NGC Punted on This... Caligula Denarius / Drachm? Or What?

[Pete B]

I picked this up as part of a 12 Caesar set. It weighs 2.5gm, and is nearly medal aligned. The Caligula side die is pillowing between the bust and the legend. The Caligula-side legend is that of RIC-2 * BMC-10; the "T" can be plainly seen just above the shoulder. The other side has AVGVSTVS around a fillet head of Augustus? As we know, no commemorative coins were struck of Augustus without a spiked crown by Caligula? It does appear to be struck, and one side is as thin as a screwdriver and opposite that it's 2mm thick. The mouths of both Caligula and Augustus are hack jobs. Has anyone seen anything like this?

[Joe Sermarini]

I don't usually try to second guess NGC, especially from only photos when they had the coin in hand.

[Arados]

The mouths of both Caligula and Augustus are hack jobs.

I'm not aware of this numismatic terminology, what do you mean ?

[Pete B]

It's not so much "second guessing" them, as it is they had never seen one before (thus, my query)... and they do make mistakes

[Pete B]

"The mouths of both Caligula and Augustus are hack jobs."
That is, done by an amateur

Noun. hack job (plural hack jobs) The completion of a task in the quickest possible time at the expense of quality or attention to detail.

[Arados]

Thanks for your explanation but i am well aware of what a hack job means, i´ve just never heard it used in this context i.e numismatic terminology.

[Pete B]

Most die cutters aren't hackers

[curtislclay]

"Reverse" appears to show not Augustus, but Tiberius, with his characteristic portrait and legend

[TI CAESAR DIVI - AVG F A]VGVSTVS, of which only [A]VGVSTVS is legible.

Pretty surely not official, but an imitation of some sort.

[Pete B]

Yes, an "Eastern" tribal consideration was given it by a couple of people.
Does a Caligula-Tiberius coin exist similar to this one?

[curtislclay]

I'm not aware of any such coin.

By "Eastern" tribal consideration do you mean an Eastern local issue copying official types?

[Pete B]

Yes, 'copying' is the assumption. The obverse die is pillowing (or sinking) as stated, and the reverse die is like some old Terminal Die State Capped Bust Halves, where the legends are drawing outwards. That's what is happening to the ...VGVSTVS, tho the distortion is heading inwards. The unfinished mouths I think would indicate an unempirical source