Some years ago I tried to add to Wildwinds an unlisted denarius of Vespasian , unfortunately it can't be added because of a missing part of reverse legend. I promised to look for other examples, but I didn't find anything. This denarius type should belong to the Vespasian coin series struck in 71 AD : from RIC 39 to RIC 49 . It has the same obverse legend and it reads clockwise. This is my description : Vespasian Denarius. 71 AD. , 17 mm , 2,6 gr , IMP CAES VESP AVG P M, laureate head right / PON MAX ….., Winged caduceus. The others know denarius with ‘’winged caduceus’’ on reverse (RIC 684 , RIC 703 , RIC 1477……) have different obverse legends and read counter-clockwise. Can you please help me find other examples ?
I just posted a new thread with my latest Vespasian example, but, what the heck, I'll post it here as well. VESPASIAN AR Denarius OBVERSE: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate bust of Vespasian right REVERSE: CAESAR AVG F COS CAESAR AVG F PR, heads of Titus & Domitian facing each other Struck at Rome, 70 AD 2.69g, 19mm RIC 16; RSC 5
Wow ! nice coin ! I noticed that the holes(on ancient coins) were made carefully without affecting any important details, the best example is this coin of dougsmit : https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/rb0890b01960alg-jpg.1135057/
The style isn't correct and it has the appearance of being a forgery. Hence why it is unlisted. Looks like a cast to me.
The entire surface looks rough. Could this also be due to an acid bath? When I used to vinegar-date Buffalo nickels they would all end up looking almost exactly like this.
A forgery could have all manner of things done to it, none of which would change the style (which is wrong for the issue).
I bought the coin for a person that sells metal detection finds , many low grade coins , I paid only 7 $ for it. Who do you think will fake a coin so bad , sell it for 7 $ , and produce only one example ? , for sure they are not non-profit organisations. Can you tell us what exactly is wrong with the style ? I have another photo with a different light on surface than the first one :
I'm no expert on style, but the lettering -- or what I can see of it -- doesn't look like lettering I've ever seen on a Roman coin. Too thick, no serifs, etc. Of course, it could just be the condition that makes the letters look like that. Also, if it's a cast fake, the person who sold it to you isn't necessarily the person who made it.
David, Is the style possible for a Commagene/Antioch issue? Is it certainly silver? My junker is a semis. These Eastern coins did not have SC. Being the wrong metal would add to the cast probability.
Thanks for all your opinions ! , Barry Murphy if you ''doubt that is authentic'' means that I still have a small chance to be real coin , right ? Even if is fake , I will accept your decision , my intention was to clarify what exactly is this coin . Yes the font on reverse is to bold. Do you think that this can be an ancient cast ? I looked at 21 pages of fake Vespasian's coins on forum , no one looks similar(obverse or reverse). There is only one fake type with the short obverse legend clockwise.
No, the style isn't correct for any of those issues either. The OP may be better able to answer what metal it is.