The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal ... - IndianCoins.org

THE MINT OF LUGDUNUM. 91The brass and copper coins struck at Lugdunumbetween A.D. 60 and 68 exhibit almost invariablycertain distinctive features in conjunction with thestyle of lettering and portraiture already mentioned,which may be summarized as follows :(1) Nero is never portrayed with the radiate crown.On the dupondii his head is laureated [PI. VI. 32], andon asses and semisses he is bare-headed [PL VI. 31].(2) The flan is invariably flat, and not, as in the caseof most of the coins of Roman mintage, with the reverseslightly concave.(3) The marks of value, If, T, and S, do not occur onthe brass coins.I have already commented on the theory, advancedby M. Mowat, that the globe at the point of the bustis the mint-mark of Lugdunum.It is, therefore, unnecessaryto repeat the arguments which conclusivelydisprove the theory. 34Towards the end of the reign of Nero a decidedimprovement is noticeable on the Lugdunumcoins inthe formation of the letters, which are evenly placedand usually slightly larger than on the coins of Rome.There remains a very rare and somewhat puzzlingtype to be noticed :63. Obv. NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVC GERM.Kadiate head L, with globe.Ttev. ROMETAVC. Altar of Lugdunum.Coh. 256.How are we to account for a revival of this typeunder Nero? 35 If this is really a Lugdunum coin,14Num. Chron., 1915, "The Coinage of Nero."35M. Mowat has built up in connexion with this presumablyunique coin a somewhat fanciful theory, which, as 1 have elsewhereshown, is disproved by historical and numismatic evidence.