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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,597 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
It seems like my love for barbarous types has taken a back seat to other interests as of late, but I always have my eye out for a good grab. This one came in a lot for about $3 per coin, and the portrait immediately caught my eye:   Most barbarous radiates either imitate the Tetricii, Victorinus, or the Claudius II altar type... assuming the coin is coherent enough to be identified. Imperial types are markedly less common, probably because counterfeiting was a serious offense against the reigning emperor. The unofficial mints of course imitated whatever they had available to copy, and for whatever reason, Gallienus very rarely shows up in barbarous style. This one in particular is curious because the obverse is quite clear in its legend, "CA(L)INVS AVG" and the bust is clearly degraded, but still portrays the emperor's hideous neckbeard. The reverse on the other hand is a different story. I cannot tell what the stick figure is supposed to be, and can only hazard Aequitas or Moneta holding a scale. The legend is something like "IICID (...)GG". I'll have to measure it, but it is at least as large as a later official piece, unlike the others I have that tend to run much smaller. The lot also contained some excellent portrait upgrades, a superb double strike error, and one of those nice and totally degraded style barbs. I'll get pictures up as I can. |
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Pillar of the Community
 Spain
2752 Posts |
Nice coin  I can see the attraction,great looking portrait. Looking forward to seeing the others  Saludos Paul |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2100 Posts |
Very nice indeed. You don't see many good Gallienus ones. Most of my barbs are Severan. I did get this later barb recently. Constantius II - AE3 Obv:- CONSTANTIVS AVG, Pearl diaidemed, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:- FEL TEMP REPARATIO, Helmeted soldier left, shield on left arm, spearing falling horseman; shield at ground to right. Horseman turns to face the soldier, and reaches his left arm up towards him. He is bare headed Copies a coin minted in Cyzicus (//SMK) 2.07 gms. 19.16 gms. Remarkably good style  |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Excellent portrait, congrats on a nice find.
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Moderator
United States
34416 Posts |
Both are nice barbarous pick-ups!
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
Edited by Spence
04/02/2017 6:38 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6130 Posts |
That is a super FEL TEMP barb! I honestly wouldn't even question it's authenticity at a first glance... how can you tell aside from the bust style? I did manage to get a picure of a couple other barbs from the same lot, and the other lot from the same seller... 1) Impossible to ID, really fun celtic style   2) Magnentius of very good style, FELICITAS REIPVLICE, Emperor holding standard and victory on globe, AE3 flan used for AE2 dies   Compare to: http://www.tesorillo.com/aes/018/018i.htm |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
701 Posts |
Your pics are not working Finn, don't know if its the same for everyone  This is my personal favourite bust style of all my barbs & unofficial types. Obverse - OMAGNENTIVSPFAVG ( reworked PF, under magnification it was VL ) awesome style bust that looks nothing like Magnentius, could be forgiven for thinking it was Constantius Gallus. Reverse - Illiterate legend with backward letters, same on shield.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Huh. Photobucket must be doing maintenance or something.  Anyway, that's a nice barb, but Gallus never issued that reverse. It's most likely imitating Magnentius or Decentius, who both issued that reverse with bare-headed portraits. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
701 Posts |
You are forgiven for thinking that I had it down as C GALLVS Finn ( read post again  ) It is definitely a Magnentius but the portrait looks nothing like him, the engraver had skills for sure but he had no idea what Magnentius looked like. If I saw this bust on a Gallus I probably wouldn't have paid it much attention, that's how much it doesn't resemble Magnentius. Hopefully the bucket will be up and running soon |
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,597 |
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Posted 04/02/2017 09:21 am
