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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,761 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3446 Posts |
I really can't make heads nor tails of this one. Obviously Tetricus I altho the last 3 letters have me stumped (OPA ?) But the reverse is plainly CONSECRA(TIO) As "we" all know Tetricus wasn't deified .... he retired to a villa outside of Rome ! Aurelian was feeling warm and fuzzy after the big Triumph. Tetricus did issue DIVO VICTORINO PIO antoniniani with the CONSECRATIO reverse. A "mule" of sorts perhaps ..... the two sides don't seem to belong together.   A 'whopping' 1.46 grams and 15-17mm Nice dark 'olive' patina ! |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I may be a mule, but I'm leaning more towards a Barbaric imitation.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3446 Posts |
That is a likely explanation although the portrait has a fairly good likeness. The face alone is recognizable as Tetricus and has none of the 'goofy' quality I associate with the 'barbarous' issues.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
549 Posts |
Many "barbarous radiates" approximate originals on the obverse. This is one of them. Even so, it is far from "good style" and not even close to official. The error in the obverse legend and the incorrect pairing with a reverse type of Claudius II are not at all uncommon with barbarous radiates. It is one among very many interesting barbarous radiates--but more interesting than most for having two sides which clearly belong to two different emperors.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
Cool barb!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3446 Posts |
Perhaps there is an untold story here.
Tetricus being smarter than your average 'frog' faked his own death, collected on the life insurance policy he and Postumus had negotiated with the German tribes (Allianz), high tailed it to Rome and used the payout to finance Aurelian's great Triumph.
He used the remainder to buy a villa and lived out his life beyond the reach of the angry Germans (no extradition).
Well....... that's my theory
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I was thinking barbarous radiate, especially with the weight.
That would also help to explain the blundered legend.
I don't recognize the reverse type. Also makes me lean towards barbarous.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
interesting coin no matter what it is.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
946 Posts |
Yes, a very curious Unofficial Issue, either originating from Roman Britannia (England & Wales) or the Rhine area, last "stronghold" of the Gallic Empire.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
I'd say it's an imitative Tetricus I that uses as its reverse a CONSECRATIO reverse of Claudius II Gothicus (who died in 270 AD) with an altar that has four panels.
Paul Bulgerin
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,761 |
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Posted 01/27/2014 8:37 pm
