Tetricus II, Romano-Gallic Emperor, 273-274. Antoninianus (Bronze, 20 mm, 3.27 g, 6 h), a contemporary imitation of an issue from Treveri, irregular mint, after 273. C PIV ESV TETRICVS CAES Radiate and draped bust of Tetricus II to right, seen from behind. Rev. SPES PVBLICA Spes advancing left, holding flower in her right hand and raising skirt with her left. Cf. RIC V.4 759 (for prototype). Flip-over double strike and minor weakness and with a small spot of corrosion on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.


This piece neatly illustrates that minting errors familiar from official issues also occur at irregular workshops. It is a so-called flip-over double strike, meaning that the flan was not removed between two blows but was flipped over, with the result that part of the obverse legend is visible on the reverse.