Gordian III Limes or Fourree?

[Victrix]

No clue what this coin was supposed to be. It arrived in a big lot a year ago and it’s unlike anything I’ve seen before. Also haven’t seen an antoninianus limes or fourree before.

 

Thoughts?

[ambr0zie]

That is an interesting coin. My vote would be a limes antoninianus but this is the first I see. All the limes coins I saw were denarii. 

Fourree antoninianii are not that rare. Here is one in my collection (difficult to photograph)

20,6 mm, 4,2 g.
Gordian 239-244 AD. Fourree antoninianus. Rome.
IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, bust of Gordian III, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right / P M TR P V COS II P P, Apollo, nude to waist, seated left, holding branch in extended right hand and resting left elbow on lyre.
Cf RIC IV Gordian III 89.

 

Here are examples of limes antoninianii

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/moonmoth/coins/gordian_iii_005.html

 

Edited September 14, 2023 by ambr0zie

[John Conduitt]

This from Wikipedia shows a Gordian III base core coin would've been worth making, while by Tetricus it wasn't worth the effort.

[John Conduitt]

It could also be a cast forgery. Like this one:

Elagabalus Contemporary Cast Imitation Denarius, 218-220

Imitating Rome. Base metal, 18mm, 1.90g. Laureate, horned, draped bust right; IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG. Elagabalus, in Syrian priestly robes, standing left, sacrificing out of patera in right hand over tripod, holding club in left hand; behind tripod, bull lying down; star in field to left, erased star in field to right?; INVICTVS SACERDOS AVG (RIC IV, 88b). Found in the UK.

[ambr0zie]

Limes coins were both struck and cast. 

Here is my limes Elagabal, probably cast 

[Victrix]

35 minutes ago, ambr0zie said:

That is an interesting coin. My vote would be a limes antoninianus but this is the first I see. All the limes coins I saw were denarii. 

Fourree antoninianii are not that rare. Here is one in my collection (difficult to photograph)

20,6 mm, 4,2 g.
Gordian 239-244 AD. Fourree antoninianus. Rome.
IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, bust of Gordian III, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right / P M TR P V COS II P P, Apollo, nude to waist, seated left, holding branch in extended right hand and resting left elbow on lyre.
Cf RIC IV Gordian III 89.

 

Here are examples of limes antoninianii

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/moonmoth/coins/gordian_iii_005.html

 

That would be my best guess too. It seems to be of too 'high' quality to just be a fourrée core. It also seems to have circulated a good amount by the wear so that would exclude it as a plated forgery.

[hotwheelsearl]

Here's a curiosity, it's possibly a limes, but could well be a fourree core with all silver removed.