Ex Rare And Super Small ID Help - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 3 / Views: 1,232
pendrak Valued Member United States 253 Posts	Posted 08/14/2017 6:17 pm Hey Guys- Gotta interesting one here. It is a huge size 5mm and weighs a whopping 0.4 grams. Super small coins were minted in North Africa after the fall of Rome mainly in Carthage. They are rare mainly because of their size. 5-7mm coins! After the Byzantines finally started distributing their new coinage empire wide, these disappeared real quick and the ones that didn't quickly crumbled by erosion. Because of the rarity and lack of interest there is very little ID information on these super small ancient coins. The one I have is in super condition for its type. My problem is making a copy observable enough for ID help. The first pic is a scan at 1200 dpi of the obverse. A bust right can be easily seen. Could not get a good scan of the obverse so used my smart phone- pic 2- may need to be rotated. Possibly a monogram. Remember this coin is only 5mm. So- I really do not expect much help here, but maybe some discussion. This coin is super, super small!! Can you imagine someone actually using coins this small? Report this Post to the Staff

Spence Moderator United States 34419 Posts	Posted 08/14/2017 8:08 pm Interesting piece. While I can't help on the attribution, I do note that this coin appears to be quite thick for its small diameter--maybe two or three mm. Is that right? "If you climb a good tree, you get a push." -----Ghanaian proverb "The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed." -----King Adz Report this Post to the Staff
Finn235 Pillar of the Community United States 6130 Posts	Posted 08/14/2017 9:23 pm Not many places made copper coins that small. I see the bust you are talking about, but given the overall condition of the coin, I think this may be another instance of "Jesus in the toast" if you will. If it is indeed a bust, my best guess is some sort of barbarian coin. I have a 6mm coin that was supposedly found among 4th century barbaric minims. The style is wrong though--those are usually laureate or radiate. While copies of the helmeted bust "Victoriae Laetae" exist, they are pretty close to the original size. India cranked out some small coppers, but the only one that small with a bust would be Indo-Parthian king Gondophares, and the bust style is wrong. Report this Post to the Staff
pendrak Valued Member United States 253 Posts	Posted 08/16/2017 12:33 pm Yes it is definitely barbarous. Probably Vandals. It is only 1mm thick but on a 5mm coin, it appears thick. The reverse is probably some type of monogram. I have included another better pic of the reverse and putting this one in my unknown jar. Thanks and later- Report this Post to the Staff
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