Do you have any broken coins?

I have several broken coins, this is a tetradrachm of Antiochos IV that I bought broken, because I wanted to see what's IN a coin.

 

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Nope, that is one thing I will never buy no matter the cost. I can handle flan cracks, off centers, wear, but broken or repaired from break, NO!

 

Yes I have one but unlike yours I haven't got the bit that broke off, my guess is mine broke in antiquary, probably not long after minted as it has a large flan and was struck to thin but has so much detail and for the most not in the broken area, still weighs 3.4 gm, Octavian, 30-28 BC, Senate house Curia Julia. Still in the Roman Forum today.

 

And then there’s this sad case. I photographed my 6th century Gepid Quarter Siliquas (all four were broken anyway, when I bought them) and later I discovered that a little piece had splintered off when I took the coin out of its holder. It's tiny (14 mm) and thin (weighs about 0,5 gr.).

 

I have a few

GELA, SICILY
AR Litra
OBV: Naked horseman galloping left holding spear & shield
REV: Forepart of man-headed bull right
Struck at Gela, Sicily, 425BC
0.36g; 13mm
SNG Cop 275, BMC 52, Jenkins 405; HGC 2 374

EASTERN CELTS, DACHREITER TYPE
AR Drachm
OBVERSE: Celticized head of Zeus right
REVERSE: Celticized horseman riding left; wheel of four spokes above
Struck by the Skordoski in Syrmia, 2d Century BC
1.87g, 14mm
OTA 188/2-3

L CALPURNIUS PISO CAESONINUS & Q SERVILIUS CAEPIO ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS CALPURNIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Head of Saturn facing right, harpa and legend PISO behind, CAEPIO and symbol below, Q below chin
REVERSE: AD FRV EMV EX SC, the two quaestors seated left between 2 grain ears
Struck at Rome 100 BC
3.6g, 20mm
Crawford 330/1a; Syd 6031

M. AEMILIUS (POMPEY Victory v ARETAS ); GENS AEMILIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: M . SCAVR / AED CVR above king Aretas kneeling beside a camel r., EX on ,S . C on right, REX ARETAS in ex
REVERSE: HYPSAE (vs) / AED CVR above Jupiter in quadriga left, CAPTVM on right, c. HYPSAEVS cos PREIV (ER) in ex. scorpion below horses
Rome 58 BC
3.1g, 17mm
Cr422/1a; Syd 912

AUGUSTUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: AVGVSTUS DIVI F, bare head right
REVERSE: Bull butting right
IMP X in exergue
Lugdunum 15-13 BC
3.7g, 18mm
RIC I 167a, BMC 451. C 137, CBN 1382

HADRIAN
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, laureate head right
REVERSE: ADVENTVS AVG, Roma, standing right holding spear and clasping hands with Hadrian standing left.
Struck at Rome, 134-138AD
2.8g, 17mm
RIC, 225, RSC 84a

FAUSTINA Sr
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right
REVERSE: AETERNITAS, Juno standing left, hand raised, holding scepter
Struck at Rome, 141 AD
2.9g, 17mm
RIC 344

 

CARACALLA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head right
REVERSE: MONETA AVG, Moneta standing left, holding scales & cornucopiae
Struck at Rome, 211 AD
2.28g, 19mm
RIC 224

MAXIMIANUS
AR Argenteus
OBVERSE: MAXIMIANVS AVG, laureate head right
REVERSE: VIRTVS MILITVM, four tetrarchs sacrificing before walls with 6 turrets
Struck at Ticinum, 295 AD
2.6g, 18mm
RIC VI 18b

ANASTASIUS
Half Follis
OBVERSE: D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: Large K - cross to left, Γ to right
Struck at Constantinople 491-518 AD
.03g, 8.5mm
SB 23

 

I usually pass on those except as very inexpensive (i.e. cheap) historical curios. However, I do have half a dupondius of Agrippa and Octavian (the crocodile type) and a chipped JC/Venus denarius posted below:

 

Us ancient collectors are pretty forgiving. I don't think you will find a 'broken' thread in another part CT.

I have a few, here's my favourite.



Vespasian
AR Denarius, 2.84g
Rome Mint, 79 AD
RIC 1063 (R), BMC 244var., RSC 550var.
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, l.
Rev: TR POT X COS VIIII; Ceres, draped, seated l., holding corn-ear and poppy in r. hand and torch upright in l.

I guess it could be called 'chipped' rather than broken.

 

Now this coin is truly broken.



Domitian Caesar
AR Quinarius (Broken), 1.04g
Rome mint, 75 AD
RIC V791 (C), BMC V158, RSC 634
Obv: CAES AVG F DOMI COS III; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: VICTORIA AVGVSTI; Victory std. l., with wreath and palm

 

Now these are excellent pieces - still.

 

For broken coins they are still quite nice, especially like the Augustus/Bull denarius. Do you think that you got them cheaper with their flaws? I still paid quite a bit for my Curia denarius, but would have probably cost 20 times more if it was a full coin.

 

I have a few, and a few more that are unphotographed.

 

Yes, without a doubt. There are a couple in this group I got in cleaning lots, but the better ones, such as the Augustus and the Maximianus, I was able to buy at deep discounted prices. If they had been whole, the price would have been out of reach for me.

 

Charles the Bald, Carolingian Empire
AR obol
Obv: Monogram of Charles
Rev: + METVLLO around cross in circle
Mint: Metallum (struck 840-877 AD)
Ref: MG 1060



I bought it already broken (the big missing chunk) but unfortunately it broke a couple more times as soon as I open the package. Was really annoying super-gluing the pieces back together, until I figured to use a q-tip.

 

Chipped coins are very common in British Anglo-Saxon coinage. For some rarer issues only broken examples are known.

Here is one of my chipped/broken coins, a sceat of Aethelwald Moll:


It's chipped but it's otherwise a reasonably detailed example.

There are only three known and all are impaired to some extent.

The coin has a long provenance and the ancient damage to this coin makes it very easy to identify in old numismatic literature; I found a drawing of it in a text from around 1840.

 

This came in a lot with a label that said it is Clodius Albinus, I have never checked

 

Tetarteron fourree, 2,5 gram and 19mm, sear 1870

Obverse: Mary with infant Christ.
Reverse: Left Michael VII Doukas, right Maria. Holding a staff surmounted by cross.

 

Nice, probably used as a button.

 

I can't see any circumstance where I would buy a broken coin. Ever.

Are broken coins like this common? Why would a coin break? I understand the concept of split planchets and laminations, but these look like they are recent breaks (especially the ones where both pieces are still there).