Newp: I got a new Republican denarius as well

Roman Republic AR Denarius(3.83g, 19mm), P. Servilius M. F. Rullus, 100 BC. Bust of Minerva left, wearing Corinthian helmet and aegis; behind, RVLLI upward. Border of dots. / Victory in biga right, holding palm-branch in left hand and reins in right hand; below P; in ex., P • SERVILI • M • F. Border of dots. Crawford 328/1. RSC Servilia 14

This one just came in today and is a very nice addition to my Republican collection. The reverse of this denarius celebrates Marius' victories against the Teutones, Ambrones and Cimbri. This is also one of only eight types that advertise the fact that they were struck with silver from the public treasury, "Ex. Argento Publico" - the "P" on the reverse. Three of the other types were from this 102-100 BC period as well, and Crawford suggests that being struck with silver from the public treasury was nothing new or special, as most issues were struck with public silver, but that the marking simply "reflects a climate of opinion in the formation of which assertion of the rights of the people played a prominent part"(Crawford, Roman Republic Coinage, pg. 605).

 

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Nice one , I really like the biga .

 

Nice, I own none from the public silver.

 

Love it. And I also love Minerva's nose. Talk about a deformaty!

 

Fantastic horses on the reverse (that's a sweet new pickup, red_spork!!)

 

Ah...the Roman Nose exaggerated here... but revered among the Patricians as a True Roman of the Res Publica!

 

Mine does not have quite the pronounced NOSE as yours, but like I stated before, the Roman Nose was a sign of being Roman during those times... I love the Roman Denarii subjects...early republic most of the subjects were Roman, Victory, etc. Not focused of "Great People", rather on the Res Publica...the People!

 

Interesting: subtle differences in our denarii, however your Biga has 4 spokes, my issue has 8...

 

It looks like a cast fake. And there is a couple on the Forvm fake reports with 8 spokes and perfect noses too.

I don't know how to link to the forvm fakes to the direct images like I can the galleries, but just search Rullus and you will see a couple.

Martin is even the uploader to the main one I am eyeing.

 

*rats* ...



Alegandron, I sure hope that your coin passes muster

 

Thank you for the info! I will follow up. I purchased this years ago when I was first starting RR. Had not looked at it until red_spork showed his!

 

WOW, LOL, This issue had a LOT of modern cast fake variations! Fortunately, I did not pay much, but I will be contacting the Seller. Thank you very very much folks!

 

Shame about yours Alegandron Good luck getting a refund. The number of cast fakes on these more common Republican denarii is extremely high it seems.

 

Thanks! I contacted the Seller: hope they are "fair" since it ws several years ago... this was one of my first purchases, and somewhat got me excited in RR's. I checked it against several others (also, been chatting with Mat - he has been very helpful), and it does not seem "quite right" against my other RR's, and it only weighs 3.0g...Lesson learned...I had NOT done my homework at that early date for me...and it will make me a lot more diligent now! When I can finally sit down and REALLY go through my collection, I will look hard at my earlier acquisitions... quick scan shows, overall, I am ok...but...work to do...

 

It still stingsssss.....I know how BING recently felt.....

 

But! Hey, red_spork, you have a Great Denarius! Love it! And, I even LEARNED from it! Thank you!

 

Sorry Mikey. I hate the "F" word as much for you as for myself.

 

Yeah, hate the F word too... This is Kismet on me. Few months ago, received a couple denarii from overseas...they just were "too good". Told the seller they looked "fake", and I sent them to David Sear...he authenticated them! They were great! Even better condition than I was expecting at purchase!!! Poor seller had to wait for the authentication process...felt bad, but now we have a great relationship started!

 

Good news: Mine is not a cast. Bad News: It is a fourree. Note the nose and spokes.


I don't believe either spokes or nose is diagnostic 100% here and some of the 'cast' fakes may be pressed from copy dies. acsearch shows a lot of these. If there is a tendency it is for big noses to accompany 4 spokes. I know nothing about this.

If you want to post a link from the Forvm fakes, click on the 'i' in the top bar (left side center) to bring up information at the bottom of the image. Copy the URL provided down there and NOT the one at the top of the page. This Forvm oddity messes up more people than get it right. Why they do not fix that, I do not know.

http://numismatics.org/crro/id/rrc-328.1
Public collections have 4, 6 and 8 spokes not to mention varied noses. I'm starting to worry about Republicans.

 

I'm not ready to call Alegandron's coin fake, although I do see why Mat would suggest the possibility. The detail on the high points of the devices doesn't jibe with the softness of the edges of the devices. That is, if the coin were worn down to such soft edges, you would expect much less detail in the rest of the design.

What I see is an image that makes the coin look suspect on the above grounds. I don't see any casting bubbles, and perhaps Alegandron can tell us if there are any seams or filing marks on the edge of the coin. The image is slightly out of focus, and that could easily make the coin look like it has casting softness.