Bronze Postumus, A Sestertius?

Youre right, I'm sorry :D Its an overstrike imo as well

I dont see it either but I think its a restrike over a very worn old bronze, which would explain the low weight.

Haha youre right, 36 dollards incl shipping. Its a keeper for me, thanks.

Some have the term dupondius tied to them, but this is certianly a double sestertius. (I have a dup somewhere, its around 22mm I believe). Veyr good for $36 - a cheap good Postumus bust is not easy to come by, especially on Double Sestertii.

I have a Sestertius which is also AE30 from earlier in the reign - they got smaller and smaller as time went by. Look out for interesting reverse types too - mines got a 3d rendering of Salus.

David Sear states in his book that he is inclined to attribute almost all of the "dupondii" of Postumus as actually being reduced double Sestertii.
The period for this coin given as AD261 is smack in the middle of the near total collapse of the Roman economy and weights and diameters of base metal coins tend to be all over the place.
It has become my firm belief that the sestertius always was purely a prestige coin meant to impress the masses and was very expensive to produce. Postumus certainly tried and the appearance of these coins after an almost decade long absence must have impressed more than a few citizens (even if only over struck on earlier pieces which quite a few were) But as "bad money" inevitably chases out good, the effort was doomed from the start. As long as Gallienus was able to crank out his debased antoniniani, the good silver and large bronzes of Postumus were probably 'rat holed' away.
Which is good for us collectors !

Sear lists two types of Dupondius issued by Postumus but has inserted an opinion that he believes most of the smaller sized 'radiate' ae's were issued as reduced double Sestertii and/or are contemporary imitations (ie unofficial). The situation must have been very confusing to people at the time never mind us after 1,700 plus years.

My own opinion is that the appearance of these larger types must have had a big impression on the recipients. People accustomed to the debased and rather 'ragged' coins of Gallienus could only have been very impressed. But just as we will certainly keep a silver dime when found in our pocket change, issuing good money is doomed as long as the bad continues to to be issued. The good money just won't circulate ! Drastic reductions in size and weight would be necessary to get the coinage to do its "job".
And of course a primary purpose of the coins was to show the face of the emperor and to remind everybody just who was "buttering" their bread.

Orichalcum had virtually ceased to be issued by the reign of Philip I. Later issues are classified as being bronze. As I mentioned once before the recycling of old coinage led to the 'evaporation' of the zinc content and a rise in the lead leading to a brittle alloy prone to fracturing. Obviously the production of 'brass' had dropped off considerably or else they would have still been using it. Too expensive ? Postumus certainly had access to the zinc mines of Britain.

I have noticed that the large ae's of Postumus have a 'relatively' high incidence of being struck on earlier issues.Especially it seems from the mid second century ..... I wonder from whence they came ? A coin of Postumus in orichalcum would almost certainly be an overstrike of an earlier dupondius.
You should show us this novelty Ben.

Here you are Rufus. Perhaps its a particularly dirty billon, but the bust is certainly one from his larger issues. It came in a big lot that was cleaned by the finder with acid, had a lot of interesting things.



Reverse is blank, thickness isn't very impressive (about the same as a standard silver ant). AE20, cut down, using a much larger die.