I won this coin at auction today, and I think you can all notice that there's something off about the obverse legend . I honestly wonder how could someone make such a blatant mistake while engraving a legend - it's not like it was caused by a lack of space, either, because the missing letter is in the middle of the word! It seems like quality control wasn't the Antioch mint's top priority, in that time period. Claudius II (268-270), Antoninianus, Antioch mint, 4th emission. Obverse: IMP C CAVDIVS AVG (sic), radiate head left; Reverse: CONS-ER AVG, Serapis standing right, with right hand raised and holding transverse sceptre in left hand, facing Isis standing left, holding sistrum in right hand and bucket in left hand. RIC 202, RIC V Online 1080 As far as I know, this is the second known example of this type with this error - the other, an obverse die match, was in the Gysen collection: However, the cool error isn't the only reason I bought this coin, since it also belongs to Claudius II's final emission from Antioch, which I collect - this is the fourth of the eight reverses I have obtained, so I'll post a group photo with the other three when I receive it. I also appreciate the incredible amount of detail on the reverse - the figures are rarely this finely engraved. I'd also like to draw attention on what Isis is holding on the reverse: The description from RIC says that it's a "bucket", but at first I thought it was some sort of globe, though then I realized that the position was wrong and that Isis' fingers would be unusually long, were that the case. So, then, if it is a bucket, what is it containing inside? Could it be another sort of container? I'd really like to figure out this mystery, so tell me if you know what it is. Anyway, that's all for now. Post your coins with errors or anything else that you feel like may be relevant.
That is a very interesting coin even without the error. Did you win it from others who realized what it was or were they just bidding on a random Claudius?
Indeed, a very interesting error - I was familiar with Isis issues of Claudius, but I didn't know there was a version with Serapis. Here is my non-error Claudius II, Isis by herself with a bucket: Claudius II Gothicus Æ Antoninianus (268-270 A.D.) Antioch Mint IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right / SALVS AVG, Isis Faria standing, holding sistrum and basket; Є in exergue. RIC 217 var; Normanby 1109. (3.34 grams / 21 mm)
That's a great coin, @Claudius_Gothicus, well spotted! I love both the spelling error and the wonderful depiction of Isis. Which reverses do you still need for this series? We can keep our eyes peeled for you. I also picked up a portrait of Claudius in the same auction today. Three portraits, actually... there are two die clashes on the reverse. (Anyone ever seen this before?) And while the portrait is of Claudius, the coin isn't - it's a first-issue Aurelian from Cyzicus: And here's a spelling error from my collection, SALVS AVGVSIT:
Nice find, I like the error. I have similar. Carinus (283 - 285 A.D.) Æ(S) Antoninianus O: IMP CARINVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right. R: AETERNIT AVGG, Aeternitas standing left, holding phoenix on globe, lifting hem of robe with left hand. KAΓ in ex. Rome Mint. 284 - 285 A.D. 22 mm 3.8 g RIC 248 Reverse engraver's error, missing "I", " AETERN(I)T"
@Claudius_Gothicus ......Very nice!.... I only have one spelling error which was actually my very first ancient... Licinius I AE Follis 20mm/3.43gr (Emperors name Misspelled) Obverse-IMP LICINVS PF AVG- laureate, cuirassed bust right Reverse-REV SOLI INVICTO COMITI- Sol standing right, looking left, chlamys across chest and over his left arm, holding globe and raising right hand. C-S across fields Exergue-PARL- minted 313-318AD Arles
Great addition to your collection, @Claudius_Gothicus! This is my favorite spelling error -- VINO REGINA (wine the queen): Salonina, AD 253-268. Roman billon antoninianus, 4.64 g, 23.3 mm. Antioch, AD 264. Obv: SALONINA AVG, diademed draped bust right on crescent. Rev: VINO REGINA, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; peacock at feet left; star in left field. Refs: RIC 92 var.; Cohen 67 var.; RCV 10641 var.; Göbl 1619f var.
Hard to tell, I'd say that the competition was moderate; I was convinced it would end up going for more. Thank you very much! I searched for it after you told me and I did indeed find information on it, I guess I must have missed it when I looked for it originally. Great find @Severus Alexander, I don't think I've ever seen a similar error, though admittedly I'm not an expert in this field. As far as the reverses for this series go, I'm missing CONSECR AVG, FELIC AVG, SPES PVBLIC and VIRT AVG; I'd really appreciate your help, though I always keep my eyes open on all auctions, so I doubt one of them would go unnoticed by me. Wow, that is very cool! I don't think there are many other cases of errors creating new legends that still make sense!
I actually think the misspelling was purposeful, as a joke. There are at least three different reverse dies of Salonina with VINO REGINA. (Images from 258.pair.com's Gallienus site)
I've just received the coin, so I decided to post my picture of it; I'd say that it looks better in hand rather than in the photo - the encrustations are barely visible, except for the one above Isis' head. I was also worried about the crack, but now, in hand, I can see that it poses no threat to the coin itself.
