★ A curious plated 'aureus' ★

UNCERTAIN GERMANIC TRIBES, Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Late 3rd-early 4th centuries. 'Aureus' (Subaeratus, 20 mm, 4.71 g, 6 h), 'Ulów Group', O1/R2. Imitating Valerian I, 253-260, or Gallienus, 253-268. OΩOS/∾IIOT SΩII ՒSO IIII Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Valerian I or Gallienus to right, seen from behind. Rev. ∾IΩƧOΩ∾IΩOMΩI Fortuna standing front, head to left, holding rudder in her right hand and cornucopiae in her left. Aurum Barbarborum I, 806 ( same dies, but not plated). Bursche, Ulów, fig. 8 ( same dies, but not plated). Holed and with minor breaks in plating, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From the Aurum Barbarorum Collection.

It is not entirely unusual in the Aurum Barbarorum to find solid and plated gold coins struck from the same pair of dies (for another example, see above, lots 1865-1866 (gold) and 1867 (plated silver). It is unclear whether this was done by the mint workers with intend to defraud or simply to offer a cheaper alternative to the pendants made from solid gold.