I have been on a bit of a 'bender', recently and I have come home with a number of Roman Republican coins that I like. for various reasons. (Yes, there are 'better' examples out there, but I don't own them.) I am unsure whether the wear on Apollo's head is 'wear' or 'gauging'. If anyone has a view, I'd like to hear it, please? Roman Republic Family - Gargonius, Oguinius and Vergilius Anonymous Denarius 86 B.C. Obv. Laureate head of Apollo Vejovis R, Thunderbolt below Rev. Jupiter in Quadriga R, hurling a Thunderbolt RSC Anonymous 266, sear 266, Syd 723, Cr 350a/2 (3.75 gm / 19.5 mm) Caius Gargonius (moneyer), Rome (mint) Roman Republic (Series), Denarius (denomination)
The coin is seriously double struck with the reverse rotated 90 degrees. Most obvious is the wheel of the 4riga dead center reverse bottom and at the edge of the flan at about 8 o'clock under the figure of the driver. Figuring out which detail is from which strike may take you some work. On the obverse behind the head are four crescent shaped lines which could be remnants of a scoop gouge but really do not think so and I do not think the flat spot is related to adjustment. I would say that the flatness has to do with the uneven strike caused by slippage as part of the doubling. My example of the coin is weight adjusted with reverse gouge making it hard to see what is supposed to be there. I'd call your coin an interesting mess. I like messy coins which require study to figure out what is going on. I feel like I saw that coin somewhere (eBay?) in recent weeks but could be mistaken. This is Sear 266 but RSC 226.
I think this issue may have been the first RR coin I ever purchased. Interesting coin you got there TC.
@> Doug Thanks for that. I did notice the 'busy' nature of the reverse, but I missed the 'double strike'. (Obvious now that you pointed it out.) Makes the coin 'unique', I feel. You DID see it on eBay recently. Sorry for the 'typo' on the attribution. Thanks, Bing. Yours is a v. good example, too. I do have another that HAS been 'gouged':-
That certainly is "an interesting mess" as Doug mentions----there's so much going on that it's totally cool.
(Edit.) Sorry, too much full strength 'Orange' juice, with my breakfast this morning. There is evidence of a 'Triple' strike, though.
When I count the rows of 'dots (hoofs) I get five. If you allow one row for the hoof and one row for the knee, then you get two and a half strikes which must equal more than two - three? Am I wrong?
Also, unless I'm mistaken, I see three wheels on the reverse - one at 6 o' clock, another at 8 where it should be, and another on the haunch of the horse.
