Octavian & Rhoemetalces I./ Shall I return it?

I thought this was a nice coin I found at auction, this was the photo I bought from,
however I received it and noticed a glint of shiny silver metal where the highlights are in the photos, now this can't be I thought, as bronze will not shine like silver...
whats going on with this coin, is this simply a rust covered steel imitation?


RARE TYPE Rhoemetalkes I. is the only not-roman person appear on a coin together with Augustus. 4.1gm. 17.5mm Obverse: Bare head bust of Augustus right. KAIΣAΡOΣ ΣEBAΣTOY Legend in Greek Reverse: diademed Bust of Rhoemetalkes I. right, client king of Thrace, BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΡOIMHTAΛKOY Legend in Greek.
Thrace; RPC 1718, SNGCop 1192, BMC 7-9, Moushmov 5782, Jurukova 200.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Brass sometimes appears silvery. Looks fine to me.

 

The base metal of most ancient coins not made of silver or gold(or a combination of) is copper, or copper mixed with other metals to make an alloy.

Bronze is an alloy of primarily copper and tin. Although, other trace metals can also (and usually) make up the total composition of ancient coins such as: nickel and aluminum.

Copper is also mixed with zinc to create brass.

Most ancient coins are referred to as AE as there exact composition wasn't a set recipe copied by all across the board.

Both copper and tin are shiny metals until they are exposed to oxygen and they begin to oxide(aka tarnishing).

New bronze tubing:



There is a good chance that your coin was either aggressively cleaned or the patina may have been scraped/damaged when it was getting shipped to you if improperly packed.

In other words...

While somewhat corroded, your coin is fine.

 

I have several that have been silver washed and some that have been silver plated. It was done a lot back then. I am no where near an expert, but, I think it could be actual silver. I'd keep it but try to confirm the silver.

 

Like others, I see nothing amiss. Remember brass is part zinc, and provincial mints weren't always experts in mixing them. I see that phenomenon all of the time.

A plated steel fake? That would be 1000 rarer than a real coin.I have never heard of a steel fake ancient coin.

 

I agree with the others not to worry. Good luck

 

Not the best condition, but that's one of the better style busts I've seen of Rhoemetalkes. As for the color, maybe it's been given a coat of wax? It has that typical waxed look to it.

 

coin looks A-OK to me.

 

Your coin looks OK, to me. A related coin:

KINGS of THRACE. Rhoemetalces I & Pythodoris, with Augustus. Circa 11 BC-12 AD. Æ (25mm, 10.43 gm, 5h). Obv: Jugate heads of Rhoemetalces and his queen Pythodoris right. Some drapery on Pythodoris. Rev: Bare head of Augustus right. Youroukova 204; RPC I 1711.

 

Attributing these coins can be tricky.

Here's a similar coin, but it's unclear who is on the coin because experts disagree. Augustus or Tiberius? Rhoemetalkes I or his grandson, Rhoemetalkes II? Pythodoris, the wife of Rhoemetalkes I or some other Pythodoris?


Kings of Thrace under Roman rule.
AE 24 mm, 6.88 g.
Obv: ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟ[ΡΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΣΕΒΑΣ]ΤΟΥ, bare head of Tiberius, right.
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Σ ΡΟΙΜΗΤΑΛΚΟΥ], jugate bust of Rhoemetalkes II, diademed, and queen (Pythodoris?), right.
Refs: RPC I, 1721; BMC 3.209,23; Sear GI 5405; Youroukova 201; Forrer 207.

 

I'll go with RPC. No doubts mentioned there.

 

My understanding is that ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ(SEBASTOS) is the Greek representation of Augustus.

Now of course, subsequent IMPERATORs('ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡΟΣ' in your above legend) adopted the use of Augustus in their titles. However, I've tended to notice that coins portraying Tiberius w/ Greek legends often utilize 'ΤΙΒΕΡΙ(0)Σ', or a variation of.

That stated, one would then look to the portrait to help assign it to a specific emperor. With provincials, this may prove more difficult as portrait styles may vary somewhat the further away from Rome one may be. Your coin looks like Augustus(Octavian) to me -- If I were to have to choose between the two. Tiberius is often portrayed as having a beak-shaped nose and beady eyes.

Am I absolutely 100% sure it's Augustus? No.. but I have a high-level confidence that it is, and I'm comfortable enough to omit Tiberius from consideration for my own opinion; using the above criteria as descriptors.

Another thing to consider is that Tiberius was known to not have been very interested in coinage, at least as it pertained to depicting his likeness. Even though his rule was one of the longest among emperors(w/ my understanding being that only Augustus and Pius ruled longer prior to the Tetrarchy), this is the reason why there isn't as much variety in the types of coinage minted during the rule of Tiberius featuring his portrait.

Look at Trajan for example. He was among the set of emperors that saw the value of using the mintage of coinage as an effective propaganda tool. While Trajan's rule lasted for a few less years than that of Tiberius, there is a multitude of variety in his coinage vs. Tiberius.

https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/tiberius/i.html

https://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/trajan/i.html