Same Coins But Different Die Rotation?

[VOTman]

I received some purchased coins and then attributed them.  Other than patina I was a little saddened to find that two coins are exactly the same, right down to the mint and field marks (photo of one coin attached).  I then discovered that despite them being the same, their die rotation is opposite each other.  One coin is 12h/12h while the other is 12h/6h.

Should the same coin have a reversed die rotation from another of the exact same?

[Mark Fox]

Dear Ken P & Board,

Don't worry!  The die axis of a particular ancient coin issue can be strictly controlled, very wonky, or somewhere in between.  It really depends on who is minting the coin.  A few Roman provincial examples:
 
https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/3904

https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/4/1332

https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/9/417

Note that nearly all the recorded specimens of the last issue were struck from a single pair of dies! 

I was just thinking now about the 12h/6h situations where some control was obviously being exercised.  In some cases I can see a 180 degree shift in die orientation happening when either the hammer or anvil die is being replaced or when one worker wants to take a break and hands the hammer die over to a colleague across from him.  Think about this closely.  If it was just the die he was handing over, a change in die axis may or may not happen.  But if it was being held by a pair of tongs or some other kind of stabilizing instrument, then the die shift would have to be 180 degrees if Minter #2 was trying to be a mirror of Minter #1.  Interesting.       

Anyway, I hope this helps a little.


Best regards,

Mark Fox
Michigan

[VOTman]

Thanks so much Mark for taking the time to find examples and explain things for me.  I do appreciate that!
For centuries the Romans were great with coin standardization, I would have thought that would include die axis too.  One is always learning.