Unofficial/Barbarous imitations

I will give it a soak one day.

 

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rotate the left hand coin 90 degrees clockwise and instead of three horizontal lines of lettering you have two figures standing with something, most likely altar/or vot inscribed shield (based on the fact the bust is helmeted), in the middle.

 

It strikes me that we see a great deal of helmeted bust imitations, especially the Vot altar and shield types. Why? a shortage of coinage at that time, because of what?

 

look who just turned up to the ugly bug ball!!


the reverse is actually not bad and might have fooled a few people, if the coin had been subjected to more wear, but, the stars are inconsistent with official style and the wolf's hind quarters are poorly engraved.
There are certainly many thousands of unofficial coins out there, with the most common being those of the Gallic empire, especially Tetricus I and II. Look at ebay and you will spot lots being listed as official in groups normally. I think this is because Gallic coins can be somewhat crude in style anyway and so the barbs slip through the net.....

 

although some are just too bad !!

 

apparently the Gallic empire was ruled by a chicken

 

YOC => the chicken is fricken awesome!! (congrats on that cool coin)

I have this sweet barbarous example ... pretty cool, eh?

Constantius-II ............. ooooww, creepy



... hey dawg, you don't look quite right, my friend (zup?)



Oh,and here is my sweet "non-barbarous" example of the same ruler

Constantius-II

 

He looks happy with his little pearl necklace steveo! !!

 

Here are a couple of the Barbarous Fallen Horseman series.

 

Excellent try! I tried to make a better pic, but it didn't work. However, I can read part of the text. The upper line reads 'SUOI..' and the middle line has some XXX in it, like VOT XXX.

 

Stupid me, Now I see the wreath like edge its clearly purporting to be a VOT XX type reverse .

 

Thanks, now I see it too.

 

Cool thread YOC! And some really nice barbarous coins all. I've got an interesting barbarous radiate.

The backstory on this one is that I bought it as a kid in Trier Germany circa 1975 or so. My first ancient coin.

I've preserved it in its German 1970s era 2x2 flip. My German is a tad rusty but I believe the direct translation off the flip is:

Roman Empire
Emperor with radiate crown

Gallic After-strike of an Antonianus
circa 270 AD.

 

YOC's chicken coin made me literally laugh out loud.

 

Me too!