Crispus from Trier with G9 bust

[Victor]

This one is unlisted in RIC, it should come after RIC VII Trier 324… it sold for $195.00

Here is the link to an earlier post




Crispus
A.D. 321
18mm   2.4gm
CRISPVS NOB CAES, laureate and cuirassed with spear pointing forward and shield on right arm.
BEATA TRAN-QVILLITAS, Globe set on altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX; above three stars.
In exergue PTR
RIC VII --

[seth]

i expected it to go for 150+

[Lech Stępniewski]

I believe that this coin is heavily tooled. Probably from consular bust. The spear is not a straight line and it seems to me that Crispus is holding it rather like a sceptre. Also the shape of his cuirass resembles the shape of trabea.

Consular bust with sceptre


Cuirassed bust with spear

[seth]

Hello Lech,
That was also my opinion when I first noticed it and posted it here for clarification.

[Victor]

it would have taken a lot of tooling to add the shield, plus I don't think that this obverse legend is listed with a left facing consular bust, so either an unlisted coin was tooled or the entire obverse legend was also fabricated.

[Lech Stępniewski]

or the entire obverse legend was also fabricated.

It is also possible. The reverse shows that the original coin was in a very bad condition, practically unreadable. So on the basis of vague outlines the new arrangement was made.

[Genio popvli romani]

Tooled, probably. But I assume, if it has been, that was most to enhance a coin in poor condition, not to create a new variety.
To my eyes,the style is not very different of the few specimens of RIC.349 which show this particular cuirass with "sinking" pteruges.

http://www.nummus-bible-database.com/monnaie-18394.htm


http://www.nummus-bible-database.com/monnaie-22847.htm

Note that this last coin seems to have been also "more than cleaned"

[Victor]

Tooled, probably. But I assume, if it has been, that was most to enhance a coin in poor condition, not to create a new variety.

Yes, I think that at most, perhaps some smoothing was done, maybe only by over-zealous cleaning.

[Lech Stępniewski]

Well, on second thought I admit that the original coin could be in fact Crispus with G9 bust. But I refuse to call such procedure "over cleaning".

But...
It would be nice if someone could show me how the proper and unquestionable bust G9 turned left looks like. Because as far as I know this bust type is not listed in the entire RIC VII.

[Genio popvli romani]

You're right Lech and in the other hand, G9 bust on B.T. from trier is only represented by #344 which is a very uncertain coin (and very unusual bust, with shield on right arm).
About tooling, I am not very aware of what the english words are to describe such a work, but in my mind it is clear that it is intentional  and the aim is "to commercially improve" the condition of the coin.