Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;John Anthony, post: 1712904, member: 42773&quot;]You&#039;re mixing up terms a little bit. The antoninianus was originally a silver issue meant to replace the denarius. The coins gradually became debased until they contained almost no silver, but they were sometimes given a silver wash. The denomination &quot;antoninianus&quot; never refers to a gold coin. Those are aureii and solidi.</p><p><br /></p><p>The radiate portrait on your round is a generic portrait, used by a number of rulers in the late Roman period. This type of portrait was generally used to denote a higher denomination on bronze and/or billon issues, that is, distinguishing a coin of the same metal type as being of greater monetary value than a coin exhibiting a portrait with a bare head or laurel leaves, etc.</p><p><br /></p><p>I have never seen a Roman gold coin with a radiate bust, which is why I have to side with Rudi and Bing. The piece is very likely nothing more than a gold-plated bronze cull, or a solid gold round cast in the form of a antoninianus, and a well-worn one at that.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in