I just got this budget Salonina Antoninianus in the mail and was so stunned about the silver quality (for a coin of this era) that I just HAVE to show it to you (PS: don´t even ask about the reverse, it is nothing to write home about)
Nice portrait. She's one of the cheaper empresses to get. Her quality of coins are also all over the place, like her husband's. Been tempted to get more of the reverse types, but eh. Salonina (254 - 268 A.D.) AR Antoninianus O: CORN SALONINA AVG, Draped bust right, wearing stephane, set on crescent. R: VESTA, Vesta standing left, holding patera and scepter. 3.4g 23mm RIC V 39A ; RSC 137
Oh yeah! Wow. Lovely. Quite the wistful expression in the portrait, too. Not what you'd call a classically beautiful female face, but it really is a handsome portrayal overall. Neat coin. The odd shaped flan adds character, too.
Mat was posting same time as I was. Beat me by seconds, no doubt. OK, y'all have made me go and look up the picture of the Salonina I had in my old "A-to-Z" (Augustus to Zeno) portrait collection (my first serious ancient coin collection from 2007-08.) I think my old coin serves well as a comparison to prove the point made by Julius Germanicus that the coin in the OP indeed has a nice silver flan. I liked this one just fine, despite some porosity, but next to either of the two y'all posted, pffft!- no contest. It did have "full circle" beading, though, and was quite inexpensive.
I find the use of PXV dating to her husband's TRP count interesting. The rules of the mint had changed since the early days.
PS- FWIW, I actually do think I've got about a 10-20% comprehension of what @dougsmit just said. The very basic gist of it, no more.
@Julius Germanicus, you show many nice or interesting coins but only seeing one side drives me nuts! Clearly your focus is on portraits, but I and others also enjoy the reverses and the ability to see the coin and its story as a whole. I'd love it if you would routinely post both sides of your coins .
I too have one that appears to be made of good silver. Joint reign Antoninianus Cologne, AD 257-259 4.10 gm; 21.3 mm SALONINA AVG, diademed and draped bust, r. VENVS FELIX, Venus seated l., extending hand to child at feet; transverse scepter in left hand. RIC 7; Cohen 115; Hunter 24; Sear 10655
