Here's a coin that I have posted before, but today I worked on it some more, for the last time, I think, in an effort to "improve" its appearance. Here's the coin as it was when I received it as part of a lot of 3 Roman bronzes. The coin that I'm posting is on the right. Here is the coin now: As you can see, there was a tradeoff. Much of the original patina is gone, exposing a rough corroded surface. On the other hand, the portrait is somewhat better, with most of the rock-hard deposit of what seems to be rust removed. I think this coin was stored in some sort of metal receptacle, possibly an iron box, which was probably buried, causing it to deteriorate by the elements. I think the appearance of this coin will improve with time, to some degree. Now, I've tried to look up this coin online. It is clearly an as (10.2 grams) and the reverse is clearly Fides, holding a basket of fruit with her right hand and ears of grain with her left hand. This design shows up on Pius's sestertii, but I cannot find the equivalent for the as. I have seen a Fides holding standards and the ears of grain, but not a basket of fruit. Is this a rare or scarce coin, or am I have more illusions? Also, is there a RIC # for this coin? Thanks!
The only Antoninus Pius with Fides I can find is a Dupondius (I am not counting the Sestertii) http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.3.ant.553 However yours is certainly an As due to the weight. The coin couldn't have lost 5 grams from its weight, even if it's heavily worn... I think I see some traces of radiate crown, but I doubt it very much. Another coin from Antoninus Pius's reign with this reverse is http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.3.ant.1288A_as But the portrait in your coin is definitely Pius, not Marcus Aurelius. I see two scenarios here 1. your coin is the As variant of RIC 553, not listed in RIC 2. the reverse is NOT Fides with grain ears and basket.
A valiant effort! I sort of like the color it had before. I have a feeling a soak and scrub with water and then some Ren Wax would have been an equally-effective edition. Either way, the game was over before it had begun. Haha
I'm tempted to believe the reverse is not Fides. The position of S C is different on this one but it could be something similar http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.3.ant.675
The color and surface pitting reminds me of the fabric of the brass sestertius, such as the below of Trajan:
Thank you all. For comparison, here is a sestertius with the Fides reverse (not my coin): Yes, the color was better. There was a large patch of accumulated hard rust on the portrait that required hours of patient removal. The portrait is clearer, but the original color is gone. With time the coin should tone to a darker brown.
I would be inclined to agree, but on the reverse of my coin Fides is clearly holding something up with her right hand, and it appears to be a basket. Too bad this coin is corroded and worn.
Thanks. I examined the coin for any signs of a radiate crown, and found none. When the coin arrived I think it weighed in the neighborhood of 10.5 grams or so. At the start of today the weight was 10.4 grams. Now it is 10.2 grams. I think it has gone through enough, perhaps even too much. The coin is getting lighter while I am getting ever heavier.
