Julia Domna, Augusta, 193-217. As (Copper, 23 mm, 4.85 g, 6 h), a contemporary cast imitation ('limes-falsum'). Irregular mint, after 211. IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG Draped bust of Julia Domna to right. Rev. LVNA LVCIFERA / S C Luna, with crescent on head and fold of drapery floating around and above, driving biga to left. Cf. BMC 225, Cohen 109 and RIC 600 (for prototype). An interesting cast imitation of a popular type. Some flan faults from casting, otherwise, very 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.