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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,511 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
I have spent quite some time trying to attribute this coin. I have tentatively attributed it as RIC 1154. It's a huge coin at 22.3g and 30mm so I am certain it is a Sestertius. I can make out only part legends on both sides. I can make out the VSAVG GERM SAR on the obverse and TRP X IMP VIII on the reverse. So I believe it is: OBV: M ANTONINVS AVG GERM SARMATICVS, laureate head right REV: TR P XXIX IMP VIII COS III S-C, Annona standing left, holding corn-ears & cornucopiae; modius with two corn-ears and poppy at her feet Can anyone confirm this?   |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
This is a tough one, but I'm thinking RIC III 1171.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4253 Posts |
Thanks Echizento, but I don't think it is RIC 1171. I originally was leaning that way, but a closer look reveals something by her right leg. RIC 1171 has Aequitas standing left holding scales & cornucopiae, but I don't think mine has the scales. You are correct about it being a tough one. I spent a lot of time with this yesterday.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
I have a tough time with lots of coins that lack certain details. And yes, this coin looks tough to attribute to me as well. The obverse portrait has nice details though.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Quote:
The obverse portrait has nice details though. It's even better looking in hand. The card that came with the coin indicates it was "a river find from Norfolk, England" and was sold by Elkins Coins, Long Stratton, Norwich, England in 2007 for 3X more than I paid. Actually I got three coins, one As and two Sestertitus, cheaper than this coin sold in 2007. Now, I need to confirm if I have it attributed correctly as RIC 1154. This particular RIC number is not on Wildwinds, but can be found on acsearch if someone cares to check me out on this. Thanks |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Unless my reference (ERIC II) is completely wrong, RIC 1154 has a reverse of Aequitas seated left and the legend of TRP XXX IMP VIII COS III. While RIC 1171 fits your coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
[quoteUnless my reference (ERIC II) is completely wrong, RIC 1154 has a reverse of Aequitas seated left and the legend of TRP XXX IMP VIII COS III. While RIC 1171 fits your coin.][/quote]
Let me take a look in my copy of RIC, but both wildwinds and acsearch indicate what I've already said.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
Another is BMCRE Volume IV page 647 * noted as Cohen 931 but the coin is not in their collection so it gets a star and no number. Cohen lists it as common and in the French national collection but it can't be too common or the British Museum would have had one. It is listed as M ANTONINVS AVG GERM SARMATICVS / TRP XXX IMP VIII COS III SC which seems consistent with what remains on your coin. The reverse is "Pietas standing left dropping inscense on lighted altar and holding a box of perfumes." You could have the lighted altar but you have a cornucopia rather than a box and the item in hand looks like corn ears rather than incense. Backing up to the year before we see the TRP number on the obverse in place of Sarmaticus so the IMP number is on the left rather than the right but there is a type (BMCRE 1505) "Annona, draped, standing front head left, holding in right hand corn ears over modius with poppy and corn ears left and cornucopia in left hand." This seems exactly hat we see on your coin so I suspect that the die was made right at the change over between TRP XXIX and XXX. I do not know how this aligns with RIC since I don't have that volume.
I am no expert in Antonine period bronzes. If it were my coin I'd probably post it on Forvm in the hope Curtis Clay (who is the expert on these) would see it and reply or write to him directly at Harlen Berk in Chicago. It is quite possible that the type is known from other specimens since BMC was written but if it is a new type I suspect he would be happy to have the report. The coin is not high grade but enough of the legends are readable that I'd consider the possibility that it is either rare or unlisted and should be reported. Who knows - you might make the next edition of RIC. On the other hand we might be missing something obvious (remember this is not my 'thing') and all we will do is make fools of ourselves. I do that with some regularity.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
I just checked my copy of RIC and 1154 is as I describe it while 1171 is Aequitas standing left holding scales & cornucopia.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
So it would appear that ERIC II is incorrect.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Curtis Clay, the expert Doug indicated in this thread agrees this coin is RIC 1154 as I originally thought it might be. Thanks to all for helping and special thanks to Doug for pointing me in the direction of Curtis Clay for confirmation.
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,511 |
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Posted 01/14/2012 1:05 pm
