| Author |
 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,180 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
 Bought this just because it looked interesting, the reverse seems to show a horseman carrying a spear, I can maybe read AR?P above him. Obverse, crude bust with a NOBC. Initially just thought it was barbarous but now not so sure, any thoughts on what it is or what its based on  It came with this fallen horseman, that I'm thinking is not official.  Not in hand but guessing both are about 10mm across. Edited by bobbyhelmet
01/24/2013 4:04 pm
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
I dont think NOB C continued very far after the constantines - Id say barbarous. (also, you've got a spelling error in the title). Looks to be imitating the style of the time - the later busts dont have this kind of style I've founnd
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I agree they both look barbarous. You have been picking up some nice coins lately Bobby.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Quote:
also, you've got a spelling error in the title  Brain not working today  Thanks echizento  |
|
Valued Member
279 Posts |
Hi,the only thing I can think about first coin , as others have already said,is that's an imitative with the fallen horseman on the reverse(but the rappresentation is different from the usual one),and costantius gallus on the obverse.
however never seen before a similar coin for sure.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
36844 Posts |
Both portraits look cartoonish so my "guess" (as I'm new to this) would be Barbarous also. Are these issues considered contemporary counterfeits?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Quote:
Are these issues considered contemporary counterfeits? Yes and no. Almost all are contemporary or at least produced within a century or so of the coin they were based on. Most can also be tracked back design-wise to an official issue at some point. Some were out-and-out fakes as we would consider circulating fakes today but most were a kind of odd 'semi-official' currency where the Romans couldn't or wouldn't supply official coins to. Its not really known for sure and difficult to understand how it worked but most now agree they were not just made to deceive and profit. |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
36844 Posts |
Thanks bobby, I have avoided buying any of these thinking they were counterfeit.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
Ancient counterfeits are fine if you ask me. It's the modern fakes that I stay away from. Some of those barbs can be quite charming with their crude styles.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Those are interesting. So I wonder if it's possible to narrow down a region by style? I would guess the first coin was never intended to pass off as Roman, but is merely copying the basic appearance--issued by a tribe on the outskirts of the empire? Edited by DVCollector
02/01/2013 2:16 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Quote:
So I wonder if it's possible to narrow down a region by style? Yes - but I cant do it beyond the very basics. I know that coins on which the reverse figure is strangely leaning backwards (usually PAX radiates) are considered to come from France, odd but thats the theory agree or otherwise. Some can differentiate between areas in Britain also, not entirely sure how. Quote:
copying the basic appearance--issued by a tribe on the outskirts of the empire? Yeah - locals (in say Northern Britain) trusted the Romans and their currency as both were more stable than anything they had had before. If the Romans couldn't or wouldn't supply official coins then they took it on themselves to keep their economy full of coins. This is where the Semi-official term comes in, nobody is trying to rob anyone just 'grease the wheels' of the economy. Its likely the making of them was organised not just some guy in his ancient shed working for himself Everyone knew they weren't 'Roman' but they looked enough 'Roman' to instill enough confidence for people to use them, kind of makes sense. In Britain we have somewhere between 1-5% fake pound coins circulating, everyone knows and can spot them if they look hard enough but people rarely do, not even the banks! If everyone sticks to this in the short term there are no real negative issues. I'm happy to accept a fake £1 as I know I can spend it, I think it was perhaps a similar sentiment when these semi-official coins were in the system in the past. Edited by bobbyhelmet
02/01/2013 2:59 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
946 Posts |
The reverse having a horseman galloping to the right seems to be based on the reverse type we see on the Centenionalis of Magnentius, whilst using the obverse type only seen on the AE's of his brother, Decentius as " NOB CAES". Interesting piece and as a piece of history |
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Bobby--that's a good read, thanks! Quote:
In Britain we have somewhere between 1-5% fake pound coins circulating, everyone knows and can spot them if they look hard enough but people rarely do 1-5%  Interesting parallel to ancient times--as long as it's accepted as such. It makes me wonder if someone (Dr. Moriarty?) is becoming very wealthy? |
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Thanks Masis, I think your probably correct on both counts Also, for the thread, this coin is probably not something I think would have been made in the UK due to its subject matter and style, I would guess it was made in mainland Europe and ended up here through circulation. The fallen horseman is also something I would not associate with UK barbarous production. Quote:
It makes me wonder if someone (Dr. Moriarty?) is becoming very wealthy? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...xzz2J027WIcpMaybe its Tom and John Moriarty  Edited by bobbyhelmet
02/01/2013 4:46 pm
|
| |
Replies: 13 / Views: 1,180 |
|
Posted 01/24/2013 3:35 pm
