Uncia (coin)


The uncia was a Roman currency worth one twelfth of an as.

Republican coin

By derivation, it was also the name of a bronze coin valued at of an as made during the Roman Republic. The uncia started as a Roman-Oscan weight of about 23 grams for a 273 gram pound, with Attic weight issues of about 27 grams under the libral standard for a 327 gram pound and was produced occasionally towards the beginning of Roman cast bronze coinage. Obverse types of the uncia include a knucklebone, a barleycorn, and the helmeted bust of Roma.

Empire coin

In imperial times the uncia was briefly revived under Trajan and Hadrian. This coin was about 11-14 mm in diameter and weighed about 0.8-1.2 grams. It featured the bust of the emperor on the obverse with no inscription and "SC" in a wreath on the reverse. If this issue belonged to the imperial system, meaning it was not a provincial piece, it would be an uncia. This issue may have been made only for circulation in the East.