Posted 07/01/2019 06:09 am
Interesting and unlisted by Cohen, RSC, or RIC VOL. IV PART III for the Antioch mint, in which Volusian on p186 #237*(c) is rated Rare but lacks the reverse misspelled variation of VDERITAS (with D instead of B), a feature seen on the senior emperor Trebonianus Gallus's coin #92* variety noted on p169 and shown as plate 13 #20. Both are in the Budapest collection, which could be a good choice for close comparison. The plate shows a sharp misspelled reverse with a single cornucopia, not the doubled cornucopiae shown on the present example, which also appears to replace shows a reverse die-crack like line from the top right of the T to near the upper left of the A. The weak reverse here could indicate Also, the exergual mint mark appears to differ (VI? here vs. dots in RIC), and the edge above shows lines that may reveal the manufacturing method. An accurate specific gravity could be revealing even if not definitive. In general, the chance of a having rarity that was chosen for counterfeiting in ancient times is small, and a modern origin of this piece must be seriously considered.
