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!
That's a great score! I've got exactly one denarius brockage, a Republican: 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): 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: Like this: 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.
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.
here's a few of my favorites Constantine I A.D. 318- 320 20x21mm 3.2g brockage Siscia mint for reverse- VICT[ORIAE] LAETAE PRINC PERP reverse 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 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 Constantinopolis brockage from Trier 15mm 1.8g Ex 1989 Nether Compton (Dorset) Hoard
I only have one brockage... 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
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