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Retariffed Magnentius Double Centenionalis? - Cut to Nummis Size
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<p>[QUOTE="otlichnik, post: 7384231, member: 109731"]Beautiful and fascinating coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the late 4th and early 5th century many earlier coins still circulated if their size matched that of the current currency or if they were cut down to this size. However, unlike during the earlier centuries, halved or quarters coins are now very rare. In other words, it seems like the reduced coin had to be round or round-ish to be accepted.</p><p><br /></p><p>I suspect that someone therefore cut this Magnentius down and got two things - one coin immediately usable, plus over half the original weight in copper-alloy cuttings that would go into the crucible for re-casting. </p><p><br /></p><p>Such operations were semi-professional. No common householder would have the tools necessary to cut such metal at this time. The person with tools and skills to cut up such metal also likely had the tools and skills to cast metal.</p><p><br /></p><p>While Boon notes that such cut-down coins were used in the 5th century, we know from hoards across Europe that cut-down coins were used before that. It could have been used as soon as official coinage fell to that size.</p><p><br /></p><p>Not sure what the diameter is but to me the weight indicates periods such a 356 to 362 or 383 to mid-5th century.</p><p><br /></p><p>SC[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="otlichnik, post: 7384231, member: 109731"]Beautiful and fascinating coin. In the late 4th and early 5th century many earlier coins still circulated if their size matched that of the current currency or if they were cut down to this size. However, unlike during the earlier centuries, halved or quarters coins are now very rare. In other words, it seems like the reduced coin had to be round or round-ish to be accepted. I suspect that someone therefore cut this Magnentius down and got two things - one coin immediately usable, plus over half the original weight in copper-alloy cuttings that would go into the crucible for re-casting. Such operations were semi-professional. No common householder would have the tools necessary to cut such metal at this time. The person with tools and skills to cut up such metal also likely had the tools and skills to cast metal. While Boon notes that such cut-down coins were used in the 5th century, we know from hoards across Europe that cut-down coins were used before that. It could have been used as soon as official coinage fell to that size. Not sure what the diameter is but to me the weight indicates periods such a 356 to 362 or 383 to mid-5th century. SC[/QUOTE]
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Retariffed Magnentius Double Centenionalis? - Cut to Nummis Size
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