Help with Roman Coins and +1

coffeyce

Can anyone tell me about the two roman coins I have here I got them about 2-4 years ago and fairly cheap ($20-$30) if i remember correctly.

The first roman here wieghs 4.6 grams and appears to be silver about 21mm.



the second roman weighs 3.1 grams and appears to be silver about 17mm.



The other coin here is one I got. it appears to have the date 1526 and the word "Solidus"it is silver and weighs .6 grams its about 16mm.



thanks
chris

BillyKingsley

It looks to me like the middle Roman reads Antoninus Pius, who ruled from 138-161. I can't make out the top one, sorry.

Solidus was minted in Gaul in 310 AD by Constantine.
From Chronicle of the World by Ecam Publishing-

"In an attempt to offset the depreciation of the denarius and restore stability to the imperial currency, the Emporor Constantine has ordered the minting of a new gold coin, the solidus, at his capitol Trier"

There were 72 solidus to a pound of gold, and restored Imperial Currency to a gold standard.

If that's what this is, it can't be from the 1500s.

svessien

#1 is Sear 7498, Elagabalus antoninannus, Salus standing, feeding snake on reverse.

#2 is Sear 6895, Caracalla denarius, Victory advancing left on reverse.

#3 I believe is a coin minted in Balticum under the rule of Gustav Vasa of Sweden.

svessien

I think I will correct my guess on #3 to a shilling/solidus from Gustav II Adolf, 1611-1632,
from Riga (under Swedish rule).
Scroll down on this page to find a 1627 example.
(That would make the date on your coin 1626.)

lordmarcovan

I found a Swedish solidus of that period in a bulk lot, once. Gustavus Adolphus. It's billon; a silver-copper alloy, or at least mine was.

Not to be confused with the ancient Roman solidus, of course, which was a gold coin.