With the coin quite worn, it must have been converted many years after Marcus Aurelius’ death. What a story that coin must possess.
What an amazing piece of ancient history Very jealous. And you should definitely wear it (or at least I would).
A holed Commodus, with walking Victory, a couple of reasons why I bought this, it was cheap, and also for the hole (the stories it could tell!).
Agree but how long after. Is this mount ancient? I would expect a modern mount to have used a better coin so this may have been one that was still above ground in the late Roman period but know nothing about the mount style. Holes with something 'old' in them are always cooler than just holes. My favorite is this Titus and Domitian of Stobi.
The mount is typical for late Antique early / medieval Danubian region. It is likely that Roman's used coins in this fashion. they were certainly used contemporaneously by "barbarians" and were used as late as the 9th/10th centuries in Avar graves. Below is a pre-reform radiate (aurelianus) of Diocletian, from Pannonia, mounted on a large ring, likely an earring. SC
Personally, I feel this was worn by a retired Legionary under Lepidus... (A Triumvir with Caesar and Pompey) RImp Spain Lepida-Clesa Lepidus 44-36BCE C Balbus L Porcius Colonia Victrix Ivlia Lepida Victory - Bull holed RPI 262 plate 19
Here is a Roman Republican denarius with a hole and what looks to be 18th-19th century (A.D.) engraving:
I absolutely don't like a coin with a hole, even though I happen to have a few of them, but I wouldn't buy one..., doesn't matter to me what the story could be. Whoever it was that made the hole, in my eyes, the coin has lost its beauty, and when the hole is on the head it is even worse. Luckily, I have one of this denarius without a hole, though from a different moneyer: Denarius, Rome, 19 - 18 BC 18 x 19 mm, 3.427 g RSC 428; BMCRR Rome 4563; RIC I² 315 corr. (no stars); Ob.: M•DVRMI(VS)•III•VIR•HONORI head of Honos right Rev.: CAESAR AVG(VSTVS)•SIGN•RECE, bare-headed Parthian kneeling on right knee to r., extending in r. hand a signum, with a vexillum marked X, and holding out l. hand below l. knee
I have only one holed coin that wasn’t supposed to have a hole. I actually like best those who are supposed to have a hole, although a rogue hole can be a symbol of individuality and belief in personal freedom.
I don’t actively search for holed coins but I do have a couple in my collection. I don’t currently have any holed ancients as I gifted my holed Alexander III stater to a family member. When the holes are contemporary to the coin then I find them quite fascinating, especially if some part of the contemporary mount are still intact @dougsmit. Now I know this isn’t an ancient coin and I’m sure someone will remind me of that but I find this to be one of my most interesting coins (albeit holed). I find myself imagining what hands it passed through or neck it hung from, possibly on a pirate ship in the Caribbean The host coin is an early Spanish 8 Real which appears to have been deformed and then counterstamped with a Guatemala volcano and sun. It is hard to tell if it was holed pre or post counter stamp. The coin weight is still true to the 8 Real.
