David Atherton Posted October 12, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 12, 2022 Luckily for me a mint worker nearly 2000 years neglected to change out a worn die and kept using it beyond its natural usefulness. The results of that 'Friday afternoon' decision is a coin with a fairly decent obverse and a mushy reverse ... and a bargain for me! Titus Æ Dupondius, 11.78g Rome mint, 80-81 AD Obv: IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P COS VIII; Head of Titus, radiate, bearded, r. Rev: CONCORDIA AVGVST; S C in exergue; Concordia std. l., with patera and cornucopiae RIC 197 (C). BMC -. BNC 192. Acquired from Roman Coin Shop, September 2022. Titus' bronze issue dated COS VIII is quite large due to the fact he did not renew the consulship in 81 and most likely the coins span both years. Concordia, the personification of harmony, may have been an appropriate propaganda type if there were grumblings from Domitian and his clique of followers. According to Suetonius - 'After the death of his father, he (Domitian) hesitated for a long time whether he should offer the soldiery a double bounty and he never had any hesitation in stating that he had been left as a partner in the imperial position but that fraud had been applied to the will.' (Suet., Dom., 2) The rumours surrounding Domitian's sour grapes towards Titus could be post Domitianic backlash against the hated tyrant, but the coins may provide contemporary evidence that all was not well between the two siblings. The Concordia type was struck in several variants, this one with the full spelling of 'Concordia' is the most common. Missing from the BM. Do you have a coin with a tale of two sides? I'd like to see it. Thanks for looking! 23 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted October 12, 2022 · Patron Share Posted October 12, 2022 Fun topic, @David Atherton! I am always disappointed when an obverse is struck with a nice, fresh die and the reverse is struck with a very worn one. This Tetricus I, for example, would be a very nice coin indeed if the reverse die weren't ready to be melted down! Tetricus I, AD 271-274. Roman billon antoninianus, 2.55 g, 18.4 mm. Mainz, Trier, or Cologne, depending on who you read, AD 273-274. Obv: IMP TETRICVS PF AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: LAETITIA AVGG, Laetitia standing left, holding wreath and anchor. Refs: RIC 88; Cohen 62; Hunter 18; RCV 11239; Elmer 787. 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougsmit Posted October 12, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 12, 2022 27 minutes ago, David Atherton said: Do you have a coin with a tale of two sides? I'd like to see it. My most attractive Titus sestertius (but only Fine) is the same coin as my ugliest. It just depends on which side is up. It was surgically treated for bronze disease many years ago but now is healthy but scarred. 21 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happy_collector Posted October 12, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 12, 2022 (edited) I guess my Faustina Junior denarius is a good example of "a tale of two coin sides". 🙂 I just love the obverse portrait. 😃 Edited October 12, 2022 by happy_collector 16 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanxi Posted October 12, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 12, 2022 In some regions it is not the wear of the reverse, but the reverse was ignored from the beginning. So in Elymais, where the coin production started with pretty reverses but ended up quickly with degraded reverses. Kingdom of Elymais Orodes II Æ Drachm Obv.: bearded bust; to right, pellet in crescent above anchor with one cross bar, Tiara without crest of rays Rev.: parallel dashes AE, 3.56g, 15.9mm Ref.: Van´t Haaff Type 13.3, Subtype 2-2A 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edessa Posted October 12, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 12, 2022 A common type that tends to have this problem... Celtic Tribes. Eastern Europe. Imitating Philip III, 3rd-2nd centuries BC. AR Tetradrachm (30x28mm, 15.41g, 1h). Obv: Head of Herakles. Rev: Zeus seated. Ref: CCCBM 98. Very Fine. Ex Triskeles Auction 23, Lot 29 (part). 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akeady Posted October 13, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 13, 2022 (edited) This might look a fine Augustus denarius, but it's two different coins 😄 The full pics aren't so exciting. RIC 199 denarius (auction photo'): RIC 187a denarius (my own really bad old photos, I need to update them with the better newer photos): No prizes for guessing the sides that stay up in the tray for these 🙂 ATB, Aidan. Edited October 13, 2022 by akeady 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryro Posted October 13, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 13, 2022 Fun thread idea and great coin! I really enjoy the artistry and style of this horse, despite its wear, as the obverse is completely obliterated: 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavin Richardson Posted October 13, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 13, 2022 When the picture on eBay shows the super sharp reverse but requires you to click on the entry to see the obverse, you know you might have a corrupted portrait. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat Posted October 13, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted October 13, 2022 Shame the obverse of Tanit didn't fare as well as the reverse 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc9 Posted October 13, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 13, 2022 Here is a confusing coin from Leo I: which side is what? DN LEO ; regular Greek monogram 0.99 gr , 10.89 mm, AE4 , KOC ( Constantinopel ) RIC X : nr 720 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwerpen2306 Posted October 14, 2022 · Member Share Posted October 14, 2022 Sometimes the difference is enormously : AR stater from Pharnabazos, 380/374/3 BC, 22 mm, 10,69 gr, 3 h, SNG von Aulock 5931, mint Tarsos. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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