The quadrans was issued from the beginning of cast bronze coins during the Roman Republic, showing three pellets representing three unciae as a mark of value.After c. 90 BC, when bronze coinage was reduced to the semuncial standard, the quadrans became the lowest-valued coin in production.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" (which itself means fourth- + -ing).[2] In the New Testament a coin equal to one half the Attic chalcus was worth about 3/8 of a cent.
Cast coin. Obverse: bust of
Hercules
l.; three pellets. Reverse: prow of
galley
; three pellets.