Contemporary Forgeries and Barbarous Roman Coins

All coins listed below are GENUINE ANCIENT coins.

Contemporary forgeries and “barbarous” imitations were produced throughout the Roman world, especially during periods of coin shortage or political instability. Many were made to keep local economies functioning when official mints could not supply enough small change. Others were deliberate attempts to mimic official issues closely enough to pass in everyday trade. These imitative pieces often show blundered legends, simplified portraits, or stylised reverses, yet they circulated widely alongside official currency. Today they offer valuable insight into local workshops, frontier economies, and the pressures on Rome’s monetary system.

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Contemporary Forgeries

WCF 10872 — Elagabalus (218–222 AD)

Contemporary Forgery. Cast copy of a silver denarius. MARS VICTOR, Mars walking right, holding spear and trophy over shoulder. RSC 113b. Cast in a base metal to appear silver in circulation. Now a dark grey almost black patina. UK find.

£30.00

Barbarous Roman Coins

WCF 9582 — Barbarous Æ3 (19mm)

Crispus / BEATA TRANQVILLITAS type. Helmeted, cuirassed bust right. ® Inscribed altar with pseudo mintmark below. Circa 4th Century AD. Attractive and good style.

£85.00

WCF 10037 — Barbarous Æ (14mm)

Diademed bust right. ® Soldier spearing fallen horseman. Circa 4th Century AD. Copy of FEL TEMP REPARATIO type.

£10.00

WCF 10038 — Barbarous Æ (12mm)

Helmeted bust of Constantinopolis left. ® Victory standing left, foot on prow, holding sceptre and leaning on shield. Circa 4th Century AD. Copy of commemorative Constantinopolis type.

£10.00

WCF 9111 — Barbarous Radiate (13mm)

Radiate head right. ® Standing figure holding palm branch. Ca. 270–273 AD. UK find.

£10.00

WCF 9112 — Barbarous Æ (14mm)

Laureate head left. ® Two soldiers standing facing, spears in hand, standards between. Circa 4th Century AD. Copy of Constantine GLORIA EXERCITVS type. UK find.

£25.00

WCF 6135 — Barbarous Constantine the Great (16mm)

Laureate helmeted bust right. ® Two victories standing holding shield over altar. Copy of VICTORIAE LAETAE PRINC PERP type.

£20.00

WCF 9066 — Barbarous Æ (17mm)

Bare head right. ® Two Victories standing facing each other holding inscribed shield. Circa 4th Century AD. Copy of Magnentius VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE type.

£20.00

WCF 9067 — Barbarous Æ (14mm)

Bare head right, A behind. ® Two Victories standing facing each other holding inscribed shield. Circa 4th Century AD. Copy of Magnentius VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE type.

£20.00

WCF 9049 — Barbarous Æ (15mm)

Bare head right, A behind. ® Two Victories standing facing each other holding inscribed shield. Circa 4th Century AD. Copy of Magnentius VICTORIAE DD NN AVG ET CAE type.

£20.00

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