Hi All, I’ve been a bit absent from the forum lately, life has been busy! Unfortunately I’ve been more of a lurker than a contributor. Recently I purchased a lot of relatively low grade “Greek” bronze coins, not my typical purchase but I really wanted to start challenging myself on identification. Most are Ancient greek, with some Greek Provincial Roman but one has stumped me. I think it is a Roman provincial but I just can’t seem so pin point exactly who it is and where it is from. Some part of me is hopeful and wishes that maybe, just maybe it is a fractional Cleo VII from Syria (hopeful, but unlikely). I rarely do this but I’d like to call on the Legions of CoinTalk for support. Any help is greatly appreciated. Weight is 3.04g Diameter about 15mm
I’ve handled a lot of coins, and I wouldn’t have said it was cast, but then again the casts I have are very poor quality. The wear did look to me like it could be fake. It’s a Roma lot, not that this means anything, they are known to have dodgy affiliations. If it is a phoney then I’ll put it in my ‘tuition box’.
@lordmarcovan if it does turn out to be fake, I will donate the lot of 19 minus my tuition coin to a CoinTalk competition of your choice. I will ship to the winner.
Perhaps the obverse figure is Artemis-- looks likes there may be a hint of a quiver over the shoulder and the hairstyle is compatible with Artemis.
I believe TIF could be on the right track. See e.g.: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=273422 https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=506367 https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=487542 Reverse could be Apollo.
Yes, I did lean this way originally. However the portriat seems almost juvenile, I am not an expert in coinage of Artemis but her portraits are slightly more mature in appearance when compared to this one.
@TIF, I think you nailed it! Thank you. I didn’t look at the types nominated by @Limes @lordmarcovan, even though I now don’t think it is fake I am still willing to contribute the lot minus the Artemis to a CoinTalk cause of your choosing. Let me know.
While I do think the obverse is Artemis, it is not one of those Lucanian bronzes. The reverse isn't right. The coin in question does have a male figure standing but he's not holding a lyre (a patera and some whip-like object). So far I haven't found a match, even using what I can discern of the reverse legend. It's an interesting identification challenge .
From my very small Greek and Roman provincial library. Not the coin but I feel like as @TIF said the portrait is Artemis, and based on what I can find the reverse is Apollo. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I’ll keep searching.