Roman contemporary (or more recent fantasy) forgery, of a silver denarius, based on a posthumous coin of Julius Caesar and a coin of Augustus, struck post c. 29-27 BC.<\/p>
\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n\n
It appears that this coin is loosely copied from coins of the period. The obverse conflates various elements of coins of Caesar and the inscription D[I]VO IMP is a fantasy, never being used. The reverse is based on a denarius of Augustus, struck in Italy (RIC 275a-b) and the East (RIC 544). However, the inscription normally reads AEGYPTO or AEGVPTO; AEGIPTO suggests the die-cutter is not fully literate. Furthermore, the crocodile is standing left on the copy; the originals have the crocodile right.<\/p>
\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n\n
The British Museum has a 'fantasy coin' on photo-file which shares the same reverse and a similar obverse with the inscription DIVO IVLIO. Therefore, it does suggest that this might be a piece made in the 17th to 19th centuries, as suggested below by Marvin Tameanko.<\/p>
\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n\n
There is no evidence on the surface that the coin is plated; however it could be a thickly plated copy where the silver has protected the copper from corrosing and becoming visible. It could also be a copy in a slightly more base silver than the original coins. Recent scientific analysis by Duncan Hook, in the Dept of Conservation and Scientific Research at the British Museum, suggests that the coin is struck from silver and that it is not a plated coin.<\/p>
\n<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n\n
Interpreting the coin is difficult. Were it a plated piece, then it would be explicable as an attempt to create a coin for profit by using a smaller amount of silver. However, why would someone create a 'fantasy piece' like this in the ancient period from solid silver? The best explanation seems to be that it was made for people to buy whilst on the Grand Tour in Italy. It was subsequently lost near Brighton.<\/p>","notes":"
A note from the National Finds Adviser, 10.11.2010:<\/p>\n
Since this coin appeared in the Press, it has caused some discussion. One suggestion is that it was struck by a Roman general or other leader at the time in support of Octavian. I am not convinced by this argument as Octavian was effectively sole ruler after the Battle of Actium in 31 BC and there would be no need for local issues.<\/p>\n
Another interesting communication has come from Marvin Tameanko which I add below. The problem with this interpretation is explaining how this coin ended up in the ground in a wooded area:<\/p>\n
I have seen many pieces like this coin before. Twenty years ago I examined a whole coin cabinet of 200 fantasy pieces created by European artists and struck in sterling silver for young noblemen doing the \"Grand Tour\" of Europe in the 17th to 19th centuries. This was a finishing school, educational tour undertaken by mostly Englishmen who went abroad to examine and sketch ancient ruins, swim the Hellespont, have dinner in the ruins of the Parthenon in moonlight, climb to the top of Trajan's Column, and perhaps later write about their travels. The usual souvenirs they acquired on this tour were artifacts of antiquity like stones from the Coliseum and coins, and when authentic items became scarce merchants stepped in with good copies made from the best materials. The coin artists did imaginative compositions combining elements from several genuine coins. Inscriptions were often garbled. Some families set up coin cabinets of these artistic copies and added to them for generations. These coins often come onto the auction market and are described as \"educational sets of coins\" but they were more than that. From its style and silver content, the coin under discussion is an orphan example from one of these sets. Roman contemporary (or more recent fantasy) forgery, of a silver denarius, based on a posthumous coin of Julius Caesar and a coin of Augustus, struck post c. 29-27 BC.<\/p> \n<\/p>\n\n \n<\/p>\n\n It appears that this coin is loosely copied from coins of the period. The obverse conflates various elements of coins of Caesar and the inscription D[I]VO IMP is a fantasy, never being used. The reverse is based on a denarius of Augustus, struck in Italy (RIC 275a-b) and the East (RIC 544). However, the inscription normally reads AEGYPTO or AEGVPTO; AEGIPTO suggests the die-cutter is not fully literate. Furthermore, the crocodile is standing left on the copy; the originals have the crocodile right.<\/p> \n<\/p>\n\n \n<\/p>\n\n The British Museum has a 'fantasy coin' on photo-file which shares the same reverse and a similar obverse with the inscription DIVO IVLIO. Therefore, it does suggest that this might be a piece made in the 17th to 19th centuries, as suggested below by Marvin Tameanko.<\/p> \n<\/p>\n\n \n<\/p>\n\n There is no evidence on the surface that the coin is plated; however it could be a thickly plated copy where the silver has protected the copper from corrosing and becoming visible. It could also be a copy in a slightly more base silver than the original coins. Recent scientific analysis by Duncan Hook, in the Dept of Conservation and Scientific Research at the British Museum, suggests that the coin is struck from silver and that it is not a plated coin.<\/p> \n<\/p>\n\n \n<\/p>\n\n Interpreting the coin is difficult. Were it a plated piece, then it would be explicable as an attempt to create a coin for profit by using a smaller amount of silver. However, why would someone create a 'fantasy piece' like this in the ancient period from solid silver? The best explanation seems to be that it was made for people to buy whilst on the Grand Tour in Italy. It was subsequently lost near Brighton.<\/p>","notes":" A note from the National Finds Adviser, 10.11.2010:<\/p>\n Since this coin appeared in the Press, it has caused some discussion. One suggestion is that it was struck by a Roman general or other leader at the time in support of Octavian. I am not convinced by this argument as Octavian was effectively sole ruler after the Battle of Actium in 31 BC and there would be no need for local issues.<\/p>\n Another interesting communication has come from Marvin Tameanko which I add below. The problem with this interpretation is explaining how this coin ended up in the ground in a wooded area:<\/p>\n I have seen many pieces like this coin before. Twenty years ago I examined a whole coin cabinet of 200 fantasy pieces created by European artists and struck in sterling silver for young noblemen doing the \"Grand Tour\" of Europe in the 17th to 19th centuries. This was a finishing school, educational tour undertaken by mostly Englishmen who went abroad to examine and sketch ancient ruins, swim the Hellespont, have dinner in the ruins of the Parthenon in moonlight, climb to the top of Trajan's Column, and perhaps later write about their travels. The usual souvenirs they acquired on this tour were artifacts of antiquity like stones from the Coliseum and coins, and when authentic items became scarce merchants stepped in with good copies made from the best materials. The coin artists did imaginative compositions combining elements from several genuine coins. Inscriptions were often garbled. Some families set up coin cabinets of these artistic copies and added to them for generations. These coins often come onto the auction market and are described as \"educational sets of coins\" but they were more than that. From its style and silver content, the coin under discussion is an orphan example from one of these sets.
\nMarvin Tameanko <\/em><\/span>
<\/span><\/p>","old_findID":"SUSS-BA7F45","id":"403221","objecttype":"COIN","classification":null,"subclass":null,"reuse":null,"created":"2010-08-18 10:29:24","broadperiod":"ROMAN","updated":"2010-12-15 11:27:21","treasureID":null,"secwfstage":"3","secuid":"PAS4C6BA7F400191F","findofnote":null,"objecttypecert":null,"datefound1":"2010-08-02","datefound2":null,"createdBy":"196","curr_loc":null,"inscription":null,"reason":null,"subsequentAction":"Returned to finder"}],"record":[{"id":"403221","old_findID":"SUSS-BA7F45","uniqueID":"PAS4C6BA7F400191F","objecttype":"COIN","classification":null,"subclass":null,"length":null,"height":null,"width":null,"thickness":"2.5","diameter":"18.1","quantity":"1","other_ref":null,"treasureID":null,"broadperiod":"ROMAN","numdate1":null,"numdate2":null,"description":"
\nMarvin Tameanko <\/em><\/span>
<\/span><\/p>","reuse":null,"created":"2010-08-18 10:29:24","updated":"2010-12-15 11:27:21","secwfstage":"3","findofnote":null,"objecttypecert":null,"datefound1":"2010-08-02","datefound2":null,"inscription":null,"disccircum":null,"museumAccession":null,"subsequentAction":"1","objectCertainty":null,"dateFromCertainty":"1","dateToCertainty":"1","dateFoundFromCertainty":null,"dateFoundToCertainty":null,"subPeriodFrom":null,"subPeriodTo":null,"reason":null,"username":"lburnett","fullname":"Laura Burnett","institution":"SUSS","usernameUpdate":"sam","fullnameUpdate":"Sam Moorhead","primaryMaterial":"Silver","secondaryMaterial":null,"decoration":null,"style":null,"manufacture":"Struck or hammered","surfaceTreatment":null,"completeness":"Complete","preservation":null,"cert":null,"periodFrom":"ROMAN","periodTo":null,"culture":null,"discmethod":"Metal detector","finder":null,"identifier":"Ms Laura Burnett","secondaryIdentifier":"Mr Sam Moorhead","recorder":"Ms Laura Burnett","county":"EAST SUSSEX","parish":null,"district":"BRIGHTON AND HOVE","easting":null,"northing":null,"gridref":null,"fourFigure":null,"map25k":"TQ3307","map10k":"TQ30NW","address":null,"postcode":null,"findspotdescription":null,"lat":null,"lon":null,"knownas":"Brighton","source":"From Map","obverse_description":"Laureate head of Caesar right; to left, lituus and other unclear item","obverse_inscription":"Star D V O \u2013 IMP","reverse_description":"Crocodile facing left","reverse_inscription":"AEGIPTO CAPTA","denomination":"Denarius (Empire)","degree_of_wear":"1","allen_type":null,"va_type":null,"mack":null,"reeceID":"1","die":"6","wearID":"1","moneyer":null,"revtypeID":null,"categoryID":null,"typeID":null,"tribeID":null,"status":"Contemporary copy","rulerQualifier":"2","denominationQualifier":"1","mintQualifier":null,"dieAxisCertainty":"1","initialMark":null,"reverseMintMark":null,"statusQualifier":"1","tribe":null,"region":null,"area":null,"ruler1":"Augustus","ruler2":null,"period_name":"Period 1","date_range":"Pre AD 41","mint_name":null,"wear":"Slightly worn: very fine","die_axis_name":"6 o'clock","category":null,"type":null,"emperorID":"1","mintid":null,"reverseType":null,"i":"293759","f":"SUSS-BA7F45.jpg","imagedir":"images\/lburnett\/"}]}