古罗马 罗马帝国——罕见的两件式陶土钱币模具，用于德纳里乌斯币（卡拉卡拉，公元198–217年） - 60 mm (没有保留价)

Description
Highlights & Detailed Description
An extraordinary, fully complete pair of a two-piece terracotta coin mold used for casting counterfeit denarii during the reign of Emperor Caracalla (198–217 AD).

Coin Type & Motif:

Obverse (Front): Detailed profile portrait of Emperor Caracalla wearing a laurel wreath, with clear contours of the original denarius legend.

Reverse (Back): Fully preserved motif of the imperial denarius coinage.

Craftsmanship & Details:

Made of heat-resistant terracotta. The outer side of both halves features the deeply incised number MMXXXVI (2036). This matching number ensured that the correct obverse and reverse halves were accurately paired in the ancient workshop.

Intact alignment system (raised pegs and corresponding sockets) at the corners for precise closure during casting.

The top features a functional pouring channel showing heat stress cracks and dark scorch marks—clear evidence of actual ancient use with molten metal.

Provenance & Historical Context
Since official Roman denarii were struck rather than cast, this terracotta mold is a fascinating artifact of ancient counterfeiting (so-called Limes counterfeits). Such molds were used to cast denarii from base metals, which were often silver-plated before being put into circulation.

The object was discovered in 1975 during salvage excavations in the drainage system of a Roman Villa Rustica near the colonia Caesaraugusta (modern-day Zaragoza, province of Hispania Tarraconensis, Spain). Drainage channels of rural estates were typical disposal sites: when facing imminent discovery, illegal coin casters would hastily discard their molds into the sewage system.

Condition
Obverse half (Very Good): Intact/complete, clear relief contours of the emperor's portrait.

Reverse half (Excellent): Intact/complete, pristine detail of the reverse motif.

Unspoiled original condition with natural terracotta patina, free of modern restorations.