Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 481 2 Dec 2020
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Severus Alexander. AD 222-235. AR Denarius (19mm, 2.39 g, 7h). Counterbrockage strike. Rome mint. 6th emission, AD 226. Laureate and draped bust right, seen from behind / Emperor standing left, togate, sacrificing from patera over tripod. RIC IV 55; RSC 289. Toned. Near VF.
Ex Phil DeVicci Collection.
A counter brockage is an unusual error in which a blank is struck with an already brockaged blank still stuck to the die. This error is most often seen on modern American cents, but to find one on a denarius of the early 3rd century, a series notorious for brockages, is not surprising.
A series of mint worker errors are required to produce such a coin. First, a blank is struck and becomes stuck in the dies. Then, second blank is inserted and struck, creating a brockage. The second coin is removed, with the original brockage still adhering to the hammer die, now with a spread, low-relief incuse image of the obverse. Finally, a new blank is struck, creating what we see here.
Ex Phil DeVicci Collection.
A counter brockage is an unusual error in which a blank is struck with an already brockaged blank still stuck to the die. This error is most often seen on modern American cents, but to find one on a denarius of the early 3rd century, a series notorious for brockages, is not surprising.
A series of mint worker errors are required to produce such a coin. First, a blank is struck and becomes stuck in the dies. Then, second blank is inserted and struck, creating a brockage. The second coin is removed, with the original brockage still adhering to the hammer die, now with a spread, low-relief incuse image of the obverse. Finally, a new blank is struck, creating what we see here.