Editing Quadrans (section)

{{Short description|Bronze coin used in Ancient Rome}}
{{About|the coin|the obsolete constellation|Quadrans Muralis}}
{{Italics title}}
[[Image:Aes Grave Quadrans2.jpg|thumb|{{circa|275}}–270 BC]]
[[Image:Aes Grave Quadrans4.jpg|thumb|Cast coin. Obverse: bust of [[Hercules]] l.; three pellets. Reverse: prow of [[galley]]; three pellets.]]
[[Image:Vecchi 283.jpg|thumb|''Teruncius'' ([[Apulia]], [[Lucera]]), {{circa|220}} BC]]
[[Image:RIC 0465.jpg|thumb|Augustus ''Quadrans'']]
[[Image:0808quad.jpg|thumb|''Quadrans'' of [[Domitian]]]]
The '''''quadrans''''' ({{literally|a quarter}}) or '''''teruncius''''' ({{literally|three unciae}}) was a low-value Roman [[bronze]] [[coin]] worth one quarter of an ''[[As (Roman coin)|as]]''. The ''quadrans'' was issued from the beginning of [[Casting (metalworking)|cast]] bronze coins during the [[Roman Republic]], showing three pellets representing three [[Uncia (coin)|unciae]] as a mark of value. The obverse type, after some early variations, featured the bust of [[Hercules]], while the reverse featured the prow of a [[galley]]. Coins with the same value were issued from other cities in Central Italy, using a cast process.

After {{circa|90}} BC, when bronze coinage was reduced to the semuncial standard, the ''quadrans'' became the lowest-valued coin in production. Surviving ''quadrantes'' from this period (though that name is not shown on the coins) typically have weights between 1.5 grams and 4 grams, perhaps depending in part on the alloy or metals contained.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/anonymous/t.html|title=Anonymous, Roman Imperial Coinage reference, Thumbnail Index - WildWinds.com|website=www.wildwinds.com}}</ref> It was produced sporadically until the time of [[Antoninus Pius]] (AD 138–161). Unlike other coins during the Roman Empire, the ''quadrans'' rarely bore the image of the emperor, due to its small size.

The Greek word for the ''quadrans'' was κοδράντης ''(kodrantes)'', which was translated in the [[King James Version]] of the [[Bible]] as "[[Farthing (British coin)|farthing]]" (which itself means fourth- + -ing).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/gen/1/1/s_1001|title=G2835 - kodrantēs - Strong's Greek Lexicon (nkjv)|website=Blue Letter Bible}}</ref> In the [[New Testament]] a coin equal to one half the Attic chalcus was worth about 3/8 of a cent. In the [[Gospel of Mark]], when a [[Lesson of the widow's mite|poor widow]] gave two [[Greek lepton|mites]] or λεπτά (''lepta'') to the [[Second Temple|Temple Treasury]], the gospel writer noted that this amounted to one ''quadrans''.<ref>Mark 12:42</ref>