ID Assistance for Titus As

[cmcdon0923]

I picked up the following coin last weekend.  It's not the absolute best condition, but looks much better in hand and was rather reasonably priced.

I was writing up the envelope for it, but got stuck on the RIC attribution.  The closest match I can find on either Wildwinds or ACS is RIC 238.  My sticking point is that under magnification, the obverse legend appears to end in "COS VII" and not "COS VIII" as do all the specimens pictured on those two sites.  The patina is a bit chipped right at that point on the coin, but as best I try, I just can't seem to come up with a "III" at the end.

Anyone have any thoughts or comments?


Craig

[Jay GT4]

Pretty tough to see any consular date in the photo.   But a nice portrait.   I'm away from my copy of RIC at the moment but look in Forum galleries, Alberto or David may have an example.

[mix_val]

If you could establish an obverse die match with another coin that can be unambiguously attributed....

[FlaviusDomitianus]

Spes with left portrait on the left does not exist in RIC combined with COS VII, while left portraits  become quite common with COS VIII.

Even the style of the portrait - with its big head - seems to me to be definitely leaning towards RIC 238.

To claim that your coin is a previously unrecorded COS VII, a clear reading of the obverse legend would be required, which, as Jay also said, seems rather difficult.

Alberto

[David Atherton]

Alberto is correct - the obverse should read COS VIII (RIC 238).

[cmcdon0923]

Thanks everyone.

I was in no way attempting to claim I had found a new variant based on the Consulship.  I don't own a copy of RIC, and was just going by what I saw on those two websites.

And it is unfortunate that you can't make out the legend at the base of the obverse in the photo.  Even in hand it requires moving the coin around to get the right lighting to make out the bottom half of COS and a relatively clear "II"...unfortunately as I mentioned, the patina has then chipped away apparently obscuring the third "I".

So for my records, RIC 238 it shall be.

Again, thanks.


Craig