Hello forum, Recently I purchased 2 Roman provincial coins. One is referred to as a small AE12 in all major reference books. Size and dies are a perfect match. This is indeed the coin as described. Here's the problem : I also bought a similar one. Only : this one is 50% larger... AE18 . Both dies and flan are also a perfect match. This is clearly not the smaller AE12 coin on a broad flan, as these dies are way to big to fit an ordinary AE12 flan. In my opinion this must be a higher (double ?) denomination, because the difference in size of both coins is way to big. I can accept to find an AE12 on a 13 flan, or an 11. But in second case, both dies and flan are clearly made to BE an AE18... Would love to find your reactions here...
The small is 12mm (AE12), as noted in Vagi and other reference books. The large is 18mm (AE18) but with fitting dies, I mean the dies were cut to create an 18mm coin... No pics yet, I will upload them as soon as possible...
pics uploaded... This is the AE12 (dies and flan are a perfect match), like noted in all major reference books... Here's the same coin, but 50% bigger. AE18 ! Again, dies and flan are a perfect match, so I'm still convinced this coin must be another denomination...
The second one is obviously not an issue of Cyzicus. If you take the time to flip through the plates for RPC I you will find a number of confronted busts, most of which do not depict Britannicus. Fortunately the eyes on the second piece appear to have a fairly distinct style. You should be able to narrow it down to an exact issue using that detail.
Not of Cyzicus ? I dont have the RPC, and I have been searching for Britannicus coins (and pics) for over a year. No other dual bust rev to my knowledge would fit this larger coin... But it will probably of Mysia anyhow ?
You ought to get a copy of RPC then. Like I said, there were numerous confronted portraits issued in the provinces under the Julio-Claudians. A page-by-page flip through the plates will undoubtedly give you the answer.
I checked RPC. No match found... The only coin that fits, is the AE12...(RPC2248/5). And this is an AE18...
Upon further examination of the second coin, I noticed the letter Y in the right field. Compare to this Britannicus issue of Cyzicus, which admittedly looks very similar to yours: http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=210455 I suppose I must apologize for my earlier skepticism. Are you certain it was measured correctly?
Hey, no problem my friend. On difficult matters or rare issues like Britannicus' coins, it's not always easy... The large coin indeed measures 18mm, so an AE18... I still think this must be another denomination, as the size is totally different to the published AE12... A 13mm i could accept as being identical, but not one that is 50% larger...
Weigh it and get back to me, but the weight suggests that it's a part of the same issue and just happens to be struck on a wider flan, from slightly larger dies. This can happen with provincial coinage. But I'd be wary of it. A rare issue that you're not familiar with, struck on a larger-than usual flan with surface porosity and no visible legends? I'd want to at least see it in hand before buying.
