FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board

Resources => Fake Coins and Notorious Fake Sellers => Topic started by: Tanit on January 21, 2007, 02:36:06 pm

Title: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: Tanit on January 21, 2007, 02:36:06 pm
Hi
Here is a big sestertius (D=35 mm) or maybe a medallion of Commodus.
Obv: [M]COMMODVS ANTONINVS AVG PIVS
Please help me to identify it.
Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: Arminius on January 21, 2007, 02:53:44 pm
Looks like a (modern?) cast.

Regards
Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: Tanit on January 21, 2007, 03:05:58 pm
Hi

This coin was found in a place where we make in a craft way the charcoal. It is what what explains the presence of the black film which covers the red patina of the coin and which gives him an aspect of forgery.

Best Regards
Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: Miguel Diaz on January 21, 2007, 03:21:42 pm
Sorry, but your coin is a modern cast.

Here are the scans of the same coin. Sold on Ebay in June 2004 as a reproduction.

Heavy 19th Century(?) cast copy of a Paduan(?) Medallion, weighing 51.4 grams (over two ounces), and measuring 35 mm across and 4 mm thick. M COMMODVS ANTONINVS AVG PIVS BRIT, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Commodus facing right, in high relief. / P M TR P …., with VOTA PVBLICA in the exergue. Commodus stands, facing left, sacrificing over a tripod-altar, while a victimarius sacrifices a bull, with a temple in the background (a rare sestertius with similar scene was struck in 191 A.D., near the end of Commodus' reign).
Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: Pscipio on January 21, 2007, 03:58:57 pm
Definitely a modern cast, unfortunately.

Lars
Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: Tanit on January 21, 2007, 04:06:55 pm
...Medallion, weighing 51.4 grams (over two ounces), and measuring 35 mm across and 4 mm thick.


My coin weight 31.5 grams, measure 34.5 mm and 4.5 mm thick.
Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: jbaran on January 21, 2007, 04:28:00 pm
The differences in measurement can be explained by different instruments.  The weight difference by less metal used in this cast.  It looks like a die match.
Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: Tanit on January 21, 2007, 04:35:55 pm
Can you show me a photo of the original coin?
 
Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: curtislclay on January 21, 2007, 04:50:09 pm
This cast derives not from a Paduan copy, but from an authentic medallion struck from genuine dies.  Indeed the original appears to have been the specimen now in Paris, formerly in the Vatican from Cardianl Albani's collection, illustrated in Gnecchi, Med. Rom. II, pl. 89.4.
Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: Jay GT4 on July 31, 2012, 06:31:18 pm
Looks like another has hit the market.  Looks to me like a die match, am I right?

40.3 g, 37mm

Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: Hydatius on August 01, 2012, 09:12:19 am
Yup. All fake. All the obvious signs of casting except the rim line.

Richard
Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: HELEN S on August 01, 2012, 10:18:26 am
Yup. All fake. All the obvious signs of casting except the rim line.

Richard


  could you give me one or two pointers that can help me see the obvious signs of casting please using the photos from Jay GT4s example as they are clear for me to see
 it will help to try and determine thanks for your time in this matter
Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: Joe Sermarini on August 01, 2012, 11:06:12 am
Fake coin reports please.
Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: areich on August 01, 2012, 01:49:57 pm
The surfaces are 'soft', i.e. there are no sharp details. The raised edge on the obverse is also an indicator but it really is the softness that gives it away immediately. The example posted by Jay might be an older cast, the black could be original toning/patina. It's a better cast than the example that started this thread.
Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: HELEN S on August 01, 2012, 03:44:24 pm
The surfaces are 'soft', i.e. there are no sharp details. The raised edge on the obverse is also an indicator but it really is the softness that gives it away immediately. The example posted by Jay might be an older cast, the black could be original toning/patina. It's a better cast than the example that started this thread.

  thanks that is a great explanation thankyou for your time its great to have such an example to look at :laugh:
Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: areich on August 01, 2012, 04:17:55 pm
By 'older' I mean perhaps 19th century.
Title: Re: Help Commodus Sestertius ?
Post by: Jay GT4 on August 01, 2012, 05:36:43 pm
Fake coin reports please.

Added all four pictures as one file.

BTW sold for $114.  

ariech the raised edge would be consistent with a medallion of this type would it not?