Thanks all in advance. This first one is fairly obviously Roman right? But I could not find this exact variety on Forvm. Thoughts?
The second isn't Roman or Greek - it's a Jewish coin minted during the Bar Kochba War, AD 132-35. I'd have to do some digging to find an exact attribution, but these coins are scarce, and sometimes quite valuable.
Yes, its bar kochba. Examine its edges carefully, and check for proper weight. Its one of the most forged ancient coins around.
Thanks. I will weigh the 2nd when I get home tonight. Any thoughts on the 1st coin. Clearly a Roman Imperial bronze, but I have not been able to find the same variety online.
I believe the first is Vespasian struck by Titus, if the obverse legend reads IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG PM. It's difficult to discern the beginning, but none of Vespasian's own issues end with AVG PM, to my knowledge, so I'm thinking Titus.
Maybe: RIC 78 Domitian, Rome, AE Sestertius. 81 AD. IMP CAES DIVI VESP F DOMITIAN AVG PM, Laureate head right / TR P COS VII DES VIII P P S-C, Minerva standing left with spear. RIC 78; Cohen 555; London 261-262; Paris 276-277.
Or more likely: RIC 105 Domitian AE Sestertius. 82 AD. IMP CAES DIVI VESP F DOMITIAN AVG P M, laureate head right / TR P COS VIII DES VIIII P P, S-C, Minerva standing left, holding spear, left hand on hip. BMC 274 http://wildwinds.com/coins/ric/domitian/RIC_0105.jpg
You guys are amazing! Although the bust does not look identical (no headdress visible in my coin, and the nub behind the ear does not seem to be present in the wildwinds image), I think its the same. thoughts?
If you look closely, you can see the tie at the 9 o'clock position on your coin that corresponds with the image on wildwinds
Oh yeah, I see it now. Thanks so much you all! Any ideas on how to authenticate the 2nd coin (Bar Kochba)? Other than weight?
I agree with Bing's attribution. Your coin is quite worn, and anyway, dies weren't mass-produced from master hubs in the ancient world so you find a lot of variation from one engraver to the next. The key is in the legends.
If I may, any guesses on the first coin here? Is it an 'error' coin since it has a bust on both sides? http://www.cointalk.com/t226950/
No, I don't think it is an error. And I do believe it is an early Roman Imperial, perhaps Augustus or Tiberius. I'll see if I can find something.
There are a ton of double portrait coins especially from the provinces. But without anything else to go on, I'm at a loss. The second portrait might even be a woman. Augustus had a few with Julia, but I'm not even certain it's female. Maybe someone else can chime in and help us out here. Sorry.
