Is this a Roman coin?

niffler · Mar 3, 2011

Hi everyone, I found this years ago near the Bear river in Idaho. It weighs 16.8 grams, and about 28MM wide, by about 3 MM thick, and appears to be bronze or copper alloy. I was wondering if anyone can say for sure if it is a coin or not. Thanks for any help. Niffler

ivan salis · Mar 3, 2011

looks like a roman coin to me but in very rough shape -- however in the last photo I can clearly see a head out line -- maybe a old colonial era spanish (maravadis) ? --

CRUSADER · Mar 4, 2011

Yes its a Roman Coin :icon_thumright:

Silver Searcher · Mar 4, 2011

Looks very much like a Roman Sestertius :P sestertius typically weighs in the region of 25 to 28 grammes, is around 32–34 mm in diameter and about 4mm thick. The size and weight were later reduced, orginally made of Brass (Orichalcum) Later emperors increasingly relied on melting down older sestertii, a process which led to the zinc component being gradually lost as it burned off in the high temperatures needed to melt copper (Zinc melts at 419 °C, Copper at 1085 °C). The shortfall was made up with bronze and even lead. Later sestertii tend to be darker in appearance as a result and are made from more crudely prepared blanks.
But without any legend the Ruler would be near impossible to ID $:-\$

Another mysterious Roman coin found in America :icon_scratch:

SS

lazooro · Mar 4, 2011

CRUSADER said:
Yes its a Roman Coin

Roman and probably dupondius of a Faustina...last pic looks like Thrax?

niffler · Mar 4, 2011

Thanks for the information everyone. I was hoping some of the knowledgible people from Britian would confirm that my coin is Roman, so thank you, and I'll consider the case closed on this one. Good luck and HH, Niffler

Noodle · Mar 4, 2011

Roman coins (and other oddities) do manage to be found in the U.S. due to travels by people in the U.S. to/from other lands and back. No need to read any other reasons for their being here. Unless, of course, you think UFOs dropped them.

People lived in areas far away from populated areas, because those areas were few as setting up storefronts. They cherished their coins. You may find many hundreds of dollars stashed, if they made enough to make it worth their whilel.