We can't tell the denomination, and thus catalog number and value, without the dimensions.
First you need weight and diameter. :-)
That was my first instinct as well, but the portraits of Commodus from this city are usually a bit more refined. But I suppose that, without a...
Eh, it's just because I spend every day looking at coins. The only easy way to ID provincials (ESPECIALLY worn ones!) is to have seen them before.
Nothing closer than the reign of Septimius Severus, AD 193-211
It is a Roman Provincial coin of emperor Septimius Severus from the city of Philippopolis in Thrace.
I've never heard of him. (Although a quick google search tells me that he is involved with the John Reich society and EAC). Does he sell any...
Indeed. It was essentially a historical, soft-core porn. Which is inaccurate - the real Rome was hardcore!
Wow, that looks like an important work. There are a number of copies on Bookfinder for around $100.
It is an incredibly useful book and unlike any other I have found. Charlie Davis has a copy right now for $35. Steve Album should have a small...
Oops, I had started writing my post before yours. I was referring to the OP's scratch test. A specific gravity test would be much better....
Doug - your coin is also from the Madinat al-Salaam (Baghdad) mint, dated AH 185 (AD 801/2). Most of the Umayyad and 'Abbasid issues are anonymous...
But if the piece were silver plated, would you be able to tell?
Madinat al-Salaam (Baghdad) mint. Dated AH 163 (AD 779/80). The mint and date are in the marginal legend on the obverse: bismallah zuriba haza...
It is NOT gold, but rather a Roman bronze "as." Recent scholarship suggests that it was struck at the Rome mint for circulation in Syria. See:...
Mat - do you have any seals yet? That's an interesting area to look into!
I'm seeing the lump on the reverse as solder. Note the darker area on the reverse, where the soldered-on bar would block any cleaning.
I suppose you are seeing casting bubbles. But in this case, the "bubbles" are very fine and evenly distributed, which is characteristic of surface...
It's a sestertius and it should be genuine, just harshly cleaned and removed from jewelry.
Hmm. Cointalk does not seem to like seals. :D
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