Pellinore

Recently some European auctions (Leu &c.) offered some gold and fourrée coins under the name Aurum Barbarorum, or Gold of the Barbarians. These coins imitate in coarsest manner some Roman aurei. They are often holed and only gilt, not really gold. I could only buy one of them. One of the most bizarre of the contemporary imitations! I wonder if anybody ever published these coins or wrote about finding them. There is an online catalog though, hosted by Warszaw University. 2911 B. ‘Marcus Aurelius’. Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Mid 3rd-early 4th centuries. “AV” 'Aureus' (fourrée (subaerate), 18 mm, 2.65 g, 12 h), imitating Marcus Aurelius (?). Obv. ∾CIΠ∾ •/∾C•ΛI∾ON Laureate head of Marcus Aurelius (?) to right. Rev. XCIIXCIXPX XCXIXICXICX Uncertain figure standing right, left arm outstretched. 18 mm, 2.66 gr. Holed and with some breaks in the plating. This type often hails from Vinnytsia Oblast, just north of Moldova. Leu 12 (1597). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What I also have is a silver decorative piece struck with aureus dies, well, more or less. A same dies piece, with an intact loop. is 2416 in this Leu auction. 2945. Uncertain Germanic Tribes. Aurum Barbarorum. Late 3rd-early 4th centuries. Silver 'Aureus'. 22 mm, 4.20 gr. Cf. Aurum Barbarorum III, 2416 (same dies). Uncertain Germanic Tribes. https://leunumismatik.com/en/auction/30/ nr. 2416. “This highly unusual piece was cast in silver from the beautifully stylized golden 'aureus' type appearing in Leu 7 (2020), 1924.”. Late 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Silver, 4.21 gm, 22mm), 'Tetrarchic Adventus Group D'. Imitating Diocletian, 284-305, or Maximian, 286-305 AD. Obv.: •Z+ΣCCI ΩYI-IIIՒ , laureate head left, heavily stylized; below, three pellets-in-crescents. Rev.: I+IΓ∾XII- Diocletian or Maximianus on horseback to left, heavily stylized, holding patera in his right hand and the tail of the horse in his left; in exergue, three crescents. Aurum Barbarorum III, 2416 (same dies).”

I must say, I'm quite impressed by the beauty and heady spirit of the Roman Republican coins you are showing here. Especially those large photographs that @akeady has been posting are very alluring. Also DonnaML's coins, and not less those of many other contributors are great works of Roman art. One would be honored to possess such a coin for some decades or years. I can't contribute much here, for I have only one Republican denarius. I showed it before, but with this emphasis on the reverse it fits in right here. 2003. AR denarius, Rome. M. Volteius M. f. 75 BC. Obv. Head of young Hercules right, wearing lion’s skin headdress. Rev. Erymanthian Boar charging right, VOLTEI·M·F in exergue. 17mm., 3.64g. Crawford 385/2; Sydenham 775; Volteia 2. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The other coins are Celtic imitations, both issued by the Eravisci, a Celtic or Pannonian tribe that lived in what’s now Hungary, between Budapest and Esztergom on the Danube. 2928 B. Danubian Celts, Eravisci. About 60-50 BC. AR denarius. Imitating a Roman Republican denarius of L. Roscius Fabatus, issued in 64 BC. Obv. Head of Juno Sospita to the right in goatskin headdress, branch behind, C. before chin. Rev. Abstract representation of a female figure (right) confronting an uncoiling snake (left). At the right, a modius with measure > a large dot with three small dots. In exergue, FABATI > unreadable lettering (RARAV…). Freeman, Essays Hersh, 14-16. BMC Celtic S247. 19 mm, 3.13 gr. 2930 B. Danubian Celts, Eravisci. About 60-50 BC. AR denarius. Imitating C. Naevius Balbus and L. Papius. Obv. Diademed head of Venus right. Rev. Griffin leaping to the right. IRAVSCI below. R. Freeman, ""A group of Eraviscan denarii,"" Essays Hersh dies 13/I, pl. 29, 18. 17 mm, 3.39 gr.

Today was a happy day, because this Egyptian coin arrived (along with a nice 11th century coin), it took a long time to come in, but here it is! In my eyes this really is a museum piece, a third century BC work of Hellenic art in very good condition (much better than my first octobol). It's a Ptolemy III Series 4 (eagle with open wing) with E between its legs. 46 mm, 93.05 gr.

Link: Roma and wolf suckling twins 2967 B. AE imitation of a Constantine Roma commemorative, the model dating from c.330-335. Obv. Barbarous bust of Roma to the left. VRB. Rev. Wolf and twins. In exergue, “cBΓ”. 15 x 12 mm, 1.25 gr. Cf. Wildwinds for the model of this coin, maybe a Rome mint follis.

Link: Lugdunum 2785. Decentius (350-353), AE maiorina. Obv. Cuirassed bust right, DN DECENTIVS NOB CAES. Rev. Two Victories standing facing one another, holding between them a wreath inscribed VOT / V / MVLT / X, supported on short column, VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE; SP between figures // RSLG. Lugdunum, 351-353. 20 mm, 4.21 gr, 6h. Reference: RIC VIII 137, p. 187. From the YOC Collection. Photo John Zielinski, who sold the coin in one of his nice CT auctions.

For her price is far above rubies. 3273 A. Potin tetradrachm Diocletianus 292/3. Alexandria. 19 mm, 6.90 gr. Dated RY 11 (AD 294/5). Obv.: Laureate and cuirassed bust right. ΔIOKΛHTIANOC CEB. Rev.: Nike advancing right, holding wreath and palm; L IA (date) across field.

Link: Augustus as with the altar of Lugdunum 2117 C. Augustus, AE as but smallish. Obv. obliterated and countermarked TIB. Rev. Altar of Lugdunum with Victories on top, facing each other, and a wreath at the center, flanked by palm branches and little men. Underneath ROM ET AVG. 20/21 mm, 7.30 gr. Found in the Netherlands. See discussion on another forum. This is the probable original aspect of the obverse:

Link: Amphora, but also an owl. 5034. Himyarites (Arabia Felix), Shahar-Hilal. 1st century BC-1st century AD. AR Unit. Obv. Laureate male head right (the Emperor Augustus?) within olive wreath. Rev. Owl standing to the right on amphora (looks like a prehistoric bicycle pump); text and monograms. 6h, 25 mm, 5.44 gr. ‘Malcom-Hay, pl. II, 34; SNG ANS 1464’. Zeno 22563.

Inspired by the Epic Byzantine thread, where I have little to bring in, I bought this little Justin II penta of Theupolis (Antioch). Can't read the texts nor understand the monogram, can you help me there? I suppose the half circle at the left on the reverse means 'Epsilon' or 5. 3539. Byzantium, Justinus II (565-578). Pentanummium Theoupolis (Antioch). 14-15.5 mm, 2.54 gr.

Link: Owl(s) 1016. AE13 Athens, 340-317 BC. Obv. Helmeted head of Athens t.r. Two-bodied owl peering at you, above Eleusinian ring. Α / Θ – Ε. Kroll 41. HGC 4, 1736. 13 mm, 1.95 gr.

That despicable Allectus! He murdered Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Carausius, who was (possibly) the only Low-Lands-Born Emperor (286-293) of his own Northwest Roman Empire. Carausius could have brought about something great, an Anglo-Dutch Empire, everything could have been different, but alas - there was the treacherous Allectus with his murderous backstab dagger. A barbarous Carausius from his own faraway barbarous regions: 2682 RB. Carausius 287-293. AE Antoninianus. Obv. Radiate head right. Readable text IMPCCA ... VG. Rev. Salus? with a text that I can't read, but there's a cross at the end. 15-17.5 mm (oval), 2.41 gr.

Nice to see Colybrassus featuring in this thread. As a seasoned armchair traveler, I visited the town virtually when I bought a coin of the little place north of Alanya (this is a favorite tourist spot, but in our days it was known as Coracesium). This is not Faustina, but another empress: Tranquillina, the wife of young Gordian III. I just made a picture, and the scratch on the reverse (also another one at the obverse upper edge) is clearer than on the seller's photo, that you may view on RPC, it is coin #7 of RPC VII.2, 2680. However, still a nice coin. 3284 C. Colybrassus in Pamphylia. Tranquillina (Augusta, 241-244). AE18. Obv: Draped bust to the right. CAB TPANKVΛΛЄINA. Rev. Hermes standing left, holding purse and caduceus. KOΛVBPACCЄΩN. 18 mm, 3.06 gr. From the seller's data: Ziegler 44; SNG BN 551; SNG Levante 338. Ex Dr. P. Vogl Collection; ex auction Bankhaus Aufhäuser 4, lot 417 (7 October 1987). Naumann Auctions, March 2018. This is a photo of the mint place itself. Probably not an important town in those days, but a military stronghold with its legion. Now a romantic mountain valley not far from the sea. Greetings from Colybrassus! -- Paul

Link: Tetricus barb I tried to find the most barbarous possible imitation. This one is almost a beauty in its abstraction, but still recognizable as a Tetricus imitation. I can only state: 10mm, 0.84g

Link: Spes 2620 B. Tetricus II 273-274. AE antoninianus, somewhat barbarous. Cologne or Trier. Obv. Radiate and draped bust right (slightly odd). C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES. Rev. Spes walking left, holding flowering branch and raising hem of skirt. SPES AVGG. 18 mm, 4.26 gr.

This one is comparable with @Hrefn's Louis the Pious. I was happy I could buy it, because Dorestad is the only known Carolingian mint in the country where I live. It has a large flan chip, but still. 4508. Denier, 9th century. Dorestad. Lotharius or after. Obv. DOR/ES.TA/TVS in 3 lines. Rev. Short cross in circle +HLOTIARIVS IMP. 20 mm, 1.39 gr.

Link: Gordian III 3278 A. Tetradrachm Gordian III (238-244), Alexandria. Dated RY Z (7, = 244). Obv. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev. Tyche reclining left on lectisternium (couch), holding rudder, resting elbow on pillow and leaning head backwards on hand. 22 mm, 13.89 gr. Emmett 3430.7.

Aurelian was murdered in September/ October 275 - after his murder possibly his wife Severina reigned on for a few months until Tacitus started his short reign in December, 275. Detailed doubts and data in this article. But here she is. 3306. AE tetradrachm Severina 270-275, Alexandria, year 6 = 274/275. Obv. Bust r. OVLP CEVHRINA CEB. Rev. Eagle standing l., head r. Year ETOUC S = 6 (of 7). VF+. 20 mm, 8.65 gr. Emmett 3966.

Not really a coin from antiquity, but still 700 years old. Such a lovely type, showing two lions adossed under the sun. These were issued by Al-Salih Salih I (1312-1364), the ruler of the Artuqids of Mardin, a Turkish dynasty in Anatolia whom you might know from its expressive large pictorial copper coins. There are two variants, one like this one, not my coin but borrowed from Zeno because it's the clearest depiction of the scene. (Zeno 46196, dated 736 AH = 1335/6 AD, 24mm, 3.41g) The other variation shows the lions with their tails entwined - I didn't find a clear enough example for you. But there's mine: Like someone aptly commented when I posted this coin on Zeno: "The second lion was shot."

Found an interesting article on Academia about these types of coins, including an illustrated catalog: https://www.academia.edu/76835872/Bogenschützen_auf_Kleinsilbermünzen_vor_333_v_Chr_Tetartemoria_aus_Kleinasien It was written by Nicolas Corfù-Assur, who also wrote elsewhere about these little coins: The Tetartemorion, the smallest pre-Hellenistic silver-coin. January 2017. On the Conference: XV International Numismatic Congress Taormina 2015 Proceedings. Academia gives the possibility to translate (roughly) complete article in one blink of the eye, very useful.

Wonderful coins that fascinated me for a long time. This hemiobol is tiny enough, but in the shadows behind the roaring lion another predator is lurking. 1007. AR hemiobol, 450-400 BC. Kyzikos, Mysia. Obv. Roaring lion under facing head of a panther. Rev. Protome of a boar with a mirrored K on its side. 9.5 mm, 0.36 gr. According to the description it is a panther, but to me it looks like an angry rat. A two millimeter rat. In the course of time I collected some Persian siglos fractions. Here's a little Achaemenid family:

Link: Cuirassed 2566 ER. Probus 276-282, Antoninianus brockage. Obv. Radiate, cuirassed bust to the left. IMPPRO BVSAVG. Rev. Same, incuse. 21.5/24 mm, 3.45 gr. Silvery.

Link: Ticinum 2582 ER. Diocletian 285-305, brockage antoninian (285-295), Ticinum. Obv. Radiate and cuirassed bust r. IMP C VAL DIOCLETIANVS AVG. Rev. Incuse. 21 mm, 3.22 gr. Ticinum is the only place with ‘Imp C Val’.

Link: Constantine the Great 3402. AE Kingdom of Bosporus. Rheskouporis V with Constantine I the Great. AD 314-343. Dated year BKX = 622, Bosporan Era = 325/6 AD. Obv. (right picture): Diademed and draped, long-haired bust of Rheskouporis to the right; wreath before. BACIΛεωC PHCKOVΠOPI. Rev.: Laureate and draped bust of Constantine I to the right. BK- X (date). 18.5 mm, 7.95 gr. Mac Donald 681/10. Anokhin 769.

Such an attractive coin. It looks like an overstrike, by the way. What could be the undertype?

Of Constans I only have this curious overstrike, it's difficult to recognize what's what. But the bearded face is there clear enough. 3521. Byzantium, Constans II. Follis. Overstrike. Obv. Portrait of Constans with long beard. Rev. unclear. Sicily, Syracuse 650-652. Sear 1107.