Multatuli

Awesome, David! An excellent thread for an excellent coin! Congrats!

Thank you very much, @David Atherton! The possibility you raised that it was a mule is the most likely. You are completely right about the possibility that it is a dupondius, because the appearance of the coin is actually more orichalcum than copper. Even the other coin described as As by weight (8.97g) also has an orichalcum appearance. But they do not appear to come from the same die, although the conservation status of both is quite compromised, especially the other. But I need to weigh it to evaluate better. Here is a comparison of the known 2 coins:

This coin is seemingly an almost "unique" Domician As/Dupondius. A friend of mine 4 years ago offered me the coin reporting it as a unique coin of this type, apparently not referenced in any known source. Of course, I also went to research about it, and what I just found was an account of an Italian numismatist about a similar piece in a FAC report in early 2009 (in italian, not a big deal for me): https://www.forumancientcoins.com/monetaromana/corrisp/a564/a564.html It was probably struck at 80-81AD by Titus, still being Domitian as Caesar. Here are the likely legends: CAES DIVI VESP F DOMITIAN COS VII CONCORDIA AVG / S-C What is striking is that there are coins of Domitian with Concordia sitting, but here she is standing. In the same period, there are coins with standing Pax, Minerva and Ceres, however, I found no other records of Concordia (besides the Italian report in 2009). Apparently, is not seems to me a hybrid coin or mule. Up to now, I don't have neither the weight nor the diameter, because I’m traveling and not in my home, but it´s looks like an As, much more likely than a dupondius, but sometimes dupondii struck under Titus can be laureate. When I acquired it, I spoke to our friend @David Atherton, who also no found references or other known examples. But that was a long time ago, so I'm asking you and him if anyone has any news of any other known/referenced specimens. The only reference found in internet is on the Wildwinds site, posted before I purshased it, by my friend Alex Laud, the former owner. Domitian AE As. AD 81. Possibly an Eastern mint. CAES DIVI VESP F DOMITIAN COS VII, laureate head right. CONCORDIA (AVGVST?) S-C, Concordia standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae. Cohen 70 (Vesp) var (this reverse for Vespasian); Cohen 42 (Domit) var (Concordia seated); BMCRE 558-560 (Domit) var (ditto). Thanks in advance!

Thank you very much, @Tejas. I would also like to have access to a spectrometer. Maybe I can get it at the university I work at. Making a more precise assessment, I really have the impression that it is solid silver, I don't see any cracks on the surface. In fact, it has a small break on the edge, where I notice that there is crystallization of the metal, clearly visible at higher magnification, and there do not appear to be two layers of metal or an inner core. It has the uniform appearance you see when you break a crystallized coin. But the amount of silver composition seems to be less than usual, debased.

Thank you all very much for the responses. Very interesting comments. Some important points that I observe in my coin in question: I considered it as the possibility of imitation due to two factors: first, the legends (better visible in hand) and the appearance of the bust of Arcadius seem somewhat crude. Of course, we may have found a cellator with fewer skills, especially in this troubled period. But I wouldn't rule out the possibility of an imitation just because the two sides correspond. I have some coins in my collection and I have seen barbaric imitations with only slight subtitle changes, so this argument, although very reasonable, in my opinion would not be 100% valid. The coin in question could indeed be used as a “siliqua” or another denomination in a border/limes region, but with an incorrect metal and complete imitation of another monetary unit (AE 3, que don’t know the correct name), but in the metal expected for the function/value. It did the expected role for the weight and metal. Another important point is that it doesn't appear to have been artificially silvered. Not now and not even in Antiquity. It clearly has signs of natural aging, prolonged circulation and patina formation and under the microscope I see no signs of flaws, showing the core. It really looks like silver to me. The coin presented by @Tejas in the last post seems very similar in situation to mine. We may never really know what happened and why.

Anyone to help me? Please…?

Hey folks! I would like some help and opinion regarding this coin. I acquired it a few years ago, from a friend who lives in Portugal. I don’t know how and from whom he acquired it before. The coin has all the characteristics of an Arcadius AE3, minted in Cyzicus, VIRTVS EXERCITI type (RIC X 66, Arcadius), exergue with SMKA. It is in a deplorable state of conservation, which indicates that it has been circulated a lot. However, what stands out is that is a silver coin, and does not appear to be gilded or fourrée. It weighs 1.4g and has a diameter of 18mm at its largest axis. Initially, I thought of a barbaric imitation, as the legends style is something different (but that could just be due wear and tear), which could be used as a siliqua in limes region, or maybe a truly siliqua by itself. And it doesn’t have the weight or diameter even for a light miliarense. Has anyone seen anything similar or have any theory or knowledge to explain about this type of Coinage? Perhaps was it a joke by the celator, who decided to use some silver instead copper to pass his leisure time? Show your intriguing, strange or unexplained coins in this thread!

Great coin! Both the old tickets are from italian origin

Very very interesting thread! I love “völkerwanderung” numismatics, I have some barbaric imitations, especially small fractions. Unfortunately, living in a third world country, I don't have a budget that allows me to purchase aureii or solidi like the ones presented here. But I acquired this bargain fourrée a few years ago at CNG. Coin or ancient jewelry artifact, that is the question! MIGRATION PERIOD, Pannonia. Uncertain Germanic Tribe. Circa late 3rd-early 4th centuries AD. Fourrée AV Solidus (21mm, 4.93 g, 12h). CVCINPISNCIЬVCIS, laureate head left; Vs in legend composed of angled II; Ss retrograde / CICV(retrograde(P)SS ICIOICV(retrograde C)S, Male seated left on sella curulis, holding uncertain object (globus or Victory); Vs in legend composed of angled II; Ss retrograde. Cf. RIC V 308 (Antioch – Diocletian; for type); Depeyrot –; cf. Calicó 4437 (same); cf. Biaggi 1698 (same). Double strike on reverse, plating broken in numerous places, revealing base core underneath. Evidence of having been originally mounted with contemporary suspension loop for use as jewelry.

Hello, folks! I need some help. I have this tiny silver coin that came to me in a lot, acquired few years ago from a small coinshop in Vienna. I've been looking for references, but haven't found anything like it. I initially thought of an Akçe, but the dimensions are much smaller, with a diameter of around 6mm. I don’t have the weight. I also thought about the Mongols, Golden Horde, but I didn't find anything like that. Would anyone have any suggestions? Here are the images, I don't know if they are in the right position. Thanks!

Madelinus has also been on my wish list for a long time. An exemplar was once offered to me, but at that time, my budget didn't allow me to go overboard... what a pity! I think it will be difficult to have another chance like that... Fantastische muntje! Gefeliciteerd!👋

By the way, here are my only 2 merovingian deniers. The first apparently was struck near of Paris. I don’t have the Belford number. The second was struck in Meldus (Meaux) on the first half of 8th century (700-735). I had classified it as Belford 2869. It’s interesting to see depicted here a swastika, 12 centuries before became a hateful symbol.

Excellent results! I don't have much experience cleaning coins. Recently, I acquired a bowl of coins removed from the ground by detectorism, the vast majority of them were medieval Spanish and Portuguese coins. I left and soaked them in olive oil for about 3 weeks, and then I removed the sediments with a toothbrush with firm bristles. The results were kinda satisfactory. The coins are mostly low billon, poor in silver, with a high copper content.

Very difficult to choose the best, but for the style I would pick the Magnentius end for its rarity, the Libius Severus. Wonderful yellow ones, as always!👍