The Roman Empire
Domitian


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description:
Grade: NGC MS Strike: 5/5 Surface: 5/5
Owner: Kohaku
 
Set Category: Ancients
Set Name: The Roman Empire
Slot Name: Domitian
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

For as long as physical items have been traded for goods and services, there have efforts to cheat the system. Imitation of a more valued object with the intent to deceive is so old it was a punishable crime highlighted in the Code of the Hammurabi, the oldest recorded laws set forth nearly four millennia ago. Coinage appeared during 7th century BC in Asia Minor, and, contemporaneously, so did their forged counterparts. Minting of ancient coinage includes numerous examples of counterfeits, and such practices have continued up to modern times. Ancient Rome was no exception to this rule; numismatic forgeries were probably facilitated by a wide geographical breadth, myriad of mints and designs, frequently modified monetary standards for weights and precious metal contents, and the unprecedentedly large number of coins produced. The volume of coin production had to increase to keep pace with supporting the Roman military. By early 3rd century AD and the reign of Emperor Severus Alexander, who is portrayed on the obverse of this ancient plated denarius, the number of legions had increased to thirty three, which, based on an average soldier’s salary at the time required more than 100 million denarii per year and rising, donativa not included. Many ancient forgeries are of poor workmanship; however, this particular ancient forgery, which is in mint condition, shows striking details and bears a close resemblance to official designs. There is still debate about who was responsible for producing such plated and cast copies of denarii, for instance, were they made by official mints, by forgers, or both? At least for this particular coin, whoever was responsible had considerable skill and access to quality materials. Besides the coin’s origin, many other questions remain. How often did this coin trade hands, if at all, before it was discovered as fake? Did the perpetrator get away with the crime? We will probably never know the answers; however, it is known that most ancient plated and en cast denarii were found along the Empire’s borders where legions protected against neighboring barbarians, and also turned up far into unoccupied parts of Barbaricum. This particular coin was likely contemporaneous with Alexander’s ill-fated attempt to bribe the Germanic barbarians, so perhaps it was, intentionally or not, part of a hoard intended for that purpose? Formulating and contemplating such provocative speculations is part of the fun of ancient coin collecting. Coin details: Roman Empire, Severus Alexander (222-235 AD), Plated Denarius (1.88g), NGC Grade: MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Obverse: Laureate head right, IMP AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, Reverse: Mars advancing right, transverse spear in right and trophy across shoulder in left, PM TRP VII COS II PP (perhaps indicating forged in 228 AD). Reference: No exact match yet found, designs similar to RIC 61, RSC 305 (obverse) and RIC 85, RSC 351(reverse).

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