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Message:: [QUOTE="Al Kowsky, post: 8239404, member: 97383"][ATTACH=full]1450228[/ATTACH] ROMAN SYRIA, Antioch. Trajan Decius, AD 249-251. Billon Tetradrachm: Officina 2 (two dots under bust), 13.03 gm, 27 mm, 6 h, silver fineness about 15%. Obverse: Bust laureate, draped & cuirassed, seen from behind. Reverse: Eagle standing on palm frond, wreath in beak. All inscriptions are Greek except the S C (Senatus Consulto), that is Latin. McAlee 1126b; Prieur 578; RPC IX 1701. I was pleased to score the above coin at a recent CNG auction <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie50" alt=":happy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. Building a "type set" of Trajan Decius tetradrachms has been a goal of mine for the last decade. The above coin is a common type but, well-struck, high grade coins are difficult to find. I now have examples from officina 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6, along with examples from his wife & two sons. Examples from officina 6 & 7 are difficult to find & can be pricey. Officina 6 coins have an "S" under the bust & officina 7 coins have a "Z" under the bust, often the Z is reversed like the coin pictured below. Despite the low silver content of the coins, the Antioch mint was able to "blanch" or "reverse plate" a good layer of silver on these coins. Coins that have been over-cleaned or have seen extensive circulation appear copper in color. [ATTACH=full]1450225[/ATTACH] Photo Courtesy of Zeus Coins. CT members are welcome to post their Trajan Decius Tets on this thread <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.[/QUOTE]

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