Diocletian gold plated AE

[Obryzum]

I recently bought this coin, which was included in a lot for which I was bidding for a different coin.  I don't know much about attributing late Roman AE, but this looks to me like Diocletian, Cyzicus, RIC VI 16a Mintmark 

Assuming that's right, my question is this:  Why was it plated?  I cannot find an Aureus this was meant to imitate.  I know that some late Roman gold coins were plated for reasons other than forgery, but I cannot find any resources.  Can anyone help?  Thank you!



 

[Diederik]

Definitely a contemporary forgery! The layer of gold looks quite thick, so it may even have passed for a real one, for some time.
I love this kind of coins - much nicer than an ordinary silver-clad antoninianus in good quality.


Frans

[Obryzum]

Dear Frans,

Thank you for you reply, but I have to say that it leaves me a bit confused.  Isn't this a genuine bronze coin that has been plated with gold for some unknown reason, perhaps for ceremonial purposes?  I don't think we can call it a forgery unless it was intended to fool someone.  But who would be fooled?  And how would they be fooled?  There were no real solid gold coins that looked anything remotely like this, were there? 

obryzum

[Diederik]

There are two ways you can get away with such a forgery is: in a great mass as present to a tribal chief/ big commerce and the second by fooling people who never in their lives see a gold coin. Ceremonial use would be an offering to a god - but that would be dangerous: you could infuriate the god!


Frans

[PeterD]

Remember, a forger only had to fool someone once. After that the coin was in circulation it was no longer his problem. No doubt money laundering took place then, as now.

The coin below is a copy of a solidus of Valentinian II in silver, plated gold. It can't have fooled anyone for long though as it is larger than the real thing but weighs a lot less and the colour is off as well. It has obviously been 'found out' as it has lines scratched on it and presumably holed later for jewellery.