An Interesting Antoninianus of Tetricus II - An Apparently Unique Obverse

Hi all! I just bought this coin, and thought I'd share what it is!

It is a (probably barbarous) antoninianus of Tetricus II, SPES AVGG reverse


(I've had to use the seller's pictures, so please ignore the red-ish background)

The reverse is very common, but the obverse is interesting. Instead of the die-engraver writing (for example) C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES, they have decided to write out the title of Caesar in full, making it:

C PI ESV TETRICVS CESAR

They have missed out the V in PIV, and the A in CAESAR, but the full title of "CESAR" being used is pretty clear. I can't find any similar examples on Google, acsearch or Wildwinds that have the full title being used

The style of the coin is quite crude, but better than a lot of other barbarous coins. The surface is also a little pitted, and it is possible the coin is cast?

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

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Yes it does look barbarous, but as you say, a very good style. It's tricky because even the official issues were dreadful. I mean, despite the spelling mistakes it looks like your engraver knew how to read, which most barbarous engravers didn't seem to be able to do. Often they didn't even bother with actual letters. In that sense, they all have unique obverses, reverses and legends.

How big is it? I think official coins are nearer 18mm or so. I don't know, but the pitting might be because the alloy was cheap, and some metals leached out quicker than others.

The barbarous radiates I have from that time are much cruder, but I only collect those from Britain - it seems the counterfeiters in Britain were at an all-time low. I've seen barbarous radiates from the Continent that are much better.

But the official issues weren't great either. This, I think, is an official version of your coin:

Tetricus II Antoninianus, 271-274

Cologne/Trier. Bronze, 18mm, 2.6g. C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES. SPES AVGG (RIC V2 270).

The bust is good but it looks like they engraved the legends and reverse with a penknife. Worse than yours, I think. You'd think it was too crude to be official - well, I did - until you see the barbarous issues:

Tetricus of some sort, or maybe Claudius II, 270-280s

'Bronze' 16mm, 2.4g. AEQ? Reverse seems to be Aequitas, which might mean it's Claudius II, although the bust doesn't seem to have a beard. Or much of a face.

Tetricus I, 270-280s

Bronze, 15mm, 1.1g. The reverse legend doesn't seem to offer any help in identifying the figure, but I think they have wings.

Tetricus I, 270-280s

Bronze, 10mm, 0.3g. Laetitia standing, holding rudder and cornucopea. The legends are again no help. If they are indeed legends.

So yours looks much closer to official than barbarous!

 

Here's my favorite barbaric radiate from my small collection - it is just wretched


Barbarous Radiate Æ Antoninianus
Gaul / Northern Europe
(c. 274-300s A.D.)
V I S A (?), cuirassed and radiate bust right (Tetricus?) / APTE retrograde C, unidentified goddess standing (reverse double-struck).
(0.84 grams / 16 mm)
eBay June 2018

 

That is truly a very fine Barb, @Harry G ! Writing out "CAESAR" is unusual to say the least, and likely unique for a barb.

My two favorite barbs:

Tetricus I, probably.


This coin is of such fine style it's hard to determine if its official or not. I'm on the fence.

 

..i would come closer to saying it was official because of the correct spelling and nomenclature ( i. e. the AVGG reverse).. a unique portrait either way Tetricus ll, ae antoninianus, 273AD, 17mm, 2.16gms

 

Nice coins everyone. Here’s a few barbarous TIIs. The first one has an obverse legend ending in AVG, so TII as augustus (unofficially)! The reverse seems to mix a PAX AVG legend with a deity with a rudder… so mix-matched.

This second one has an interesting style. What’s more interesting is that whoever carved the obverse legend didn’t follow the standard legend formula (as is often the case with barbarous coins), but seemed to be literate and added “TETRI” to the end of the legend after “TETRICVS” or actually “TETRCIVS”.

 

Thank you for your responses, everyone!

I do now have the coin in hand, so have some more accurate measurements and (hopefully) some better photos.




The coin is about 17.5mm in diameter, and is surprisingly heavy, weighing 3.31g

I also took a photo of it next to a couple of my other (definitely official) Tetricus II antoniniani that I had lying around



The smaller one on the left is 18mm in diameter and weighs 2.61g, while the bigger one on the right is 20mm in diameter and weighs 2.19g.

The middle coin weighs quite a bit more than both of the others, and is only slightly smaller than the smallest one.

 

Here's one of Tetricus Junior. Portrait is OK but the celator fell asleep at the switch on the reverse!

GALLIC EMPIRE
Tetricus II, A.D. 273-274

AE antoninianus, 20mm, 2.8 grams, 12h

Cologne mint

Obverse: C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES
Radiate, draped bust right

Reverse: PRINC IV-VENT
Tetricus II standing left holding branch and vertical sceptre

Reference: RIC Vb 260, p. 423

ex: JAZ Numismatics (@John Anthony)

 

+1

My example has correct legends and could well be official, but there really is no way to be certain. Some of the official engravers appear to have been working rather sloppily, while some "barbarian" imitators were apparently literate and had considerable engraving skills.


Tetricus II as Caesar, Gallic Roman Empire, AE antoninian, 272–273 AD, Trier mint. Obv: C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES; bust of Tetricus II, radiate, draped, r. Rev: [SPES] PVBL[ICA]; Spes walking l., holding flower in r. hand and raising robe with l. hand. 16mm, 1.54g. Ref: Mairat 795; RIC V Tetricus I 272.

 

I have a web site "Barbarous Radiates: Unofficial coins of the Gallo-Roman empire struck AD 259-274"
http://augustuscoins.com/ed/imit/BarbarousRadiates.html
which is an introduction to the subject.

I think the OP coin is nice enough to be official, in spite of the misspelling. Most of the official coins have problems or one sort or another. The styles of the portrait and reverse are normal. Pronounce "CAESAR" to yourself and you will see the "A" is unnecessary. Maybe the engraver was an advocate of improved and simplified spelling!

Here is my best Tetricus II:



20-19 mm. 2.65 grams.
C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES
SPES AVGG
Spes (hope) advancing left, holding out flower

Next is a much-smaller barbarous radiate:


9 mm. 0.57 grams.
For such a tiny coin it is remarkable that there is legend, although blundered, on the flan.
ex Baldwin's in London, Feb. 1988.

 

Here is the "perfect" hybrid: the portrait of Tetricus I (bearded), the legend of Tetricus II (DN........CAES) and a reverse type of Victorinus (PAX AVG) !

 

If I saw this coin in isolation I would think it an imitation. It seems too from from my thoughts of the official issues but them I am far from authoritative on this period.

I do have my own imitative from this period to throw into the mix though.

Obv:– S (sic) P E TETRICVS CAES, radiate and draped bust right
Rev:– PIETAS AVGVSTOR, Sacrificial implements, spinkler, simpulum, jug and lituus