I have had this for a while. Needs better photo, it certainly looks more silver in hand, does it look right to you? The soft reverse bothers me somewhat. Notes I have on it are: AR BI Tetradrachm, Antioch, Syria. Silver Billon (Silver & Copper Mixture) Provincial Tetradrachm of Herennius Etruscus, AD 251. Obverse - Bust is bare headed, draped and from rear, s under neck. Only one issue dating to A.D. 250-251. Reverse - Eagle to right, wreath in beak. Prieur 639
I see nothing wrong with it. Billon does not weather well in the ground. When you get to a point with billon, you sometimes can even see patches of more silver and patches of more copper as if someone forgot to stir the pot. I suspect your coin lost weight with copper being eaten away leaving a silver sponge.
Thanks Doug, that is reassuring. I will get the camera out and try and get a better picture, I hate snapping silver, it always comes out grey or overexposed.
Nice, I have one too. Herennius Etruscus (251 A.D.) Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch Billon Tetradrachm O: EPENNE TPOY ME KY DEKIOC KECAP, Bare headed draped bust right, five dots beneath. R: DEMAPX EXOYCIAC, Eagle standing left, head left, tail to right, wreath in beak, with wings spread, standing on palm, SC in exe. Antioch Mint, 251 A.D. 26mm 13g McAlee 1153e; Prieur 636 Herennius Etruscus ( 251 A.D.) AR Antoninianus O: Q HER ETR MES DECIVS NOB C, radiate and draped bust right, seen from behind. R: PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS, Herennius standing left, holding baton and spear. Rome 22mm 4.07g RIC IV 147c; RSC 26
Your Billon Tet looks fine to me as well Pish....and Mat's examples are terrific, especially the Ant!! My Billon Tet from Antioch and an AR Antoninianus with a Spes reverse:
Nothing wrong to my eyes, based on pictures alone Nice HE coins guys Herennius Etruscus, Antoninianus struck in Rome, AD 250-2511 Q HER ETR MES DECIVS NOB C, Radiate bust of Herennius right PIETAS AVGVSTORVM, Sacrificial implements 4.45 gr Ref : RIC # 143, Cohen #14, RCV #9521 Q
Nice => that's a sweet eagle, Pish (congrats) Herennius Etruscus, eh? ..... why yes, I do have one here somewhere ... hmmm, apparently I have the same taste as my good coin-friend, Q => sweet coin, brother!!
