While trying to attribute a Gordian III - FORTVNA REDVX coin that was in a multiple lot, and for which all examples at numismatics.org are called Antoniniani, I found this thread https://www.cointalk.com/threads/gordian-iii-ar-denarius.362952/ where @Magnus Maximus says: The silver purity of Gordian's denarii (1/2 Antoninianus) isn’t too low, roughly 43% silver, which was the standard from the reign of Elagabalus nearly fifteen years earlier. Gordian's administration was able to continue to use that silver standard, given how chaotic 238 AD was. The average weight of Gordian III's denarii are 3.14 grams with 1.359 grams of actual silver weight per coin. His post was about a Gordian III - Sol coin, but shouldn't this also apply to antoniniani that weight less than 3.14 g? Some examples: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=6510970 https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2948429 https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=14818368 https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=13132901 https://numismatics.org/collection/1935.117.199 https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=6116176 My coin is 21 mm, and 2.87 g. Attribution (for Antonianus): RIC IV Gordian III, 210; RSC (Cohen) 98; RCV (Sear 2000 Ed.) 8613; Michaud 595; Ob.: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG Bust of Gordianus III, radiate, draped and cuirassed, to r. Rev.: FORTVNA REDVX Fortuna, seated on throne to l., holding rudder in r. hand and cornucopia in l. hand. shouldn't the denomination be denarius?
If the bust is radiate it is an ant, if it is bare-headed it is a denarius...so your coin is an ant. Romans struck coins at a certain number per pound and these coins were not weighed individually. You can find very heavy examples and very light examples; but you still have the same number of coins struck per pound.
