Dear Waldemar S and Board,
RPC I 2991 is a match for your coin, with the same
obverse legends. From the illustrated coins in the specimen list, I identified two different
obverse dies, both of which have a short break in the legends above the emperor's
head. On your coin, struck from a third
obverse die, there is no break, the lettering in this
area being continuous. The orientation of the legends shifted as a result. With the possible exception of
RPC I 2991/28, the lettering of the other coins in the (
obverse)
exergue is "ΡΕΩΝ ΣΑ" (belonging to "ΚΑΙΣΑΡΕΩΝ ΣΑΡΔΙΑΝΩΝ") whereas on your coin, we have "ΩΝ ΣΑΡΔΙ". As a result of the extra room this freed up for the engraver, the last few letters of the
ethnic were cut larger (i.e. than on the commonly seen die) to use up the available space and balance the legends/design.
I
hope that explanation makes sense and was of some
help to you.
Best regards,
Mark Fox
Michigan