I know nothing about ancients, but I was going for a walk today and found one (maybe) on a modern path. Initially thought it was a dime. I live in Indiana in an urban area so someone probably dropped it. It’s in pretty rough shape. I attached a couple photos…was curious if anybody could give information. If it’s not an ancient at all, that’s good to know too. Thanks.
Fun! Someone must have dropped it or left it there to cause a stir. Looks like a Constantius II or Constantius Gallus (if the guy on the front is wearing a diadem, it’s the former, if not, the later) FEL TEMP REPARARIO coin, otherwise known as a fallen horseman. A very common ancient from… at that size, the early-early mid 350s.
Wow! Happened to you too, huh? Been there, done that... on a colonial site in Georgia. Yep, like @Orange Julius said, it appears you've found a Roman FEL TEMP REPARATIO ("Happy Days Are Here Again") coin. Here's an article about them by @dougsmit.
I was bidding on one of these today...and forgot about it as I needed to take the dog out for a walk. This exact same coin as well a couple of Byzantine specimens ugh.
I was watching a documentary recently that made a big deal about Vikings having settlements in the far north-east of North America 500 years before Columbus. Wait till they hear that Constantine Era Romans made it all the way to Indiana!!
And maybe monkeys will fly out my butt too.... No kidding it was a nice example too....it went for under $10! And the other specimen that I asked you about ugh...it was under $25. Byzantine Empire...but I did score a nice copper worth 5.5x's then paid. And managed to pick this up cheap.
Heh. Wow you guys made quick work id’ing that. Thanks! I figured may take a few days before anyone finds what it is. Your coins are waaay nicer than the one I ran across. To be honest if you don’t have the light shining on it from the side it just looks like a black disk. I only noticed it because of its shape and color. I always thought ancient coins were much bigger, around the size of quarters…but maybe the only ones I’ve really ever noticed were in Hollywood movies.
