I purchased this lot of two coins mainly for the RR Denarius and I am not disappointed. It's one you don't see often, but I do not think it is rare. NUMERIUS FABIUS PICTOR AR DENARIUS OBVERSE: Head of Roma right in winged helmet, G below chin, mark of value behind REVERSE: N•FABI / PICTOR; The Flamen Quirinalis, Q. Fabius Pictor, seated left; shield at side inscribed QVI/RIN in two lines, ROMA in ex Rome, 126 BC 3.7g, 17mm Cr268/1; 1b; Fabia 11; Sydenham 517a Q Fabius Pictor was appointed Praetor of Sardenia in 187 BC, but as he had been consecrated "Flamen Quirinalis, was not allowed to take up his post. The reverse depicts him as a soldier and a priest. There were three flamines maiores; the flamines serving the three gods of the Archaic Triad (Jupitor, Mars, and Quirinus). Quirinus was an ancient Roman state god. Originally a Sabine war god, he was absorbed by the Romans. By the late Republic period, Quirinus was regarded as identical with the deified Romulus and was the god of Roman citizenship. Quirinus' chief priest was the Flamen Quirinalis, who was bound by the same strictures as other major flamines. Now for the second coin. The one I need help to identify. I have no earthly idea. I thought it looked Spanish, but I couldn't find anything like it.
Second is a Spanish imitation of a Roman Republic semis. I dunno if there's a reference for these but I doubt it. I know @Valentinian has a few on his site, maybe he knows more about it?
oh wow, that republican reverse is very cool bing. i would guess the second is some type of iberian celtic type thing? imitating a republican bronze? ooops...what RS said, i didn't see he beat me to it. he said it better anyway.
Now that I'm on my laptop I've found the link I was referencing above: http://esty.ancients.info/imit/imitationrepAE.html
Thanks @red_spork. The coin looks very similar and I will catalog it as such even though there is not an exact duplicate on Warren's page. To be clear, I purchased this lot to get the RR denarius pictured above. The semi was just extra incentive.
Sweet=> congrats Big Bro ... that's another great AR RR winner (man, you really are becoming quite a presence in that coin-field, eh?) ... I like you
I have not warmed up to RR copies enough to trust them but I like the denarius. Not rare? Possibly, but CNG shows 5 in their past sales listings. How many do they show for rarities? I'd like one like it.
Yes, a very crude Spanish imitation of an RR semis. If you ask @Jwt708 nicely, he might show you his artsy one.
LOVE your RR denarius @Bing ----especially that super cool reverse!! And I appreciate the interesting and informative write-up! That's still another I would love to own!! Great job on the ID of the Spanish imitation guys!!
Thanks for the opportunity @John Anthony ! Roman Republican, Hispania AE, semis, 8.6g, 23mm; 2h; Hispania, 1st century BC Obv.: Laureate head of Saturn right; S (mark of value) behind Rev.: Prow left, S (mark of value) above In Ex.: ROMA Ref.: ACIP 2659; Burgos R44 https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=218458
An interesting coin Bing. CoinArchives shows 41 examples of the denarius in 16 years so I would say it is decidedly less than common. I'm still looking for mine so congrats!
