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 Replies: 7 / Views: 3,433 |
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Moderator
 Australia
16861 Posts |
Yesterday I spotted this going cheap in my local coin dealer's small tray of ancients so I picked it up. It appears to be a Gordian III antoninianus, obverse legend IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG (legend type "A" in Sear) with reverse LAETITIA AVG N, Laetitia holding wreath and anchor, a reverse normally found with Obverse legend "C", IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG. That combination isn't in Sear or on Wildwinds, but I found and downloaded the Helvetica list of Gordian III coins, and the type is listed there, rated "scarce", an Antioch-minted "hybrid of two different issues". RIC IV-3 220. But I'm not really liking the "look" of this one; the silver is peeling away in a very un-Gordian-like fashion, and the details are very coarse and grainy. The text is barely readable in hand and the scan below isn't an improvement. There's also a large blob on the rim that may be a casting sprue. The dies are coin-oriented, which is unusual for Romans in my experience. So, do I have a modern fake, an ancient fouree, or a peculiar yet genuine coin?  Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
I don't really care for the look myself. Although I'm not saying it's fake but based on what you told me and what I see, I have my doubts. Antoninianus also have a size and weight range. So, the dimensions may help a little bit.
Most Gordian III coins seem to be closer to pure silver than the above example.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
With that much silvering that still remains I would expect the coin to have better detail than what it appears to have. IMHO it's a cast copy.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
This coin really looks off to me. It doesn't even look like the Gordian III coins at all IMHO. I would say fake, but other than appearance, I have nothing else to confirm it.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Interesting coin - I'm undecided.
The die rotation wouldn't bother me (I'm guessing its about 180 from the 'sprue'?), the silver peeling would, a little, could what remains beneath just be heavily toned silver, albeit not very pure?
The style is odd and so is the obverse/reverse combo but I think I would probably go with 'a peculiar yet genuine coin' or even just 'a peculiar contemporary coin'.
For me buying it would be decided by just how cheap it is, at $15AUS yes, just out of interest, it could be fun to research, at $30 no, better coins elsewhere.
Maybe mention to the seller your concerns and see just how good a deal you can get.
Edited by bobbyhelmet
12/15/2012 09:54 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
549 Posts |
I think it is ancient, not modern. The silver on regular Gordian III coins was far less than pure; it was the force of the strike that squeezed the silver to the surface and makes most of them look so silvery today. With enough surface damage, the poorer interior metal will show. This example shows a lot of the underlying copper. Or, maybe it was ones of the "limes" varieties found near the border of the empire. They are often regarded as counterfeits but may be imperial coins stuck by the army in inferior metal at less competent mobile mints.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
the first thing I thought was, that doesn't quite look right.....  but I dont know enough to tell you any more. it is certainly an interesting piece, so probably worth what you paid to get it out of the bargain bin regardless of what it is! |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
I sort of feel that commenting on a picture might not do the coin justice. However, my first reaction was the "fabric" feels off, or it may be the coarsely detailed portrait. I'm unsure why exactly, but it may be that "sprue" or the thin, raised lip on the reverse @ 12:00  |
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Replies: 7 / Views: 3,433 |
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Posted 12/15/2012 05:50 am
