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 Replies: 7 / Views: 2,077 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4000 Posts |
I was given a coin labeled "TRAJAN RIC II 647". I have tried to do some research and I have found some pics to compare it to, but it looks more like RIC II 650. It has the SC inside the wreath, but does not close with a jewel. It looks more like it has another wreath around the wreath. Can you tell I have no clue what I'm talking about? I want to find out a little more about it's history and what it may be worth. I don't expect it to be worth much, but I still want to know. I read a couple of threads here and one had a link to forumancientcoins.com, but I can't figure out which spreadsheet I might find this in. Any help?  Edited by Scooby Due
04/26/2010 10:50 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4000 Posts |
As I study it more, it does look like the RIC II 647, I guess the jewel has worn.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Nice gift, Ric II 647 is as AS and is @26mm and 8.5 grams, 650 is a Semis at 20mm and 3.20 grams. Both legends are the same: IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GERM, DAC PARTHICO PM TR POT XX COS VI PP. I think if you let this soak in olive oil for a month or so more of the legend will show.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4000 Posts |
 I understood from olive oil on. When I try to research this coin all I get are pics to compare and the specs you listed above. But, where can I find more info on it? By the way, this one only weighs 6.85 grams. And the label that came with it says AE-semis 23.5 mm. Whats an AE and what's an AS? Sorry for the silly questions, but I have just about 30 minutes experience in this area. Is there a tutorial/introduction you can point me to? |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Ancient coins were struck by hand so, weight and size is not always dead on. AS is the domination. AE means the coin is either bronze or copper, AR is silver and AV is gold.
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Moderator
Australia
16864 Posts |
The "as" is one of the basic denominations of the Roman series. There were 16 asses to a denarius, which was the standard silver coin of the Republic and early Empire. A "semis" is half an as. The Wildwinds page for Trajan is sorted by RIC number; all the coins from 644 to 650 have much the same design, but they're different denominations and with slightly different legends; the presence or absence of the "jewel" is not a major difference between them. RIC 644 is a brass as (7.8 g), RIC 645 is the brass semis (3.8 g), it lists RIC 647 being a heavy brass as or "2/3 dupondius" of 1 1/3 asses, and weighing significantly more than a regular as (8.5 g). RIC 650 is another semis, similar to 645 except the consulship indicator is 7 (VII) not 6 (VI). So I would classify your coin as RIC 644, a brass as, because it's too lightweight for the "heavy as" but too heavy for a semis. The RIC II catalogue was printed in 1923, and scholarship (and the discovery of new coin types) have advanced since then, as seen by the debate and over the exact intended denomination and the mint city of RIC 647. People still use the RIC numbering system out of habit, but I'm told that people who try to use the book itself can find it a frustrating experience. RIC 644 is listed as #3243 in the latest edition Sear catalogue, which gives it a catalogue value of US$65 in Fine (though with the wear and scratches, I'd have to grade yours merely "Good"). If it's any help, the pic given in Sear for this type has a nearly-invisible "jewel" as well, just like yours. 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
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4000 Posts |
Thanks for the input! It's really cool to expand beyond modern coinage! I am really enjoying this coin regardless of its condition or value. I want to learn more. I was reading up on the history, and I think I'm going to have to re-read it a few more times. It was like reading Genesis and trying to figure out who beget whom.
Regarding the olive oil, does the container matter? Should I leave it uncovered, or does that matter? I was just going to drop it in a small tupperware with just enough olive oil to cover it.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Container doesn't matter, I cover it less chance of it getting knocked over and spilling oil everywhere.
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Replies: 7 / Views: 2,077 |
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Posted 04/26/2010 10:36 pm
