Posted on 12/10/2018 1:02:49 AM PST by SunkenCiv
Ancient coins were handmade -- the metal was made in equal weight, then reheated, flattened out in a more or less round shape, then the dyes were used to hand-hammer the heads and tails, separately. Some coins have survived that were reused back then, and the original art and provenance can be figured out. No, I don't have any examples ready to hand. In Roman times, the Emperor Tiberius had a Mueller type who was railroading people into prison cells , exiles, and early graves, by the name of Aelius Sejanus. Sejanus was eventually raised to the level of probably successor to Tiberius, then his plot (with one of Tiberius' nieces) was uncovered, he was arrested, and strangled in his prison cell (not stabbed, as was shown in the BBC "I Claudius"). During his professional pinnacle he'd had the authority to mint coins, but after his death they were restruck, and most people would have them restruck somewhere, rather than be seen with any of them. Only 12 or so are known to have survived. I'd imagine there are at least a few more waiting in clay jars on ancient wrecks.
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