I got me this budget beauty today, a Tetricus II antoninianus from the dying days of the Gallic Empire. You got to love the ragged and raw quality of these coins. The lack of quality control, typically ragged flans, and unique Gallic style made coins from this period very interesting in my opinion. Anyway, show me your Tetricus II beauties...
I like it. I passed on another Tetricus II with nicer edges just because I liked the ragged look which screamed "no quality control" better than the other one. I think ragged has its charms, especially on a coin that represents the collapsing Gallic Empire in its final throws.
I have only his dad... Bronze antoninianus, RIC 68 - 72 AD, 2.2g, 17.2mm, obverse IMP TETRICVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse FIDES MILIT, Fides standing left holding two standards. Bronze barbarous radiate, 2.1g, 17.0mm, unofficial mint, c. 271 - 284 A.D.; obverse blundered IMP TETRICVS AVG, radiate head right; reverse blundered legend, figure standing left.
I'd like to get a Tetricus II with implements coin... that would cross two off my list with one coin. This tetricus I is my most raggedy Gallic coin..
I think Spes on these really qualify for "unique Gallic style". And let's not forget the requisite partial legends.
I'm on my phone so I don't have my notes handy but first up is the requested Tetricus II: @Sallent yours looks to have a nice portrait and should be a nice coin.
Tetricus II, Caesar AD 273-274 Roman AE antoninianus, 18.2 mm, 2.73 g Mainz or Trier, AD 273-4 Obv: C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES, radiate bust right Rev: SPES AVGG, Spes advancing left, holding flower and lifting skirt Refs: RIC 270; Cohen 88; Hunter 11; RVC 11292.
Why are the flans so ragged? Were they not hot enough when struck? Mine isn't ragged, but it has a strange teardrop shape: Bronze Antoninianus Gallic Empire, unidentified southern mint Obv: C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES Rev: SPES AVG - Spes, walking left, holding flower and raising robe RIC 270 20x18mm, 2.5g.
They come both round and raggedy. I think we underestimate how fast a pace was needed at the mints of the period to keep up with the demand for coins. Tetricus II My most shaggy one is Tetricus I.
To add to this, it is often very difficult to determine whether a coin is official or barbarous during this period. Some are clearly official, and some appear to be obviously barbarous, but there is a HUGE grey area with the coins of the Gallic Empire, and a large percentage of them may never be ascribed as official or barbarous with any certainty.
I've always liked ragged flans too. They have a charm to them. My run of the mill Tetricus jr. Tetricus II (274 A.D.) Æ Antoninianus O: C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES, radiate, draped bust right. R: SPES AVGG, Spes walking left, holding flower and raising skirt. 2.9g 19mm RIC 270
Very cool type. I got mine in 1987. And talking about quality control on mine the casting sprue is still visible. Tetricus I, 270 – 273 AD Æ Antoninianus, Uncertain Mint, 19mm, 2.67 grams Obverse: IMP C TETRICVS P F AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Tetricus right. Reverse: PIETAS AVGG, Pontifical implements: aspergillum, simpulum, capis, secespita and lituus. References: RIC 111 (sim, obverse legend) Cost: $0 Provenance: Gift, 1987.
Ya got a Raggedy Ann doll there with those ragged edges @Sallent Mine are pretty ratty too: TETRICUS I RI Tetricus I 271-274 CE Ant LAETITIA TETRICUS II RI Tetricus II 273-274 CE BI Ant SPES w Flower
Awesome raggedy examples everyone! The OP looks like raw ore, one of Bing's and one of Doug's look almost serrate, and Multatuli's barbarous radiate is a classic. My Tetricus II is more oval and o/c than ragged:
This was a bargain basement buy a couple of years ago, I think I gave $2 for it. I had to cure it of BD though. Can't find a reverse photo in my files but it's a Spec reverse. *edited my lousey spelling*
Lack of quality control, yes, but sometimes a good style portrait example pops up, there are some in this thread Tetricus II, Antoninianus C PIV [ESV TETRIC]VS CAES, Radiate and draped bust right COMES AVG, Comes standing left 1.91 gr Ref : Cohen # 6 And some "barbarous imitations" aren't that barbarous Tetricus II, Antoninianus minted circa AD 273-274 C PIVS ESV TETRICVS CAES, Radiate bust of Tetricus right [SP]ES AV[GG], Spes standing left holding her dress and a flower 2.8 gr Ref : RCV #11292, Cohen #88 Q
