7-996

RIC VII, SISCIA [after 241], CONSTANS, UNLISTED ISSUE [VIRTVS AVG] [FORGERY]

  

OBVERSE

DNCONSTANSNOBCAES [D N CONSTANS NOB CAES]; bust l., laur., dr., cuir.

REVERSE

V-IRTVSAVG [VIRTVS AVG]; prince riding r. over captive prostrate on ground. •SIS in exergue.

NOT IN RIC

UNLISTED ISSUE [FORGERY]. Reverse type and obv. legend not attested in RIC. But note crude style on obverse: Caesar's ear, bust sketched with few enormously thick lines etc. Also lettering seems to be modern, e.g. "G" in AVG. On the other hand, big flan (rare for small bronzes) and strong outlines suggest a counterfeiter's tool to prepare a casting mould. In this case, specimen in question could be an artless copy of unknown gold issue, most appropriate for DN... legend and mintmark with no officina letter.

NOTES

Weight 2.10 g; diameter 18 mm. Coin sold on Artemide auction in June 2010 for EUR 750.


NOT IN RIC © 2004 Lech Stępniewski