This is another recent coin, obtained as part of the lot containing my Septimius, IMP VIII, Ceres coin. It would appear to be a barbarous imitation of a Faustina denarius. I am trying to puzzle out if it is Faustina senior or junior. I am guessing that the reverse is imitating an Aeternitas standing holding sceptre reverse. I find some of these barbs quite fascinating. Martin
Interesting coin. I've never gotten into collecting barbs as I just don't know enough about them to be certain. I've always entertained the idea that many were cut by aspiring "artists" out in the hinterlands.
Not unlike Bing, I haven't dipped my foot into the barbed-waters, "yet" ... but I must admit that I am fascinated by the imitation-type coins!! => super-cool pick-up (a sweet barb-coin is definitely on my wish-list)
I agree with Junior. I enjoy barbarous coins but won't pay extra for them and their popularity seems to be rising. My favorites include this Commodus in silver as good as the real thing. I still dream that this Caracalla reverse is a real BONI EVENTVS die from Emesa used after the mint there was closed. I really want to see other coins of this general style. I have a few real crude Severans but these are probably the best looking of the genre. I particularly like coins that spell out something in the legends more than the real coins did. To me that shows that the cutter knew the word and was not just copying a coin. Virtus copying 193 Rome? IMP CAES L SEP S _ EV PERT AVG / Mars PM IMPII - takes after Alexandria (especially the letter style) but I doubt it is official. I wish I knew what the reverse right read. Official would have placed TRP on the left rather than IMP. 193 AD obverse with COSIII PP reverse and funny style = barbarous. Looks like me (beat you to it). Note the lack of a laurel wreath. reverse FELICIT AVGVS and AAA? Interesting style but not official ditto Venus clothed standing from the front but the obverse legend is early style. Style is all wrong for either period. Did you know that CT only allows 10 photos per post? Aren't you glad?
Yeah Doug, if those second and third to last coins were official, there would be no drapery on the reverse. They'd have called a "Steve coin". (Just jokes coin brother.)
After seeing the wonderful selection of Barbs presented by Doug above I decided to have a browse through my collection to see what Barbs I have. They are not something that I have concentrated on but I have certainly bought a few over the years. The following coins are of interest as they share an obverse die and copy the Emesa mint issue obverse legend:- Obv:– IMP CAE L SEPT ERT AVT COS II, Laureate head right Rev:– IOVL SER ?? AVG, Jupiter?, seated left IMP CAE L SEPT ERT AVT COS II, Laureate head right Rev:– VICTOR SEV-E-R AVG, Victory walking left, holding wreath in right hand, palm in left
I hope everyone appreciates how special it is to find two barbs that share the same obverse die but have different reverses. These two are separately great but together they are really exceptional.
The following is my favourite barb... Obv:– L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP II, laureate head right Rev:– AEQVIT AVG TR P COS II, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopia I will freely admit that I bought this coin hoping that it would be a scarce Laodicea type combined with a hybrid reverse of Pertinax. Having discussed the coin with Curtis Clay he is of the opinion that :- "I think I would consider the coin to be an ancient imitation. The style is not right for the IMP II series. That exact rev. type of Pertinax is known on authentic Alexandrian denarii of SS, but there with the obv. legend is that of 193 (probably the coin BMC and RIC refer to as hybrid), and again the coin is in different style."
Some barbs are better attempts than others. I think that this coins is a pretty good attempt though still very wrong:- Obv:–IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right Rev:– T R P III IMP V COS II, Two captives seated at base of trophy Copies a coin minted in Emesa. A.D. 194-195 Reference:– cf RIC IV 435 Others are much poorer attemps Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SE_V PERT AVG COS II, Laureate head right Rev:– BO...-ETOIVC, Fides standing left, basket of fruit in right hand, corn ears in left Copies a coin minted in Emesa. A.D. 194-195 Reference:– cf RIC IV 369 Ex Zach Beastley (Beast) collection
Since the Alexandrian is mentioned, I'll show it. I do not always agree with Curtis Clay on matters of style but, in this case, I do. It is very nice but still unofficial.
