The FEL TEMP REPARATIO "fallen horseman" type, introduced under Constantius II around 348 AD, flooded the western empire in such quantities that local workshops — operating entirely outside imperial authority — began producing imitations almost immediately. These barbarous copies circulated alongside official issues without apparent resistance from Roman authorities, who were in no position to police the monetary supply during the usurpations of Magnentius and Vetranio in the early 350s. The prototypes themselves were struck in enormous numbers across at least a dozen mints.
At 1.6g, this piece sits well below the official module, which is exactly where most barbarous examples fall — the copper was real, the intent was functional, and nobody was counting carefully.
The FEL TEMP REPARATIO "fallen horseman" type, introduced under Constantius II around 348 AD, flooded the western empire in such quantities that local workshops — operating entirely outside imperial authority — began producing imitations almost immediately. These barbarous copies circulated alongside official issues without apparent resistance from Roman authorities, who were in no position to police the monetary supply during the usurpations of Magnentius and Vetranio in the early 350s. The prototypes themselves were struck in enormous numbers across at least a dozen mints.
At 1.6g, this piece sits well below the official module, which is exactly where most barbarous examples fall — the copper was real, the intent was functional, and nobody was counting carefully.