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Ancient Counterfeits and Barbarous Imitations

ROMAN REPUBLIC, L. Aurelius Cotta --AR (fourre) denarius.Bust of Vulcan right, within wreath. Reverse: Eagle on thunderbolt, within wreath. Aurelia 21; Craw. 314/1 var. Very rare as a fourree. (Ex. Dr. Jon Kardaztke, Part III, I & L Goldberg, June 7, 2000; lot 3416.) featherz

ROMAN EMPIRE, Fourr'ee denarius of Lucius VerusObverse: IMP L AVREL VERVS AVG
Reverse: PROV DEOR TR P II COS II, Providentia standing left with globe and cornucopiae.
RIC 482, 2.61 gramsROMA

ROMAN EMPIRE, Tetricus II, Barbarous Radiateobv. C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES,
radiate draped bust right
rev. PIETAS AVGVSTOR,
priestly implements, from left to right: sprinkler, simpulum with handle right, plain jug and lituus.
Ref.: Cf. RIC 258f (unknown gallic mint)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Trajan, FoureeTRAJAN, Fouree Denarius, 98 - 117 AD, Struck 100 AD, 17.7g, 2.5g, RIC III, 40
OBV: IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM, Laureate bust right
REV: P M TR P COS III P P, Vesta seated left holding torch and patera
SRukke

ROMAN EMPIRE, Tiberius Fourree DenariusROMAN EMPIRE, Tiberius Fourree Denarius
PONTIF MAXIM - Livia, as Pax, holding branch and sceptre, seated right; plain legs to chair with double line below.
Lugdunum (Lyon) mint (18-35AD); 2.80g / 19mm / 360
Group 4, c. 18 - 35 A.D.
Obverse: Tiberius is depicted as an older man. One of the ribbons of Tiberius' laurel wreath falls over his neck.
Reverse: No base under the throne (just the single exergual line), Pax usually holds scepter (or rarely a reversed spear), her feet rest on a low footstool.
Aureus: Giard Lyon, Group 4, 149; RIC I 29 (R); BMCRE I 46; Calico 305b (S.1); Cohen 15; SRCV I 1760 - Rare
Denarius: Giard Lyon, Group 4, 150; RIC I 30 (C); BMCRE I 48; RSC II 16a; SRCV I 1763 - Common (approximately half of all Tiberius denarii are this type)Joe Sermarini

ROMAN EMPIRE, Tetricus I / Barbarous RadiateTetricus I
AE Barbarous Radiate
Uncertain Mint. 270-273 A.D.
Obv: (most likely) IMP C TETRICVS P F AVG - Radiate and draped bust right.
Rev: PAX AVG - Pax standing left holding a sceptre and a spear.

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbaric Tetricus imitative similar to RIC VII 86 Gallic mint, 270-273 CEObverse: IMP TETRICVS PF AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: LAETITIA AVG, Laetitia standing left, holding wreath and anchor.
14.5 mm., .8 g.
NORMAN K

GREEK, Fouree Plate Coin!Taras --AE Fouree stater (Ex Vlasto). 334-330BC. Boy on horse prancing right/Taras on dolphin left,helmet in right field. Ravel 653 (this coin). 2 commentsfeatherz

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - VIRTVS AVG (Victorinus)21/16mm - 1,91g
IMP C TETRICVS P F AVG
VIRTVS AVG
AGK N71b (R2)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - Victoria / VIRTVS AVG / *18mm - 1,83g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type Victoria avec legende VIRTVS AVG / *
AGK -

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - VIRTVS / PAX AVG16mm - 2,72g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type Virtus avec légende PAX AVG
AGK -

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - PAX AVG / V * (Victorinus)16mm - 2,36g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type PAX AVG / V *
AGK N60c (S)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - FIDES MILITVM18mm - 2,32g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type FIDES MILITVM
(legende AV AVGG)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - SALVS AVG (Postumus)18mm - 1,90g
Avers Tetricus
atelier local : Type SALVS AVG
AGK **

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - HILARITAS AVGG15/18mm - 1,69g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type HILARITAS AVGG
(gravure inversée)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - COS TER (Victorinus)17mm - 1,98g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type COS TER
AGK **

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - INVICTVS / * (Victorinus)17mm - 2,51g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type INVICTVS / *
AGK N57c (C1)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - FIDES MILITVM15mm - 2,33g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type FIDES MILITVM
AGK N80a (C2)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - VICTORIA AVG (Marius)16mm - 2,03g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type VICTORIA AVG (titulature revers gravée a l'envers)
AGK N50a (R5)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - SALVS AVGG18mm - 3,20g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type SALVS AVGG
AGK N118b (C5)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - LAETITIA AVGG15mm - 2,01g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type LAETITIA AVGG
AGK N91c (C4)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous Tetricus - COS IIII (Postumus)15mm – 2,50g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type COS IIII
AGK N2c (R5)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous Radiate, Tetricus - CONSECRATIO AVG (Divo Carus)17mm – 1,44g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type CONSECRATIO AVG
AGK **

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - SPES PVBLICA / CA (Tacitus)17mm - 1,48g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type SPES PVBLICA / CA
AGK **

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - HILARITAS AVGG17mm - 2,61g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type HILARITAS AVGG
AGK N81b (C4)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - PIETAS AVGVSTOR (Tetricus II)17mm - 2,28g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type PIETAS AVGVSTOR
AGK N109c (C2)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - SPES PVBLICA17mm - 2,57g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local: type SPES PVBLICA gravure inversée
AGK N127c (C3)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - FORTVNA AVG (Postumus)17mm – 1,79g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type FORTVNA AVG
AGK N8c (R1)

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous, Tetricus - MONETA AVG (Postumus)20mm – 3,36g
Avers Tetricus
Atelier local : type MONETA AVG
AGK N22c (R1)

CELTIC, Celtic imitation - AE 22overstrike

Serdi region
? (original Macedonian issue 185-168 BC)
head of rivergod Strymon right
wide trident
type: (A?)5B
imitation of: SNG Copenhagen 1298-9 var.
8,37g 22-20mm

original coin probably is:

Thessalonica
158-31 BC
head of Dionysos with ivy wreath right
goat standing right
ΘEΣΣA_ΛO / N_IK_HΣ
(NE) / ? other monograms
Sear #1466; BMC Macedonia p. 110, 10 - 16

Head of goat and one ivy-leaf under Strymon's head are slightly visible.

Imitations from Serdi region weren't used to fool Macedonian traders but as their own currency. This coin is one of overstrikes on official Macedonian coins which prooves this theory.J. B.

CELTIC, Celtic imitation - AE 22overstrike

Serdi region
? (original Macedonian issue 185-168 BC)
head of rivergod Strymon right
wide trident
MAKE / ?ΔONΩN?
type: type E3A
imitation of: SNG Copenhagen 1298-9 var.
6,70g 22mm

Wave on Strymon's face is relic of original coin also there is slightly visible inscription (perpendicular to trident).
original coin probably is:

Thessalonica
158-31 BC
head of Dionysos with ivy wreath right
goat standing right
ΘEΣΣA_ΛO / N_IK_HΣ
(NE) / ? other monograms
Sear #1466; BMC Macedonia p. 110, 10 - 16

Imitations from Serdi region weren't used to fool Macedonian traders but as their own currency. This coin is one of overstrikes on official Macedonian coins which prooves this theory.J. B.

ROMAN EMPIRE, Severus Alexander - Barbarous FoureeAn imitative, barbarous style fouree of a denarius of the MARS VLTOR type of Severus Alexandermaridvnvm

ROMAN EMPIRE, Septimius Severus, AE Limes Denarius Limes border military mint after 195 CE
Obverse; L SEP SEV PERT AVG, laureate head right
Reverse; ( not legible) Minerva standing left, holding shield and spear.
Similar to RIC 53 limes, 16.44 mm, 3.0 g NORMAN K

ROMAN EMPIRE, Severus Alexander, Denarius, Limes or ancient forgeryUnofficial local copy or forgery, RIC 254 type.
Rev: SPES PVBLICA, Spes walking left, holding flower & raising skirt.

Appears to be a very base silver alloy (not plated).

ROMAN EMPIRE, Severus Alexander, Denarius, LimesUnofficial local copy, RIC 246 type.
Rev: MARS VLTOR, Mars advancing right holding spear & shield.

Broken, struck in brassy base metal.

ROMAN EMPIRE, Severus Alexander, Denarius fourree.RIC 266
Rev: P M TR P III COS P P, Mars standing left, holding olive branch & spear.

ROMAN EMPIRE, Domitian - Fourree denarius 2bverse: CAESAR DIV F DOMITIANVS COS VII - Laureate head right.
Reverse: COS V - Heifer standing right.
mm. 19 - g. 2,76
Obverse as RIC 265-274 Titus - Reverse as RIC 858 Vespasian
Fourree.FlaviusDomitianus

ROMAN EMPIRE, Caracalla RIC 030a (Fouree)Obv:– ANTONINVS AVGVSTVS, Older boys laureate bust, draped and cuirassed right
Rev:– PONTIF TR P III, Caracalla, as Sol, standing front, head left holding globe and spear
Reference:– RIC 30a
Some parts of core exposed on reverse. maridvnvm

ROMAN EMPIRE, Caracalla RIC 258c (Fouree)Obv:– ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, Laureate bust right
Rev:– P M TR P XVIII COS IIII P P, Jupiter standing right holding thunderbolt & scepter
Reference:– RIC 258c maridvnvm

ROMAN EMPIRE, Caracalla Limes Denarius - RIC 4Obv:– M AVR ANTONINVS CAES, Laureate bust right
Rev:– SEVERI AVG PII FIL, Lituus, knife, jug, simpulum and sprinkler
Reference:– RIC 4maridvnvm

ROMAN EMPIRE, TETRICUS II, A.D. 271-274 Barbarous RadiateReverse figure holding flower and scepter.1 comments

ROMAN EMPIRE, TETRICUS II, A.D. 271-274 Barbarous RadiateThis looks like a tetricus II. Excellent portrait on OBV. The reverse figure is holding a branch and scepter.

ROMAN EMPIRE, TETRICUS II, A.D. 271-274 Barbarous Radiate Very interesting designs on both sides. The reverse figure maybe holding a whip and scepter. It looks like there is a large S in the upper left field but it could be part of the whip.

ROMAN EMPIRE, TETRICUS I, A.D. 271-274 Barbarous RadiateThis coin has a very detailed reverse. The reverse figure is holding a cornucopiae in one hand and I would guess ears of corn in the other.

ROMAN EMPIRE, TETRICUS II, A.D. 271-274 Barbarous RadiateBarbarous radiate

ROMAN EMPIRE, CLAUDIUS II A.D. 268-270 Barbarous RadiateBarbarous radiate with alter reverse

ROMAN EMPIRE, TETRICUS I, A.D. 271-274Barbarous Radiate

ROMAN EMPIRE, Gallienus, Barbarous RadiateBarbarous Radiate: Gallienus, pax reverse

ROMAN EMPIRE, TETRICUS I, A.D. 271-274Barbarous Radiate

ROMAN EMPIRE, Tetricus I or Victorinus Barbarous radiateTetricus I or Victorinus Barbarous radiate

ROMAN EMPIRE, TETRICUS II, A.D. 271-274 Barbarous RadiateTetricus II with sacrificial implements reverse.

ROMAN EMPIRE, CLAUDIUS II A.D. 268-270? barbarous radiateBarbarous radiate with campgate and eagle reverse.j

ROMAN EMPIRE, TETRICUS ITETRICUS I , Radiate, cuirassed bust right / PAX AVG, Pax, standing left, holding olive branch and vertical sceptre

ROMAN EMPIRE, Victorinus, Barbarous radiateVictorinus Barbarous that looks like it was double struck or struck over another coin.

ROMAN EMPIRE, Claudius IIClaudius II with alter reverse barbarous radiate

ROMAN EMPIRE, Tetricus IBarbarous Radiate with Tetricus I OBV and alter REV.

ROMAN EMPIRE, TETRICUS I, A.D. 271-274Tetricus I

ROMAN EMPIRE, TETRICUS II, A.D. 271-274 Barbarous Radiate

ROMAN EMPIRE, TETRICUS I, A.D. 271-274 Barbarous RadiateReverse figure walking left holding flower.

ROMAN EMPIRE, Denier Fourré de TrajanAVERS : ? (pas parvenu à trouvé un avers correspondant au revers .. pour le moment ... hybride ?)
REVERS : PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P SPQR Felicitas debout à gauche, tenant un caducée et une corne d'abondance
Diamètre : 18 mm | Poids : 2,5 g

ROMAN EMPIRE, Denier fourré de VespasienDenier hybride fourré de Vespasien
Diamètre : 19 mm Poids : 2,7 g

ROMAN EMPIRE, Orbiana fouree denariusThis ancient counterfeit has a bronze core which has been plated with silver. Its obverse is taken from a denarius of Orbiana (RIC 319, Cohen 1), the wife of Severus Alexander: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, diademed and draped bust right. The reverse is taken from a denarius of Julia Mamaea (RIC 332; BMC 913), Severus Alexander's mother: FECVND AVGVSTAE, Fecunditas seated left, reaching out to child. This reverse type is not found on official issues of Orbiana. (From EC's collection, ex-Gringott's Coins).

ROMAN EMPIRE, Valens, Fouree SolidusValens Fouree AE Solidus with slight evidence of Gold gilding remaining on the coin. This coin is imitating an official Vlalens Solidus of the Antioch Mint

ROMAN EMPIRE, Honorius Fouree Solidus (Holed-Perhaps that's how it was detected? : )Honorius AV Fouree Solidus. Struck circa 397-402 AD. Constantinople mint? Maybe??!?!. D N HONORI-VS P F AVG, diademed & helmeted three-quarter facing bust, holding spear over right shoulder & shield with horseman motif on left arm / CONCORDI-A AVGG, Constantinopolis, helmeted, seated facing, head right, right foot on prow, holding scepter in left hand, globe in right; S/CONOB. Courtesy Wildwinds.com!

ROMAN EMPIRE, Elagabalus Fouree Antoninianus" However if his too is just the core of a plated ancient forgery, then it is not the early mint product that I was postulating, but just the work of an ancient forger that could easily be joining an obv. and a rev. derived from two different coins. Checking my cast of Gunner's coin against Heather's image, the two coins do appear to be from the same dies.
Apart from stealing mint dies, counterfeiters sometimes manufactured transfer dies from official coins, which also allowed them to produce counterfeits in mint style. " - Curtis Clay

ROMAN EMPIRE, Constantine I, Victoria Latae Princi Perp Barbarous IssueConstantine The Great V.L.P.P. Barb..

ROMAN EMPIRE, Caracalla Fouree/Limes DenariusObverse: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head right
Reverse: PM TR P XVI C[O]S III[I] [P]P
Attribution: RSC 211.

ROMAN EMPIRE, Constantinople Commemmorative w/ Victory Reverse AE4 Barbarous ImitationBarbaric imitation of a Constantinople Commemmorative Coin imitating the Siscia mint.

1 comments

ROMAN REPUBLIC, C. Norbanus --AR DenariusC. Norbanus --AR Denarius. Contemporary (Ancient) counterfeit, not official mint issue. Diademed Venus R/Grain Ear, Fasces and Caduceus. Sydenham 739 (as official issue). featherz

ROMAN EMPIRE, Caracalla, Fourree Denariusobv: ANTONINVS AVGVSTVS. Laureate and draped bust right
rev: Victory advancing left

ROMAN EMPIRE, Claudius, Barbarous, 34mm!obv: head right
rev: Spes standing left, holding flower and raising hem of skirt

ROMAN EMPIRE, Claudius Barbarous, 34mm!obv: head right
rev: Spes standing left, holding flower and raising hem of skirt
1 comments

ROMAN EMPIRE, Julia Domna Fourre Denariusobv: IVLIA AVGVSTA. Bare-headed and draped bust right.
rev: IVNO FELIC. Felicity standing left, holding caduceus.
Note: Doug Smith believes this coin to be a ".. product of a barbaric mint executed by an artist with skill but no background in Roman ways." 1 comments

ROMAN EMPIRE, Late Roman, BarbarousAE19
obv: Curaissed bust right
rev: Blundered legend in wreath

ROMAN EMPIRE, Late Roman AE19obv: Curaissed bust right
rev: Blundered legend in wreath5 comments

ROMAN EMPIRE, Constantinian Era Barbarous

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous Radiate, 12mm – 0,69g ----- Type SalusMinim

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous Radiate, 12mm – 0,54g ----- Type PietasMinim

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous Radiate, 12mm – 0,60g ----- Type InvictusMINIM

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous Radiate, 10mm – 0,49g ----- Type SalusMinim

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous Radiate, 09mm – 0,24g ----- Type PaxMinim

ROMAN EMPIRE, Barbarous Radiate, 12mm – 1,12g ----- Type VirtusMinim

ROMAN EMPIRE, Claudius, Unofficial As HispaniaAn unofficial as of Claudius minted in Hispania. Bizarre lettering.

Obv: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR IMP, bare head left.
Rev: S-C Minerva standing with spear and shield.
RIC 100, Cohen 84v, BMC 149

Weight 18,2g
Diameter 28 mm

1 comments

ROMAN IMPERATORS, Marc Antony, Leg XII FoureeMarc Antony AR Legionary Denarius Fouree. 32-31 BC
Obverse: ANT AVG III VIR R P C, Praetorian galley to the right
Reverse: LEG XII, legionary eagle (aquila) between two standards
Size: 19mm Weight: 3.07gm
ID#: RSC 39; Cr544/25; Syd 1229 Minted: 32-31BC2 commentsickster

ROMAN EMPIRE, Magnentius Barb* AE Barbaric imitation of a (½) Centenionalis Magnentius (350-353)
* Local mint in Gallia 350-353
* DN MAGNENTIVS PF AVG. Bare head of Magnentius, cuirassed and draped.
* I…IT C (omgekeerd) IVCC. In field: SP; In ex: T R. Two Victories with ornamented shield inscribed …I / V / TVN / X
* 17 mm / 2,19 g. Die axis: 225 degrees. Wonderful green patina.
* Compare RIC 312 (Trier) and for SP in field (Lyons) 136, 138, 140 en 142. Does not appear in Bastien's monography.

I could have easily placed this coin, acquired here at Forvm, in the 'favorite coin'-section because it takes a very special place in my collection. I love the fine style of the barbaric celator, who - in my honest opinion - was extraordinarily talented. It should take some effort on my part to get my hands on an imitation that's more beautiful in appearance than this one.2 commentsGert

ROMAN EMPIRE, Lucius Verus, AE Limes falsaIMP L AVREL VERVS AVG
PROV DEOR TR P Providentia to right
AE coin -Limes falsa - cast

ROMAN EMPIRE, Licinius II VOT XX Gamma SIS Starnote from Dane from Helvecta
LICINIVS IVN NOB C or LICINIVS IVN NOB CAES are all VOT V reverses and are on the VOT V page of my list (RIC 154, 155, 162), or they have different reverses types such as trophy with captives, Victoriae Laetae etc.
There are no Licinius II coins with a VOT XX reverse in RIC except one single coin: RIC VII Rome 212 with the mintmark RP and even that one should be seen as dubious. Licinius II was Caesar for only 7-8 years, from 317 to 324 AD. A VOT X would be suitable, but not one repeating his vows for 20 years.
In addition, the obverse legend of this coin is very peculiar without the full name, simply being (as far as I can see) LICIN LICIN IVN dot H AES, so no LICINIVS which should be there somewhere. And finally, the gamma of the mintmark is quite poor, resembling more an I than a gamma.

So in my opinion it is an ancient imitation - DaneJames b4

ROMAN EMPIRE, Licinius II ? Barbarous ImitationObervse DN VALLICIN LICINIUS NOB1 commentsMarjan E

ROMAN EMPIRE, Julia Domna Denarius, RIC 553, RSC 58, BMC 27 Julia Domna Den "Fortuna" LIMES Julia Domna AD 193-217 Base Metal Denarius
Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA - Bareheaded bust right, draped.
Reverse: FORTVNAE FELICI - Fortuna seated left, holding cornucopia and rudder on a
globe.
Rome mint: AD 196-211 = Ancient counterfeit based on RIC
IVi, 553, page 167 - Cohen 58 - SEAR RCV II (2002), #6584, page 493 (18 mm diam. 1.7 g)NORMAN K

ROMAN REPUBLIC, Fourre ImitiativeObv: Anepigraphic; female jugate heads (?) right, front head laureate.
Rev: two horses galloping right, desultor on front horse, [..]NS in exergue.
Serrate subaerate denarius, 1,9 mm; 2,74 g

There does not seem to be a model for this subaerate, which might be a Dacian or Celtic imitative, based on the counterfeiters vague recollection of Republican coins from the period between 75-50 B.C. (thanks to Andrew McCabe for the information). It also features serration, interpreted by some as an anti-counterfeiting device (if an unsuccessful one). Syltorian

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