Obolos 13

Constantius II, 337-361. (5.42 g). Lot of Two plated Solidi. (1). Antioch 337-347, 20.5 mm, 2.81 g, 6h. cf RIC 83 var (as VOT XX MVLT XXX) (2). Antioch 355-361, 21 mm, 2.62 g, 6h. RIC 165. Very fine.

These two coins may well have been produced in the same "atelier", sometime in the 360s. While the obverse of the first example is typical for Antiochene solidi struck between 337 and 347, the prototype for its reverse dates to c. 355-361. This gives us a terminus ante quem for the activity of the forger. One wonders what his fate was, since producing counterfeits had severe consequences if the producer was caught... a nihilist might have a simple answer to that, though nihilists have a habit of not answering questions! It is important to remember that if a counterfeiter made coins for which no actual official, legal issue existed, they were not actually counterfeiters and were not subject to the same penalties. Thus all the so-called 'mint forgeries', coins struck at the mint itself by workers using official dies improperly combined: for example, a coin with an obverse of Philip I and a reverse of Gordian III. It is thought that virtually all 'mules' of Roman coins are unofficial forgeries.