Heliodromus Posted September 24 · Member Share Posted September 24 Just saw this for sale - listed as a metal detecting find. I can't find this SMTC mintmark of OCRE. Has anyone seen it before? What about the rather distinctive bust style - does that appear genuine? It looks as if it's good silver, although odd the way it's broken. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth77 Posted September 24 · Member Share Posted September 24 The obverse effigy is rather funky, the legend lettering is somewhat clumsy -- check out the WVLT / + on the reverse. Probably an imitation? 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heliodromus Posted September 24 · Member Author Share Posted September 24 (edited) I didn't notice the WVLT ! I just realized the "S" of VALENS is sideways too ! It was the "+" vs "X" that first caught my eye. I agree it does seem to be unofficial, but also seems to be silver .. or is it a fouree with a base metal core ? Edited September 24 by Heliodromus 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth77 Posted September 24 · Member Share Posted September 24 7 minutes ago, Heliodromus said: I didn't notice the WVLT ! I just realized the "S" of VALENS is sideways too ! It was the "+" vs "X" that first caught my eye. I agree it does seem to be unofficial, but also seems to be silver .. or is it a fouree with a base metal core ? The reverse also looks like it has some sort of delamination that shows the same material as on the surface. Possibly a silver alloy. I dont think these were meant to defraud anyways, they were prestige objects in the 'barbaricum' so knock-off items were bound to appear. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Conduitt Posted September 24 · Supporter Share Posted September 24 It's SИTC as well. The whole thing is both very clear but very wrong. A big cud on the E too. Definitely an imitation, of which there were many of Valens. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor DonnaML Posted September 24 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted September 24 I see no SNTC or SMTC mintmark listed in Roman Silver Coins V (Carausius to Romulus Augustus), or in the Depeyrot volume covering coins during the 337-491 period (although that book is limited to gold coins). The closest is SMTS for Sacra Moneta/Thessalonica. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hrefn Posted September 24 · Supporter Share Posted September 24 (edited) Off the cuff impression? Barbaric imitation, formerly holed, crystallized, then broken. Edited September 25 by Hrefn Typo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted September 24 · Supporter Share Posted September 24 idk, but its a great conversation piece 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heliodromus Posted September 25 · Member Author Share Posted September 25 Thanks everyone! So unofficial for sure, not copying any specific mintmark (at least not with any fidelity). So perhaps the conclusion is that with decent-appearing silver and possibly holed, it may have been made to be worn in the Barbaricum rather than as a fouree made to deceive. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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