Test Your Attribution Skills

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Blake Davis, Sep 2, 2023.

  1. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    As with anyone who handles a number of ancients that come unattributed, there are those coins which I feel should be attributable but for some reason are not, despite some lettering.

    1. Photo 1 - this one is probably not identifiable. It does show what might be a countermark - I have about 15 similar small likely unidentifiable Greek bronzes - 0.29 grams, 9mm

    2. Photo 2 (second one down) - this coin baffled me for years and is utterly maddening because of the lettering - it should be easily identifiable. I have spent hours and hours on attributing this coin! I also misplaced the coin (I might have given it away) but I post it anyway -If I still had it I would give this coin to whoever id's it.
    14mm, 2,10 grams

    3. Photo 3: This is a nummus - the flan indicates that - but who? Marcian? Basiliscus? o - my money is on Zeno? Or simply an AE4 of Valens. 1.13 grams 10mm

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    sand, hotwheelsearl and Inspector43 like this.
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  3. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Should the reverse of the third be rotated to the left 90*? Almost looks like a Byzantine I, 10 nummus. Kinda small for that though
     
  4. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    I also mixed up my description! 3 should be 2!
     
  5. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    I don’t think any are Byzantine - sorry for the error
     
  6. Cheech9712

    Cheech9712 Every thing is a guess

  7. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    Yes it should but I thought it would be easier to read the lettering if it was tilted this way - that there are three or four letters visible and I still could not identify was frustrating - but then again I was not completely certain what the letters are - if I manage to find the coin - it is around somewhere I just may use a wire brush or something to make the letters more clear.

    I really wish there was a way to make the changes to postings later - I had some trouble getting the photos up and cannot believe they are in the wrong order 3 should be 2
     
  8. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

    The small Imperial coin might be a poorly made AE4 of Honorius. I do not think it is one of the late emperors, as I first suspected from the flan.
     
    sand likes this.
  9. Blake Davis

    Blake Davis Well-Known Member

     
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