I have two (similar) coins - one that I believe that I have attributed correctly, and the other that I am having difficulty with. The first is a :- Mn. Aemilius Lepidus Denarius from 114 or 113 BC. The obverse shows 'Roma' with a laurel wreath, draped and wearing diadem. Roma before, and value behind. On the reverse we have three arches containing the letters 'L' 'E' 'P' (Lepidus?). On the arches we have a statue of a soldier on horse-back with spear. The legend appears to be MN (dot) AE (MI) L I O. The second (unattributed) coin shows :- On the obverse 'Roma' (?) facing (R) wearing a 'winged helmet'. On the reverse we seem to have the same detail as on the Mn. Aemilius Lepidus coin, including the 'L' 'E' 'P' (Lepidus?) in the arches. I have searched a number of databases but I have not been able to come up with a coin of Mn. Aemilius Lepidus that shows 'Roma' wearing a winged helmet. Does this mean that 'Roma' is someone else ? Notwithstanding the (similar) reverse, does this mean that the (second) coin is not Mn. Aemilius Lepidus ? Can anyone help me to attribute this second coin, please?
I don't have an explanation for you but that sure is interesting. I hope someone has an answer for you.
I will see what I can find. But in the meantime, I have another coin with a similar but different reverse: L MARCUS PHILIPPUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS MARCIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Diademed head of Ancus Marcius right, lituus hehind, ANCVS below REVERSE: Equestrian statue right on an arcade of five arches; flower below horse, AQVA MAR between arches, PHILLIVS behind Rome 56 BC 3.06g Cr425/1, Marcia 28, Syd 919
The second coin looks like a hybrid, with the reverse the same as that of your first coin, and the obverse that of a different issue. The symbol behind the helmeted head of Roma reminds of the distinctive "quadrangular device" found on Crawford 299/1a: https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=200987 Edited to add: I found your second coin type on Forvm fake reports noted as a modern pressed forgery (second coin in the picture below):
I can't seem to put my finger on it any more than you were. I wonder if this is a muling of two coins?
Zumbly nailed it of course. If this weren't a known fake from modern dies, the next question to ask would be the weight. A hybrid like this, if it's ancient at all, is likely to be a plated ancient counterfeit.
Thanks @zumbly I did look there (three times) but nothing came up for me. My criteria must have been wrong.
Hybrid RR fourrees are common but I am not aware of solid silver hybrids from this period. Are they common? Known? It would seem that there might have been two types in production at once making hybrids possible but I have not seen them.
