A tricky Gallienus for ID

[Jschulze]

Hi all,
Gallienus coins are nearly always easy to pin down. This one... unless I've missed something... is not. I bought this in a lot of crummy coins and didn't expect any surprises but I can't find this one anywhere... Wildwinds, acsearch, some of the specialty Gallienus sites...etc.

GALLIENVS AVG
PROVIDENTIA [AVG?]
Providentia holding globe with transverse sceptre.
21mm
3.35 grams
(seems common and easy enough huh?)

There are lots of variations of coins with Providentia on the reverse... but none that I can find with PROVIDENTIA spelled out in full with the globe and transverse sceptre.

It's an ugly coin but may be somewhat unique. Thoughts?

Thanks!

Josh

[curtislclay]

Apparently a rev. legend variant of two Rome-mint coins in Göbl,

462q1 (16 spec.), an antoninianus with PROVID AVG

461q1 (1 spec.), a double aureus with PROVIDEN AVG.

[Jschulze]

Thank you for taking a look Curtis!

Yes, I found those similar coins with abbreviated reverse legends. This coin is interesting because with the number of coins being produced at this time, even odd variants can be found somewhat easily. I can't find a similar example of this coin anywhere.

In Dane's spreadsheets I did find the following listing for an ancient imitation:

"GALLIENVS AVG   
Radiate bust
PROVIDENTIA AVG
Providentia standing left globe and transverse sceptre
Imitation - Kirkby hoard 125 (S)      
ancient imitation"   

Anyone know where I can get a picture of that coin?

I don't think my coin is an imitation... it looks official enough, but I guess it could be.

Thanks for any information out there!

Josh

[Tom Mullally]

To the best of my knowledge, the Coinproject page for Gallienus is the most complete on the web.  Your coin is not there.  Would you please consider uploading it?

Thanks,
Tom

[Jschulze]

Absolutely! By the way, Coinproject is great. I use it a lot and have been able to acquire quite a few coins listed on the site. I haven't yet submitted a coin... I'll head that way and give it a try as soon as I have some extra time.

Another great site for Gallienus is here: http://www258.pair.com/denarius/coinage.htm

I emailed the site owner asking about the coin too and he responded that it was unknown to him too and a puzzler... although there are obviously other Rome mint coins with the same design and an abbreviated legend.