A Trebonianus Gallus medallion from the Trau collection

[Pscipio]

I thought it would be worthwhile to share this Gallus medallion. It was in an old fake collection, part of which I acquired last year for study reasons. I had picked the Gallus because it looked like a quite convincing old cast of an original, even showing corrosion spots and some smoothing, but I never gave it much thought so far. Recently, however, I was browsing through the famous Trau catalogue (Sammlung Franz Trau: Gilhofer & Ranschburg / Adolph Hess AG, Vienna, May 22nd 1935) as a friend of mine asked me to check a coin type he was doing some research on, and stumbled by chance over the Trau specimen - which, as one may guess from the thread title, turned out to be my own coin.

Trebonianus Gallus, AE Medallion (36 mm, 48.21 g), Rome.
Obv. IMP CAES C VIBIVS TREBONIANVS GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind.
Rev. ARN - ASI, Apollo (or mountain god?) standing left on rocks, holding branch and knotted staff.
Cohen 23 (400 Frs.); Trau 2844 (this coin).

According to my prices realized list, it did not sell in 1935, so maybe it was already withdrawn back then, although the fake collection it came from originates from a different (but contemporary) auction house. The patination, corrosion and smoothing make it very convincing. It probably does date no later than the 19th Century, the era in which Franz Trau senior was an avid and famous collector, but may be older, as the Prinz Waldeck Homer which I acquired from the same fake collection: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=67072.0

Lars

[maridvnvm]

What a fascinating find.
Martin

[mix_val]

The obverse is most convincing.  Do you know where the genuine coin is?

[curtislclay]

Do you know where the genuine coin is?

The original appears to be the EF example in Bologna illustrated by Gnecchi, Medaglioni, pl. 111.3

[Pscipio]

Thanks Curtis. I had not consulted Gnecchi yet as I don't have it at home but a friend of mine had pointed out the specimen illustrated in ERIC II (reverse only) to me, which looked like the host coin and may actually be the Bologna specimen illustrated by Gnecchi.

Lars

[Marius]

That is a doubly wonderful find!  Getting a nice looking cast of medallion is very nice, but finding it is a famous 'coin'!  I couldn't resist buying a cast medallion myself - they are very nice to hold.

[Pscipio]

Thanks Rich. I actually by chance have an identical cast to yours as well, from the same fake collection that I acquired the Trau medallion from.

Lars