★ An interesting contemporary imitation ★

Augustus, 27 BC-AD 14. Denarius (Subaeratus, 18 mm, 3.55 g, 1 h), a contemporary plated imitation from an irregular mint, after 16 BC. [SPQ] R PARE[NT] ONS•SVO Toga picta over tunica palmata between aquila on the left and wreath on the right. Rev. [C AN]TISTI – VETVS III VIR Apollo standing front on platform decorated with three foruli between two anchors, holding lyre in his left hand and sacrificing out of patera over lighted altar with his right; in fields, [APO] – LLINI; in exergue [ACTIO]. Edge chipping and with some breaks in plating, otherwise, very fine.

This interesting plated imitation erroneously combines the obverse of BMC 397, Cohen 78a and RIC 99 (circa 18 BC) with the reverse of BMC 95, Cohen 343 and RIC 36 (16 BC).