I got this coin a little over a month ago and it finally arrived today. The export licence took a while. The coin is of Victorinus and was part of the Petherton hoard discovered in late 2013. It was brought to my attention by Doug when talk about a Fel Temp with him from the same dealer. It has a nice dark tone in hand and I'm pretty sure it is also a clashed die. Victorinus AE antoninianus. 3.45g IMP C VICTORINVS P F AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right / PAX AVG, Pax standing left, holding branch and sceptre. V-star across fields. RIC 118, Cohen 79; Sear 11175. Provenance: Discovered in South Petherton, Somerset, on 13th November, 2013. From the dealers page: "A huge cache of Roman coins, part of a hoard discovered on Wednesday 13th November 2013, on farmland in South Petherton, Somerset. Fully recorded by the British Museum and subsequently returned to the finder and landowner. The hoard dates to the late 3rd century AD, a time of great turmoil in the Roman world known as the Crisis of the Third Century. The coins appear to have been placed in a leather or cloth container and hurriedly buried in the undergrowth, some time around 274 AD. The owner never returned to reclaim his treasure and the coins lay buried and forgotten for over 1,700 years, until their discovery by amateur archaeologist, George Hughes. The coins in this group are antoniniani minted under Emperor Victorinus, who ruled from 269 – 271 AD. On the obverse they show a portrait bust of Victorinus, with a Latin inscription naming him and giving his titles. The reverses are stamped with images of popular Roman deities and act as propaganda for Victorinus’ rule. After its discovery and excavation, the entire hoard was taken to the British Museum, where it was fully recorded and declared as treasure. A heavily condensed version of the full report can be accessed at the following link." https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/587179 Please feel free to share and Hoard coins you have
I feel like the U.K. has some of the better or best laws dealing with antiquities at least compared to other European countries. Here is my hoard coin: Gallic Empire, Tetricus I, AD 270-273 Æ Antoninianus, 19x17mm, 2.49g, 1h. Obv.: [IMP C] TETRICVS PF AVG; Radiate, cuirassed bust right. Rev.: HILARI[TAS]; Hilaritas standing left holding cornucopia and palm. Ex-Braithwell Hoard, 2002; Report #180 and there were 67 examples of this coin in the hoard
Wow, nice one Randy! I also got my South Petherton coins yesterday: Victorinus, AE Antoninianus 269 - 271 A.D., Cologne Mint, 2.70g, 21.0mm, 12H Obverse: IMP C VICTORINVS P F AVG, Bust of Victorinus, radiate, draped, right, or bust of Victorinus, radiate, draped, cuirassed, facing right Reverse: INVICTVS, Sol, walking left, raising right hand and holding whip in left hand Provenance: Ex. South Petherton Hoard Reference: RIC V 114 Victorinus, AE Antoninianus 269 - 271 A.D., Cologne Mint 2.65g, 20.0mm, 2H Obverse: IMP C VICTORINVS P F AVG, Bust of Victorinus, radiate, cuirassed or draped, facing right Reverse: PAX AVG, Pax, draped, standing left, holding olive-branch in right hand and sceptre in left hand Fields: V in left field, * in right field Provenance: Ex. South Petherton Hoard Reference: RIC V 118 Joe
Gee whiz, they're all beautiful! Were the hoard coins cleaned by the museum? Wow! Imagine coming across that sack of coins!
Nice & always a fan of clashing. Victorinus (268 - 271 A.D.) Æ(S) Antoninianus O: IMP C VICTORINVS P F AVG, radiate draped and cuirassed bust right. R: PAX AVG, Pax standing left holding scepter and branch, V in left field, * in right field. Treveri (Trier). Struck 269 - 270 A.D. 3.1g 20mm RIC V 117; AGK 14a; Cohen 83
Sweet looking coin, geki (congrats) Victorinus, eh? ... yup, I have a humble example (with the Sol man on the reverse)
Nice coin Randy. I wonder what prompted the museum to return them, so I guess the discoverer has decided to sell them off.
Cool coin and FUN provenance Randy!!! That is GREAT! Congrats. I have a couple from the Gallic Empire: RI Victorinus 269-270 CE BI Ant Gallic Empire PAX RI Victorinus 269-270 CE BI Ant Gallic Empire Salus
Here rests the difference between Doug and Randy. Randy is younger and willing to wait for overseas paperwork. Doug doesn't have enough money to buy all the coins he wants that are already in the US so he avoids buying coins even as nice as this unless it is something very special to him. I really value the tracking information I received on the coin I bought Monday that told me I should expect a package in this afternoon's mail. May 26, 2017, 10:45 am Out for Delivery
Thanks all, and great coins! I think either the discoverer or by a 3rd party. You can still find uncleaned coins of this hoard. I usually don't mind waiting for special coins, or very cheap coins. I've only had on coin never show up (knocks on wood). I do get nervous every time for the nicer ones though. I still prefer the trip to the local shop.
nice OP and post coins. the thing about hoard coinage is that the peeps who hid them to retrieve later must have suffered a terrible fate, for they never came back to get them.
Some may have deserved it lol. I remember reading that the slaves that dug and filled the pits for large hoards were killed after to protect the location.
Good gravy! Now I am starting to see what I'm wanting. I'm appreciating the clarity of the coin; but, I'm confused because I have seen people here praise other ancients that are not nearly as clear as these shown here. Must have to do with the rarity of the coin (among other things).
I have 3 coins from the same hoard, I believe discovered closer to the year 2000 though. All 3 are former YOC acquired from JA. Since the OP is Victorinus I'll start there. Victorinus Pax reverse Postumus Pax reverse Postumus Mars reverse *****Mossy Bottom Barn Hoard- I don't have my files with me and memory isn't what it once was. I'm thinking Essex found by a metal detectorist in 2000****
Typical British hoard find: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jcb-driver-line-pocket-77000-7265438