I purchased this denarius because I really liked the portrait. My question is it was listed as weighing 3.26g, but as RIC# 565. That would make it extremely overweight. But RIC# 564 looks the same and the weight is within the tolerances from the reference I used. So, could it just be an error in the listing? The coin in question also measures 18mm x 19mm. Either way, I really love the coin, it looks beautiful in hand and I hope you all do too! I've also been working on my photography as promised!
Attractive coin. As you noticed, 564 is with sceptre in left hand, 565 without. So your coin is 564. Looking at examples in http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.4.ss.564_denarius?lang=en , your coin has a normal weight.
As @ambr0zie said, your coin is in the normal weight range for a Severan denarius. The different RIC numbers have nothing do do with weight. My example of RIC 564 weighs 3.19g and thus is very close to yours: Julia Domna, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 196–211 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bust of Julia Domna, hair waved and coiled at back, draped, r. Rev: MATER DEVM, Cybele, turreted, draped, seated l. on throne, holding branch in extended r. hand and sceptre in l. hand, resting left arm on drum set on l. knee; to either side of throne, lion. 19mm, 3.19g. Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 564.
It was sold to me as 565, but I'm not too worried about that cause I really like the coin either way. I'm still trying to navigate online sites for ancients so when I have questions, I feel like the CT ancients forum is my best bet. I do know one thing with ancients it's all in the details! I'm still new to ancients and still learning! Thank you.
My example (not a particularly nice one) is only 3.02 g. Julia Domna (wife of Septimius Severus), AR Denarius 198 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Bust right, draped, IVLIA AVGUSTA/ Rev: Cybele towered, enthroned left between two lions, leaning on drum and holding branch & scepter, MATER DEVM. RIC IV-1 564, RSC III 123, Sear RCV II 6561. 19mm., 3.02 g.
@Joshua Lemons, my advice is to cross check all the coins you screen or buy and make sure the references provided are correct. There are some members here who only assign catalog references to their coins after they check the books in hand and make sure the attribution is correct. I don't have this possibility, for example, for Greek coins and when I catalog my coins I copy the descriptions found on the web, but I try to make sure I find the same catalog reference in different sources online (other similar coins sold in other auctions). This is still not perfect, as if there is an incorrect description and other people copied it, I will copy it as well. But for Roman Imperial coins OCRE is very useful and the difference between 564 and 565 is clear. Bottom line, I don't rely on dealers/houses for a correct attribution (especially since I don't buy from major houses) as sometimes from hurry they might make even bigger mistakes.
Very nice new pickup! Here is a Domna MATRI DEVM denarius with a Cybele standing reverse. I like that Julia has a bit of a scowl in the portrait. Julia Domna, AR Denarius, (19mm, 3.73g), IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG Bare and draped bust of Julia Domna to right; hair waved vertically and fastened in large bun on back; six ridges./ Rev. MATRI – DEVM Cybele, towered, draped, standing front, head left, holding drum in right hand and sceptre, nearly vertical, in left, legs crossed, resting left elbow on column; at feet, lion seated left. RIC 382
Here is a Julia Domna denarius (condition is not the main reason I like a coin), one of my favorites, also because of the propaganda Denarius AR 18 mm, 2,68 g RIC IV Caracalla 381 (denarius) Date: AD 211 Obv: IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, Bust of Julia Domna, hair elaborately waved in ridges and turned up low at the back, draped, right / Rev: MAT AVGG MAT SEN M PATR, Julia Domna, draped, seated left, holding branch in extended right hand and sceptre in left hand So mother of the Augustii (plural), mother of the Senate, mother of the people. Can't ask for much more. But what I insist on - on this one even RIC has an incomplete/inaccurate dating. It is listed as 211-217 AD but since Julia Domna was the mother of "Augustii", this means Geta was still alive. So this coin is minted in 211. This is why you need to be as careful as you can when attributing your coins - one of the CT colleagues spotted this situation on my coin.
The coins with and without the scepter were two separate issues and not an engraver's error. I have one of each and have previously written about the issue of the scepter. Julia Domna, AD 193-211. Roman AR denarius, 2.84 gm, 17.5 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 198, issue 1. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: MATER DEVM, Cybele enthroned left, flanked by two lions, holding branch and resting elbow on drum; no scepter. Refs: RIC 565; BMCRE 54-55; RCV --; RSC 126a; Hill 340; CRE --. Julia Domna, AD 193-211. Roman AR denarius, 3.41 gm, 18.5 mm, 11 h. Rome, AD 200, issue 9. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right Rev: MATER DEVM, Cybele enthroned left, flanked by two lions, holding a branch and scepter, resting elbow on drum. Refs: RIC 564; BMCRE 51-53; RCV 6593; Cohen/RSC 123; Hill 344A; CRE 306.
Thanks for the link. I was wondering about the rarity of the issues as well, so it looks like the without scepter issue is the rarity.
Nice denarius @Joshua Lemons - I don't have the silver, but here's another sestertius of the type, more worn than Doug's: Julia Domna Æ Sestertius (c. 196-211 A.D.) Rome Mint [IV]LIA AVG[VSTA], draped bust right, hair in bun behind / [MAT]ER [DEVM], S-C, Cybele seated left, between two lions, holding branch and resting arm on drum. RIC 859; BMC 772 (26.92 grams / 29 x 27 mm) eBay June 2021
