Follow up-- Help with pentanummium, please.

[Ken W2]

With Pekka's help earlier I now know this is a pentanummium and with more cleaning the visible portion of the obverse legend appears to be AS PP AV.  Perhaps I can make out an N to the left of the A? above the head.  Does anyone recognize this emperor or legend.  Perhaps Anastasius with the name abbreviated in the legend ? Thanks in advance.

Ken

[SC]

I believe that you have a "barbarous" or contemporary imitation of a Pentanummium.

Very nice as they are not that common.

SC

[Ken W2]

Thank you Shawn. It strikes me as odd that such a small denomination would be imitated or counterfeited. Makes me wonder what one could buy with a pentanummium.
Ken

[djmacdo]

Could that thing on the top of the emperor's head be a poor rendition of the hand of God?  It does not look much like a letter.  That might guide you to the prototype.

[Justin W]

I think djmacdo has a good point. Since it’s a barbarian imitation could they still be copying some of the late Roman designs which had the hand of god over the emperor. The late Roman style was often copied in contemporary imitations from what I usually see.

[Ken W2]

It occurred to me that may not be a letter.  It definitely is a two part design.  In case you can't see it well (I haven't moved beyond cell phone photagrapghy yet) the part on the right looks like an inverted lower case y and the part on the left is a long triangle, with the relief shifted toward one end.  Appreciate the input. 

[Justin W]

Also might the observe legend be imitating pf avg which is at the end of a lot of the late Roman coins.

[djmacdo]

Many of the coins from the late fifth and early sixth centuries are so crude that the distinction between poor style but legitimate and imitation is very hard to draw.

[wileyc]

I agree with djmacdo, styles can vary, it would be hard to say. Interesting coin, as I do wonder why one would spend the effort imitating a Pentanummium. It looks a little crude for a official mint, see below some of mine.



Maurice Tiberius
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2698&pos=33


Justin II

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2699&pos=58

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2699&pos=1

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2699&pos=57


Justinian I
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=1810&pos=37

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=1810&pos=39

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=1810&pos=45

Anastasius
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=2700&pos=13

[Ken W2]

Wiley, nice collection. I especially like the Justinian I S244. Nice photos too. Are those coins waxed? I’ve waxed my bronzes thus far, but I’m considering discontinuing.
Ken

[SC]

Any coin is worth imitating if can be made for cheaper.  In ancient times this usually means if it had a significant fiduciary value to it.

Even though a pentanummium might not be worth much itself, if you can make a bunch for less than they are worth you can make profit.

The most commonly counterfeited UK denomination is apparently the 1 pound coin.

The size reductions of the early Byzantine coins could have provided lots of opportunity for such mischief.

SC

[wileyc]

good points.

[wileyc]

Wiley, nice collection. I especially like the Justinian I S244. Nice photos too. Are those coins waxed? I’ve waxed my bronzes thus far, but I’m considering discontinuing.
Ken

thanks,

I am not always happy with with photos, they have been shot over the years with different cameras and stitched with different programs affecting affecting quality. I used to clean and wax some of them so yes some of them likely are but I cannot tell you which off hand.