Haskovo Studio

By Dr. Ilya Prokopov

When working on the fake reports, I noticed a series of replicas and copies and recognize they were the specific products of steel dies that I have documented in the fake coin reports. These dies are from one of the Dimitrovgrad studios, “Studio Haskovo.” In the fake coin reports one can find both the steel dies as well as their derivatives. The intent of this article is to present them here arranged for easy comparison, more conviently than could be done using the reports. For the same reason I have flipped the steel dies at 180 degrees to synchronize them with the replicas. Due to its large volume I will split the article into several parts.

PART ONE: GREEK ARCHAICAL AND CLASSICAL

Syracuse, silver tetradrachm, c. 317 - 310 BC
28mm, 17.5g, minted under Agathokles
Obverse: Head of Persephone left, wearing wreath of corn; three dolphins around
Reverse: Galloping quadriga driven left by charioteer holding goad; above, triskeles; in ex, SURAKUSIWN / NI
Steel dies: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?album=10&pos=738
Replica: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?album=10&pos=810

Rhodos, Rhodes, Silver Tetradrachm, 387 - 304 B.C.
26 mm, 16.5 gr
Obverse: Head of Helios
Reverse: Rose with bud on left, RODION

Replica: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?album=10&pos=660

Steel dies: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?album=10&pos=666