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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Tejas, post: 7968465, member: 84905&quot;]The coin above (Alwin&#039;s) is fantastic.</p><p>I wonder what the reason is for this very wide range of weights:</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Was it just a lack of control. Mint workers cut out blanks without weighing them? The resulting variation in weights was deemed to be acceptable.</p><p>2. Was an an attempt to restore a full double denarius standard of the type issued under Caracalla and Elagabalus?</p><p>3. Have these large and overweight coins been struck on old blanks or old Antoniniae? Alwin&#039;s coin above shows that the flan was way too large for the dies.</p><p><br /></p><p>Regarding no. 2, similar observations can be made with regards to the Gallic Empire. The coins under Postumus started out in silver/billon and deteriorated to bronze. Yet, Victorinus also started out with billon coins, which quickly deteriorated back to bronze. Maybe new rulers sought to establish credibility and trust by issuing high standard coins at the start of their rule to muster support among the army and population.</p><p><br /></p><p>If that is true, then the deterioration to lower weight standards proceeded rapidly. The coin below dates to 254/55 and <b>weighs 3.34g.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Obv.: IMP VALERIANVS P AVG</p><p>Rev.: CONCOR EXERC&nbsp; Concordia standing left sacrifices over altar, holds patera in her right hand and cornucopiae with her left arm.</p><p>Mint: Viminacium</p><p><b>Weight: 3.34g (21mm)</b></p><p>Date: 254-255</p><p>RIC 233.</p><p>Exceptionally fine bust</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1381884[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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