I know that spelling errors are only of vague interest to many but I have a liking for them and pick the odd one up now and then. In this case the coin is an Adventus type, which is one of my minor collecting themes. Trebonianus Gallus - Antoninianus Obv:– IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS P F AVG, Radiate, draped cuirassed bust right Rev– ADVNTVS (sic) AVS(sic), Trebonianus Gallus riding on horse left, holding hand high in salute and scepter Minted in Antioch. Reference(s) – RIC 79 var (reverse legend). Rare with these reverse legend errors. Possibly the fourth known example all from the same reverse die. Ex Private British collection, which was purchased from English dealer Peter Mimms in 1976 The AVG being transposed to AVS seems to be a common theme in these eastern mints and occurs on a few dies for Septimius Severus too. Martin
Nice find, Martin. I like spelling/engravers errors too. Most of mine have been bought by accident though. Julia Maesa (218 - 225 A.D.) AR Denarius O: IVLIA MAESA AVG, Draped bust right. R: FORTVNAE REDVCI Fecunditas standing left, raising hand over child and cornucopia. Rome 18.8m 3.1g RSC 14 Rare Engravers Error: This coin features Maesa's Fecunditas type, RIC 249 = RSC 8, and should have been labeled FECVNDITAS AVG. It implies that Maesa's FECVNDITAS AVG type and Elagabalus' FORTVNAE REDVCI type were being produced simultaneously, that is in 219 AD, the known date of the FORTVNAE REDVCI type. This error is not unpublished: Cohen 14 reports a specimen in Paris, RIC 252 takes it over from Cohen. About the 6th known of this type, found two other specimens with the same combination of type and legend, both from the same reverse die but feature a young Maesa bust. This type features the older bust type. Possibly unique to feature this particular bust. Carinus (283 - 285 A.D.) Æ(S) Antoninianus O: IMP CARINVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right. R: AETERNIT AVGG, Aeternitas standing left, holding phoenix on globe, lifting hem of robe with left hand. KAΓ in ex. Rome Mint. 284 - 285 A.D. 22 mm 3.8 g RIC 248 Reverse engraver's error, missing "I"!
Cool posts!! I like the 'error' types too---I find them interesting but, like Mat, mine would be accidental pick-ups at my current phase of collecting. I have none I'm aware of unless the 'Gothico' type is considered one of the type.
I remain unwilling to accept AVS as an 'error' but consider it a variation in abbreviation using the first part and last letter of the word. More modern uses of this tend to make that ending superscript but there are just too many AVS examples for them to be errors.
Nice new OP spelling error, Martin ... Sadly, I only have one T-Bone Gallus example ... but here it is, just for comparison
Doug, In this case I am able to find one die with AVS yet there are dozens of dies with AVG. Would the engraver have been given the latitute to choose AVS over AVG?
PHRYGIA, Trajanopolis. Hadrian AE 15 Athena standing Reference. Very rare. cf. RPC 3 2471;Cf. Varbanov 2705. Obv: KAICAP AΔPIANOC. Laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder. Rev: TPIIANOΠOΛITΩN (sic). Athena standing right, holding spear and resting hand upon shield. 2.42 gr. 15 mm. Note. misspelling of the ethnic on the reverse. Normal legend: ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ
Latitude suggests there were rules spelled out that would suggest the cutter should/could make changes. I suspect it was more unwritten and a variation could happen that was more different than wrong like leaving out a letter would be. AVS and AVG reverses: AVS on obverse corrected to AVG (or was it the other way?): Perhaps you are right calling it an error but this erroe was one easier to make than others possibly because neither S nor G were letters in the cutter's native tongue. Similar 'mistakes' are seen with B and R. B for R on reverse: Two times B for R on reverse: Is the date at Caesarea here year two ET B with an R for the B or is this year one R for A? Some errors seem almost stylish?
