AR denarius 238-244 n. Chr. Unofficial of Gordian III , Rome, Roman Empire

IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped, & cuirassed bust right / PIETAS AVGVSTI, Pietas standing facing, head left, raising both hands. 20mm, 2.53 grams. Imitating Rome mint. Imitating RSC 186; RIC 129. SKU T281-52458

This is a contemporary billon imitation - a coin struck in billon (debased silver) and coated with a thin layer of silvering to give it a better appearance (traces of this silver coating is still visible on the reverse). This sort of debased imitations are known from Italy and some other European locations. The imitations is of high quality and when freshly struck and coated in additional silver it would have probably fooled most people. Nice and rare.