Nomos 30

Pescennius Niger, 193-194. Aureus (Gold, 20 mm, 6.59 g, 12 h), an ancient cast made as a pendant, Alexandria, after 193. IMP CAES C PESC NIGER IVSTVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Pescennius Niger to right. Rev. VICTORIA AVG P P Female standing right, holding Victory on globe in right hand and scepter or spear in left. R.F. Bland, A.M. Burnett and S. Bendall, "The Mints of Pescennius Niger in the Light of Some New Aurei," NC 1987, p. 71, 11 and pl. 10, 11 (the reverse figure identified as Victory although she has no wings). Leu 87, 2003, 47 = Leu 61, 1995, 272 (same dies). A very rare cast of an aureus of Pescennius Niger made for use as a pendant. Rough surfaces and traces of an apparent suspension loop over the emperor's head, otherwise, fine.

From a German collection.

This object is clearly ancient, but it is also neither from an Imperial mint nor is it a barbarous imitation. It is simply a cast made to be used as a pendant, quite probably beyond the Empire's borders. It is also likely since the cast was made from a mould taken from an actual aureus of Niger's, that this piece was used as part of a pair with the original.