This one arrived just prior to the holiday...admittedly not a Christmassy themed coin, but from the same part of the world where the Nativity was set. Vespasian Æ As, 14.71g Antioch mint, 72-73 AD Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII; Head of Vespasian, laureate, l. Rev S • C in laurel wreath RPC 2006 (8 spec.). Acquired from eBay, December 2021. Antioch mint struck a series of leaded bronze coins with Latin legends beginning in 72 or 73. This 'As' is part of the first issue, slightly rarer than the huge undated one that followed a few years later. Struck in 'local' style for Syrian circulation, as opposed to the parallel 'Roman' style series which was struck for much wider circulation in the Western provinces. Merry Christmas fellow CTers!
Hi @Heliodromus, I have one of those too. I’m sure it’s soft enough to bite into where you’ll find the brown center of the underlying (fake) coin under a thin foil. Peace on earth and goodwill to all. - Broucheion
