Dear Friends of Nikopolis! I want to share this coin: Moesia inferior, Nikopolis ad Istrum, Commodus, AD 177-192 AE 18, 2.44g, 18.05mm, 210 Av. AV KAI M A - YMOΔOC Laureate head r. Rv. NIKO - ΠPOC CICT Tyche, wearing Kalathos, enthroned l., holds cornucopiae in left arm and in extended r. hand rudder Ref. a) not in AMNG b) not in Varbanov c) Hristov/Hoeft/Jekov (2018) No. 8.10.38.21 corr. (writes AVT L KA K - OMODOC) Rare, F+, dark green Patina The rarity is listed as R5, But in the last 12 years I have only seen 2 ex., so I would think it is rather R8. This coin already caused me problems when I posted it a year ago at Nikopolis Addenda #5. It comes from the collection of Vladimir P from Forum Ancient Coins. But unfortunately, due to its poor preservation, large parts of the obv. are not readable. Now I've managed to bid for a coin in better condition and I think I've solved the mystery of the obv. legend. What immediately catches your eye is the clear Y at the beginning of the second part of the legend. This only happens with the legends for Commodus at A - YP and the A at the end of the first legend part fits fits well. In the name KOMOΔOC the KO is missing and the M is only a stunted letter. Actually, the obv. legend should have been completely AV KAI M A-YP KOMOΔOC. But the die cutter probably saw that there was not enough space available for KOMOΔOC. So he broke off his legend and turned the planned (or already started!) P of A-YP into a mutilated M, so that he could still only write MOΔOC. Thus it is a legend error and the legend of the obv. legend is actually AV KAI M A - YMOΔOC. For comparison I have added the obv. of Vladimir's coin. There you can see better the M A. Best regards
Speaking of 'Error' coins, I have this 'Constans' (RIC VIII. Arles 58) where the obverse legend has Constans name mis-spelled. (To my eye) it reads 'CONSTATANS_PF AVG' (Extra letters)
i've got a provincial Caracalla that's got an error on it, i never notice it till i posted it here a few years back when i 1st joined Cointalk..i think @Roman Collector pointed it out..they misspelled the city name on the reverse..
The engraver forgot a letter on the obverse inscription of this Domitian denarius: Domitian, AD 81-96. Roman AR denarius, 3.44 g, 17.2 mm, 7 h. Rome, AD 91. Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR XI (error; should read TR P XI), laureate head, right. Rev: IMP XXI COS XV CENS P P P, Minerva advancing right, brandishing a javelin and holding a shield. Refs: RIC 156; RIC² 724; BMCRE p. 336, note; Cohen 269; RCV --.
