Pertinax, 193. Sestertius (Bronze, 29 mm, 9.82 g, 11 h), a contemporary cast imitation ('limes-falsum'). Irregular mint. IMP CAES P HELV PERTINAX AVG Laureate head of Pertinax to right. Rev. Jupiter seated left, holding eagle in his right hand and scepter in his left. Fine.


Find spots indicate that so-called Limes-falsa - crude cast copies of Roman bronze coinage - were probably produced as emergency money at military sites along the northern frontier, perhaps when supplies of officially struck coins were temporarily interrupted. Their workmanship is usually poor, and they were likely meant less as counterfeits than as a stopgap until regular coin arrived again. This interesting piece pairs a portrait of Pertinax with a reverse type from another emperor, showing Jupiter seated.