Q. Antonius Balbus AR Serrate Denarius 83 BC

Quintus Antonius Balbus – Serrated Denarius

The term serratus refers to the notched or serrated edge of the coin, somewhat like a saw — hence the name serratus, which comes from the Latin serra (meaning “saw”).

Why were the edges serrated?

There are several theories regarding the purpose of this feature:

Counterfeit prevention:

By serrating the edge, it became more difficult for counterfeiters to clip the coin (that is, to shave off small amounts of silver from the edge to melt and resell it), a fairly common practice at the time.

Guarantee of purity:

Displaying a worked or decorated edge could reassure users that the coin was made of solid silver, rather than being merely silver-plated.

Aesthetic or distinctive mark:

It may also have been a fashion or stylistic choice used during a certain period to stand out, or as a sign of prestige or innovation in coin minting.