Unusual Caligula Bronze - Coin Community Forum

To participate in the forum you must log in or register.

Author	Replies: 14 / Views: 1,421
FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3443 Posts	Posted 02/05/2013 9:40 pm I bought this on ebay last summer. I assume that everybody else went on vacation that week. Sixty two dollars with shipping ...... cheap! I think it may actually be overstruck on a dupodius(NERO ET DRUSUS). Weight is 12.74 grams 25-27mm dia. Opinions ? Report this Post to the Staff

MartiVltori Pillar of the Community United States 870 Posts	Posted 02/05/2013 9:49 pm good buy. Report this Post to the Staff
FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3443 Posts	Posted 02/05/2013 10:07 pm I sent this photo to a 'well known' dealer who pooh poohed it and tried to tell me it was a known 'colonial' issue ! I am not buying. I cannot seem to find anything similar in BMC or RIC. I hesitate to think it might be unique ..... but wouldn't that be nice ! Report this Post to the Staff
MartiVltori Pillar of the Community United States 870 Posts	Posted 02/06/2013 12:24 am Well, the reverse looks like RIC I, 35 but I can't make much of anything out of the ovb inscription. Report this Post to the Staff
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 02/06/2013 03:38 am to the community You can clean up the obverse a bit and that should reveal the legend. Report this Post to the Staff
FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3443 Posts	Posted 02/06/2013 07:13 am Obverse legend reads C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT.Standard legend for Caligula As with Vesta Reverse. Reverse legend is appropriate to Germanicus .... Not Nero and Drusus. In my haste I misread my reference material. Although the weight seems slighty heavy for an AS. An interesting 'Mule' nevertheless. Old photo from last summer. I will attempt another of the slightly 'improved' coin later. I am hesitant to do too much to it which I may later regret Edited by FVRIVS RVFVS 02/06/2013 07:14 am Report this Post to the Staff
Masis Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 946 Posts	Posted 02/06/2013 7:59 pm Really nice coin Quote: dealer who pooh poohed it Alas, they will always downplay a good, rare coin, whilst in private they are green with envy. Report this Post to the Staff
jcmworld Pillar of the Community United States 567 Posts	Posted 02/06/2013 8:09 pm Can you make out the countermark on the reverse? Report this Post to the Staff
FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3443 Posts	Posted 02/06/2013 9:39 pm When I 'won' this piece I also thought it to be a countermark and was excited to have scored a 'trifecta' Caligula Obv. Germanicus Rv. and perhaps a Claudius countermark for good measure. Upon Inspection of the actual coin it was all too apparent that it is an overstrike with a small section of previous reverse legend surviving (RAV which is tempting to read as [CAESA]RAV[G]) and sections of obverse legend showing signs of overstriking (C at beginning has distinctive 'dot' within radius and R in CAESAR has four legs). Elongated flan with a distinct tapered thickness - my micrometer measures it at .096 inches at 9 o'clock and .165 at 3 o'clock. A 'trifecta' yes but the third party remains a mystery. I have photographed it beside a 'normal' Caligula As for comparison purposes. The 'normal' Caligula weighs in at 10.91 grams and 28-29mm. The 'Mule' is slightly heavy (for an As) at 12.74 grams and the 'original' flan must have been slightly smaller than the current 25-27mm after restrike. Definitely copper and not orichalcum. Altogether ..... "curiouser and curiouser" Edited by FVRIVS RVFVS 02/06/2013 9:45 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Doucet Pillar of the Community United States 1315 Posts	Posted 02/06/2013 9:44 pm Really nice coin. I'm amazed how you could figure out everything about it. Congrats! Report this Post to the Staff
FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3443 Posts	Posted 02/06/2013 10:25 pm Thank you much for your compliment but I think there is still more to 'figure out'. Personally I have never seen anything like it before but I have had half a year to think over some possibilities. I am not entirely satisfied with my own interpretation of letters RAV as the coins of period would usually read CAESARDIVIAVG. I love the coin and am quite certain of its antiquity. But what it is precisely I am not entirely clear about. I have a Trajan Dupondius overstrike which 'explains' itself .... It is struck over a 'brass' As. Whether this one (Caligula) could be a unique specimen I would love to determine ! My brother offered me a 'windfall' profit for it but I would certainly sell my 'other' Caligula before this one ..... I seriously doubt I could ever replace it. Edited by FVRIVS RVFVS 02/06/2013 11:13 pm Report this Post to the Staff
FVRIVS RVFVS Pillar of the Community United States 3443 Posts	Posted 08/04/2013 9:45 pm Mssr. 'Noob' expressed an interest in seeing this one as he had missed it when posted. So here is Caligula 'Mule' Redux Report this Post to the Staff
Ancientnoob Pillar of the Community United States 5155 Posts	Posted 08/04/2013 9:50 pm Hee Haww....That's a mule if I have ever seen one. This is proof that you never have the "new guy" go get you a die, when the one you have breaks. Interesting piece. I am honest when I say I have never seen one of these. WOW. I bet that fell was just angry he didn't have it. Interesting even more so, you might want to contact Dana at wildwinds and see what she has to say, maybe you might find a spot on the list...eh... Kudos my friend. Report this Post to the Staff
ThisIsFun Pillar of the Community United States 2480 Posts	Posted 08/05/2013 05:06 am A fascinating coin, great story. Report this Post to the Staff
Ancientnoob Pillar of the Community United States 5155 Posts	Posted 08/05/2013 10:01 am You know what else I like..?.....The jungle camouflage patina! Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 14 / Views: 1,421

To participate in the forum you must log in or register.

All Forums Category: World Coins and Currency Forums Forum: Ancient, Greek, Roman, and Medieval Coins

The First Dollar, your premier source for bullion and rare coins. See our bullion list on the site and the coin inventory on ebay.

Silver Gold Bull US is the United States leading bullion dealer. We deliver gold coins, gold bars, silver coins, silver bars and precious metals to your door. Order today!

View Last 100 New Topics

View Last 100 Active Topics

Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Coin Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2026 Coin Community Family- all rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Coin Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited.
Contact Us | Advertise Here | Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

Coin Community Forum

It took 0.34 seconds to rattle this change.