| Author |
 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,845 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Italy
1130 Posts |
Hello Everyone, I collect many things, but not coins - not ancient or otherwise. I found this recently labeled 'old coin' with no intention to deceive, etc. I am curious because it seems fake to me. It is 28mm in diamter and weighs 8.67 g. It is very thin, much thinner than a similar example I have handled. Any thoughts would be highly appreciated! Thank you. This site is great and has gotten me interested in searching for more items.  |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
 Please post a picture of the front of the coin as well. |
|
Pillar of the Community
 Italy
1130 Posts |
Hello, I am sorry. I thought I uploaded a front picture as well. Again, the problem I am having with this coin is the weight.  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Italy
1130 Posts |
Thank you very much. I am such a novice I am not sure what to make of it. What do you think? An opinion, of course. Certainly leaves some room for it to be authentic. I know it's not a high dollar coin; I would just rather understand its place better.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Italy
1130 Posts |
There appears to be a lip around the outer edge of two or three of those authentic examples. My coins is in far worse shape and that ring is not present; one of the examples has a similar shape.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Stay tuned. Hopefully some of our Roman coin collectors will chime in.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 Sweden
2124 Posts |
It matches this as: RIC I Nero 312 (with plenty of other examples here: http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric....312?lang=en). The weight is low, but not necessarily too low, these large coppers have a rather wide weight range. On authenticity: Looks ok to me, but I'll let the true experts on the era weigh in. |
|
Valued Member
Germany
141 Posts |
Hi! Pictures are actually not that great, but I'd be inclined to say it looks authentic as far as I can see.
Regarding weight I agree with erafjel. You can find even lighter samples which are indeed genuine.
|
|
Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
to the Community! |
|
Pillar of the Community
Italy
1130 Posts |
Thank you all very much! I am mostly decided it is authentic. I bought it inexpensively and as a curiosity. Of course, any additional opinions are welcome.
thanks again.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
725 Posts |
Yes I've learned through similar processes that the weight of Roman bronze coins (or indeed pretty much any hammered bronze or copper coinage) is all but irrelevant. The range of weights on that page of authentic examples is 8.6 to 13.2g. They're clearly not even all made the same weight, and that's before you account for different amounts of different metals in their composition leaching out in different conditions for 2000 years.
The fact that it is inexpensive, well worn and holed would suggest it's genuine, as you wouldn't make a fake and then try to reduce its value quite so much.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3433 Posts |
Poor picture quality but it appears to be genuine
Average weights for 1st century copper As range between 8-11 grams
Brass Dupondius generally between 10-13 grams
Easy for us to forget that bronze coins were merely tokens of exchange representing fractions of the silver denarius which was the primary unit
If you sold a few goats for silver coin you no doubt pulled out your pocket weight scale to double check the amount of silver
But if you bought yourself a nice fish and loaf of bread in the market you might get back a few bronze 'tokens' back
No real need to use the weight scale !
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Italy
1130 Posts |
|
| |
Replies: 13 / Views: 1,845 |
|
Posted 09/06/2021 11:40 am
