Hi all. I thought these coins were fun and interesting. They are listed as unresearched ancient coins. I assume they are Ancient Barbaric imitations. The first one posted here made me laugh. They are for sale starting at 1.50 each. I may pick them up as curiosities. Do you guys collect these types for the fun of it?
Yes I collect mainly unofficial Siscian VLLP's but have a variety of examples here- http://www.constantinethegreatcoins.com/barb2/ I like them really "barbarous" or really close to official, below are two Ticinum campgate examples and a VLPP that is almost unrecognizable.
Those are some very desirable examples, old49er, and at $1.50 each definitely worth pursuing. That first one appears to have barbarous elements overstruck on a standard issue Gloria Exercitus. Fun stuff that. That second coin, the FTR Phoenix on Globe looks like the real thing. Are you sure its actually barbarous? If so, it is another desirable one. The last two are minimus coins that really fit the flan on one side or the other. The falling horseman emulating an issue from Lyon is great. I would love to see a more detailed image of that one. @Victor your examples are outstanding. Thanks for showing them.
I really like barbaric imitations and have some types on my collection. I think all very interesting, first of all by the very curious and often bizarre and funny style, resembling designs of a preschool child. Secondly, by the very context in which they were minted: shortage of money, local use in areas beyond the borders of the Roman territory, but already with a certain degree of Romanization by these peoples and also for the payment of troops in the Roman limes. I just believe that the FEL TEMP REPARATIO Phoenix coin perhaps is not a barbaric issue. Great coins, everybody!
Here are two of my collection: Bronze barbarous AE 3, cf. RIC VII Siscia 47 ff. (official, Siscia mint), 2.4g, 17.9mm, after 318 A.D.; obverse IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG (blundered), laureate, helmeted and cuirassed bust left; reverse VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP (blundered), two Victories holding shield over altar. Bronze barbarous radiate, 2.1g, 17.0mm, unofficial mint, c. 271 - 284 A.D.; obverse blundered IMP TETRICVS AVG, radiate head right; reverse blundered legend, figure standing left.
I find these both interesting and entertaining, though it's a bit frustrating that they usually can't be dated/located more specifically. That horseman/soldiers with standards combo is quite something! And I love both Victor's awesomely abstract VLPP and Multatuli's super-barbarous radiate. Here are some of my favourite imitations in roughly chronological order:
Unknown mint, 4th century A.D. Barbarous imitation of Constantine the Great, VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP reverse type. Obv: Gibberish - Bust, left, in high-crested helmet, spear over right shoulder, shield over left. Rev: Gibberish - Two Victories, facing each other, holding inscribed shield over altar. 17 mm, 2.1 g.
Nice! What is happening on the reverse of the first coin which was posted? Looks like a soldier is falling onto 2 other soldiers! Falling soldier, not falling horseman series?
Yes! No fourrees, that is another thread Tiberius Antoninus Pius Faustina I Commodus Julia Domna Caracalla Left facing barbarous radiate Urbs Roma and wolf facing right FH3 Magnentius from Siscia mint
Imitations are a lot of fun and very interesting. I think any collector should have a few, even a collector focusing on one particular series like I do: Indigenous imitations of Roman Republic coinage, Spain, Æ Semis(6.41g, 21mm). 150-100 B.C., Spanish mint. Laureate head of Saturn right, S behind/Prow of galley right; above, S; below, ROMA. Rippolès-Witschonke group C dies O28 R25 Imitations of Roman Republic, Eravisci, AR Denarius(18.6mm, 3.31g, 6h), circa 50-20 B.C., mint in modern-day Hungary. Imitating types of C. Postumius. Bust of diana right, bow and quiver on shoulder / Hound running right, spear below. POSTVMI TA(in ligature) in exergue. Freeman 24(this coin), dies 17/P; Davis Class B, Group II Pannonian, Eraviscan E15(these dies); cf. Crawford 394/1a for prototype Ex RBW Collection(Agora 69, 9/26/2017, lot 1). From a hoard partially published in 1998 in "A group of Eraviscan denarii" by Robert Freeman in "Coins of Macedonia and Rome: Essays in Honour of Charles Hersh". Imitations of Roman Republic coinage, unknown group(possibly Geto-Dacian?), AR denarius(18mm, 3.59g), after 61 B.C. Types of C. Calpurnius Piso Frugi. Laureate head of Apollo right; behind, Π / Horseman right with palm; above, star; below, CΓISOLΓ. Cf. Crawford 408/1a, obv. die 6(Π), rev. die 14(star) for prototype
I have an AE Denarius of Julia Masea. I think this is called a limes, how would this fit in here? Pretty confusing to me. I'll show it but didn't want to post it in the OP thread if it doesn't belong here.
Great coins all! Really interesting to me. Thanks for sharing them. It appears there's still a lot of unknowns about the Limes coins. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=limes denarius Its certain they are imitations, maybe not Barbaric, are they considered fourrees? Possibly made by pseudo Romanized tribes?
Since @old49er has questions too I guess I'll post it: JULIA MAESA, grandmother of Elagabalus, d. 223 AD. Æ Denarius. Obv: IVLIA MAESA AVG - Draped bust right. Rev: IV_NO - Juno standing with patera and sceptre. 2.92g, 16mm. Toned aXF. AE version of RIC IV, Part II, 254 (Elagabalus)
