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Contemporaneous fakes
Until now only two contemporaneous fakes looking like coins from the mint of Viminacium have come to my attention. The coins are two different sestertii struck in the name of Gordian III. It looks very much that the obverse dies used are identical for both coins and have the legend IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG. This obverse legend came into use somewhere during the local year III (241/242).
The portrait of Gordian is somewhat different but it is easily recognisable as his. The reverses of the coins are different and show distinctive abnormalities by wich they can be determined as fakes. The legend on the reverse is not the usual PMS COL VIM but PMS C VMNC where the abnormal abbreviation probably means the same as on the original coins. The greatest difference however is the way in wich Moesia is depicted. On the first specimen she is holding a sheet or a piece of her dress in front of her probably filled with crops of some sort. The bull but especially the lion is clearly different than on the original coins. On the second specimen Moesia is holding two branches in stead of two legionary standards. Where the original coins have a strong military caracter, on the fakes however there seems to be a strong relation on agriculture and food supply. If this was done with a special reason during that time is hard to say and remains in the dark as is the fact if these coins were really minted during the local year V or later.
AN V |
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| Sestertius ANNO V - 243/244 - Pick - - Varbanov - | |
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Photo: Lanz Numismatik (Munich-Germany) Weight: 10,46 grams Diameter: 27 mm |
Obverse: Bust of Gordian to the right with laurel wreath, part of paludamentum (cloak, cape) visible on the shoulder worn over armoured breast plate. Text: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG (IMPERATOR GORDIANVS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS) - Emperor Gordianus, dutiful and fortunate Augustus. Reverse: Woman (Moesia) standing with head to the left between a bull and a lion. In front of her she is holding a sheet or a piece of her dress probably filled with crops of some sort. Text: PMSC - VMNC (PROVINCIA MOESIA SVPERIOR COLONIA VIMINACIVM) - Province Moesia superior Colony Viminacium. Exergue: AN V (ANNO V) - year 5 (243/244). |
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| Sestertius ANNO V - 243/244 - Pick - - Varbanov - | |
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Photo: Lanz Numismatik (Munich-Germany) Weight: 15,69 grams Diameter: 28 mm |
Obverse: Bust of Gordian to the right with laurel wreath, part of paludamentum (cloak, cape) visible on the shoulder worn over armoured breast plate. Text: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG (IMPERATOR GORDIANVS PIVS FELIX AVGVSTVS) - Emperor Gordianus, dutiful and fortunate Augustus. Reverse: Woman (Moesia) standing with head to the left between a bull and a lion. In her hands she is holding branches in stead of two legionary standards. Text: PMSCV - MNC (PROVINCIA MOESIA SVPERIOR COLONIA VIMINACIVM) - Province Moesia superior Colony Viminacium. Exergue: AN V (ANNO V) - year 5 (243/244). |
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