I went out on a limb with my next acquisition. I bought it knowing that the style was a little odd looking and with the reverse legend being unusual. The obverse legend is pretty good though. I went ahead and bought it with half a mind thinking it was imitative and half my mind hoping it was an odd official issue. I have now had it confirmed that it is an ancient imitative in good style and is a die match to Bastien 310a-h which is termed Atelier II. Postumus - AE As / Sestertius Obv:- IMP C M CASS LAT POSTVMVS P F AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right Rev:- AMV above Galley, with rowers right, AMV below. Retrograde P to left, [O] to right 9.47 g. 25.42 mm Anyone else have some imitatives? Martin
Nice! That one has a great 'barbarous' portrait. I love these big Postumus bronzes. Here are the two I have that are attributed to Atelier II. TOP : POSTUMUS (260 - 269 AD, Gallic Empire) Double Sestertius 17.83g, 32.5mm, Atelier II, 261 - 263 AD, RIC 143, Sear 11049 var, Bastien 146 (22 ex., same obv die as 146i) O: IMP C M CASS LAT POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: LAETITIA AVG, galley sailing right with rowers and a helmsman. BOTTOM : POSTUMUS (260 - 269 AD, Gallic Empire) Double Sestertius 9.85g, 27mm, Atelier II, 261 - 263 AD, RIC 166, Sear 11069, BASTIEN 152 (15 ex., same dies as 152g) O: IMP C M CASS LAT POSTVMVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: VICTORIAE AVG, two Victories standing face to face, attaching A shield to A palm tree, captives seated left and right below, S C in ex.
Martin Have you checked the thread above, entitled " Bronze Alexander" to give us your opinion about a possible though difficult ancient imitation? Thanks.. charles
The part of these that leaves me scratching my head is just were we stop attributing coins to regular mints and where we start saying they are barbarous. Most Postumus sestertii are a little wild looking. Sizes and weights vary a lot. Should we care too much about such matters? The same questions arise elsewhere (thinking Magnentius, Carausius and even Eastern Septimius). I have coins of each that I would not bet the farm on being either fully official or not. I sold the only Postumus I had in this category but always wonder what made me do that.
From the 15 or so Postumus sestertius that I have had recently and have been attributed to 'official' mints, none have had the cartoon like crude engraving which is evident on Martins coin and many others from 'unofficial' mints/engravers. The flan sizes have varied in my coins, but there is a marked difference between the two types I have seen and nothing wild about the portraits.
Great new addition, Martin (congrats) ... I only have this AR Postumus Galley example: I really like the ancient imitative coins ... I have this imitative Ancient Owl: "Imitation of the contemporary coinage of Athens" after circa 413 BC Egypt or Syria
Martin => why the "grumpy" attitude-icon? ... => man, you have such beautiful coins ... what could be goin' wrong, my friend?!!
Steve, According to my family and work colleagues "Grumpy" is my default state of affairs. It has been set to this for a few months here. I will change it some day..... Martin
