ROMA MINVC Probably a medal. ????

[dg39]

Here is another unsolved mystery..Its just a hair under 1-1/2 inches in diam. Appears to be bronze.
Has what seems to be a spot at the top where a thin mounting loop may have once been.
Looks like Mercury on one side and Chariot with horses on the other. I have looked everywhere and found nothing.
It is very good quality and workmanship, but is worn.. I have lightened the images for more detail......
Any guesses

 

[Bramblefind]

Here's some info on something like it-

http://www.cgb.fr/monnaies/vso/v31/gb/monnaiesgb2f2b.html

MINUCIA (133 avant J.-C.)
Lucius Minucius

Denier - 133 AC.
N° v31_0113

Click on the picture to enlarge. Mint name : Rome
Diameter in mm : 19 mm
Die axis : 12 h.
Metal : argent
Actual weight : 3,92 g.
Legal weight : 3,96 g.
Pieces to the mark : 1/82 L.
Fineness per thousand : 950°/oo
Current for : 16 as
Rarity level : R Condition : TTB+ Starting Price :
145.00 €
(around 195.75 USD) Estimate :
200.00 €
(around 270.00 USD)
OBVERSE
Legend : Anépigraphe.
Description : Tête de Rome à droite, coiffée du casque ailé ; derrière la tête, (marque XVI) .
REVERSE
Legend : ROMA ; L. MINVC à l’exergue.
Translation : “Roma// Lucius Minucius”, (Rome, Lucius Minucius).
Description : Jupiter dans un quadrige galopant à droite, tenant un sceptre long et les rênes de la main gauche et brandissant un foudre de la main droite.

 

[dg39]

Dead on. But This one I am sure is a metal rather than a coin..
Why an obvious copy of the coin in metal fashion? And what for?
DG

 

[Bramblefind]

Just a guess but in the Victorian era there was a trend for jewelry fashioned after Greek & Roman classical images. Maybe this was a pendant?

 

[dg39]

Just a guess but in the Victorian era there was a trend for jewelry fashioned after Greek & Roman classical images. Maybe this was a pendant?

Quite possible. But the workman ship is above that it seems...
DG

 

[Mackaydon]

Nice replica (IMHO); Note the 6 'dots' in the magnified neckless of the real one versus this one's 7 'dots'.
Maybe the letters in the exergue (under ROMA) have something to do with the replica maker versus an abbreviation for the mint city-as would be on a real coin.
Don.......

 

[dg39]

Nice replica (IMHO); Note the 6 'dots' in the magnified neckless of the real one versus this one's 7 'dots'.
Maybe the letters in the exergue (under ROMA) have something to do with the replica maker versus an abbreviation for the mint city-as would be on a real coin.
Don.......

Well, guess we will never know why someone went to all the trouble of creating such a masterfull copy and why.
DG

 

[Mackaydon]

Not giving up yet:
I believe the exergue reads MINVCI (add the I) and there is reference to that lettering:
http://books.google.com/books?id=U8...BMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Roma MINVC -inc&f=false

 

[Mackaydon]

#2 noted in the reference below seems to ID your coin: http://books.google.com/books?id=hu...&resnum=1&ved=0CBEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false


Here's one close to Bramblefind's with the MINVCI more prominent:

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s0125.html

I seem to be my belief on its authenticity.