An interesting error find from a bulk auction lot

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Original Skin Coins, Oct 12, 2023.

  1. I recently won in auction a bulk lot of denarii/antoninianii and discovered this coin when going through the lot. A brockage error denarius of Severus Alexander, featuring a particularly youthful portrait of the emperor. Weighs in at 2.54g. First ancient brockage I've encountered, though I understand they're not extremely rare. My photos of the reverse side make it look like the design/inscription is raised, but it's actually incuse - pretty neat!

    Please feel free to post any other ancient error coins you've found!

    IMG_3113.JPG IMG_3114.JPG IMG_3115.JPG IMG_3116.JPG
     
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Great looking brockage error!
     
  4. Curtis

    Curtis Well-Known Member

    That's a great score!

    I've got exactly one denarius brockage, a Republican:
    Thoria Brockage Thorius Balbus Incuse Ex-Aureo Calico, Alba Longa vol II 339-1398.jpg
    Roman Republic. L. Thorius Balbus, c. 105 BC. AR Denarius (19 mm, 3.87 g, 12 h).
    Obv: I•S•M•R Head of Juno Sospita to right, wearing goat-skin headdress. Rev. Incuse of obverse.
    Refs: Cf. Babelon (Thoria) 1, Crawford 316/1, RBW 1168 and Sydenham 598.
    Prov: Ex Colleción Alba Longa (J. F. Molina), vol. II, Aureo y Calicó 339 (14 Nov 2019), Lot 1398; Aureo 89 (4 Mar 1998), Lot 1345; ANE-Calicó (15 Dec 1981), Lot 508. Images of this coin included twice in ANS RRDP "Schaefer Binder" No. 22, p. 2 (1981 & 1998 sales).​


    I have a few Late Roman Bronze brockages, including (to the extent that it counts) this tiny British imitation of Constantine.

    At 10mm, 0.43g, this one is notable for being the smallest and lightest brockage I can find any record of for the Roman Imperial period. There are occasional Byzantine-era Trachy brockages in this weight range (Latin type trachy mostly):

    Barbarous AE10 Brockage Constantinian Wettmark JPG.jpg
    Roman Britain (Roman Imperial, “Barbarous” Contemporary Imitative). Constantinian (?) AE Minimus (10mm, 0.43g, 12h), obverse brockage, c. 330-340s (?).
    Obv: Pearl-diademed, cuirassed bust right.
    Rev: Incuse image of obv.
    Ref: Cf. Bishops Canning 392, Chapmanslade 699, Maidenhatch 69-71 for imitations of Trier & Lugdunum mint GLORIA EXERCITVS types.
    Prov: Ex Martin Wettmark Collection (acq. eBay USA, April 2017; CNG EA 525 [19 Oct 2022], 1835).
    Notes: Very small coin even for a British imitative, but not unheard of (judging from the 877 imitations in the Chapmanslade hoard, perhaps 1 or 2% this small). Roughly comparable in style & fabric to the Trier/Lugdunum imitations found in the 1993 Chapmanslade Hoard & 1989 Nether Compton (Dorset) Hoard (deposited 339 CE).​


    I only recall finding one brockage by chance in a group lot -- well, actually a "partial brockage." The struck coin wasn't stuck in the upper die, as on a full brockage, but was lying partially under the blank flan (partly covering the obv. die below), so the inverse of the reverse was partially impressed on the obverse:

    Gallienus Reverse Brockage VIRTVS AVG.jpg
    Like this:
    Gallienus Brockage How it happened CNG2.jpg
    Roman Imperial. Gallienus AE Antoninianus (3.49g, 20-22mm, 6h), Antioch, c. 267-268 CE.
    Obv: GALLIENVS AVG. Radiate, cuirassed bust right. (Partial incuse of rev. visible: "S" and head and shield of Virtus.)
    Rev: VIRTVS AVG. Mars standing forward, head to right, holding spear & shield in his left.
    Ref: RIC 669 or similar.
    Prov: Group lot.​
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2023
  5. Inspector43

    Inspector43 More than 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    Here is what appears to be a double struck coin. And then two retrograde reverse. The mint mark is very clear as to retrograde. I have two the same. Not actually errors but rather forgeries. IMG_6439.JPG IMG_6437.JPG Number 108 and 109 Retrograde Constantine I BSIS.jpg
     
  6. Victor_Clark

    Victor_Clark all my best friends are dead Romans Dealer

    here's a few of my favorites

    Constantine_Siscia_VLPP_brockage.jpg

    Constantine I
    A.D. 318- 320
    20x21mm 3.2g
    brockage Siscia mint

    for reverse-
    VICT[ORIAE] LAETAE PRINC PERP reverse



    Constantine_brockage_Lyon.jpg



    Constantine I
    A.D. 320
    17mm 3.6g
    CONS-TANTINVS AVG; high crested helmet (bowl shaped) and cuirassed bust right.

    For reverse see--
    VICTORIAE LAET PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield inscribed VOT PR on altar.
    in ex. P [2 captives] L
    RIC VII Lyons 79

    Constantine_Aquileia_48.jpg

    Constantine I
    A.D. 320
    18x19mm 2.3g
    CONST-[ANTINVS AVG]; helmeted and cuirassed bust right.
    VIRTVS EXERCIT; Standard inscribed VOT/XX with captive seated on ground on either side, S-F across fields.
    in ex. AQ[P]
    RIC VII Aquileia 48


    brockage_Constantinopolis.jpg

    Constantinopolis brockage from Trier
    15mm 1.8g

    Ex 1989 Nether Compton (Dorset) Hoard


     
  7. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    I only have one brockage...
    [​IMG]
    Roman Republic
    AR Denarius
    ERROR BROCKAGE
    Q Fabius Labeo
    124 BCE -
    ROMA X LABEO - Incuse and reverse of obverse
    Cr 273-1 Syd 532 Sear 148
     
  8. expat

    expat Remember you are unique, just like everyone else Supporter

    This has 2 torches and two S of SC. Why nothing else was affected, I have no idea. Double struck I assume, but why nothing else is visible is a mystery.
    Faustina II AE Sestertius. 19,80g, 33mm.
    DIVA FAV-STINA PIA, draped bust right / SIDERIBVS RECEPTA S-C, Faustina as Diana, standing right, holding long torch across body with both hands, crescent behind neck. RIC 1715, Cohen 215. SEAR 1988 # 1530
    Commemorative issue struck under Aurelius, circa
    175/6 AD.
    Reverse struck twice with clear images of two torches and two S of SC. Bizarrely, it circulated for a long time in this condition
    20230907_182633 (2)-side.jpg
     
    Johndakerftw and Bing like this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page