Original vs. Imitations of Ancient Coins

Throughout history there has been several examples of coins imitating popular and well received coins. This applies to the west as well as the east. So, lets see how many different pairs we can post. Post an original and then an imitation of that original coin. I'll start off with the following coins:

Original Coin

Venice: Giovanni Soranzo (1312-1327) AR Grosso (Paolucci pg24, #2)

Obv: IO SVPANTIO S M VENETI DVX; Doge and S. Marco standing facing, holding banner between them
Rev: IC - XC; Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing




Imitation Coin

Bulgaria: Georgi Terter II (1322-1323) AR Grosh (Raduchev & Zhekov 1.10.1)

Obv: Christ enthroned facing, IC XC across field
Rev: Georgi and St. Mark standing facing, holding banner between them

 

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Interesting Thread! I really like your Venice Grosso... Nice imitation pair!

If you understood how I collect, this is beyond bizarre that I have these together!

I really do NOT collect Fourees in my ancients collection. However, I just happened to have a fouree of one of my denarii. It so happens that I really do NOT focus in Roman Imperials, let alone Empresses... but I happen to have one:

ORIGINAL:

RI AR Den Julia Domna 200 CE Felicitas Isis Horus RIC 577 O-R.jpg

IMITATION / FOUREE:

RI Julia Domna 194-217 Fouree AR Plated Den Isis Horus O-R.jpg

 

That is definitely a nice fouree. Funny that I have been meaning to pick one up, but never got around to buying one. I can understand when one deviates from their collecting norms, happens to me all the time....

 

BELA III 1172-1196 AD of Hungary copied he Byzantine scyphate style coins but the style is not at all Byzantine.


Thi Byzantine is ANDRONICUS I 1183-1185 AD. Both have Mary on the obverse.

 

To fund his war with Octavian, Mark Antony issued his legionary denarii.


To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Actium where Antony was defeated, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus used the same design.

 

I only have 2 fourees, and both were given to me! Just ODD that it matches an Empress. I don't even collect Imperials. Most of my collecting is Roman Republic and those States, Cities, and Entities that interacted with them.

 

Outstanding! I was planning on posting the Hungarian scyphate, but you beat me to the punch. Great coins, Doug.

 

Man, loads of medieval examples I have on my list to purchase, but no actual pairings in my possession yet... Interesting thread!

 

neat, if you wouldn't have told me i would just assume that grosso was a beat up venetian coin.

here's another bela iii that imitates an islmaic coin, as @Quant.Geek told me in another thread (had to go back and look it up again) it imitates an almoravid dinar.


my coin...




not my coin...

 

Danubian LRB imitatives are some of my favorites for their outlandish style...

Original...



Barbarous...

 

Trajan issued a SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI type



and Constantine I also issued this type after he defeated Maxentius



Constantine I
A.D. 312-313
23x24mm 4.6gm
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right
SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI; Legionary eagle (to the left) between two vexilla, that on left surmounted by a right hand, that on right by a wreath; flag on the eagle.
in ex R P
RIC VI Rome 349


some eagles have spread wings

 

Trajan SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI (many rulers used horsemen types but this imcludes the legend)


Septimius Severus


Lucius Verus TRP IIII IMP II COS II very common type


Septimius Severus - a scarce one from Alexandria - better examples show the legend matches as well


Pescennius Niger VICTOR IVST AVG a common one for him


Septimius Severus - a scarce one from Emesa

 

I have made this statement before. I believe the Victory on the reverse of the Roman Republic pre-denarius Didrachm is a beautiful design. I have always seen a likeness between the reverse of the French 20 Franc gold coin and the Didrachm that spans almost 2300 years...


RR Anon 265-242 BCE Didrachm Roma-Victory Crawford 22-1 Sear 25.JPG


20 Franc gold coin of France

 

Peroz and not so Peroz

 

Byzantine and Bulgarian Imitation:

Byzantine Empire: Alexius III Angelus-Comnenus (1195-1203) BI Aspron Trachy Nomisma, Constantinople (Sear-2011; DOC 3a)

Obv: Beardless, nimbate bust of Christ, wearing tunic and kolobion; holds scroll in left hand. Pellet, or pellets, normally in each limb of nimbus cross. IC XC in field
Rev: Full-length figure of Alexius on left and of St. Constantine nimbate, holding between them globus cruciger. Emperor and saint wear stemma, divitision, collar-piece, and jeweled loros of simplified type; both hold labarum-headed scepter.

 

Here is a pair that you normally don't encounter:

Byzantine Empire: Constantine X Ducas (1059-1067) Æ Follis, Constantinople (Sear-1853; DOC-8)

Obv: +ЄMMA NOVHA; Nimbused Christ standing facing on footstool; IC XC to left and right
Rev: +ΚШΝΤΔΚ ЄVΔΚΑVΓΟ; Eudocia and Constantine standing facing, holding between them a labarum with a cross on shaft set upon three steps




The Zangid Atabegs of Aleppo: Nur al-din Mahmud ibn Zangi (1146-1174 CE) Æ Dirham (Album-1850)

Obv: Within circle of small beads, two Byzantine-style standing figures facing forwards supporting a labarum resting on three steps; downwards left of the standard, العادل (al-‘adil), downwards right of the standard, نردين (nur al-din); blundered Greek legends around
Rev: Within a circle of small beads, figure of Christ standing, facing forward, holding book in left hand and with right hand on hip; downwards on right, محمود‎‎ (mahmud); downwards on left, مالك الأمراء (malik al-umara’); blundered Greek legends to the left and right

 

How about Philip II of Makedon?

Original:

Makedon Philip II Tet Pella LIFETIME 353-349 Zeus Horse star spearhd O-R Le Rider 102

Danubian Celts Imitations:

 

When is not so Peroz no longer Peroz at all?

 

Well I would love to answer that but it would be soooo much easier to just come right out and say it, "I have no idea."

 

Wonderful examples guys!!

It seems I have either the imitation or the 'original' and not both