Unlisted Caracalla?

[silvernut]

This denarius has recently been sold online (not to me...).

Laureate head right
ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM
P M TR P XVIII COS III P P
Roma standing left with Victory and spear.

I can't find it in any reference book and it was sold as a hybrid, although I don't know how that can be, as the reverse legend does correspond to Caracalla and not to any other emperor I know of. The type is apparently known of the previous year (Cohen 246, RIC 243), although BMCRE says that the coin cited by Cohen from Vienna is false! So, what have we here, a new type or a bizarre ancient forgery with the correct legends?

Regards,
Ignasi

[curtislclay]

I think the style doesn't quite achieve the regularity of Rome.

So yes, probably a bizarre ancient forgery, since a third alternative also seems unlikely, namley a previously unrecognized branch mint in some province.

Was the weight given?

[silvernut]

No, I'm afraid it wasn't. I will ask, but since it's already sold (missed it as I was on Easter holiday...), I don't think the dealer will know.

Is the Vienna specimen with TR P XVII then a definite forgery?

Regards,
Ignasi

[maridvnvm]

The coin is currently for sale by auction elsewhere.
Regards,
Martin

[curtislclay]

Martin,

Your link doesn't work for me. Is there an eBay number?

[maridvnvm]

I sent it to you via IM.
Regards,
Martin

[curtislclay]

Thanks, Martin.

Maybe I've seen the coin before, since it's said to come from the Vel Garnett Coll., the former cataloguer for AAH with whom I used to correspond until his death some 6-7 years ago.

I have no recollection of the similar Vienna coin, but am virtually certain that it is not lying in their Caracalla trays as an official coin. Maybe it's kept among their ancient imitations. If I remember I'll check tonight whether I might have a plaster cast of it.

[silvernut]

Well, unfortunately, it seems as though this coin is lost! It was pulled from the auction site, so I contacted the dealer. This was his reply:

"This coin went missing on a recent return flight from my checked bagagge. See the note I posted on the auction in response to a question from Pete Burbules:

Pete- I had these coins with me on a recent business trip and when I returned from Tampa I found that one of the nine had gone missing. They were all there prior to the TSA search ... The one coin in a flip identified as a "better type" was the only one missing from the group - all originally double rubber banded together, found loose in the bottom of my bag when I got home. I'm sorry for not being able to give you the data. Regards, Tom Wood - Ephesus Numismatics".

A pity! I'm sure the dealer will appreciate it if someone spots it somewhere and notifies him.

Regards,
Ignasi