Gemini III, January 9th, 2007

 Lot # 440 - Auction is closed.Estimate: US$2000 / Price 
 Realized: US$1200 
 Tetricus I. Billon denarius from aureus dies 

Tetricus I. (270-273 AD). Billon denarius from aureus dies (2.81 
gm). . IMP TETRI – CVS P F AVG, laureate head right / FELICITAS 
PVBLICA, Felicitas standing left, leaning on column and crossing 
legs, holding caduceus in right hand. Unpublished bronze denarius, 
corresponding to the aureus RIC 11 corr., Cohen 36, and Calico 3867 
(same obverse die). From the same dies as the aureus B. Schulte, 
Goldpragung der gallischen Kaiser, p. 162, 54, dies Av 33 and Rv 36, 
pl. 26. Extremely fine. 

The German term “Abschlag,” meaning “offstrike,” implies that these 
rare bronze strikes from aureus dies were irregular, perhaps test 
strikes or mistakes. Enough of them survive, however, to demonstrate 
that they must have been produced intentionally, and were probably 
meant to circulate as coins. Schulte, pp. 19-20 and 22, concludes 
from their weight that they must have circulated as antoniniani. A 
laureate bronze piece of Tetricus I with the same reverse type as 
ours, but a different obverse legend, was reported by Elmer 838, but 
Schulte, p. 159, note 53, was not able to locate such a coin. 

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  ... Lot 440 sold for high bid of $1200 [ $1380, or approx 1066.74 EUR, 703.8 GBP including the 15% buyers fee.] 


Re-used by permission of Harlan J Berk (www.harlanjberk.com) and
 Freeman & Sear (www.freemanandsear.com)