December 1999 Coin of the Month


 

Here is a real interesting coin!   This tremissis of Leo I is NOT a trick of photography!  The style of the obverse looks like that of a Constantinople product (which I think it is), but look at the reverse.  It is totally inverted.  The reference on this coin for style is RIC-X-611. produced 457-474 and weighs 1.45g.  My conclusion is that the reverse die cutter was inexperienced and was simply looking at a coin as he produced the die (without realizing that his image had to inverse to the one on the coin.)  No where on the coin is any part of the legend or devices in the correct place, always inverted.  I would love to know if anyone else has any (Bronze, Silver or Gold coinage) with this same phenomena.