I have just purchased another Janus coin. I think it is the same as one I already have in my collection. Can anyone give me some insight on this please? I am not real sure this coin is the same or not for two reasons listed below. One: The Janus bust (Large fat jaw) already in my collection looks like most of the ones I have seen attributed to Cnaeus Pompey with the I above the prow of the galley. The one I just purchase has a more traditional style Janus bust (Normal jaw). Two: The weight on the one in my collection is 14.45 grams and the one I just purchased is 20.7 grams and I can not imagine there being that much difference in weight if they were only minted 46-45 BC. The one already in my collection with the fat jaw style. Gnaeus Pompeius Also known as Pompey the Younger Elder son of Pompey the Great minted 46-45 BC AE As. 14.45 grams Spanish or Sicilian mint . Obv: Janus with two faces: one looking right (forward into the future), the other looking left (backward, into the past) Rev: Roman galley proa CN.MAG above. IMP below , I above prow of galley right. RPC 486, Crawford 471/1. Gnaeus Pompeius (ca. 75 BC – 12 April 45 BC), also known as Pompey the Younger (sometimes spelled Cneius, Gneius), was a Roman politician and general from the late Republic (1st century BC). The one I just purchased with the normal lookin jaw and heavier weight. It looks like both of these coin planchets were cast in a mold, and then struck with a die afterwards. Also looks like they were broken off from the metal strip that would connect them in the mold when filled with the molten metal. Here is a picture of an ancient coin mold to give you an idea of what I am talking about.
I found some examples in wildwinds and one of them described with 19 grams so I guess I have the correct information for my purchase. In the wildwinds text it states a very rare coin in this condition and I believe both of mine are in the same overall condition . Here is the description below and a pic of it. AE AS, 19 gr. Cnaeus (or gnaeus) Pompey (the elder son of Popmepy the Great). 45-44 BC. Spanish mint (Corduba - Colonia Patricia - ?). RPC 486, RRC 471/1, CRI 53, BMCRR Spain 84, New Sear 1386. A very rare coin in this condition O: Laureated hd. of janus, "I" above R: Prow of gallery r. "CN MAG" (MA in monogram) above, "IMP" above, "I" before.
Correct, both the same type. Crawford 471, minted in Spain, comes in several different styles. Usually this type comes in very poor condition and both yours are rather nice. Well done. Good research on the moulds. I don't have this type- never been able to find one good enough
Cnaeus Pompeius, AS Spain, 46-45 B.C. 22.78 g - 30 mm S 1386 - Cr 471/1 - RPC 486 Laureate head of Janus, I above Prow of gallery right, CN.MAG
Pompey, the Great; d.48 BC. Æ As; 36 x 34 mm, 23.4 gm. Obv: Head of Janus. Rev: Prow r. CN MAG above, IMP below; "I" (mark of value) to right. RRC 1040.
Thank you @Curtisimo I usually am not very good at putting together a write up. I end up making it to short and leaving a lot of information out that I should have included. I tried to do a little better with this post, but it still could have had more information in it.
These were minted in Spain in Corduba I assume for Cnaeus to pay his soldiers while fighting against Caesar. With that probably being the case I do not think quality control was a big priority for these and would explain why this type is usually in very poor condition as @Andrew McCabe states in His post above. I wonder if this coin of Cnaeus might be the last of this type minted with Janus on the obverse and the roman galley on the reverse. Also on the quality control part that might explain some as to why there is such a big difference in weight in just one year or so of minting these. for example my coin of 14.45 grams and the coin that @Alwin posted is 22.78 grams, that is 8.33 grams difference.
