Unlisted/unofficial? campgate from Rome

[tjaart]

Hi all,

I purchased the following coin from a friend on this forum. It was described as an ancient counterfeit.

CON-STANT-INVSAVG
Armoured portrait with spear looking left
Campgate, 6? rows, doors open, 4 turrets, P in l., R in r., VIRTV-SAVGG
RS
Rome mint
19mm, 3.3g

It seems to combine the obv from RIC VII Rome 177 with a different reverse? I assume this is an unofficial/barbarous campgate?

The photos are from the seller.

Thanks!
Tjaart

[Victor]

the bust certainly seems odd compared to right facing Rome campgates; but I have had a similar looking left facing bust. I am inclined to think it is official

the size and weight are spot on for official

p.s. I could be wrong though 

[Genio popvli romani]

This coin should be listed before 187. Another specimen recently sold on ebay (which I did not get  ) ) from different dies. So, in my opinion, the issue is official but your coin seems - based on picture - to be cast and not struck.

[tjaart]

Hi Genio,

do you have a photo of the ebay coin (just saw it.)? In my opinion it seems cast a well but it feels and looks an ancient cast. Is this possible? If cast, ancient or modern?

@Victor: I would love for this to be official...

[Victor]

yes, a cast coin can be an  ancient cast

[Genio popvli romani]

Hi Tjaart,

The picture is attached to my previous message.
Ancient Constantine cast imitations are very rare, most of the time they are struck but some exist I have seen some specimens...

[tjaart]

Thanks for the responses. I guess based on some of the corrosion, I can assume this is an ancient cast.

Would love to own that ebay example. Never even saw it go up.

[Victor]

Never even saw it go up.

I missed it also.

[Genio popvli romani]

Never even saw it go up.

I missed it also.

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/272374873826
I won another one but not this one (I believed I was the only one who have seen it...but unfortunately not)

[tjaart]

I guess it pays off to go through all the roman coin listed on ebay. Sometimes one catches a rare example.

[Victor]

I guess it pays off to go through all the roman coin listed on ebay.

the problem for me, is that I usually only check each auction site once a week, so I search from seven days out. I will miss some auctions if the people do not list for a week though, for example if they list a three day auction, one or two days after I have searched, I will not see the listing.

not everyone in Europe ships to the US either. The seller in the above listing does not; but sometimes if you ask they will.

[tjaart]

I do something similar. I have a couple of standard searches for which I get daily email alerts but otherwise I only look in more detail when I have time.

[Genio popvli romani]

I have only one search "ancient coins / auction / worldwild". when I am looking for coins to buy, I check every day the result listing for the next 24 hours.

[Victor]

I check every day the result listing for the next 24 hours.

I am going to try the 24 hour search and see how it works for me.

[Nikko]

Never even saw it go up.

I missed it also.

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/272374873826
I won another one but not this one (I believed I was the only one who have seen it...but unfortunately not)

And I was an under bidder