Barborous Ancient Romans

Barbarous radiates are fun, but I agree they can never be "collected" in the sense that other coins can, simply because 99% of them are unique one-offs, and many are simply too degenerate to even tell what they're supposed to be.

Personally, I accumulate all the ones I come across in lots, although I don't specifically seek them out unless they are something truly special. Some of my favorite examples of something "truly special":

- Types with a unique reverse - I'd love to see the celtic horse reverses Ben is referring to! CNG sold a lot with unique reverse types several years ago, long before I even collected ancients:
https://www.cNGCoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=94518

- Types that are in exceptionally good style, possibly by a former mint worker

- Types that aren't just Tetricus I/II, Divo Claudio, or common 4th century type (VLPP, FTR etc)

- Types that are extraordinarily small or degenerate

Some of my favorites that I've picked up over the years:

I theorize this one might be a stab at a Gallienus Zoo type?


A decent attempt at a Gallienus, with an indecipherable reverse


A mostly literate Victorinus with a portrait that looks nothing like him / Salus, but there's no snake and she's about to do a Kamehameha. And all the S's are huge and sideways!


A really nice and fully literate Tetricus II - I'm not even 100% sure this is barbarous?


A very rare coin of Tetricus II as Augustus - These are rare as barbarous coins, and a few (as in fewer than 10) examples are known that might be official - It's not entirely clear whether Tetricus II was ever made Augustus


Tetricus I with Apollo reverse - not a type normally seen


Also Tetricus I, but with the Tetricus II Priestly Implements reverse (This one is from @Ben)


Some fun highly degenerate types



4th century types

Constantine? Two captives with standards


An assortment of fun tiny (6-10mm) Fallen Horseman types also from @Ben




One not so tiny


Some barbarous AE4 cross types (I used to collect these too, but recently thinned out the herd to just the best/favorites)





And my most recent acquisition, a Celtic(?) copy of a first century Roman As or Dupondius; not enough detail to identify the original, but I suspect it's Claudius.

These are 3 of mine . Very rough barbarous coins but I love them for their uniqueness.
They are all UK metal detecting finds. If you have any thoughts on any of them I would be very interested to hear them.


















I apologize for my photo skills....or lack of them. They are very hard to photo on a phone!!

At one time, long ago, I was a big fan of barbarous radiates. From major numismatic libraries I sought out and photocopied the relevant literature. Eventually, I made a web site on ancient imitations, of which this page web page show some Gallo-Roman barbarous radiates:

http://augustuscoins.com/ed/imit/Ba...adiates.html

I did not finish it off with descriptions, but it has some good examples.

Very nice coins everyone.

Here are a few unofficial LRB's

My favorite is the bust right Constantinopolis

I have just added this one:-

Constantius II - AE2 - Barbarous imitation of RIC VIII Heraclea 082

Obv:- D N CONSTANTIS P F AVG, Pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right
Rev:- FEL TEMT OHIIIRATIO, 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.
Minted in Heraclea (G | _ // .SHHA).
Reference:- Imitates RIC VIII Heraclea 82 (C2)



and here is the prototype.

Any comment on my pair? Or should I post them in a separate thread?

True, but the other side looks like it starts with DN as well, and I didn't think that was a reasonable Arcadius reverse legend. Is it?

As for the first coin, that reverse didn't look like it had a non-imitative legend at all. But maybe it was just a really mangled official one; perhaps they do get that bad (especially by 6th century).