Co 998 (Late Roman bronze coin, barbarous imitation) [permalink] [show fewer links]
Type
Inventoried Coin
Not after (date)
425
Not before (date)
400
Comment
JLR: This is a barbarous imitation of the Virtus Exerciti AE3 of Honorius produced at the eastern mints in ca. 395-401; it is an uncommon but not rare model for such coins late in their history. This unusual example is cast and not struck, presumably as a private endeavor and not at an operating workshop. The prototype had an undersized flan for the type and both faces were considerably worn. The cast reverse shows considerable retouching by hand, both in retracing the main contours and in redrawing hanging garments with a series of dots, such as by poinçon.
Logical part of
Chicago/Indiana/Vanderbilt Excavations Inventoried Coins
Typological identification
Coin
Comparanda
Model: RIC X Arcadius 57/61/63/68/69/72/73/76, pp. 246-147 (mints at Heraclea, Constantinople, Nicomedia, Cyzicus, Antioch, and Alexandria)
Preservation comment
Wear: F+. Slight, somewhat sparse pitting and scratching.
Published as
KenchreaiIII, p. 49, no. 562 (R. Hohlfelder identified as “Arcadius or Honorius, A.D. 395-408, Uncertain, AE3 ... [obv Illegible“)
Axis (1-12)
12
Has denomination
AE3
Numismatic Diameter (mm)
14.0
Numismatic Weight (g)
1.34
Obverse Description
Diademed bust of emperor to right (schematic)
Obverse Inscription
D N HO[NORIVS P F AVG]
Reverse Description
Emperor standing facing, head to right, holding spear in right hand and shield in left, crowned with wreath by Victoria standing to left (schematic)
Belongs to Historical Period
Late Roman (Historical Period)
Material
Bronze (Material)
Has visual motif (depicts)
Nike/Victoria (Visual Motif)
Obverse Photograph
Reverse Photograph