Morning all, I have a coin which appears to be a Prutah and I believe from the time of Pontius Pilate. It appears to have three bound ears of grain on one side. The other is too worn to be visible. Some letters are visible. Any idea how best to authenticate a coin like this. It should be bronze yet it looks more like copper which I assume would make it a fake/replica? It weighs about 1.9g and measures approx 1.6cm Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks (Photos below)
I'm not really into this specific coinage, however, what makes you believe it's not authentic? It's heavily corroded, there are spots suggestive for bronze disease - both indicative (in my opinion) of advanced age.
Your coin is likely genuine. FWIW, copper is the main ingredient in bronze(typically around 90% of the alloy). Your coin is pretty worn, and hard to tell in the pic, but it could be a match to this type: Judaea. Procurators. Pontius Pilate Ӕ Prutah; Year 16=29/30 CE Struck in the names of Julia Augusta and Tiberius O: Three bound grain ears, the outer two ears droop, surrounded by IOYΛIA KAICAPOC (Julia, Caesar's wife). R: Libation ladle (simpulum) surrounded by TIBЄPIOY KAICAPOC (of Tiberius Caesar) and date L Ις (date) in legend (Year 16) Hendin-1341; RPC-4967; Meshorer 331
Thanks for the replies. I'm always dubious with ancient coins as I'm still learning alot about them - Roman especially. Once again thanks for all the helpful infomation
I have a couple from that Procurator: Judaea Pontius Pilate - Prutah Julia - IOYLIA KAICAPOC Julia Caesar - LIVIA wife of Augustus Hendin 1341 Judaea Pontius Pilate 14-37 CE - Prutah TIBEPIOY KAICAPOC Lituus Hendin 1342
A well-loved coin to be sure but still an authentic one from Judaea. It's kind of a blast thinking about how biblical-era folks were carrying around these coins. So much history. Luke 21: 1-4 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Mine is a lower grade coin but was selected since it has the year date LIS (year 16 - 29/30 AD) following KAICAPOC on flan obverse right.
There’s a relatively useful rule of thumb with ancients - if it looks old, it probably is. Authenticity can also be determined by value and demand. The odds of a Constantius II FTR being fake are relatively low, for example.
I want to second the opinion that the green spots MIGHT be bronze disease (BD). Keep an eye on those spots. If you see a soft, powdery substance start building up, then it is BD and you need to treat the coin. Start by brushing off the powder and digging out as much as you can from the little pits with a toothpick or bamboo skewer. Buy a gallon of distilled water (DW) from a grocery store, place the coin in a cup with 6-8 oz. of DW and let it soak for 2-3 days, then empty and replace the DW. Repeat this process for about 3-4 weeks.
These two examples illustrate the other reverse type on prutot issued by this procurator, depicting a lituus.