While browsing through 2 X 2 storage boxes I stumbled on a coin purchased many decades ago that was never identified . I can't make up my mind if it's a modern fake, a Roman Republican denarius, or an ancient fake (fourree). What do you guys think ? Weight 3.50 gm, diameter 20.25 mm
Ancients Roman Republic C. Coelius Caldus (ca. 104 BC). AR denarius. Head of Roma left, wearing pendant earring, necklace and winged helmet decorated with griffin crest / CALD, Victory in fast biga left; R in exergue. Crawford 318/1b. Looks like a fourree (break seen on obverse with underlying bronze?) but you're in a better position to make that call with the coin in hand.
Coelius Caldus about 104 BC. Lots of control marks on these. Crawford 318/1b Edit: Posted at the same time as TIF
Many thanks to TIF & Jay ! My gut feeling was a Republican fourree, but the unusual left facing Roma & Victory in quadriga gave me more doubts. If you click the images for a larger view deep pits can be spotted on both sides of the coin & the light weight adds to a fourree attribution . CT members are always helpful .
Man, that is a cool coin. Check out the angle on the biga I do love RR fourrée, and cannot recall ever seeing one that that was a modern repro. Could and or would a modern forger make fourrées just to make a buck? As TIF pointed out, the break at 11:50 on the obverse, possibly, as well the spots on her helmet, is where I'd be looking for signs of bronze with my microscope.
This is the version Banti 3/2 (B with (C)COIL below the horses and CALD in exergue. Crawford 318/1a. The control letter moved to above the horses. I feel unusual being the one to show a solid version. Usually I have the fourree.
