I received the coin below in a large batch of antoninanii: Claudius II ("Gothicus"), A.D. 268-270 Obv: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG 21 mm 2.1g The reverse is blank. It doesn't look like it is just worn off. Even under magnification, I can find no evidence that there was ever anything stamped there. Nor do I see any trace of filing or other means of deliberate removal of the reverse. The metal looks like debased silver--the type of silver you would expect to find on a typical denarius from, say, Severus Alexander or a Gordian III antoninianus. Is it possible that the coin split into two separate sides, obverse and reverse? Or is it really one-sided, and if so, what was its intended purpose? Test strike? Medal? Any ideas what this coin's story is?
I suspect it was two blanks stuck together when struck. Many such coins show imperfect alignment so there is a bit of a rim on the reverse but yours looks like they were well aligned.
Seems likely. The coin is very thin. If stuck to another equally thin planchet, then they could easily have been mistaken for one. Any thoughts about the metal? I know most of his antoninianii had a silver wash, but this metal is uniform throughout. Judging by the portrait, I'm guessing this coin came from Antioch. Are there other solid silver/billon coins of C2G from Antioch, perhaps from very early in his reign?
Very interesting coin. No idea why the reverse appears to be blank though. I thought that Gallienus had completely debased the antoninianus by the end of his reign, so I'm not sure why it appears to be a silver coin.
They do seem to exist in quite silvery billon from Antioch. Here's an example sold by Agora a few years ago: And here's my double-weight (6.29g) Gallienus with two flans stuck together: Here you can see how thick it is compared to a normal antoninianus:
I like this explanation for my "mystery" one-sided Roman Quinarius. I cannot see any rubbing or abrasion marks on the reverse, suggesting that it was filed or worn off. Maybe I am wrong, but perhaps this was one of two blanks being simultaniously pounded. RI Augustus Quinarius - possibly Asia Recepta - blank wore-off-rev?
