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Author Topic: Unofficial Anonymous Follis of Christ?  (Read 1155 times)

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Offline Joe Sermarini

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Unofficial Anonymous Follis of Christ?
« on: May 23, 2019, 08:31:10 am »

6.880g, 26.3mm
This coin was consigned as a very rare overstruck anonymous follis.  I think it is double struck, not overstruck, and unofficial.  Anyone seen the type before?  Any references?  Comments? Opinions?
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Offline cmcdon0923

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Re: Unofficial Anonymous Follis of Christ?
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2019, 10:24:12 am »
I'm not sure if the reverse legends are "confusing" from multiple strikes, or if they're just gibberish.....randomly engraved letters to imitate a legend.


Offline Edessa

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Re: Unofficial Anonymous Follis of Christ?
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2019, 10:52:02 am »
I am having a hard time making any part of the reverse legend look official from any angle.  Joe, my guess would be that you are correct - unofficial with multiple strikes.

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Offline cmcdon0923

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Re: Unofficial Anonymous Follis of Christ?
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2019, 01:04:26 pm »
I think it's safe to say it's at least a double strike.  There appears to be at least three lines of legend running vertically from the bottom of the reverse.  This seems to indicate that the planchet was rotated 90 degrees between strikes.

As oriented in the picture......The top line appears to show a "U", then a double "SS", and a double "II".  Forward or backward, neither makes sense.  And the letters are clear enough that I don't think it's due to a double strike.  It's tough to figure out how any of that could be read as IHSUS.

The second line from the top appears to be (X)RISTUS, but retrograde.  Likewise, there's no obvious distortion to indicate a double strike when the planchet was in this orientation.

The line of legend across the middle is a real mess.

I can't see any clear signs of multiple strikes on the obverse, such as a second outline of the nimbus.

Interesting coin, all around, though!

Offline Joe Sermarini

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Re: Unofficial Anonymous Follis of Christ?
« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2019, 06:52:36 pm »
I am still having a hard time describing this. I wish I knew where it was found. I suspect it may be Arab but I really don't know. Thoughts?
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Offline Obryzum

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Re: Unofficial Anonymous Follis of Christ?
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2019, 08:20:15 pm »
I see evidence of a double struck obverse.

I think there is evidence of both over striking and double striking on the reverse.   The undertype lettering circled in blue seems like the lettering of the official mint.  The lettering circled in green looks barbaric and garbled -- not a product of the imperial mint.  I agree that it seems the double strike was rotated 90 degrees.

Although I do not have DOC with me at the moment, I know that some of the plates in DOC show barbaric issues.

 

 

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