Bob R. writes: IÂ am curious about a coin that came into my possession recently. It is in good condition and bears a head with Caesar Augustus on one side and the date 63 Ac 14 Dc on the other side. Other markings include Imperatore and Augusto on the date side. The picture of the head is quite clear and this would look like an unused coin except for the fact that it is not perfectly round..looks like it was handmade. I would like to know if it is a genuine coin and if by chance I could be holding a 2000 year old coin and if you know of such a coin would it be of any value. BTW it is metallic but not as shiny as would be expected of gold. Thanks in advance for any info you may have.
The “coin” that you have sounds like a modern medal. Medals or tokens like this are usually made for some commercial purpose. What you described in your note would not have been made during the reign of Augustus. The Romans didn’t put Gregorian dates on their coins. (You’re about 1000 or so years early here) and Augustus was never written as Augusto.
You’re right about ancient coins not being perfectly round, the technology for that didn’t exist until the 17th century AD. The year 14 AD was the last year of Augustus’s reign, though I don’t understand the reference to 63 or AC-DC…sounds like a spoof of some sort.
