This thing was nothing but a green mess when I got it. I've managed to get a lot of the crud off and I think I was able to ID it...sort of. I believe it to be: Claudius II, IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust right AEQVITAS AVG, Aequitas standing left holding scales and cornucopiae Does that sound right? There is something to the right of Aequitas but I can't tell for sure what it is. This is the closest I could find on wildwinds: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/claudius_II/RIC_0015.jpg
The portrait looks like Gallienus to me-- small chin, pinched features, and I think I see a bit of neck beard.
To the right of Aequitas is probably a workshop number VI (?). I'll let you research the question of whether you want to disagree with TIF on the emperor or not. I could suggest the general rule of disagreeing with TIF in areas in which she is not expert. Your goal is to develop a gut feeling for things like small chin, pinched features, and neck beard without actually considering those features too seriously. You want to develop the abiliity to recognize these 200 some Romans rather like you do your Uncle Fred who you haven't seen for a few years. Try an acsearch on both emperors and Aequitas and see what you see. There are several mints and other variations so you may want to see more coins than the two below (from my trade stock). Without legends, one of these should look like Claudius and one Gallienus. Ask your son if he can explain what is 'odd' about the Claudius below.
..mystery coins can be so much fun...they can be anything you fancy(with exceptions) for the moment, until you know for sure what they are by either some device, dead giveaway or general consensus...this one was such a coin to me, @TIF told me what it was, but i wasn't convinced until @dougsmit pointed out the control device on the reverse. it was more magical and fun when i didn't know tho.. Gallienus bronze.
I'm assuming there's no statute of limitations on "mystery coins." I recently got a new Gallienus in an small odd lot from eBay. Since I did not see a definitive answer on this thread, I'm posting it now. As TIF and Doug were hinting, I think this may match the OP (the VI in the reverse field being the clincher, I think): Gallienus Æ Antoninianus (261-262 A.D.) Rome Mint GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right / AEQVITAS AVG, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae, VI in right field. RIC 159 var. (bust / field mark) Göbl 0500q. (3.72 grams / 20 x 16 mm)
I can’t believe I posted this 2 years ago! I, and FFIVN, have learned so much in that time. This forum and its members have been wonderful!
Talking about my original post? If so....well so would I....NOW! 2 years ago, I had been collecting ancients for like 2 months at best. Cut me some slack
Oh...I was just saying he is one of those portraits that is unmistakable...I am sure these days you know quite a few of them....Nero...Maximinus Thrax....Gordian III....Vespasian....so many up until you get to the later emperors where you need a bit more experience and a legible inscription doesn't hurt
He definitely is. I will admit, I had a hard time differentiating between him and Claudius II when starting out.
