When A Mint Falls - Tetricus II Comes Avgg With Homemade Reverse

Realized I never posted this one here before. Got it in a lot back in Dec/Jan.

Gallic empire, Tetricus II
C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
(Barbarized) COMES AVGG, Victory standing left, holding wreath and palm.
RIC V-2, 224





When the Gallic empire fell to Aurelian in 274, the antoninianii of Tetricus and his son were hopelessly lost to hyperinflation; down to under 2% silver and the mints were churning them out as fast as the workers could swing their hammers. It's not known what happened to the Gallic mints, but one can imagine that Aurelian ordered everything destroyed. Perhaps some unscrupulous employee managed to sneak out a die or two?

Enter this piece. The portrait is of a very fine style; arguably better than the "official" example in my collection. But the reverse is horribly simplified with garbled and indistinct lettering. My hypothesis here is that whoever made this coin, used a stolen genuine obverse die, and a home made reverse; either freehanded or else badly cast from an official coin.

I can't prove it of course, but it is neat to think about; makes the coin seem a bit more personal.