Severus Alexander, Roma seated, Antioch or ancient counterfeit?

I have a Severus Alexander Denarius that was sold to me as a base metal ancient copy but I am not so sure.

Obv:- IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AV[G], Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev:- PONTIF MAX TR P II COS I P (sic), Roma seated left, holding Victory and spear, shield at her side

2.42 gms, 0 degrees, 18.02 mm



Now there are some oddities about this coin.

The portrait style is slightly more unusual than most of the Antioch coins that I have seen but I am hoping that it is within the acceptable boundaries.

Now for the legends.

The obverse seems to have left off the final G though I know that the engravers sometimes didn't plan well and the G embeds with the drapes in the bust.

I have owned examples of the type with the reverse legend PONTIF MAX TRP II COS II PP and have seen the type discussed before and Curtis Clay explains that the type is a rote copy of an aureus of Elagabalus not taking into account the incorrect titles for Severus Alexander.



My coin doesn't show the COS II P P as the other examples show but seems to show COS I P.

Now for the metal. As I said it was sold as a base metal imitation but I have taken a scalpel to a small area of the edge of the coin and removed some of the patina and the coin shows silver under the dark toning.

Thoughts?

Regards,
Martin

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I have to agree with you. If it's an ancient counterfeit, it's done very well. And if it's silver under the patina, I really doubt counterfeit. Congrats on the find.

 

Interesting coin, Martin. Severus Alexander denarii I have in my small collection vary so much in quality of fabric/workmanship that I have a hard time telling what is official or not.

This one is limes, I am pretty sure - base medal and crude workmanship:



Severus Alexander Æ Limes Denarius
(234 A.D.)
Rome (?) Mint
IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped bust right / PM TRP XIII COS III PP, Sol radiate, nude but for chlamys over left shoulder, walking left, rt. hand raised, whip in left hand.
RIC 123; Sear 7916.
(3.13 grams / 18 mm)

 

That is certainly limes copying the style of Rome. Many of these Antioch coins have a fabric that seems to end up being darkly toned. I am tempted to have a go at cleaning it in the belief that it is silver. I have had some success on that front before.

I bought the following as a Limes.



And had a stab at cleaning it. Here is my partial result where I was left with some stubborn surface red adhesions.



I spent a few more hours and ended the process here at the point that I was happy enough with the result:-

 

Interesting coin. I suppose it's authentic, and if it indeed is an ancient forgery that would be even more of a rarity.