RomanUnknown1_Obv.jpg
RomanUnknown1_Rev.jpg
Posted 06/19/2008 04:44 am
Yep, you've got to watch those late Roman letters. As it is, you "missed it by that much". 
If you'd had "A" for your "H" and "V" for your "U", you'd have found it.
In those days, the lettering was done with an I-shaped punch, and letters which require relatively precise aim for two punches to meet at a point can look the worse for it: "A" can look like "H", "V" can look like "II", "N" can look like "III" and even "M" can look like "IIII".
When in doubt, check the rest of the coin's inscriptions. In this case, we know the reverse legend has to be "GENIO POPVLI ROMANI" (a common late Roman reverse legend). Check out the "A" in "ROMANI" - very "H"-like.
As for the identity, I believe almost all the coins with this inscription are for Galerius Caesar. Here's your type, except that one's mintmark "ST" - same mint (Ticinium), but second officina, not first.
If you'd had "A" for your "H" and "V" for your "U", you'd have found it.
In those days, the lettering was done with an I-shaped punch, and letters which require relatively precise aim for two punches to meet at a point can look the worse for it: "A" can look like "H", "V" can look like "II", "N" can look like "III" and even "M" can look like "IIII".
When in doubt, check the rest of the coin's inscriptions. In this case, we know the reverse legend has to be "GENIO POPVLI ROMANI" (a common late Roman reverse legend). Check out the "A" in "ROMANI" - very "H"-like.
As for the identity, I believe almost all the coins with this inscription are for Galerius Caesar. Here's your type, except that one's mintmark "ST" - same mint (Ticinium), but second officina, not first.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
Edited by Sap
06/19/2008 04:48 am
06/19/2008 04:48 am
