Triens

{{Short description|Roman bronze coin}} {{About|the Roman coin valued at a third of an ''as''|the later coin valued at a third of a ''solidus''|Tremissis}} {{More citations needed|date=June 2022}} [[Image:Vecchi 003.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Rome. Circa 241-235 BC. Æ Aes grave Triens (107.00 g)]] thumb|right|150px|Triens: O/ Minerva, four pellets above; R/ prow of a galley left, four pellets below The '''triens''' ({{plural form}} '''trientes''') was an ancient Roman bronze coin produced during the Roman Republic valued at one-third of an as (4 unciae).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Sear |first=David R. |date=2000 |title=ROMAN REPUBLICAN COINAGE, CIRCA 280–41 BC |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvk8w0q1.6 |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=jstor.org}}</ref> While earlier cast specimens date as far back as the emergence of the Aes Grave around 280 BC,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Sear |first=David R. |date=2014 |title=THE DENOMINATIONS OF THE ROMAN COINAGE |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvk8w0wf.5 |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=jstor.org}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":0" /> Minting of new Roman republican bronzes, including the triens, slowed throughout the second and first centuries BC,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Howgego |first=Christopher |date=1992 |title=The Supply and Use of Money in the Roman World 200 B.C. to A.D. 300 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/301282 |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=jstor.org}}</ref> ceasing altogether by the late 80's BC.<ref name=":1" />

Later, in Frankish Gaul, the term "triens" was often used for the tremissis, since both terms meant "a third".{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}

==See also== *Roman currency

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Coins of ancient Rome