Won this Otho bronze on eBay for $100 , a bit strange issue , the coins are available in 5 gram up to 17 gram with diameters ranging from 23 - 30 mm the light ones are offered by sellers as semis, the heavier ones as As Has Anybody more info on these ? and please show your Otho bronzes.
I have no AE to share but this is the Antioch AR tetradrachm of Otho. Antioch was not the most original of the coin issuing authorities. The SC with delta epsilon above and below was used for two centuries. Eagles did similar duty on tetradrachms over the same period.
I realise I'm reviving a rather old thread but recently acquired this Otho Semis weighing about 7.8 gm. and would want some more info on it. They do not appear to be too common, dare I say rather rare and a struck in a large range of weights and diameter as @Andres2 pointed out. The IMP M O is clearly legible but the remainder of the legend CAE AVG is barely discernable. Looked like a decent strike to me and, to me, the patina was quite attractive.
The thread revival is actually interesting to me. These 3 coins are the only Othos I've seen where he didn't have that football-helmet-headed looking haircut!
It is very difficult to tell the difference between Nero and Otho on these types. Fortunately you can just barely make it the lettering on this coin my dad gave me as a Nero. Once I identified it I gave it back and let him no, that is no Nero!
Andres, Your coin & the coin pictured by Ryro appear to be McAlee 320 (a,b, or c). Unfortunately both coins are so heavily worn it's impossible to distinguish which variety of #320 they are . They range from Scarce to V. Rare, depending on which variety they are.
I don't have any coin of Otho, the only one of the 12 Caesars that I am missing. Considering the prices of his coins from Rome it will probably be one of these provincials that will eventually fill that hole. Some of these examples are actually quite attractive coins.
Here is mine: OTHO, Syria, Antioch Mint Obverse: CAE AVG IMP M OTHO, laureate head right. Reverse: Large SC within laurel wreath of eight leaves, fastened at top with pellet 14.95g, 28mm
