2nd C Roman bronze sent for ID

Huge Roman bronze, just sent it off for ID 32.57mm, 14.43g

1stC Roman sent for ID

I feel comfortable identifying this piece as Antoninus Pius - 138-161 AD.  However, I really can't figure out what's supposed to be happening on the reverse - perhaps an equestrian scene?

Mark

This one gave us "a lucky break" - literally - the break in the legend was a major bit of luck here. The only really clear letters in the obverse legend are "...CAE - SAR..." to the left and right at the top of the obverse.  This is a really unusual circumstance - mostly if a sestertius' legends were broken at all at the top (rather than running continuously around the upper circumference) they generally broke between words - "HADRIANVS - AVGVSTVS" for example.  That the word CAESAR was so prominently in the middle of the legend (and therefore the title) and also broken in an unusual, even awkward, place, meant that I could look for this among the coins of a couple of emperors during the time they were "heir apparent" Caesars under their usually adoptive paternal emperors.

I believe I have an exact match here - although the crucial legend-break is a bit less visible on mine, but take my word that it breaks "...CAE - SAR..." at the top - http://www.stoa.org/gallery/album93/17_A_Pius_Sest_Pietas 

Antoninus Pius during his very brief period of being Hadrian's Caear and heir - in the short window of time, a few months in 138 AD. (February 25 - July 10)  between the death of Aelius, Hadrian's intended successor, and Hadrian's own demise.

The full obverse legend would be then: IMP T AELIVS CAE - SAR ANTONINVS - the apparent shape of the head had me thinking Antoninus Pius from the beginning, so I wasn't all that surprised to find this legend break on a relatively common (for a brief issue) sestertius of his as Caesar.  It also seems that the "voids" - the areas retaining some smooth brown patina on the reverse, correspond to the portions of the reverse field - complete to the E of PIE -TAS across the field falling directly above the small altar - protected by the relief of the figure of Pietas and the altar to her left.

2ndC Roman bronze coin sent for ID

The "sestertius" sized piece offers us less by way of positive markers, but the shape of the head (and the "corn-row" at the top of it) seems most like Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus.  I can't figure what's happening on the reverse, but the chance that the orientation is based on whatever it is that looks like the letter "Y" is very unlikely.  I'll try rotating the image a bit and see if it rings any bells.

Huge Roman bronze sent for ID

29.22mm ,13.69g

Without at least a bit of revelatory legend on the obverse (the "IMP..." at 8:00 isn't much help - nearly all the emperors from the 1st through the 3rd century began their official titles with "IMP") all I have to go on is the shape of the head and the general overall "fabric" of the piece.  Being somewhat square, it belongs to the period in which "cob" style flan production had replaced the sphere-cast & hammer-flattened Æ blanks flans of earlier years. The earlier type of flan manufacture had produced a more nearly round product but was more labor-intensive and slower.  Generally - although it is seen on-and-off for quite a while - the latter part of the 2nd and most of the 3rd century saw this form of blank production for the large Æ in which a round bar of coin metal approximately the desired diameter of the finished coins was cast, then individual blanks were chopped off the end with 3 or 4 heavy hammer and chisel strokes, on an anvil, rotating the bar 90º at a time between strikes.  This tended to make squarish flans - like the one we see here.  The vague standing deity or personification on the reverse doesn't show any attributes that might allow me to say who was intended - and the emperors of this period tended to use all the possible deities and personifications over time, so even if we knew who was on the reverse, it probably wouldn't be of any help identifing which emperor struck it.

So, judging by the squarish flan and the shape of the head, I'd say this is most likely to be Severus Alexander, 222-235 AD.  Here is a relatively unusual example struck on a large, "medallic" flan which doesn't show the results of cob manufacture nearly as clearly as some:
http://www.stoa.org/gallery/album97/ML_13_Sev_Alex_Equitas_sest 
like this one, for example: 
http://www.stoa.org/gallery/album97/ML_14_Sev_Alex_Spes_sest 
this shape for large Æ coins is far more commonly representative of the era with uneven edges often causing significant parts of the legends to fall off-flan.

Mark

2nd C Roman bronze coin - sent for ID

26.44mm, 8.17g

My best guess is that this one is probably Hadrian (117-138 AD.) going strictly by the shape of the head.  However, the reverse is going to be impossible to say much more than that it portrays a deity or personification standing to the right (? I think).  This is getting close to the outer edges of identifiability - by photo at any rate.

Mark

Monster sized Roman bronze sent for ID

32.23mm dia , 22.59g, 4.25 mm thick

Although the detail you speak of doesn't really come through too well in the photo, I'm pretty certain this is Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD) and the reverse appears to be Securitas - that's just about the only personification ever shown slouching at her ease, leaning against a short pillar like this.

I believe the reverse type and legend is SECVRITAS PVBLICA - S - C. Securitas standing left holding long, transverse scepter, resting left elbow on column.  This would date to 142 AD if I have the type right. Probably RIC III 641 (or similar)

Mark

2ndC Roman bronze coin sent for ID

32.53mm, 18.34g

Trajan 96-117 AD.  - I'm reasonably sure it is Trajan, but it's pretty tough to be certain in this case.

Mark

2ndC Roman bronze coin sent for ID

8.31g ,25.89mm

The woman is Faustina Sr., wife of Antoninus Pius.  Coins were struck in her honor both while she lived and in an extensive series of posthumous issues both by Antoninus and Marcus Aurelius.  Her coins, therefore, date to a broad period - 138 until 175, when her daughter, Faustina Jr, wife of Marcus Aurelius, died and her posthmous coinage completely replaced her mother's.

Mark

2ndC Roman bronze coin sent for ID

17.93, 32.56

Hadrian - 117-138 AD.   Unfortunately there isn't enough detail remaining to determine what reverse types of either of these may have been - which might allow us to date them more closely.

Mark

Huge 2ndC Roman bronze coin sent for ID

18.15g,30.65mm

You seem to have "lucked out" a bit with this one.  It's Trajan (96-117 AD) and the bust style is appropriate for the later part of his reign.  There's not very much of the reverse type visible, but here, as I said, you're in luck.  This appears to be an example of the PROVIDENTIA AVGVSTII (SPQR S - C) type.  It's the parallel lines in both the vertical & horizontal planes clearly indicating that there is a short pillar or column to the right of the somewhat slouching figure.  On a later type, this would probably be Securitas leaning against the column, but at the time of Trajan's reign, Securitas or the personification of national security was not so much of an issue as it would become in a century or so when Securitas would replace Providentia (the personification of the forethought of the emperor in providing - well, whatever was provided at an Imperial level) in the same posture of ease.
Providentia here is leaning at her ease on the short pillar on the right, and with a wand held in the right hand, leisurely points in the direction of a large globe - most likely the Orbis Terrarum - (the outline of which is barely visble in the photo) at her feet, and with left hand holds and rests upon a long scepter.

This type dates to 116 AD.

Mark

19.75g,31.52 mm

This is a Sestertius (4 Asses) of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD) the reverse shows Salus, the personification of health (in the sense of wholeness or the health of the Empire as an entity) feeding a snake rising from the altar before her.  This is a fairly common reverse type which recurs throughout the 1st-3rd centuries.

Mark

15.26g, 33.58mm

A quick answer now and I'll get back to it in a while for a more detailed answer.  At this size it would be a Sestertius, I don't immediately recognize the portrait, but I will get back to it later today.

Mark

Big Roman 2ndC bronze sent for ID

Trajan, 98-117 AD. Æ As
27mm, 11.58gm, axis: 195º Mint of Rome, 101-2 AD.
Obv: IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM P M.
Laureate head right.
Rx: TR POT COS IIII P P S - C. Victory alighting left holding palm and shield inscribed: SP / QR.
RIC 434, Cf. SR 3242, VM 73.

Big Roman bronze sent for ID

30mm, 14.65g

This is actually a sestertius.  It's too big and heavy to be a typical Antonine As (or Dupondius, which it obviously isn't, not being radiate) It's a much diminished sestertius, the edges significantly compromised by their time in the plow soil - hit by the plow repeatedly and weakened by exposure to agricultural chems.

It's a sestertius of Antoninus Pius, 139-161 AD. He built one of the walls in the northland. The reverse type is not really without question at this time. I think the figure must almost certainly be Libertas / Liberalitas momentarily pausing while strolling down the street holding a liberty-cap / pileus and scepter.  With none of the concentric legends providing any useful lettering, I can't be certain which of his several liberalitas events this might be linked to or the reverse legends this type was paired with (there were several).

I'm afraid that's about all I can say on this one - too little surviving information to date it or place it with exactitude without making a truly all-out search effort.

Mark

Big 1stC Roman bronze sent for ID

At first I thought your coin was a Trajan sestertius with a "Platform Scene" reverse - somewhat like in the photo below:

I think, from the shape of the head and the general silhouette, your specimen is pretty definitely Trajan - let me see if I have a photo of a Trajan platform scene...

http://www.stoa.org/gallery/album373/CR02_24

Trajan, 98-117 AD.
Orichalcum Æ Sestertius
35mm, 24.87g, 6h.
Mint of Rome, 116 AD.
Obv: IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC PAR-THICO P M TR P COS VI P P. Laureate draped bust right.
Rx: REX PARTHIS DATVS S C. Trajan on platform presenting Parthamaspates to Parthians. 
RIC 667, SR 3191, VM 51.

I'm not saying this is a match for your coin - but at first I thought it was fairly close - Trajan had several platform scenes on his sestertii. Your coin seems to have a similarly long-winded list of titles in the obverse legend.  Trajan had some of the longest legends/greatest numbers of letters in obverse legends ever to be strung around the circumference of a coin.

I assembled this comparison photo which makes a pretty good case for Trajan on the obverse -

But as I look at the reverse more, I don't think this is a platform scene after all - I believe this would have for its legend SENATVS POPVLESQVE ROMANVS / SC  -  and the lower serifs of letters at ~ 2:00-4:00 reverse would fit with Romanus.

There is a type on which Trajan is standing to right, head left, between two trophies - unfortunately, I don't have any photos of anything particularly similar, but if you look closely at the photo or the coin I think you can see how he's standing with his weight on the right leg, head turned to left, and there are 2 trophies, 1 each erected on his right and left.

I will look for a photo of a coin with this reverse type and if I find one, I'll send it.

Mark

I was unable to find quickly a photo of a sestertius with that reverse - in fact, I may need to say I think your piece is a dupondius, since it seems like no sestertius with that reverse type is listed.  I'll admit I can't be certain that the portrait on your coin is not wearing the radiate crown of Sol which would be the identifying mark of denomination on the obverse.

This is what I thinik your coin might be - depending on size and whether we can make out a radiate crown.  If it's large enough to be a sestertius and has a laurel-wreath portrait, that's something I'd need to ask an expert about - whether or not that particular type which is not in the RIC exists.

Mark 

Big Roman bronze sent for ID

22.9g, 33.13mm

Yes, this has a bit of remaining detail – However, it’s going to need a bit of additional TLC if it’s to be identified beyond the basic generalities:

Roman Imperial (not Provincial – Latin legends, minted in Rome)
Sestertius (4 asses or ¼ denarius)
Orichalcum (naturally occurring brass alloy)
Antoninus Pius (139-161 AD.) as Caesar 138/9 AD.
Uncertain standing personification or deity (Annona or Pax are likely possibilities) small altar at feet and holding cornucopiae

Antoninus Pius was emperor during what is almost universally considered the height of “The Golden Age of Rome”
He struck an astronomical number of coins, with a very broad range of reverse types – there’s probably a couple of dozen types of his sestertii which feature a standing deity or personification sacrificing at a small altar.
Therefore, although this is not the exact same type, it’s very similar to what yours might look like cleaned-up a bit. The standing figure on yours also holds a conucopiae, so it’s unlikely to be Pietas.
Marcus Aurelius was Pius’ adopted son/intended heir. A further astronomical number of coins and types were struck for Aurelius as Caesar during Antoninus’ reign.

I hope your fall digging season goes well,
Mark

2nd C Roman bronze coin

Large 2nd C Roman coin sent for ID

8.86g,27.62mm

Appropriate to yesterday (April 26th was Aurelius’ birthday) your “Big Roman 2” is an as of Marcus Aurelius (Augustus, 161-180 AD)
The legends are totally trashed, but there’s just enough on the reverse to see it’s one of the “laundry list” type, (P M TR P [XYZ] IMP [VWX]) [C]OS (III) I’m pretty sure that the device is a figure of Pietas standing facing, both hands outstretched to sides, sacrificing over candelabrum-altar and holding box of incense, S – C in lower fields.
That’s just a guess, but it’s probably not very far off if it’s incorrect.

Mark

Large 2nd C Roman coin sent for ID

27.17mm, 8.864g

Now the  piece you call “Big Roman 3” is also an as, but there is even less I can be certain about since the condition is so rough.
I believe it might be Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD.)

I can’t make anything out of the reverse devices, perhaps I’m seeing “CO[M?]” around 11:00 - 12:00 in this orientation – or what I’m seeing as an “O” might be a figure’s head?
Sorry I can’t tell you much more than that on the basis of what I can pick out of the photos.
Mark

Very unusual 5 mm thick Roman coin sent for ID

7.66g, 19.48 dia, 4.86mm thick

This is, I believe, a pretty uncommon find in British soil.
I can’t be 100% positive about details, since the legend is obscured with encrustations, but it appears this is a potin tetradrachm from Roman Alexandria (Egypt).
I can’t tell which ruler it is, although by the style of the portrait, it would have to be near the end of the period when the mint at Alexandria was still producing a few “Provincial” issues for use only in the homeland. Along with the entire Provincial mint system, all Provincial issues were scrapped. Alexandria and a few other major mints continued on striking Imperial types. Most Provincial mints were closed and the granting of mint rights to a city was no longer an important influence Rome had over “foreign” areas – they were no longer considered “foreign”, and after the changeover at Alexandria, all mints in the Empire struck only Imperial types.
Alexandria issued its final Provincial coins for the rulers of the 1st Tetrarchy (Diocletian, Maximian, Constantius I and Galerius), thereafter producing only Imperial types and denominations.
Eagles were a really common reverse type on the Egyptian potin tetradrachms and can be seen on some issues of the coins of almost every Roman ruler for whom coins were struck among the Provincial issues of Alexandria.
The photo is of a tetradrachm of Claudius II, “Gothicus” (who was the successor to Gallienus) Gothicus’ short reign was between 268-270 AD.
It’s the only prepared photo I could find (my website recently having been demolished, images of examples are a lot more challenging to find at the moment.) but I did find this one on which the eagle is in the same posture as the eagle on the reverse of your coin: standing to right, wings closed, head to left, wreath in beak.
Yours is probably a somewhat later ruler than Gothicus, but these were only struck up into the early 290’s, so it wouldn’t be long after the coin in the photo (from around 271/2 AD.)
The style of the portrait, the diameter and weight are appropriate for an Egyptian potin tetradrachm of one of the tetrarchs. Diocletian and Maximian are most commonly found on these – the Caesars, Constantius I and Galerius are scarce to rare - Without having a few letter of the obverse legend, I can’t say who is likely to be portrayed on yours.
Mark

2ndC Roman bronze coin

Size and weight comparison of two large 2ndC Roman bronze coins

Roman bronze sent for ID

9.93g,29mm

Roman bronze sent for ID

18.68g, 32mm

The “better” one – with green in the fields, is a Domitian (81-96 AD) Sestertius – I’m assuming the denomination/diameter based on the size-ratio between the letters and the rest of the devices.
The obverse reads something like:
IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS (II – XVI) CENS PER P P the consular number (COS…) is illegible so I gave you the range it could be in.
Rx: MONETA AVGVSTI S – C Moneta standing facing, head left, holding scales and cornucopiae
The piece with the more "brown” colored patina gives me the impression of a sestertius with a youngish portrait of Hadrian, although Antoninus Pius is also a possibility. The reverse yields only a vague outline of a figure and maybe an “N” around 11:00  – maybe Fortuna holding rudder and cornucopiae? (just a guess)
That’s about all I can give you without being able to examine the coins in-hand. I’m afraid there isn’t really anything else to base an ID on with this one on the basis of this photo.
Mark

Big Roman with partial legend sent for ID

I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to give you a really specific ID here – I’m afraid the fragments of obverse legend are of the wrong parts of said legend and the name of emperor is gone. The portrait is similarly roached, but on the basis of what is visible I’d say chances are pretty good this is either Trajan or Hadrian. The reverse type (rotate the reverse image about 30º counter-clockwise so the “S” in the field comes upright) is almost certainly Pietas. That both-arms-raised pose is just about exclusive to representations of Pietas. What we’re not seeing is that she’s probably sprinkling incense over a small lit altar.

Another possibility for the personification on the reverse might be Annona, as on this as of Hadrian:

http://old.stoa.org/gallery/album92/ML08_Hadrian_Annona_as?full=1

And now that I look at the photos side-by-side, I am seeing a rudder in the figure’s left hand on your coin. In fact, this is so similar that I’d say chances are pretty good this is the as-sized version of your sestertius – it wasn’t unusual for the same reverse to appear on nearly all the denominations at the same time in that era – so you should probably think of the figure on yours as Annona, even despite the absence of the modius of grain-ears on yours.

However, I guess I don’t need to tell you this is more and more typical of farm-field finds. Pesticides and fertilizers plus several years harrowing does a terrible number on the Æs – nibbling the edges and chipping off the stable patina.
Mark

Interesting obverse on this big Roman bronze - sent for ID

It was actually pretty easy – and this is a fairly scarce and desirable type.
Nerva (96-98), Sestertius, Rome, AD 97
Obv: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P laureate head of Nerva right,
Rx: PLEBEI VRBANAE FRVMENTO CONSTITVTO, modius containing six wheat-ears and a poppy in field, S - C.
RIC 89; C 12
Mark

Big Roman copper coin sent for ID

Not too sure what I can say about this one and not be completely guessing.
I have no particular reason - other than a really vague silhouette - on which to hang this suspicion, but at the moment, I believe it may be Trajan.
The reverse is similarly problematic - yes, it's a deity or personification standing left holding patera and, ?
- taking another look, I now believe it's supposed to be Victory standing left holding wreath and palm-branch (and/or trophy?).
I have the S - C, of course, and that appears on all Roman AE's for at least a century in both directions, and no hint of a concentric legend on either side.
Literally every emperor used a Victory reverse type at least similar to what I see here at some time or another, and with nothing more than a suspicion, even, of who is on the obverse,,, Well, you can see the problem here.
I'll go out on a limb and say "I think it might be" a Trajan sestertius with a Victory reverse. You also have sent me photos of a few Trajan-era pieces recently - if they were found around the same or in a similar place -Trajan was the immediate successor of Hadrian - I know the wall is a good bit north of you, but Hadrian-era Romans in Britannia would be likely to be carrying (and losing) Trajan's coins.
If you ever see it in a cleaner state, send me photos and perhaps there will be some letters or other clues exposed which would confirm or change my vague interpretation.
Mark

2ndC Roman bronze coin

2nd C Roman bronze coin sent for ID

Antoninus Pius 138-161 AD

I'm afraid I can't add much, there's too little detail. It's still Antoninus Pius, the reverse has S - C in fields and a standing personification or deity, too damaged to say who - concentric legend, only hits of it visible COS III is a common reverse legend for Pius who struck multiple dozens of types of asses, so anything more I were to try to tell you would be strictly conjecture.
If it's the size of an as, it's an as - if it's the size of a sestertius, it's a sestertius.

2ndC Roman bronze coin

2ndC Roman bronze coin

Mid sized Roman bronze coin sent for ID

117- 138 AD Hadrian

3.94g, 22mm

This also appears to be Hadrian, this one's an as. From the photos, it's the sort of thing I'd want to moisten with water or spit in the field to try to bring up a little more visible detail/contrast.
With what I'm able to do, the reverse appears to have a military theme, deity or personification. You can see the hips-forward attitude of the standing figure and the pteregys of a warrior's "skirt" armor - also, there might be a shield the figure is holding, or possibly an outstretched arm. Typically, this sort of reverse might Minerva or Mars or Virtus - or some more generic soldier. The reverse actually reminds me of a common as of Claudius (but this isn't him) with Minerva holding a shield high to the right and hefting a spear - let me see if I can find a photo for you.

Huge 2ndC Roman bronze coin - sent for ID

117- 138 AD Hadrian

18.6g, 32.9mm

This appears to be a sestertius of Hadrian with several major plow-strikes. The reverse is some one of the many allegorical personifications used on coins (and often worshiped as demi-goddesses) but not enough detail remains for me to make a realistic stab at telling you which it may have been.
Sorry I can't make a catalog-worthy writeup on the basis of the little surviving obverse legend, or guess at one looking at the reverse - but at least it's clearly Hadrian.and might be able to be cleaned up a bit.
Mark

Huge 2nd C Roman bronze coin

Huge 2nd C Roman bronze coin sent for ID

Imperio Romano
NERON. As. (Ae. 9,08g/27mm). 66 d.C. Lugdunum. (RIC 543). Anv: Cabeza de Nerón a derecha, alrededor leyenda: IMP NERO CAESAR AVG P MAX TR P P P. Rev: Victoria avanzando a izquierda portando escudo con inscripción: SPQR, entre S-C. MBC-.

7.85g, 27.6mm

I can't give you quite as detailed a cataloging here as usual, but I can give you a general ID. It may not be 100% as described for this piece in RIC, but it is a Nero as, to be sure.

One of your diggers pulled a good one here - Nero is always in demand and subsequently brings prices well above comparably scarce 1st century AD.asses. This one, of course, wouldn't probably do very well at auction, but it will probably be a prize for the digger.

What I can tell you is that it's an Æ as of Nero from the mint at Lugdunum.
Therein lies the problem - Nero used literally dozens of slightly different legends on his Æ and there isn't quite enough here to pick a probable match out of a list of 75 known Æ legends for Nero (not all 75 of them are candidates, but still there are quite a few possibilities).
I am sending you edited photos accompanied, side-by-side, with my best guess for a match - the description happens to be in Spanish, but you can probably figure it out easily enough.

Mark

Big Roman bronze with good detail sent off for ID

9.79g, 27.2 mm

Vespasian, 69-79 AD.
Æ as, 27.2mm, 9.79g
Mint of Rome, 71 AD.
Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III laureate head of Vespasian right
Rev: FORTVNAE REDVCI Fortuna standing facing, head left, holding rudder on globe, olive branch, and cornucopiae; S - C
RIC IIb (new) 302 (r2); RIC II (old) 487 (C); SRCV --

How you deal with the divergent frequency ratings is up to you - the old RIC says "common"; the new RIC says R2 ("rare to very rare") - I guess I'd trust the newer edition - or maybe split the difference and call it "scarce"? It's not in Sear.
This seems to have some potential to really improve nicely with judicious and careful cleaning.

Mark

Interesting reverse on this big Roman As

Huge 2ndC Roman bronze coin - sent for ID

15.49g, 29.3mm dia 5.24mm thick

It's definitely a sestertius. See the "S - C" in reverse fields - well, any Roman Æ of this era will have an SC on the reverse somewhere, but these are particularly large and bold letters, given the amount of space available. it's a little light, but that may have to do with what appears to be multiple plow strikes - the surviving diameter is large enough for it to be a sestertiuis.
- Probably Victory standing facing, head left on reverse, holding wreath, with palm over shoulder