JayAg47 Posted May 12, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 12, 2023 Just recieved my first coin of Severus Alexander, despite his coins being dime a dozen I've never gotten around getting one until now. Couple of reasons why I bought this coin, first it looks fantastic, in fact the best denarius in my collection condition-wise. Also the coin is an oddball weighing at 4.35g! being unusually heavy for the time period. Was this a quality control issue or did a planchet for antoninianus get mixed up? 225 AD, 19mm, 4.35 grams, unusually heavy for a third century denarius. IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate and draped bust of Severus Alexander to right. Reverse - FIDES MILITVM, Fides standing front, head to left, holding two military standards. BMC 220; Cohen 52; RIC 139. Ex Incitatus Coins. Please share your Severus Alexanders or any unusually over or underweight denarii. 9 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steppenfool Posted May 12, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 12, 2023 (edited) Does Severus Alexander have any antoninianii? I thought Elagabalus phased it out and Severus Alexander didn't mint any? Still doesn't exclude a brain fart by the mint-worker who prepares the wrong type of flan that was only in circulation a few years earlier. Edited May 12, 2023 by Steppenfool got my dates mixed up 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted May 12, 2023 · Member Share Posted May 12, 2023 Nice score on this hefty denarius 😊! The average weight of an antoninianus of Caracalla is about 5.00 gm. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted May 12, 2023 · Patron Share Posted May 12, 2023 (edited) The standard was to mint "x number of coins per pound," not "x number of coins at y grains each." Some of the coins will be heavier than average and some will be lighter than average. No mint error here, just a coin at the right-hand side of the denarius weight bell curve. Here's a denarius of Severus Alexander from my numophylacium. IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG, Caput Alexandri laureatum. ANNONA AVG, Annona stans, dextra spicas super modium tenet, sinistra anchoram. Edited May 12, 2023 by Roman Collector Increasing the size of the previously bifocal-defying font 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Ancient Coin Hunter Posted May 12, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted May 12, 2023 Heavy indeed. Since SA struck no antoniniani I would surmise it was a mint error or perhaps two flans fused together that might have been underweight. Who knows? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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