Know Your Imitations!

Show your ancient imitations!
Needn’t be Spanish. Any and all ancient imitations both officially sanctioned and not.
I wish to thank CoinTalk Forum Ancients members @John Anthony and @Valentinian for inspiring this poster.
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What a wonderful poster! Thanks a lot!!

 

Probly Spanish imitation
Roman Republic Anon AE Semis 211-207 BC Saturn S Prow ROMA Sear 766 Craw 56/3


Imitating Octavian-M. Porcius Cato AR quinarius 13.89 mm 1.29g imitating Octavian r blundered legend - Victory seated r patera Cr 343-462 RARE

VERY nice presentation; great Spanish Imitations of the Roman Republic!

 

The second semis reverse (19 mm) looks like: "(A)MOr"???

 

Another wonderful design, DR!

Question though-- are you sure about the dates of those imitations (or is anyone sure)? From Warren Esty's site I thought they were felt to be from a much later period (latter half of first century BCE).


Roman Republic
anonymous and unofficial; possibly struck in Hispania c. 50-1 BCE
Imitative semis; AE, 19x21 mm, 5.0 gm
Obv: laureate head of Saturn right, S behind
Rev: prow left, S above, "ROMA" below
Ref: cf. Crawford 056/3

 

Cool coins, Alegandron! I never imagined when I started collecting Biblical coins that I would someday become fascinated with Iberian imitations of Roman coins.

 

TIF, I found a VCOINs site that offers similar pieces as 217-215 B.C. and another that lists the date as first century. I think I'll delete the date until I nail it down. Thanks, TIF!

 

These are Celtic Imitations of Philip II of Makedon


Celtic Imitation Philip II AR Drachm Kugelwangel type fat horse


Celtic Imitation Philip II AR Drachm - Kugelwangel - thin horse

 

TIF asks a great question on any imitations. How do we know how long after the originals an imitation was made. We hear theories attached to some specific issues but we need hoard evidence well studied to even make a good guess. If a group of copies is found in a place far from the original place, how are we to know that the makers knew any more about the original other than it was a coin and they wanted some coins so they made some? When were the coins we call Barbarous Radiates made? Time of Tetricus, time of Constantine, time of the Byzantines or, perhaps, all of the above. Even if you prove one coin was hoarded with an official, dateable coin it says nothing about thousands of others. We study all the evidence the best we can but we should avoid believing we have all the answers.
My favorite imitation:


...or is it this one?


...maybe this one?


What do I really know about any?

 

Here's an imitation of a bronze of Constantine I:

 

Thank you, RAGNAROK! Thank you for your thoughts and comments, and contributions to the forum!

 

Lycia Phaselis revision of Alex III of Macedon



... do revisions count?

 

(imitation of) THRACE, Apollonia Pontika. Mid-late 4th century BC. AR Drachm 3.06g
Obv: Upright anchor; A and crayfish flanking; all in circular incuse
Rev: Facing gorgoneion.
Contemporary imitation. Cf. SNG BM Black Sea 157; cf. SNG Copenhagen 452.
Classical Numismatic Group, auction 78, May 2008, lot 264.

 

Here's one for you:


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

 

Oops! I'll just put an "L" in between the S and E and no one will notice.

L. Aemilius Lepidus Paullus. 62 BC. AR Denarius. Barbarous issue
L. Aemilius Lepidus Paullus. 62 BC. AR Denarius (3.80 g). Barbarous issue(Geto-Dacian imitation) with newly engraved dies, in good silver. PAVLLVS LEPIDVS CONCORDIA, Veiled and diademed head of Concordia right / TER above trophy; to left, three captives (King Perseus and his two sons) standing; to right, togate L. Aemilius Paullus, raising his hand. PAVLLVS in ex. Sold.

 

imitation.. sincerest form of flattery.. great coins and good comedy @ancientone. this perhaps is an imitation of an imitation.. bronze celtic tet of Phillip ll. i had bought years ago as an barbaric imitation, but i couldn't make heads or tail of it until just recently.(and if i lQQk @ it too long i can't now) and i've come to the conclusion that one of these alex lll's silvers is made by someone else

 

Constantius II imitation (Failmezger, Plate coin)

Obverse: DN CONSTAN-TIVS PF AVG, Long-necked diademed cuirassed bust right
Reverse: Blundered legend, soldier spearing fallen horseman, Phrygian helmet, sitting on ground, arm(s) up, II left.

Size: 23.49 mm 6.g

Failmezger 462aCS (This Coin)

 

Hi RAGNAROK,
Yes, the letters are mixed up. I think it's sort of a scrambled version of ROMA

 

Some great imitations : as people involved in making them were not depending on the ruler for their wages or, even worse, for just staying alive, we can see a lot of freedom in their artistry, as opposed to a more official, servile, interpretation of the Prince's portrait


Tetricus II, imitative Antoninianus minted AD 273-274
C PIVS ESV TETRICVS CAES, Radiate bust of Tetricus right
[SP]ES AV[GG], Spes standing left holding her dress and a flower
2.8 gr
Ref : RCV #11292, Cohen #88

Q

 

Thank you, Jwt708! That’s a beautiful example!