Tiny coin from the miscellaneous bowl

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by markw, Jan 11, 2017.

  1. markw

    markw Junior Member

    Forget where I got it. I was a beginner...tiny little coin that came in an uncleaned lot. aLargeAndSmall.jpg aLargeSmall-2.jpg
     
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  3. Victor_Clark

    Victor_Clark all my best friends are dead Romans Dealer

    It looks like an unofficial Tetricus II issue with PIETAS AVGVSTOR reverse with priestly implements...commonly called a "barbarous radiate"




    tetricus_ii_012.jpg
     
    KIWITI, randygeki and chrsmat71 like this.
  4. markw

    markw Junior Member

    Well, that is an incredible attribution. Thanks for the tip.
    Is it a surprise to you that it is so small, or is that usual?

    I am very pleased to get this great lead on that coin.
     
  5. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins

    OP's coin has more of a 'Roman' nose (obverse?) than your example (Victor). I'm way out pf my element though.......did these coins come in different varieties?
     
  6. gsimonel

    gsimonel Well-Known Member

    I agree about the reverse and the fact that it's barbarous. The obverse bust looks bearded to me. Possibly his father? I'm not sure if that reverse type is known for Tetricus I, but with barbarous coins, anything is possible.
     
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  7. Victor_Clark

    Victor_Clark all my best friends are dead Romans Dealer

    unofficial coinage is normally smaller than the official issues and these very small ones are pretty common and since they are so small, they are often called minims or minimi which comes from Latin minimus for "smallest"
     
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  8. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    That really is a distinctively different portrait for a barbarous radiate. The reverse strongly suggests a Caesar so Tetricus II is obvious but the beard is not and there are no common BR prototypes with that style (rounded) beard. In barbarous, any size, any style, any time --- no real rules. Some are almost official in appearance and size; some not at all. That is what makes them fun.

    A slightly more standard Tetricus II:
    rx2070bb0230.jpg
     
  9. markw

    markw Junior Member

    Great insights...thanks friends.
     
  10. Ken Dorney

    Ken Dorney Yea, I'm Cool That Way...

    Well, it could also be that of his father:

    00014x0.jpg
     
  11. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    Thats a neat little coi.
     
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