Very Odd Caracalla Bronze - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 8 / Views: 1,515
EFLargeCents Pillar of the Community United States 1304 Posts	Posted 02/21/2019 3:05 pm At 2.9 grams and 23mm this coin is very thin. It matches RIC 415c for legends and design, but not the weight. I have shown it to a couple folks, nobody really knows what it is, best guess is that it is a barbarous imitation/counterfeit with a possibility it was originally silvered to pass as an Antoninianus as it is roughly the correct diameter. Anyone else have any thoughts? It is a great mystery coin! Report this Post to the Staff

Kushanshah Pillar of the Community United States 1554 Posts	Posted 02/21/2019 4:02 pm It's clearly intended to be an as, as evidenced by the SC on reverse. An antoninianus would have a radiate crown. Lightweight contemporary casts of Severan bronzes are well-documented, the difference in weight representing the counterfeiter's profit margin. Report this Post to the Staff
EFLargeCents Pillar of the Community United States 1304 Posts	Posted 02/21/2019 4:13 pm I knew that about the SC indicating it was an As, so did the folks I showed this to. The problem is that this coin is significantly thinner, and I find it hard to believe someone would be fooled by it. Also, the antoninianus was new, is it not possible counterfeiters weren't wholly aware of what they were doing? These were the same questions raised by the collector/dealer I showed the coin to. I'll look online for any images of contemporary Caracalla bronze imitations. For reference. This coin is approximately 0.5mm thick The other Caracalla As I recently posted, is about 3mm thick. The difference is enormous. Edited by EFLargeCents 02/21/2019 4:31 pm Report this Post to the Staff
Kushanshah Pillar of the Community United States 1554 Posts	Posted 02/21/2019 5:29 pm You may find the following article useful: George C. Boon, Light-weights and 'Limesfalsa', Numismatic Chronicle 7/5 (1965}, pp. 161-174. If you don't already have access to jstor through your institution or library, you can register free and read online. https://www.jstor.org/stable/42662678 Edited by Kushanshah 02/21/2019 5:50 pm Report this Post to the Staff
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 02/21/2019 5:35 pm Interesting, I learn something new here every day. Report this Post to the Staff
EFLargeCents Pillar of the Community United States 1304 Posts	Posted 02/21/2019 8:10 pm Wow thanks for posting that! Great to learn something new here! Report this Post to the Staff
maridvnvm Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 2100 Posts	Posted 02/23/2019 08:12 am These often seem to be referred to as "Cast in Gaul". I have a Septimius Severus with similar characteristics. Severus, Ae As - Cast? copying RIC 831 Obv:- SEVERVS PIVS AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Rev:- VIRTVS AVGVSTOR, S-C, Roma seated left holding Victory and parazonium, shield behind Minted in Rome. A.D. 202-210 Reference:- BMCRE 815. Cohen -. RIC 831 (rated Scarce) Weight 4.45g. 21.60mm Report this Post to the Staff
jskirwin Pillar of the Community United States 616 Posts	Posted 02/23/2019 3:18 pm Pretty cool. Report this Post to the Staff
NorthSideTy Valued Member Canada 204 Posts	Posted 03/10/2019 10:36 pm Very interesting EF! Looking through my collection it seems I have something veryyy similar weighing in at 5.72g Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 8 / Views: 1,515

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