Broken, worn, corroded... why would anyone buy that!

[maridvnvm]

I have added this to my collection. I can see people recoiling already but wat a second.....

I can identify the coin....

Obv:– VIRTVS PROBI AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield (shield decorate with Medusa)
Rev:– TEMPOR FELICI, Felicitas standing right, holding caduceus and cornucopiae
Minted in Lugdunum (I) Emission 5, Officina 1. End A.D. 277 – Early A.D. 278
Reference:– Bastien 211 (6 examples cited). RIC 106.

I can confirm this reading from an obverse die match (there is enough detail left, hair, spear, sheild, spear).

The OP coin was found during an excavation of a Medieval mill (Fell Mill , between Shipston-on-Stour and Tredington, Warwickshire, United Kingdom)
https://timetrail.warwickshire.gov.uk/detail.aspx?monuid=WA8795

And it is this piece of information that makes the coin of interest to me. It came with the paper envelope, which has a stab at identification but gets it moderately right.....

For less than the cost a small coffee from a coffee shop I am happy to own this little, ugly, piece of Romano-British history.

Edited January 10 by maridvnvm

[JAZ Numismatics]

Last week Heritage auctioned off this ant of Zenobia, a type I would very much like to add to my collection of Arabian coins. I almost won it, but the decision was between spending a large sum of money on a crappy coin or (at some point in the future) spending an excessively large amount of money on a better example. They don't come up for auction often, and even coins in VF will run you close to 10K. I refused to go above 900, but someone else was willing to go a little further, and it sold for 1200 including fees. C'est la vie...

[hotwheelsearl]

Rough but awesome. Any shield with a figural motif is a huge win in my book!

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

The background of the medieval mill find makes the coin more interesting.

[Tejas]

Below is my specimen of the type:

Obv: VIRTVS PROBI AVG
Rev: TEMPOR FELICI
Bust tpye: F1 = radiate, cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield (decorated with Gorgoneion)
Field / Exergue: -/-//I
Measurements: 5.74g / AXIS: 6h / DIAMETER:21,5-23mm
Mint: Lugdunum
RIC:106
Bastien: 211 (6 ex. cited)

Note: the high weight: 5.74 g!

Edited January 11 by Tejas

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

The context of a find contributes to the pedigree and even poorly preserved coins are quite historical. In fact the poorer, the more the coin circulated.