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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,618 |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Not got it in hand so don't know the weight or size. It is supposed to be a sestertius. Legend mostly missing, reverse is SPQR/OB/CIV SER in three lines within oak wreath. I am wondering which of the three on wildwinds that it might be. Does it look like Orialchum to you?   |
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Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
1204 Posts |
I saw the same coin being sold today on ebay, its this one right? nice catch! |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
SPQR OB CIVSER. RIC I 290
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Thank you Dutch, I was also after the Domitian by the same seller, but it went too high. Thank you echizento, just what I wanted.
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Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
Nice coin, Pish. Well bought, too.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Thank you TC, I am still smiling!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Arrived this morning. 35mm 21.36g. Happy bunny.
Edited by pishpash
11/05/2014 07:25 am
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
To coin a word:
It's 'orichalcumish' (brassy) enough for me!
From what I can observe with later emperors, sestertii tended to be more 'bronzy' (increasingly less golden) in their appearance. I don't know why that is so; zinc, which colours copper a golden yellow, was fairly easily obtained by the Romans.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
So would that make it RIC 270; BMC 111 rather than RIC 290? RIC 270 example is 27.8 mm, 21.9 gr considerably smaller than my 35mm?
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
That would make it RIC I 259, the other reference was for a dupondius.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
I am confused. A lot of the wildwind references don't give measurements. So it is not a dupondis but a sestertius then.
Edit: I don't think the legend is right for 259.
Edited by pishpash
11/05/2014 08:57 am
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Yes at that sizes it's a sestertius. The first reference I gave you was for a dupondis. I think the obverse legend might be different which would explain the other reference numbers.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
I had a look on acsearch and found similar coins and more reference numbers. I have no idea how to tell them apart!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
No matter how you slice it 35mm is a sestertius ! Quote:
From what I can observe with later emperors, sestertii tended to be more 'bronzy' (increasingly less golden) in their appearance. I don't know why that is so; zinc, which colours copper a golden yellow, was fairly easily obtained by the Romans. From what I have read on the subject the standard explanation is that the recycling of orichalcum issued by previous 'regimes' led to a progressive evaporation of zinc as well as increases in many trace elements in the alloy. Eventually you end up with an ordinary bronze. It does not explain why an adequate supply of fresh alloy was not used to keep up appearances. I think the 'golden' colored orichalcum simply became too expensive to produce and mint. They didn't simply forget how to make it ! Inflation had gradually made the sestertius a smaller unit of purchasing power. In the first half of the third century silver coin becomes the new standard of exchange for the consumer browsing in the forum. Bronze was for the beggars and peasants. Edited by FVRIVS RVFVS
11/05/2014 10:31 am
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Quote:
I have no idea how to tell them apart! Didn't you say the other day that you have RIC on hand? Just look at all the listings for Sestertii with that reverse. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
I have looked at RIC. It is as clear as mud. Not enough of the legend. Am classing him as Laureate draped right. :{
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,618 |
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Posted 11/03/2014 2:48 pm
