pay day in 260 must have been interesting

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

I'd hate to have been a paymaster in 260, rolling out the wretched silvered coins to the troops.  I bet that went over well.

Even this, minted in 258/9, looked relatively impressive.

Gallienus - 253-268 - AR Antoninianus - Cologne (25 mm., 3.47g), VICT GERMANICA RIC 44

Some of the large flan Antioch silvered Ants don't look too bad. 

Feel free to post your skimpiest 260-270 silvered Ants!

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Has it ever been determined exactly what coin issue was the first of the silvered issues?

Also, what was the silver content level of earlier Postumus issues?  It was higher than the central empire.  Was that due to overstriking, or were they made on fresh flans?

[LONGINUS]

 

Interesting post and topic @Nerosmyfavorite68

 

Here’s my favorite Antoninianus

It’s one of the Secret Santa gifts sent to me in observance of the 2018 Saturnalia gift exchange.

I think that the thin silver wash over the copper color base metal is quite unique and beautiful.

 

 

 

 

[JayAg47]

I can see the soldiers and public noticing the bronze core peeking through these silvered antoninianii, and meanwhile the Boomers and gen X of that time reminiscing over the good old days when their coins were made of actual silver and not some fiat tokens in silver wash meant to deceive you! (sounds really familiar 😆)

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

I was thinking more in terms of the paymaster fleeing from bodily harm, with mutinous soldiers chasing him.

 

[Orange Julius]

I’ve always liked this Gallienus, it’s a very well made coin. Photography is too dark but 🤷🏻‍♂️.

Edited December 18, 2023 by Orange Julius

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

All of them posted have been really nice/large flan issues.  I was hoping that people might show the punier ones.

I have so few silvered Ants of the time, and only a small handful are pictured.

 

Claudius Gothicus - 268-270 - AE Antoninianus - Mediolanum - 19mm., 2.34g, VIRTVS AV[G] RIC 172 var silvering

It's only my third Gothicus.  I bought it because of the blue spot on the reverse.

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Here's my Claudius II. I'll bet the soldiers felt swindled by the whole thing.

"Here instead of silver you get a cheap, ragged token with a phony, or almost phony silver wash." 

The flan on this one is clearly challenged but the portrait of Gothicus, to be fair, is one of the best I've seen, even with care-worn bags under the eyes. But he was a busy man defeating the Goths who just a few years before had run roughshod over the Imperial defenses, even burning down the Acropolis in Athens.

AE antoninianus, 3.4g, 20mm Mediolanum (Milan) mint

Obverse: IMP CLAVDIVS PF AVG Radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right

Reverse: FELI-C T-EMPO; Felicitas standing left, holding cadeucus and scepter

Reference: RIC Va 145, p. 223

From the Doug Smith Collection #3175 vis-avis  @JAZ Numismatics  (Thanks Doug!!!) @dougsmit

 

Edited December 18, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter
duplicate word!

[ominus1]

...one must say it was a time of denarius precious metal content variation 

[Octavius]

I don't think I'd put my life on the line for a handful of these....

 

[dougsmit]

Those of you here who deny the value of such coins in their day must have been suicidal in 1965 when the US started making quarters out of something other than silver.   Today, the main use of a quarter made of any metal is to set free a shopping cart at US versions of Aldi's grocery stores.  I understand their EU stores require a one Euro coin.  

 

I still have quite a few Claudius II coins and am not sure what came over me that made be let that one go.  

[Orange Julius]

10 hours ago, dougsmit said:

Those of you here who deny the value of such coins in their day must have been suicidal in 1965 when the US started making quarters out of something other than silver.   Today, the main use of a quarter made of any metal is to set free a shopping cart at US versions of Aldi's grocery stores.  I understand their EU stores require a one Euro coin.  

 

I still have quite a few Claudius II coins and am not sure what came over me that made be let that one go.  

Nice coins Doug. I really like the Milan mint coins and have been on the hunt for them as targets of opportunity for many years.

Got this first one for under $10 and love it more than many coins that cost me more than 10x as much.

 

Edited December 20, 2023 by Orange Julius

[lordmarcovan]

This Gallienus ant I used to own was pretty nicely silvered, I thought.  It had nice orangish toning, too.

(These less than ideal images were done on my ancient flatbed scanner around 2008.)