Yeah I know. This one is really junky-looking. If it was a normal Justinian follis it would have been too ugly even for me (and I collect ugly coins), but this one is a bit special. Can anyone figure out why I bought this lovely example?
There is no seam or cast bubbles which would indicate casting. The size is correct and the style matches those of this type I've seen. Plus this type isn't a popular target for counterfeiters, who most times go for big ticket and famous types. I assume you don't collect these or ancients in general? Many ancients coin types can be bought with little to no worry about their authenticity (educating yourself on spotting fakes is still very important, of course). Of course some types and series are more infested with fakes than others, but in general ancients collecting is no more risky than US or other more modern coinage.
mmmm ... but it looks soooo yummy (kinda like pie ... ummm, or more like awesome ice-cream pie) .... mmmm, good choice!!
Love the honesty. Funny and mature... You hit it right on the head askea. Carthage is a rather scarce mint for coins around this time period, but even scarcer still are the Justinian varieties with him depicted with a cross or Chi-Rho on his chest. Of the two, I've mostly seen the cross. Here is the full attribution: Justinian I, Byzantine Empire AE Follis Obv: D N IVSTINIANVS PP AVG, pearl-diademed, draped bust right, Chi-Rho on chest Rev: Large M, star to left, cross to right and above, officina mark gamma below Mint: Carthage, Mintmark: KART Ref: SB 259 Its not a pretty coin but $7.50 brought this rarity home with me.
