Roman Republic Denarius - Opinions Please - Ancients.info - The Online Resource for Ancient Coins & Antiquities

frascatius · Nov 6, 2009, 11:07 AM

This is a coin that I have had for about 5 years and have not quite figured out exactly what it is ..... It copies a standard Roman Republic denarius, but the features & style are a little off .... My best guess is that it is an early Celtic imitation ... But would like some other opinions. It is 18mm and 3.0 grams.

Volodya · Nov 6, 2009, 01:04 PM

Hi Tom-- Nice coin. As you surmise, it can't be official. There really is no exact prototype, but I'm reasonably confident it imitates Cr-318/1. The style on both sides is very close, as is the attitude of the horses. The reverse on your coin is mirror image of the prototype, so one has to imagine two different engravers, one of whom better understood the mechanics of his task. (Or, I suppose, a single engraver, before and after a few goblets of wine!) My fall-back attribution for all RR imitations of this sort is Dacian rather than Celtic, c. 75-60 BC, and I'll stick to that unless someone convinces me otherwise!

Phil Davis

frascatius · Nov 6, 2009, 02:57 PM

Howdy Phil

Thanks for the information.... One cannot argue with a Dacian expert, so will take your attribution and put it on the coin flip.

Tom Mann

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Nov 6, 2009, 01:04 PM	#2
Volodya Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chicago Posts: 92	Hi Tom-- Nice coin. As you surmise, it can't be official. There really is no exact prototype, but I'm reasonably confident it imitates Cr-318/1. The style on both sides is very close, as is the attitude of the horses. The reverse on your coin is mirror image of the prototype, so one has to imagine two different engravers, one of whom better understood the mechanics of his task. (Or, I suppose, a single engraver, before and after a few goblets of wine!) My fall-back attribution for all RR imitations of this sort is Dacian rather than Celtic, c. 75-60 BC, and I'll stick to that unless someone convinces me otherwise! Phil Davis

Nov 6, 2009, 02:57 PM	#3
frascatius Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 3	Howdy Phil Thanks for the information.... One cannot argue with a Dacian expert, so will take your attribution and put it on the coin flip. Tom Mann