and first centuries BC, ceasing altogether by the late 80's BC. Later, in Frankish Gaul, the term "triens" was often used for the tremissis, since both terms meant "a third".

Key claims

No claims recorded.

Discussion questions

  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  3. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

No sources recorded.

Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.