ID and authentication please, ancient

theboz11

My brother in Law "FOUND" these at work. Dime size on the smaller one for reference. I have nothing to go on other than that. Any help appreciated.




I can make him do better if I put some dynamite under his butt to get a better photo I think.

STLNATS

Not great on many roman provincials, but I think that this is the general type of the larger coin (TARSOS, CILICIA). Not sure it is Gordian since I can't quite match up the letters but they seem close.

link

There's a boatload of these, so here's the WW link for Tarsus which may help you tie it down more precisely: http://wildwinds.com/coins/greece/cilicia/tarsos/i.html

Coin on the right is a modern replica of a Judean lepton.

theboz11

Thanks, That helps.

CIVITAS

Definitely Tarsos in Cilicia. The obverse legend does seem to be Gordian, but the portrait doesn't really look like him. A sharper picture would help.

I can tell the reverse depicts one of the Labors of Herakles.

It's Herakles standing, resting his club on the ground and holding the apples of Hesperides. A tree with a serpent entwined around it stands to the left.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labours_of_Hercules#Eleventh_Labour:_Apples_of_the_Hesperides

theboz11

Everyone says Thanks for the helpful information.