L. Sempronius Pitio Semis; scarce RR or Spanish imitative issue?

I bought an interesting coin in a recent auction. It is not a common coin, but that is not unusual for small denomination RR bronzes. An added point of interest for this coin is that it might be Spanish imitation. Some pics of my coin (it is not here yet) and the best pic I noticed on line are below. Lettering on the coin is not like other coins of L.Semp.Pitio I have seen online. What do you think?

pic from recent sale


pic from 2015 sale, same coin


pics from http://www.lesdioscures.com/ch83a2-semis-sempronia/

Roman Republic; Bronze; L. Sempronius Pitio; Semis; 148 BC; may be Spanish imitation

Obv: laureate head of Saturn right, behind head. Not sure I see the S in pics. Will check in hand.

Rev: prow right; above L.SEMP; to right of prow – S; In Ex [ROMA]. The lettering on the reverse is not like other coins. The MP monogram has curves where there should be straight lines. Some of this issue have an R after SEMP. There is something to the right of M, but I can not tell what it is.

9.40 grams.
Good very fine.

Crawford 216/3
Grueber Rome 720
Syd. 403a
Babelon Sempronia 5
Sear 858
RBW - 928

 

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neither. It's an official Spanish civic issue from Carteia. I'm 100% sure I told the vendor that it was not L.SEMP PITIO. It's not an imitative issue, just a regular government-issued prow bronze from Spain. Probably about 100 BC

 

neither. It's an official Spanish civic issue from Carteia. I'm 100% sure I told the vendor that it was not L.SEMP PITIO. It's not an imitative issue, just a regular government-issued prow bronze from Spain. Probably about 100 BC

 

Thanks for your note. Can you recommend a reference book or web site for Spanish civic issues?

Are you aware of any coins issued by / under Quintus Sertorius? I think a coin from him would be interesting. One reason I bought this coin is the way the name above the prow is spelled. With a good imagination (and I have one) the letters read S E R (without the leg) and T (without the right part of the top line).

 

I read A.SEMv on your coin , the roman coin reads L.SEMv imho.

I agree with Andrew , the weight of 9.4 gram correspond with around 100 BC
the roman coin is 13,7 gram wich correspond with around 148 BC

Earlier Semis of 20 gram 211-210 BC