Victrix Posted March 31, 2023 · Member Share Posted March 31, 2023 (edited) Salve! My coin collection mainly consists of roman military moving mints. They never fail to tickle my fantasy...did the soldier die and get looted, did he survive and got to spend it? Along many other questions. So many interesting events can be linked to these military denarii. This coin in particular i'm very fond off. A denarius minted by the Rhine Legions. We do not know exactly when the Rhine legions began minting their own coins, althought it did occur at the latest with the victory at the battle of Vesontio and the subsequent open revolt of the legions against Nero. Characteristics for coins from the year 69 are military motifs, we find references to armies,the goddess of victory Victoria, the god of war Mars (in this case). The questions regarding the mint or mints of the Rhine legions can hardly be resolved. Cologne or the large legionary camps have been suggested,but even less than in the case of Galba can the extensive campaigns of the Rhine legions in 68 be assumed to have relied on monetary supply from a single, permanent mint. The documented die matches between the denarii in good silver and plated coins clearly show that subaerati are not ancient forgeries,but official pieces. Evidently, silver was scarce on the Rhine frontier,which,given the lack of nearby mines and sudden need to keep tens of thousands of soldiers content with local resources cannot be surprising. The infrastructure of the Germanic Provinces was,for good reasons,not designed for this purpose. Archeological find maps attest to concentrations of anonymous coins both in the Rhine hinterland and in Gaul, a circumstance that has contributed to assigning them to different warring parties. However it seems much more plausible to relate the distribution of finds to the numerous campaigns of the Rhine armies in 68 and 69, during which troop movements between sites on the Rhine, central and southern Gaul, the Alpine region and northern Italy are frequently attested. Please share any civil war denarii or year of 4 emperors coins you may have! 😄 Edited March 31, 2023 by Victrix 31 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted April 1, 2023 · Member Share Posted April 1, 2023 Very nice! I have no anonymous civil war types. The only photographed Vitellius: RS38190. Silver denarius, RIC I 6, BMCRE I 85, Fair, Spain, Tarraco mint, weight 2.384g, maximum diameter 18.0mm, die axis 180o, 69 A.D.; obverse A VITELLIVS IMP GERMANICVS, laureate head left, globe at point of bust; reverse CONSENSVS EXERCITVVM, Mars advancing left, holding aquila and vexillum. Ex Forum, 2009. 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryro Posted April 1, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted April 1, 2023 Very cool coin from a very unstable time period! Here's my unstable coin from this time: CIVIL WAR, 68-69 CE,Denarius, fouree, Mint in Southern Gaul, Forces of Vitellius in Gaul and in the Rhine Valley. Anonymous, 2 January-19 April 69. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 2.5 g, 4 h), Lugdunum. 'Jupiter-Vesta Group'. VESTA P R QVIRITIVM Veiled, diademed and draped bust of Vesta to right; before, burning torch. Rev. I O MAX CAPITOLI-NVS The Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus on the Capitoline Hill: distyle temple with wreath in pediment and acroteria in the form of aphlasta; within, statue of Jupiter seated left, holding thunderbolt in his right hand and scepter in his left. BMC 70. CG 15.8. Cohen 368. Martin 13. Nicolas 15. RIC 128. Rare and of great numismatic interest. Frank Robinson’s notes “F or so BUT much patchy core exposure, somewhat off-ctr, lgnds crude & partly off; bust clear; but pretty ugly. Or, as a certain deity would say, "A beautiful coin, folks, believe me, a beautiful coin, I can tell you that." But Very rare.Ex: Frank Robinson 18 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jims,Coins Posted April 1, 2023 · Member Share Posted April 1, 2023 Silver Coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome during the reign of GALBA between 68 - 69 A.D. Obv. SER.GALBA.CAESAR.AVG. Bare hd. cuir. bust r. Rev. DIVA.AVGVSTA.: Livia, dr., stg. l., holding patera, l. vertical sceptre. RCS #719. RSCII #47 pg.19. RICI #143 pg.240. DVM #7 pg.92. Silver Coin (AR Denarius) minted during the reign of OTHO in 69 A.D. Obv.IMP.M.OTHO.CAESAR.AVG.TR.P. Bare head r. Rev. SECVRITAS.P.R. Securitas stg. l., holding wreath and scepter. (another type publicizing the advantages of peace, in conjunction with the negotiations with Vitellius. Silver Coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome during the reign of VITELLIUS after July 69 A.D. Obv. A.VITELLIVS.GERM.IMP.AVG.TR.P. laurel. hd. r. Rev. CONCORDIA.P.R.: Concordia, dr., std. l., r. holding patera l. cornucopia. RCS #752. RSCII #18 pg.35. RIC #90 pg.272. DVM #3a pg.96. 19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted April 1, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted April 1, 2023 (edited) I always enjoy tossing Vindex into the lineup. He started the kill-off of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty...RICivil WarVINDEX 68-69 CEAR Denarius 3.22gGallic mintSALVS GENERIS HVMANI Victory l globe -SPQR in wreathRIC 72 BMCRE 34-36 RSC 420RICivil WarRevolt of VindexCE 68-69AR DenariusROMA RESTITVTA -IVPITER LIBERATOR Jupiter seated r Tbolt Scepter17mm 3.02gRIC I 62 RSC 374 Edited April 1, 2023 by Alegandron 20 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted April 1, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted April 1, 2023 NERORI Poppea-Nero BI tetradrachm of Alexandria LI yr10 63-64 CE Milne 217 RPC 5275GALBARI GALBA 68-69 BCE AR Quinarius Lugdunum mint laureate r Victory globe stdng left 15mm 1.5g RIC 131 scarce- The Epilated One:OTHORI Otho 69 CE BI AR Tet 23mm Egypt Helmeted Roma Emmet 186- NOT a Soldier, but the luck of an Army at the right place and time:VITELLIUSRI Vitellius 69 CE AR Denarius Pont Max Vesta Seated- A new kind of Emperor, not an "entitled" Patrician:VESPASIANRI Vespasian 69-79 CE AR Quinarius Victory seated wreath palm RIC 802 Rare 16 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Conduitt Posted April 1, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted April 1, 2023 Galba Denarius, 68-69Rome. Silver, 16x17mm, 3.03g. Bare head of Galba right; IMP SER GALBA AVG. Oak wreath, S P Q R, OB C S (RIC I, 167). From the Westbury Sub Mendip (Somerset) Hoard 2016, Portable Antiquities Scheme: SOM-F1847A.Vitellius Denarius, 69Rome. Silver, 18x20mm, 3.08g. Laureate head right; A VITELLIVS GERMAN IMP TR P. Victory seated left, holding patera in right hand and palm branch in left; no legend (RIC I, 88). From the Westbury Sub Mendip (Somerset) Hoard 2016, Portable Antiquities Scheme: SOM-F1847A. 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsyas Mike Posted April 2, 2023 · Member Share Posted April 2, 2023 Interesting post and coins, @Victrix. I have two civil war types, but they not denarii, but both countermarked AEs. This one has an SPQR (blurrily) stamped on an as of Nero: Nero / Vindex Rebellion Æ As (62-68 A.D.) (C/M March-June 68 A.D.) Lugdunum Mint NER[O C]L[AVD CAESA]R AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P bare head right, globe at neck / S C, Victory winged moving left, holding shield inscribed SPQR. RIC I 477; WCN 574; Lyon 150. (9.95 grams / 28 x 27 mm) eBay May 2022 Countermark: SPQR in rectangular punch (5 x 3 mm) Pangerl 26 or 27. "...these countermarks were applied by Gallic rebels circa 68 A.D., under the command of rebel governor Gaius Julius Vindex (who) swore allegiance to Galba... Interestingly, all of these civil war countermarks appear in the same location, directly across Nero's neck." Vcoins Incitatus listing Here is GALBA (in Greek), also on an as of Nero Nero / Galba Æ As (63 A.D.; c/m 69 A.D.) NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS, laureate head right / [GENIO AVGVSTI], Genius, naked to waist, standing half-left, holding cornucopiae, [altar left]. RIC 125 Countermark: ΓAΛBΛ (GALBA in Greek) Howgego GIC 526 (9.77 grams / 27 mm) eBay May 2018 Galba Countermarks: "GALBA in Greek Letters (Martini Pangerl Collection 92). This countermark occurs also on Provincial coins and is Howgego as GIC 526. (These) coins are in the grey zone between official coins (so called Thrakian mint) and provincial coins of the Balkan region" (Museum of Roman CM) 17 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Limes Posted April 3, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted April 3, 2023 Thanks for sharing your coin, and the information. Would you happen to have a link to the die studie / archelogical find spots you mentioned? I'd be interested to read up on that (when I'll have the time for it, one day...) Below you may find my type. My MARS shows the 'pointy beard' and the legend is omitted on the obverse. Yours is RIC 51 (you of course already know that), which RIC describes as 'Common' which I find remarkable! 17 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted April 4, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted April 4, 2023 6 hours ago, Limes said: Thanks for sharing your coin, and the information. Would you happen to have a link to the die studie / archelogical find spots you mentioned? I'd be interested to read up on that (when I'll have the time for it, one day...) Below you may find my type. My MARS shows the 'pointy beard' and the legend is omitted on the obverse. Yours is RIC 51 (you of course already know that), which RIC describes as 'Common' which I find remarkable! Great coin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anaximander Posted July 1 · Member Share Posted July 1 (edited) I saw how @martinez had reacted to a number of posts and asked myself why I hadn't seen the OP. Because it's an old post! But it has legs! It has legions! The year is 68 AD, Emperor Nero is dead. Civil war erupts. David Sear, in his Roman Coins and their Values, Vol. I, has a section on this. Civil Wars: Revolt of Vindex in Gaul. @Alegandron and @Limes have that covered. Civil Wars: Revolt of Galba in Spain. Of which we have several examples, though of Rome, not Spain. Civil Wars: Clodius Macer in Africa. Who? PS: Kudos to @rasiel for adding his example below! Civil Wars: Pro-Vitellian Forces in Southern Gaul. @Ryro hits the mark. Civil Wars: Gallic Revolt. Gaius Julius Civilis. Seriously? Yes! The Civil War is dated, in RIC I, as 68-70 AD. In that period, issues are identified as coming from I. Spain, II. Gaul, III. Augustus issues of Spain and Gaul? IV. Military. This, then, is the coinage of which @Victrix, in the OP, writes. V. The Gallic Revolt. VI. Africa. Now we have the year of four emperors, 69 AD. Galba (3 April 68 - 15 January 69). Coinage started in Spain. My example follows. Otho. (15 January 69 - 17 April 69). All issues are from Rome. Vitellius (2 January 69 - 20 December 69). Issues are widespread, provincial and Roman. Vespasian (1 July 69 - 24 June 79). Roman Empire. Galba. 68-69 AD. AR Denarius (3.47g, 19.2mm, 6h) Tarraco, Spain. Apr.-June 68 AD. Laureate head right. ⤸GALBA ↻IMP. Galba as Imperator, globe below. / Libertas draped and standing left, holding pileus and sceptre. LIBERTAS PVBLICA gVF. Provincial Series. Rare. Pegasi Numismatics Auction X #421. RIC I #23; BMC 176; RSC 118. cf. SRCV 2095 (obv., same die). Roman Empire. Otho. 69 AD. AR Denarius (3.32 gm, 18.8mm, 6h) of Rome, Mar-Apr 69 AD. Bare head right. ↷IMP OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P. / Vesta seated left, holding patera and sceptre. PONT MAX. VF. Pegasi Numismatics Sale 124 #250. RIC I #24, plate 29; BMCRE 11-12; CBN 29; RSC II #7; SRCV I #2161. Roman Empire. Vitellius. 69 AD. AR Denarius (2.86 gm, 19.1mm, 6h) of Rome, struck July-20 Dec. Laureate head right. ⟳A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P. / Vesta seated right, holding patera in extended right hand, left hand holding short sceptre propped on leg. PONT MAXIM. VF. CNG EA 367 #462. RIC I #107; BMCRE 34; CBN 71; RSC II #72; SRCV I #2200. Roman Empire. Vespasian. 69-79 AD. AR Denarius (3.03 gm, 18.3mm, 6h) of Rome, Jan-June? 70 AD. Laureate head of Vespasian right. ⟳IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG. / Pax seated left, holding olive branch & caduceus. COS ITER TR POT. aEF. Early issue with AVG. Pegasi Numismatics Sale 124 #254. RIC II #10, II.1 #29; BMCRE 26-30; CBN 18; RSC II #94h; SRCV I #2285. Edited July 5 by Anaximander Added comment about example of Clodius Macer. 9 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Octavius Posted July 2 · Supporter Share Posted July 2 Civil war denarius issue with Jupiter Capitolinus obverse and Vesta reverse,,, 9 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dafydd Posted July 2 · Supporter Share Posted July 2 Here are a couple. Galba, 68-69 As Tarraco (?) September to December 68, Æ 27mm., 11.17g. Laureate head r., with globe at point of the bust. Rev. Libertas standing l., holding pileus in r. hand and rod in l. C #. RIC 73. VITELLIUS (69). Denarius. Rome. Obv: A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P. Laureate head right. Rev: XV VIR SACR FAC. Tripod surmounted by dolphin right; below, raven right. Rev: XV VIR SACR FAC. Tripod surmounted by dolphin right; below, raven right. RIC109 Vespasian, 69-79 Denarius circa 75, AR 19.5mm., 3.58g. IMP CAESAR # VESPASIANVS AVG Laureate head r. Rev. PON MAX # TR P COS VI Pax seated l., holding branch. C 366. BMC 161. RIC 772. CBN 139. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemo Posted July 3 · Member Share Posted July 3 (edited) Sadly the Otho is a terrible cast fake, several twins from same dies with same centering, flan shape and wear and scratches, flan flaws are known. If the seller is reputable and if you then contact the seller and show the twins in this thread you should get your money back. Edited July 3 by Nemo 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rasiel Posted July 3 · Member Share Posted July 3 Sort of related, a denarius of Clodius Macer (usurper to Galba) Rasiel 5 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dafydd Posted July 3 · Supporter Share Posted July 3 (edited) 10 hours ago, Nemo said: Sadly the Otho is a terrible cast fake, several twins from same dies with same centering, flan shape and wear and scratches, flan flaws are known. If the seller is reputable and if you then contact the seller and show the twins in this thread you should get your money back. 10 hours ago, Nemo said: Sadly the Otho is a terrible cast fake, several twins from same dies with same centering, flan shape and wear and scratches, flan flaws are known. If the seller is reputable and if you then contact the seller and show the twins in this thread you should get your money back. Thank you @Nemo yes you are absolutely correct this was raised several years ago on the "other" forum and was returned then. I meant to post something else, posted this one , realised it was an old image and did not post the reverse and thought I had deleted it before hitting the button. I'll keep it up because your following images are really helpful and bound to help someone else in the future. Edited July 3 by Dafydd Double quote. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMonkeySwag96 Posted July 5 · Member Share Posted July 5 (edited) Vitellius, AR denarius, Civil War Issue AR 18mm/3.1gm Rome mint c. 69 AD Con/ Slightly off-struck to left, otherwise, Very Fine. Obv/ [A VITELLIVS] GERM IMP AVG TR P; laureate head right Rev/ XV VIR SACR FAC; Tripod-lebes with dolphin laying right above and raven standing right below Ref/ RIC Vol One, 109, RSC111, BCM39 Galba. 68-69 AD. AR Denarius (19mm; 2.84 gm; 6h). Rome mint. Struck August-October 68 AD. Obv: IMP SER GALBA AVG, bare head right. Rev: SPQR/OB/CS in three lines within oak-wreath. RIC I 167; RSC 287. I still need an Otho to complete the trio of losers of 69 AD as well as my overall 12 Caesars set. Considering how expensive Otho’s denarii are, I might have to substitute it with a bronze As from Antioch or billon Tetradrachm from Alexandria. Edited July 6 by MrMonkeySwag96 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinmaster Posted July 5 · Member Share Posted July 5 Ave @Victrix! Thanks for this post. Nice coïncident, as I'm currently working on an article about coin finds from Gaius Julius Vindex in The Netherlands. Are there any? YES! I'm sure there's still much to research and discover about this coin production from Vindex. In my opinion the publication of Martin is more complete (and accurate) than RIC at this moment. I've several things to tell and show in my article, but one I will present here as a teaser. A new coin type of an aureus (only known as denarius: RIC I² 62; Martin 20; Cohen 374; Mattingly I 19 (p295, pl. 50, nr. 9))), found in the 19th century at the site of fort Fectio (Bunnik). If anyone knows about coin finds from Vindex in The Netherlands, please let me know! 4 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victrix Posted July 6 · Member Author Share Posted July 6 On 7/5/2024 at 8:54 PM, Coinmaster said: Ave @Victrix! Thanks for this post. Nice coïncident, as I'm currently working on an article about coin finds from Gaius Julius Vindex in The Netherlands. Are there any? YES! I'm sure there's still much to research and discover about this coin production from Vindex. In my opinion the publication of Martin is more complete (and accurate) than RIC at this moment. I've several things to tell and show in my article, but one I will present here as a teaser. A new coin type of an aureus (only known as denarius: RIC I² 62; Martin 20; Cohen 374; Mattingly I 19 (p295, pl. 50, nr. 9))), found in the 19th century at the site of fort Fectio (Bunnik). If anyone knows about coin finds from Vindex in The Netherlands, please let me know! Please share the article once finished as I'd be curious to learn more 🙂 ! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinmaster Posted July 12 · Member Share Posted July 12 (edited) Hello @Anaximander @Alegandron @Limes @rasiel and other interested civil war coin friends. I'm happy to let you know I just bought my first Vindex coin! By luck I guess, as I never thought I'd buy a kind of nice one well below 500 Euro. I bought it for 283,- including postage which is, I think, a bargain. The coin is clearly a fouree, with a copper core, but this was quite common: these coins were struck in the same mint and have a copper core due to a lack of silver. It's the above photo, with the terrible reverse side(!). But, just wait before laughing out loud, what convinced me to buy this coin is the following. First of all, I generally don't worry too much about the reverse side of coins, since the obverse is what I see when looking into my coin tray. 😉 Additionally, I discovered that this is a yet undescribed variant. The reverse should read: MARTI VLTORI, but here VLTORI is missing. While searching for comparable material, I found a double die match on acsearch! See the coin below my coin. This one is also a fouree, but in significantly better quality (and also twenty times more expensive). On this coin, VLTORI is also missing. The coin type is RIC I² 17; Martin 34; Giard 6. The first two do not mention the variant, in Giard the coin (a different specimen) with the missing VLTORI is depicted but not noted as such in the description (see below plus some other examples). I just found Giards 1998 publication entirely available online! So see here for those who want to download it for free. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that Mattingly and Giard attribute this coin type to a Spanish origin. However, Martin argues that this cannot be correct, due to the strong link with the Gallic MARS VLTOR coin types (see pages 24-25 in his publication) and linked die stamps (see p. 87): with Martin 44 (RIC I² 22), Martin 37 (RIC I² 21), etc. Find spots are (only?) known in England and coins from collections in France, Austria and Germany. See: https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.1(2).cw.17 and https://ikmk.smb.museum/object?lang=en&id=18228328. I couldn't find any in Spanish collections, like: https://www.museunacional.cat/es/coleccion/numismática. In all, this makes no strong case for a mint place in Spain. But please let me know if you have more find spot information. Interestingly, Martin did not mentioned Martin 34 (my coin) as being linked with Martin 72 (RIC I² 29) on page 87 which is linked to Martin 70-71 (RIC I² 53-54) = Gaul/Vindex! Also, Martin 14 is not in RIC but it is linked to Martin 13, Martin 26/27 and - again - Martin 70! Martin 31 is not included in RIC and is missing with image in Martin. However, it is an important link between Martin 70 and Martin 76 to Martin 80. I suspect that the reason this has not been noticed earlier is because Martins publication is in German, a language not many French and English speakers are proficient in. Very unfortunate, as it leads to old opinions being repeated instead of new knowledge being adopted. Clearly, the entire overview in RIC I² of coin production for the year 68 needs revision. In any case, I am happy with this new, unexpected acquisition! Edited July 12 by Coinmaster Added find spot information 4 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPK Posted July 12 · Supporter Share Posted July 12 Nice coins everyone! @Coinmaster congrats on acquiring such an interesting rarity. Here is my only coin from this time, a rather worn denarius of Galba: GALBA, AD 68-69 AR Denarius (18.92mm, 3.37g, 6h) Struck Oct.-Nov., AD 68. Rome mint Obverse: IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG, laureate head of Galba left Reverse: VIR-TVS, Virtus standing facing, holding parazonium in right hand and vertical spear in left References: RIC I 219 (R3), RCV - Lightly toned. An extremely rare type, known from only a handful of specimens. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwarf Posted July 12 · Member Share Posted July 12 (edited) On 4/1/2023 at 1:11 AM, Victrix said: The documented die matches between the denarii in good silver and plated coins clearly show that subaerati are not ancient forgeries,but official pieces Objection! I suppose it just proves, that plated coins were - also - struck with official dies. No one knows by whom, perhaps in home office by mint workers. On top of this - you cannot compare minting processes in these troubled times with regular work in the empire-controlled mints. Michael Crawford´s short essay "Plated Coins - False Coin" in Numismatic Chronicle 1968 is still valid - my opinion Regards Klaus Edited July 12 by Dwarf 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coinmaster Posted July 12 · Member Share Posted July 12 2 hours ago, Dwarf said: Michael Crawford´s short essay "Plated Coins - False Coin" in Numismatic Chronicle 1968 is still valid - my opinion Thanks for sharing Klaus. I just saw this article with the - no coincidence - same title: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272464212_Plated_coins_false_coins#fullTextFileContent. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victrix Posted July 12 · Member Author Share Posted July 12 (edited) 3 hours ago, Dwarf said: Objection! I suppose it just proves, that plated coins were - also - struck with official dies. No one knows by whom, perhaps in home office by mint workers. On top of this - you cannot compare minting processes in these troubled times with regular work in the empire-controlled mints. Michael Crawford´s short essay "Plated Coins - False Coin" in Numismatic Chronicle 1968 is still valid - my opinion Regards Klaus You might be correct these were the words of Leu that sold a private collection of The Gollnow Collection which was the biggest collection of civil war denarii iirc. I'm not leaning towards one or the other as i'm open to both options. It would make sense these were officially made plated coins since the majority of the surviving examples are plated and getting huge amounts of silver would have been hard geographically. Like most things it's neither black or white and we'll likely never know for sure 😛 Edited July 12 by Victrix 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alegandron Posted July 12 · Supporter Share Posted July 12 12 hours ago, Coinmaster said: Hello @Anaximander @Alegandron @Limes @rasiel and other interested civil war coin friends. I'm happy to let you know I just bought my first Vindex coin! By luck I guess, as I never thought I'd buy a kind of nice one well below 500 Euro. I bought it for 283,- including postage which is, I think, a bargain. The coin is clearly a fouree, with a copper core, but this was quite common: these coins were struck in the same mint and have a copper core due to a lack of silver. It's the above photo, with the terrible reverse side(!). But, just wait before laughing out loud, what convinced me to buy this coin is the following. First of all, I generally don't worry too much about the reverse side of coins, since the obverse is what I see when looking into my coin tray. 😉 Additionally, I discovered that this is a yet undescribed variant. The reverse should read: MARTI VLTORI, but here VLTORI is missing. While searching for comparable material, I found a double die match on acsearch! See the coin below my coin. This one is also a fouree, but in significantly better quality (and also twenty times more expensive). On this coin, VLTORI is also missing. The coin type is RIC I² 17; Martin 34; Giard 6. The first two do not mention the variant, in Giard the coin (a different specimen) with the missing VLTORI is depicted but not noted as such in the description (see below plus some other examples). I just found Giards 1998 publication entirely available online! So see here for those who want to download it for free. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that Mattingly and Giard attribute this coin type to a Spanish origin. However, Martin argues that this cannot be correct, due to the strong link with the Gallic MARS VLTOR coin types (see pages 24-25 in his publication) and linked die stamps (see p. 87): with Martin 44 (RIC I² 22), Martin 37 (RIC I² 21), etc. Find spots are (only?) known in England and coins from collections in France, Austria and Germany. See: https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.1(2).cw.17 and https://ikmk.smb.museum/object?lang=en&id=18228328. I couldn't find any in Spanish collections, like: https://www.museunacional.cat/es/coleccion/numismática. In all, this makes no strong case for a mint place in Spain. But please let me know if you have more find spot information. Interestingly, Martin did not mentioned Martin 34 (my coin) as being linked with Martin 72 (RIC I² 29) on page 87 which is linked to Martin 70-71 (RIC I² 53-54) = Gaul/Vindex! Also, Martin 14 is not in RIC but it is linked to Martin 13, Martin 26/27 and - again - Martin 70! Martin 31 is not included in RIC and is missing with image in Martin. However, it is an important link between Martin 70 and Martin 76 to Martin 80. I suspect that the reason this has not been noticed earlier is because Martins publication is in German, a language not many French and English speakers are proficient in. Very unfortunate, as it leads to old opinions being repeated instead of new knowledge being adopted. Clearly, the entire overview in RIC I² of coin production for the year 68 needs revision. In any case, I am happy with this new, unexpected acquisition! AWESOME @Coinmaster ! Wow a fouree! That, in itself, is very cool. Great historical value. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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